Jensen's OT Goal Finishes Hat Trick, Pirates
Mar 18, 2016Nicklas Jensen scored his third goal of the game at 1:23 of overtime, Friday night at the XL Center, to give the Wolf Pack a 4-3 victory over the Portland Pirates.
Jensen’s hat trick was the first in the regular season by a Wolf Pack player since Chad Kolarik scored three times November 24, 2012 vs. the Norfolk Admirals, and the win lifted the Wolf Pack to 33-27-2-0 and into a tie with the Pirates at 68 points.
On the winning play, Mat Bodie feathered the puck across the slot to Jensen on the right side, and Jensen whipped a shot past Pirate goaltender Mike McKenna. Marek Hrivik also picked up his third assist of the game on the play.
Chris Brown also had a goal in the game for the Wolf Pack, and Raphael Diaz had two assists. Magnus Hellberg made 27 saves. Connor Brickley had a goal and an assist for Portland, and Rob Schremp and Chase Balisy also scored. McKenna stopped 35 shots.
The Pirates got the only goal of the first period, Schremp’s team-leading 18th of the season at 12:44. The Wolf Pack’s Brady Skjei tried to pass from below his own goal line to Luke Adam in front of the net, but the feed attempt got through Adam and right on to the stick of Schremp. He had Hellberg at his mercy, and beat him with a shot to the stick side.
The Wolf Pack would outshoot the Pirates 14-4 in the second period, though, and score twice.
Brown tied the game in a 4-on-4 situation at 6:24, with his first point in six games since joining the Wolf Pack. Hrivik passed the puck off of the right-wing boards to Brown, who was right on top of McKenna. Brown was able to chop the puck backhanded past McKenna to level the score.
Then, with only 41.5 seconds left in the period, Jensen gave the Wolf Pack their first lead of the game. Again it was Hrivik with the setup, working the puck out of the left-wing corner to Jensen at the side of the slot. Jensen fired a shot that McKenna got a piece of but could not stop, and Hartford would take a 2-1 lead into the third.
The Pirates fought back, however, with two goals in the first half of the third.
Balisy tied it back up at 5:50, with his sixth of the season. Mackenzie Weegar had a shot blocked right back to him and circled the net to Hellberg’s right. Weegar then passed across the goalmouth to a wide-open Balisy for an easy finish.
Brickley then put the Pirates up 3-2 at 9:38, on a partial breakaway. Brickley got a step on Wolf Pack defenseman Ryan Graves and put a close-in shot past Hellberg’s right skate.
The Wolf Pack would get it back to 3-3 on a power play at 12:16, with Sena Acolatse in the box for high-sticking. Adam jammed the puck into the crease from the right-wing side, and Jensen was able to find it on the other side and backhand it in.
The Wolf Pack are right back at the XL Center Saturday night, taking on the Springfield Falcons in a 7:00 PM game. The first 2,000 fans at the game will receive a free Wolf Pack lunch box, courtesy of Pro-Health Physicians.
Tickets for all remaining 2015-16 Wolf Pack home games are on sale at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.
To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.
Portland Pirates 3 at Hartford Wolf Pack 4 (OT)
Friday, March 18, 2016 - XL Center
Portland 1 0 2 0 - 3
Hartford 0 2 1 1 - 4
1st Period-1, Portland, Schremp 18 12:44. Penalties-Paille Hfd (tripping), 2:57.
2nd Period-2, Hartford, C. Brown 4 (Hrivik, Diaz), 6:24. 3, Hartford, Jensen 13 (Hrivik, Paille), 19:18. Penalties-McFarland Por (delay of game), 5:11; Jensen Hfd (interference), 5:22.
3rd Period-4, Portland, Balisy 6 (Weegar, Brickley), 5:50. 5, Portland, Brickley 6 9:38. 6, Hartford, Jensen 14 (Adam, Diaz), 12:16 (PP). Penalties-Weegar Por (kneeing), 6:05; Acolatse Por (double minor - high-sticking), 9:55; C. Brown Hfd (hooking), 10:04.
OT Period-7, Hartford, Jensen 15 (Bodie, Hrivik), 1:23. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Portland 15-4-11-0-30. Hartford 10-14-14-1-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Portland 0 / 2; Hartford 1 / 4.
Goalies-Portland, McKenna 25-14-2 (39 shots-35 saves). Hartford, Hellberg 25-16-0 (30 shots-27 saves).
A-5,329
Referees-Jake Brenk (42), Ben Moser (3).
Linesmen-Brent Colby (7), Kevin Redding (16).