Sound Tigers Nip Wolf Pack

Jan 7, 2017

By Chris Kohler

Bracken Kearns’ second-period goal held up as the game-winner for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Saturday night, in a 2-1 victory over the Wolf Pack at the XL Center.

Ryan Graves had the only Wolf Pack goal of the game, and Michael Dal Colle also scored for Bridgeport.  Jaroslav Halak started the game in the Sound Tiger net and stopped 14 of the 15 shots he faced, before having to leave the game due to an injury.  Stephon Williams was forced to stop only two shots in relief.  Brandon Halverson made 28 saves for the Wolf Pack.

Dal Colle opened the scoring at the 14:42 mark of the first period, moving down the left side in the Wolf Pack zone and using defenseman Steven Kampfer as a screen, to fire a shot past Halverson’s catching glove.

That was the only scoring until 16:01 of the second period, when Kearns extended Bridgeport’s lead to 2-0.  Loic Leduc fired a slap shot from the right point and Kearns deflected it past Halverson, who also had to deal from pressure from Steve Bernier.

The Wolf Pack answered that goal only 2:03 later, at 18:04, when Graves scored off of a 3-on-2.  Steven Fogarty played the puck to the middle off of right wing, and Graves blasted his fifth goal of the season past Halak’s glove side.

Halak was forced from the game with 38.5 seconds left in the period, after being hit by a high shot off of the stick of Ahti Oksanen.

The Wolf Pack were shorthanded three times in the third period, and were outshot 10-2 in the session.

“It was a back and forth game,” Graves said. “We had our chances and they had theirs. It’s just kind of the way it goes sometimes.  We can have one of those nights and not win.”

Head Coach Ken Gernander commented, “I wasn’t happy with some of our passes. I thought we could’ve done more and generated more offense.”

The Wolf Pack finish off a three-game weekend Sunday in Providence, taking on the Providence Bruins in a 3:05 PM game.  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 Wolf Pack’s next home game is Friday, January 20 vs. the Toronto Marlies at 7:15.  As at all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 that night, through the start of the second period.  Also, the first 2,000 fans will receive a Wolf Pack 20^th anniversary poster, compliments of Bud Light, as part of the Wolf Pack’s “Hartford Hockey Heritage Weekend”.

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.

 

 

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2 at Hartford Wolf Pack 1
Saturday, January 7, 2017 - XL Center

Bridgeport 1 1 0 - 2
Hartford 0 1 0 - 1

1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Dal Colle 8 (Landry, Lafranchise), 14:42. Penalties-Noonan Hfd (tripping), 2:28; Kovacs Hfd (tripping), 9:56; Johnston Bri (fighting), 13:27; Glass Hfd (fighting), 13:27; Kearns Bri (hooking), 13:44; McRae Hfd (interference), 13:56; Brown Hfd (tripping), 16:00.

2nd Period-2, Bridgeport, Kearns 12 (Leduc, Landry), 16:01. 3, Hartford, Graves 5 (Fogarty), 18:04. Penalties-Winquist Bri (slashing), 7:10; Brown Hfd (high-sticking), 19:59.

3rd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Halverson Hfd (delay of game), 6:03; Kovacs Hfd (holding), 13:07; Kampfer Hfd (roughing), 17:25.

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 8-12-10-30. Hartford 6-9-2-17.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 8; Hartford 0 / 2.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Halak 1-0-1 (15 shots-14 saves); Williams 4-12-0 (2 shots-2 saves). Hartford, Halverson 3-6-0 (30 shots-28 saves).
A-3,636
Referees- , Pierre Lambert (47).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Derek Wahl (46).