LeNeveu Frustrates Bridgeport Again
Mar 30, 2014David LeNeveu authored his second consecutive shutout Sunday at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, making 31 saves, as the Wolf Pack knocked off the Bridgeport Sound Tigers by a score of 3-0.
LeNeveu, who rang up the Wolf Pack’s first shutout of the season Saturday night, making 22 saves in a 4-0 Hartford victory over Bridgeport at the XL Center, had watched Dov Grumet-Morris start seven straight Wolf Pack games, and nine out of ten, prior to Saturday’s game.
“It’s a three-in-three (three games in three days) for us, and those guys (Bridgeport) had two games,” LeNeveu said. “And they came hard last night and they came even harder today. They wanted it, they’ve got a lot of guys trying out, pushing for jobs next year.”
T.J. Hensick had a goal and an assist Sunday for the Wolf Pack Sunday, who were outshot 31-17 in the game, and Darroll Powe and Marek Hrivik also scored. Micheal Haley had two assists. Kevin Poulin made 14 saves in the Bridgeport net.
The Wolf Pack were outshot 10-5 in the first period, but came out of it leading 1-0, thanks to a late goal by Powe.
Powe took a pass from Hensick and broke down right wing in the Bridgeport zone, before putting a backhander off the skates of Sound Tiger defenseman Joe Finley. The carom deflected underneath the pads of Poulin and into the net at 19:05.
The Wolf Pack then completed the scoring with a pair of goals in the second frame.
Hrivik made it a two-goal lead at 3:39, off of a slick, cross-ice feed from Danny Syvret. Syvret moved across the Bridgeport blue line on the right-wing side and passed the puck across the slot to Hrivik, whose high shot from the left circle got by Poulin on the stick side.
A fine individual effort by Hensick made it 3-0 Wolf Pack at 14:14 in a four-on-four situation. Hensick took a pass from Haley in the offensive zone, spun near the blue line, and carried all the way around behind the net, before beating Poulin on a wraparound to Poulin’s left.
The victory improved the Wolf Pack’s record to within one game of the .500 mark, at 30-31-1-6 for 67 points, and opened the gap between the third-place Wolf Pack and the fourth-place Sound Tigers to six points in the Northeast Division. Hartford finished the week in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, ten points out of a playoff spot.
The Wolf Pack are now off until this Friday, April 4, when they travel to Manchester to face off against the Eastern Conference-leading Monarchs. Faceoff is 7:00 PM, and all of the action of that battle can be heard live on Fox Sports Radio 1410, and on-line at www.foxsportsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio. Video streaming is available at www.ahllive.com.
The Wolf Pack’s next home game is this Saturday, April 5, a 7:00 PM contest vs. the Providence Bruins. Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger. To speak with a representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.
Hartford Wolf Pack 3 at Bridgeport Sound Tigers 0
Sunday, March 30, 2014 - Webster Bank Arena
Hartford 1 2 0 - 3
Bridgeport 0 0 0 - 0
1st Period-1, Hartford, Powe 12 (Haley, Hensick), 19:05. Penalties-Mangene Bri (hooking), 11:00; Leboeuf Bri (cross-checking), 15:30.
2nd Period-2, Hartford, Hrivik 10 (Syvret, Fast), 3:39. 3, Hartford, Hensick 10 (Johnson, Haley), 14:14. Penalties-Jean Hfd (goaltender interference), 5:54; Vaive Hfd (holding the stick), 12:45; Wetmore Bri (hooking), 12:45.
3rd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-McIlrath Hfd (interference), 1:54; Hughes Hfd (tripping), 7:54; Vaughan Bri (goaltender interference), 14:50; Allen Hfd (unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing), 15:40; Bruton Bri (roughing), 15:40; Pedan Bri (roughing), 15:40.
Shots on Goal-Hartford 5-7-5-17. Bridgeport 10-10-11-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 3; Bridgeport 0 / 3.
Goalies-Hartford, LeNeveu 6-8-0 (31 shots-31 saves). Bridgeport, Poulin 1-8-1 (17 shots-14 saves).
A-6,827
Referees-Trevor Hanson (47), Fred Leblanc (30).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Kevin Redding (16).