WOLF PACK BLANKED 4-0 BY CHECKERS
Mar 13, 2024CHARLOTTE, NC – The Hartford Wolf Pack dropped their third consecutive game on Wednesday night, as they fell 4-0 to the Charlotte Checkers at the Bojangles Coliseum. The loss snapped the Pack’s six-game overall point streak (3-0-2-1) and their three-game point streak (2-0-1-0) in Charlotte.
For the second time in the season series, the Wolf Pack and Checkers played an opening stanza without a goal. The Checkers fired 12 shots on Dylan Garand, while the Wolf Pack tested Spencer Knight with four shots on goal. Brett Berard nearly opened the scoring when he curled into the slot and beat Knight by the blocker, but the rookie forward struck the iron to keep the game 0-0.
The Checkers broke a 0-for-19 stretch on the powerplay 3:28 into the second period, breaking the tie. Mike Benning fired a shot from the point that Will Lockwood deflected near the top of the crease. Lockwood’s goal was his sixth of the season and his first against his former team. The goal would stand as the game-winner, Lockwood’s second of the season.
3:53 later, the Checkers made it 2-0 when Wilmer Skoog jammed home a rebound. Skoog fired a shot from the right-wing side that Garand was able to deny. As Garand was playing the rebound to himself, Skoog alertly poked the puck by Garand for his 12th goal of the season at 7:21.
Patrick Giles got into the action at 11:01, making it 3-0 Checkers with his 12th goal of the season. Jamieson Rees entered the zone on the left-wing side, slipping behind two Wolf Pack defenders. Rees then connected on a pass with Giles, who buried his third goal in as many contests.
The Wolf Pack started the third period with two separate five-on-three advantages but could not solve Knight. Shortly after the second five-on-three advantage, the Wolf Pack would go to the penalty kill after a high-sticking double-minor was called against Alex Belzile.
Late in the advantage, Mackie Samoskevich would score his third goal in as many games against the Wolf Pack, firing home a one-timer via a cross-ice feed from Ryan McAllister. The goal, Samoskevich’s 18th of the season, was the second powerplay marker of the night for the Checkers.
The Pack is back at the XL Center on Saturday, March 16th, when the Utica Comets come to town. The puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m., and tickets are available at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.
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ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and play at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.