Pack Unable to Extend Win Streak vs. Senators
Oct 20, 2017By Meghan O'Reilly
Despite outshooting the Belleville Senators 35-28 Friday night at the XL Center, the Wolf Pack could not get those shots in the net and fell, 5-1.
The game was the first-ever meeting between the Wolf Pack and Senators, who are a new AHL franchise this year.
“We had enough chances to win the game but we didn’t put the puck in the net and it seemed like everything was bouncing their way,” said Wolf Pack forward Cole Schneider, who \had the only goal for the Wolf Pack.
Head Coach McCambridge agreed saying, “We had some decent chances, but the difference was they were able to capitalize on theirs and we weren’t.”
The game started out slowly, with some close-in shots by the Wolf Pack. Hartford goaltender Chris Nell stopped a break away by Nick Paul, but seconds later, at 4:29, Belleville’s Jack Rodewald put the visitors up 1-0, though their lead did not last long.
At 5:17 Schneider, with assists from Filip Chytil and Matt Puempel, tied it up 1-1 and scored what would turn out to be the Wolf Pack’s only goal of the night.
Chytil and Puempel had the chance to do it again shortly thereafter, but Senators goaltender Danny Taylor came up with the save.
Nell would not be as fortunate, as a long shot from the left point by Andreas Englund was deflected in by Gabriel Gagne snuck at 12:06, and the Senators led, 2-1. In addition to Englund, Max Reinhart also picked up an assist.
The second started the same as the first, though hard hits were being thrown all around and the game quickly began to get more physical. Scott Kosmachuk was sent to the box for tripping at 6:23, and the Senators took immediate advantage with Christian Jaros putting them up 3-1. Jaros was assisted by Francis Perron and Maxime Lajoie at 6:36.
At one point, the Wolf Pack stormed down the ice, taking shot after shot, and even when Taylor was caught off balance, Thomas Chabot stepped in the net and managed to stop the Pack from scoring.
The Pack had several scoring chances early the final period, from Dan DeSalvo flying down the ice to Dan Catenacci’s multiple close rebounds, but Taylor was not letting anything through.
Reinhart increase the Senators’ lead to 4-1 at 7:44, in a 4-on-4 situation. Later in the period, Ryan Graves had at least three quick shots that were all stopped by Taylor.
The Wolf Pack pulled Nell for an extra attacker with just over three minutes remaining, but Tyler Randell sealed the home team’s fate with an empty-net goal at 18:33, putting an end to a three-game Wolf Pack win streak.
The Wolf Pack continue a three-game weekend Saturday night with a visit to Wilkes-Barre, PA to battle the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Faceoff is 7:05 PM, and all of the action 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 Wolf Pack home game is next Friday night, October 27, when the Bridgeport Sound Tigers invade the XL Center. That game is a 7:15 PM faceoff, and, as at all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Dave & Buster’s.
Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2017-18 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 2017-18 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.
Belleville Senators 5 at Hartford Wolf Pack 1
Friday, October 20, 2017 - XL Center
Belleville 2 1 2 - 5
Hartford 1 0 0 - 1
1st Period-1, Belleville, Rodewald 2 (Jaros), 4:29. 2, Hartford, Schneider 3 (Chytil, Puempel), 5:17. 3, Belleville, Gagne 2 (Englund, Reinhart), 12:06. Penalties-Bereglazov Hfd (hooking), 6:51; Crawley Hfd (slashing), 8:59; Burgdoerfer Bel (kneeing), 12:26; served by Gagne Bel (bench minor - too many men), 20:00.
2nd Period-4, Belleville, Jaros 1 (Perron, Lajoie), 6:36 (PP). Penalties-Nell Hfd (tripping), 6:23; O'Brien Bel (cross-checking), 16:30; Catenacci Hfd (tripping), 19:55.
3rd Period-5, Belleville, Reinhart 1 (Ciampini), 7:44. 6, Belleville, Randell 1 (Perron), 18:33 (EN). Penalties-Graves Hfd (hooking), 6:34; Jaros Bel (slashing), 7:00; Gagne Bel (slashing), 8:08; Werek Bel (interference), 11:05; Crawley Hfd (cross-checking), 13:41.
Shots on Goal-Belleville 12-8-8-28. Hartford 11-10-14-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Belleville 1 / 6; Hartford 0 / 6.
Goalies-Belleville, Taylor 2-2-0 (35 shots-34 saves). Hartford, Nell 3-1-0 (27 shots-23 saves).
A-2,901
Referees-Peter Tarnaris (17), Cameron Voss (41).
Linesmen-Nick Briganti (58), Derek Wahl (46).