Pack Drop Hard-Fought Contest to P-Bruins, 3-2

Dec 27, 2016

By Henry Lucey

The Providence Bruins’ Jordan Szwarz notched the third period winner Tuesday night, as the Bruins skated past the Wolf Pack, 3-2, at the XL Center.

Hartford dominated the majority of game’s opening frame, but with just one minute to play, the scoreboard remained unblemished. After failing to convert on a number of promising chances, the Wolf Pack’s up-tempo offense was finally able to break through at the 19:25 mark, when Adam Tambellini sent a gorgeous snap-shot into the top-right corner of Malcolm Subban’s net. The goal, Tambellini’s sixth of the year, was assisted by Nicklas Jensen and Robin Kovacs.

On the opposite end of the ice, Hartford net-minder Jeff Malcolm, playing his first AHL game of the year, denied all seven of the attempts that came his way, sending the Pack into the dressing room with a 1-0 advantage.

When asked about the goal, Tambellini said, “It was a really nice play by Jensen, just kind of laying it in the area. I knew the defenseman was coming back on me, so I was trying to get it away quickly, and it found a way in.”

Trailing by a goal, the Bruins came out with a renewed sense of urgency in the second period. Just one minute and thirty-one seconds into the frame, Providence’s Wayne Simpson received a pass from Peter Cehlarik and sent a one-timer past Malcolm’s blocker to level the score at 1-1.

Hartford went on to land ten shots on Subban’s net in the second, but none were successful, leaving the score tied at 1-1 as both teams prepared for the third period.

Providence struck again three minutes and fifty-three seconds into the third period. This time, Jake DeBrusk drove towards Hartford’s goal, along the goal line from the left side, and knocked the puck off Malcolm’s side and into the back of the net. After getting off the shot, DeBrusk collided with Malcolm, but both players were ultimately able to remain in the game.

Seventy-two seconds later, Coach Ken Gernander’s Wolf Pack squad responded, when Justin Fontaine found a streaking Chris Summers, who, after taking two strides down the left flank, sent a snap-shot between Subban’s legs to level the score at 2-2.

Just as they did all-night, however, Providence came up with an answer of their own. At 9:07, Szwarz deflected Peter Cehlarik’s feed past Malcolm to put the Bruins back on top, 3-2.

Despite a valiant effort, highlighted by an exhilarating final minute, Hartford was unable to match Szwarz’s goal, and a season-high Wolf Pack win streak ended at four games.

Following the game, Head Coach Ken Gernander analyzed, “I thought we battled hard. We had a couple chances there late to tie it, but yeah, they worked hard."

The next action for the Wolf Pack is a trip to Springfield to battle the Thunderbirds this Friday night, December 30.  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 Wolf Pack are next on home ice on New Year’s Eve, this Saturday, December 31, taking on the Albany Devils in a 5:00 game.  The Wolf Pack have partnered with First Night Hartford 2017 to offer a special First Night ticket discount package for that game, available for $25 for adults, and $12 for kids 12 or younger.  The package includes a Blue-Section ticket to the New Year’s Eve game and a First Night wristband, good for admission to all of the multiple First Night Hartford New Year’s Eve Celebration activities. To order the special First Night package, go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com, visit the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center or call (877) 522-8499, and use the promo code FIRSTNIGHT.

Also at Saturday’s game, the first 2,000 fans through the doors will receive the third of four sets of Wolf Pack 20^th-anniversary trading cards that will be given away during this 2016-17 season, presented by KOTA. The set will be comprised of the third group of the players chosen as the top 20 all-time in franchise history.

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.

 

 

Providence Bruins 3 at Hartford Wolf Pack 2
Tuesday, December 27, 2016 - XL Center

Providence 0 1 2 - 3
Hartford 1 0 1 - 2

1st Period-1, Hartford, Tambellini 6 (Jensen, Kovacs), 19:25. Penalties-McPherson Hfd (holding), 6:12.

2nd Period-2, Providence, Simpson 9 (Cehlarik, Szwarz), 1:31. Penalties-Hickman Pro (interference), 9:41.

3rd Period-3, Providence, DeBrusk 8 (Hargrove, Breen), 3:53. 4, Hartford, Summers 3 (Fontaine), 5:05. 5, Providence, Szwarz 7 (Cehlarik, Grant), 9:07. Penalties-Szwarz Pro (tripping), 6:49; Jensen Hfd (misconduct - unsportsmanlike conduct), 13:39; Kovacs Hfd (roughing), 13:39; Cave Pro (fighting), 20:00; Kampfer Hfd (fighting), 20:00.

Shots on Goal-Providence 7-8-14-29. Hartford 13-10-8-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Providence 0 / 2; Hartford 0 / 2.
Goalies-Providence, Subban 3-7-4 (31 shots-29 saves). Hartford, Malcolm 0-1-0 (29 shots-26 saves).
A-5,491
Referees-Guillaume Labonte (35), Michael Mullen (7).
Linesmen-Kevin Briganti (39), Paul Simeon (66).