Pack Kick off Season with 6-3 Win over St. John's

Oct 14, 2016

By Henry Lucey

In front of an energized home crowd of 6,971, the Wolf Pack began their 20^th-anniversary 2016-2017 campaign with a 6-3 victory over the St. John’s IceCaps Friday night at the XL Center.

Hartford’s Adam Tambellini opened the scoring floodgates, when he found the back of the net just a minute and fifty-six seconds into the contest. The goal was assisted by defenseman Michael Paliotta and center Philip McRae and went unmatched for just over half the period.

However, at 11:47, IceCaps center Charles Hudon beat Hartford goalie, Magnus Hellberg to tie the game at one. The contest did not stay tied for long though, as McRae scored just fifteen seconds later. An adrenaline-fueled first period saw its last goal at 14:36, when St. John’s’ Chris Terry buried a power play goal to even the score at 2-2.

As nerves appeared to cool down in the second period, Hellberg only seemed to heat up. He refused to be beaten, and ultimately recorded thirteen saves in the period. The period’s lone goal came at 7:39, when Hartford right winger Robin Kovacs tailed his first North American pro goal.

The third period featured the same type of offensive-fireworks that were displayed in the game’s first twenty minutes. Boo Nieves started the scoring with a crafty goal just twenty-seven seconds into the period. Just over two minutes later, St. John’s responded with a goal of their own, as Captain, Max Friberg was finally able to get the puck past Hellberg at the 2:46 mark. In what had become typical fashion, it did not take long for the Wolf Pack to answer this blow. At 3:53, rookie defenseman John Gilmour recorded his first career goal to give the Wolf Pack a 5-3 lead. Hartford was then able to smother the St. John’s attack, and even came away with an empty-net goal, courtesy of Assistant Captain Marek Hrivik, at 19:56. The goal was assisted by Nieves and Gilmour.

Following the game, Wolf Pack head coach Ken Gernander praised his club’s resolve, saying, “I liked the team character, and I liked the response.”

The Wolf Pack play their first road game of the 2016-17 season Saturday night, traveling to Wilkes-Barre, PA to take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  Faceoff is 7:05 PM, and all of the action of that contest can be heard live on News Radio 1410 WPOP, and on-line at www.newsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio.  Video streaming is available at www.ahllive.com.

The next home game for the Wolf Pack is a rematch with the IceCaps next Sunday, October 23, with faceoff at 5:00 PM.  Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday home games feature the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack”.  The Family Value Pack includes two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for just $40. 

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2016-17 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.

Season ticket information for the Wolf Pack’s 2016-17 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.

 

 

St. John's IceCaps 3 at Hartford Wolf Pack 6
Friday, October 14, 2016 - XL Center

St. John's 2 0 1 - 3
Hartford 2 1 3 - 6

1st Period-1, Hartford, Tambellini 1 (Paliotta, McRae), 1:56. 2, St. John's, Hudon 1   11:47. 3, Hartford, McRae 1 (Tambellini, Brown), 12:02. 4, St. John's, Terry 1 (Barberio, Hudon), 14:36 (PP). Penalties-Paliotta Hfd (interference), 2:19; Carey Hfd (roughing), 6:37; Summers Hfd (hooking), 13:55.

2nd Period-5, Hartford, Kovacs 1 (Nieves, Gilmour), 7:39. Penalties-McCarron Stj (double minor - high-sticking), 1:22.

3rd Period-6, Hartford, Nieves 1 (Stromwall), 0:27. 7, St. John's, Friberg 1 (P. Samuelsson), 2:46. 8, Hartford, Gilmour 1 (Bodie, McRae), 3:53. 9, Hartford, Hrivik 1 (Jensen, Glass), 19:56 (EN). Penalties-Broll Stj (roughing), 2:14; Graves Hfd (roughing), 2:14; Lernout Stj (hooking), 5:00; McRae Hfd (holding), 9:30; de la Rose Stj (tripping), 13:45.

Shots on Goal-St. John's 9-13-9-31. Hartford 14-8-8-30.
Power Play Opportunities-St. John's 1 / 4; Hartford 0 / 4.
Goalies-St. John's, Fucale 0-1-0-0 (29 shots-24 saves). Hartford, Hellberg 1-0-0-0 (31 shots-28 saves).
A-6,971
Referees-Chris Schlenker (48), Ben Moser (3).
Linesmen-Brent Colby (7), Paul Simeon (66).