Penguins Skate past Pack, 4-1

Nov 13, 2016

By Henry Lucey

The Wolf Pack were unable to recover from a 3-0 first-period deficit Sunday at the XL Center, falling 4-1 to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. 

Reid Gardiner put the Penguins on the board just a minute and thirty-nine seconds into the contest when he blocked a Michael Paliotta shot and deposited the ensuing breakaway attempt into the back of Magnus Hellberg’s net.

At 7:22, Hartford’s Chris Summers was booked for tripping, sending the Penguins on the first power play of the afternoon. Less than a minute into the penalty, Dominik Simon buried a rebound attempt created by Chad Ruhwedel’s slap shot, to stretch the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lead to 2-0 at 8:02.

As the rest of the period played out, it appeared that Simon’s goal would be the final score, but with just 29.5 seconds remaining in the frame, David Warsofsky sent a perfectly placed slap shot from the right point past Hellberg’s stick side, to give the Penguins a 3-0 lead heading into the break.

After surrendering three goals in the first, Hellberg and the Pack’s defense became impenetrable in the second period. Hellberg stopped all twelve shots that came his way, while the team’s penalty kill unit withstood three Wilkes-Barre/Scranton power plays. The Pack landed seven shots in the frame, but were unable to find the back of the net.

Two of Hartford’s best bids came when Ryan Graves’ slap shot clanked off the right post at 4:35, and when Steven Fogarty was able to evade a host of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defenders, but failed to convert a backhanded attempt.

In the third period, Hartford was finally able to capitalize on the momentum that they built at the end of the contest’s second frame.

With 14:41 to play, Marek Hrivik put the Pack on the scoreboard with his team-leading sixth goal of the season. Fellow forwards Justin Fontaine and Chris Brown assisted the score.

Unfortunately for the Wolf Pack, Hrivik’s tally would ultimately be the only goal that Coach Ken Gernander’s squad could muster. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Ryan Haggerty completed the scoring when he powered a shot past Hellberg’s outstretched catching glove at 16:50, bringing the Penguins lead back to three and making the final score 4-1.

Following the game, Gernander remarked, “There were some things in the third period, in terms of energy and effort, that we can build on. We just need to keep pushing forward. “

The Wolf Pack’s next action is this Wednesday night, November 16 at the XL Center, a 7:00 PM game vs. the Springfield Thunderbirds.  That is another “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack” game.  The Family Value Pack includes two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for just $40.

Also on Wednesday, the Wolf Pack will be continuing a Thanksgiving food drive.  Any fan who brings five or more non-perishable food items for donation will receive a buy-one-get-one-free ticket voucher for use at any 2016-17 Wolf Pack home game.

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.

 

 

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4 at Hartford Wolf Pack 1
Sunday, November 13, 2016 - XL Center

W-B/Scranton 3 0 1 - 4
Hartford 0 0 1 - 1

1st Period-1, W-B/Scranton, Gardiner 3   1:39. 2, W-B/Scranton, Simon 3 (Ruhwedel), 8:02 (PP). 3, W-B/Scranton, Warsofsky 2 (Percy), 19:30 (PP). Penalties-Summers Hfd (tripping), 7:22; Warsofsky Wbs (roughing), 14:20; Carey Hfd (roughing), 14:20; Hrivik Hfd (slashing), 14:40; Gaunce Wbs (fighting), 17:32; Brown Hfd (fighting), 17:32; Hrivik Hfd (double minor - high-sticking), 18:19.

2nd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Di Pauli Wbs (hooking), 3:08; Stromwall Hfd (interference), 6:37; Stromwall Hfd (slashing), 10:44; McGrath Wbs (roughing), 14:25; Kampfer Hfd (roughing), 14:25.

3rd Period-4, Hartford, Hrivik 6 (Fontaine, Brown), 5:19. 5, W-B/Scranton, Haggerty 1 (Wilson, Sundqvist), 16:50. Penalties-Fogarty Hfd (high-sticking), 2:08; Gardiner Wbs (tripping), 14:01.

Shots on Goal-W-B/Scranton 14-12-14-40. Hartford 5-7-11-23.
Power Play Opportunities-W-B/Scranton 2 / 7; Hartford 0 / 2.
Goalies-W-B/Scranton, Jarry 6-2-1-0 (23 shots-22 saves). Hartford, Hellberg 3-3-2-0 (40 shots-36 saves).
A-2,592
Referees-Furman South (44), Chris Schlenker (48).
Linesmen-Paul Simeon (66), Luke Galvin (2).