Pack Can't Come All the Way Back in 3-2 Loss at Syracuse
Mar 15, 2019(Photo courtesy of Syracuse Crunch)
A Wolf Pack third-period comeback from a 3-0 deficit fell short Friday night at the War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, NY, in a 3-2 loss to the Syracuse Crunch.
Gabriel Fontaine and Vinni Lettieri scored in the final 8:09 of the game for the Wolf Pack, but an early third-period goal by Mitchell Stephens stood up as the game-winner for Syracuse.
“I thought we looked like we were skating in mud for the first two periods,” Wolf Pack head coach Keith McCambridge said. “The third period speaks of the character we have in this room. This is a tough building to play in, but they pushed in the third to make the game interesting. But at the end of the day, they were the better team for the first two periods.”
The only goal of the first period came on the game’s first shot, 1:07 in. Cory Conacher was knocked off the puck by Hartford’s Darren Raddysh along the right-wing boards in the Wolf Pack end, but it came to Gabriel Dumont near the corner. He passed to Alexander Volkov at the faceoff dot, and his shot went through the skates of Wolf Pack goaltender Brandon Halverson (21 saves) and into the net.
There was no further scoring until the 19:27 mark of the second period, when Andy Andreoff increased the Syracuse lead to 2-0. Ross Colton sent the puck across the Wolf Pack line on right wing to Taylor Raddysh, Darren’s younger brother, who spun away from his older sibling. Taylor Raddysh then threaded a pass through to Andreoff below the left faceoff dot, and Halverson had no chance on his quick shot.
After that late goal in the second, the Crunch made it a 3-0 advantage only 1:56 into the third. The Wolf Pack’s Shawn St. Amant blocked a centering attempt from below the goal line by Boris Katchouk, but the puck deflected to Stephens at the right side of the slot. His shot got by the catching glove of Halverson, who was unintentionally screened by Darren Raddysh.
That goal turned out to be important, as the Wolf Pack had five power plays in the third and would enjoy a 12-2 shots advantage in the frame.
Syracuse killed the first three man advantages, but the Wolf Pack power play broke through at 11:51, 20 seconds after Cameron Gaunce was called for hooking.
Matt Beleskey fed the puck off of the left-wing boards to John Gilmour at the point, and his one-timer was stopped by Crunch goaltender Eddie Pasquale (24 saves). Fontaine was stationed in front, though, and he knocked the rebound in.
That was the only power-play conversion in seven attempts for the Wolf Pack on the night. Syracuse only had three man advantages.
“Those players are on the ice for a reason, to execute, and hopefully execute at a high level of pace,” McCambridge said of the power-play units. “But I didn’t think we had the execution that we’ve had whenever we’re able to have success.”
The Wolf Pack kept pressing the attack and were able to cut the margin to one with 1:07 remaining and Halverson on the bench for a sixth skater. Gilmour set up Lettieri on the left-wing wall, and his hard slap shot from the half-boards hit Pasquale’s right shoulder and went up under the crossbar. That goal increased Lettieri’s team-leading total to 23 on the year.
The Wolf Pack were able to get Halverson off the ice again, but could not manage to get the equalizer, falling to 27-29-6-3 (63 points) on the season.
The Wolf Pack continue a stretch of four straight road games Saturday night in Utica, taking on the Comets in a 7:00 PM game. All of the action of that battle can be heard live on News Radio 1410 AM, and 100.9 FM, WPOP, and on-line at www.newsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio. Video streaming is available at theahl.com/AHLTV.
The Wolf Pack’s next home game is Friday, March 29, a 7:15 PM contest vs. the Charlotte Checkers. As at all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 beers and fountain sodas, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest.
Tickets for all 2018-19 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $13 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase.
Season ticket information for the Wolf Pack’s 2018-19 AHL season can be found on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. To speak with a representative about all of the Wolf Pack’s many attractive ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.
Hartford Wolf Pack 2 at Syracuse Crunch 3
Friday, March 15, 2019 - Onondaga County War Memorial Arena
Hartford 0 0 2 - 2
Syracuse 1 1 1 - 3
1st Period-1, Syracuse, Volkov 14 (Dumont, Conacher), 1:07. Penalties-Conacher Syr (slashing), 6:23; Fogarty Hfd (tripping), 12:04; Lindgren Hfd (diving/embellishment), 13:54; Andreoff Syr (interference), 13:54; Andreoff Syr (hooking), 20:00.
2nd Period-2, Syracuse, Andreoff 23 (Raddysh, Colton), 19:27. Penalties-Ronning Hfd (tripping), 2:47; Ronning Hfd (hooking), 7:45; Crawley Hfd (fighting), 14:55; Labrie Syr (fighting), 14:55.
3rd Period-3, Syracuse, Stephens 10 (Katchouk, Brassart), 1:56. 4, Hartford, Fontaine 9 (Gilmour, Beleskey), 11:51 (PP). 5, Hartford, Lettieri 23 (Gilmour, Gropp), 18:53. Penalties-Chase Hfd (roughing), 1:56; Katchouk Syr (roughing, unsportsmanlike conduct), 1:56; served by Verhaeghe Syr (bench minor - too many men), 4:53; Gilmour Hfd (roughing), 8:47; Lindgren Hfd (roughing), 8:47; Conacher Syr (goaltender interference, roughing), 8:47; Foote Syr (roughing), 8:47; Gaunce Syr (hooking), 11:31; Andreoff Syr (roughing), 13:25.
Shots on Goal-Hartford 7-7-12-26. Syracuse 9-13-2-24.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 1 / 7; Syracuse 0 / 3.
Goalies-Hartford, Halverson 7-5-3 (24 shots-21 saves). Syracuse, Pasquale 23-10-5 (26 shots-24 saves).
A-5,371
Referees-Mitch Dunning (43), Mathieu Menniti (30).
Linesmen-Neil Frederickson (68), Tory Carissimo (54)