Wolf Pack Earn Point with Late Goal

Oct 5, 2013

Darroll Powe’s goal with 0.4 seconds left in the third period got the Wolf Pack a standings point in their season opener Saturday night at the XL Center, but the Norfolk Admirals came away with the two points, winning 3-2 in a shootout.

The Admirals led 2-1 with 4.5 seconds remaining in regulation, when, with Hartford goaltender Cam Talbot on the bench for an extra attacker, the Wolf Pack’s Micheal Haley won a faceoff in the Admiral end. Chris Kreider fired a low shot that Norfolk goaltender Frederik Andersen stopped with his left pad, but Powe and Brandon Mashinter crashed the net and Powe was able to poke the puck underneath Andersen and into the net.

Referee Geno Binda originally signaled that the goal didn’t count, but after consulting the video replay system, he reversed himself and allowed the goal to stand.

Rickard Rakell and Devante Smith-Pelly scored shootout goals for Norfolk, though, and Danny Kristo was the only one of five Wolf Pack shooters to solve Andersen, who stopped 35 of 37 shots in regulation and overtime. Talbot made 25 saves for the Wolf Pack.

After a scoreless first period, the Admirals opened the scoring only 1:15 into the second, with Steven Whitney capitalizing on a Wolf Pack defensive-zone miscue. Kristo tried to drop the puck off to Conor Allen in his own end, but Whitney intercepted and was able to fire a shot off of Talbot and into the goal.

Rakell made it a 2-0 Norfolk advantage only 37 seconds into the third period, on a five-on-three power play. Charles Sarault threaded a pass from the right-wing circle across the goalmouth to the right-handed-shooting Rakell along the goal line, and Talbot had no chance to stop Rakell’s high shot.

Kristo got the Wolf Pack on the board at 5:38 with a power-play goal, Kristo’s first pro tally. Veteran Aaron Johnson, chosen as the Wolf Pack’s new captain before the game, fed Kristo on the left-wing side, and Kristo’s snapshot went under the crossbar behind Andersen.

The Wolf Pack are right back on home ice at the XL Center on Sunday, hosting the Albany Devils at 3:00 PM. That is the first chance for fans to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Sunday” packs, which include two tickets, two hot dogs and two sodas, starting at only $35.

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger. To speak with a representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.

 

Norfolk Admirals 3 (SO) at Hartford Wolf Pack 2
Saturday, October 5, 2013 - XL Center

Norfolk 0 1 1 0 - 3
Hartford 0 0 2 0 - 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Stortini Nor (holding), 2:05; Staubitz Nor (interference), 6:03; Stortini Nor (fighting), 8:18; Haley Hfd (fighting), 8:18; Hrivik Hfd (roughing), 11:00; Stortini Nor (fighting), 18:14; McIlrath Hfd (fighting), 18:14.

2nd Period-1, Norfolk, Whitney 1 1:15. Penalties-Johnson Hfd (boarding), 6:50; Sarault Nor (hooking), 9:03; Allen Hfd (interference), 11:45; Laganiere Nor (tripping), 14:12; Kreider Hfd (roughing), 16:26; Haley Hfd (delay of game), 17:43; Noesen Nor (slashing), 18:02; Clark Nor (fighting), 19:48; Bickel Hfd (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:48; Yogan Hfd (instigating, fighting, misconduct - instigating), 19:48.

3rd Period-2, Norfolk, Rakell 1 (Sarault, Gagne), 0:37 (PP). 3, Hartford, Kristo 1 (Johnson, Haley), 5:38 (PP). 4, Hartford, Powe 1 (Mashinter, Kreider), 19:59. Penalties-Yonkman Nor (interference), 4:37; Staubitz Nor (interference), 7:45; Wagner Nor (boarding), 14:33.

OT Period- No Scoring. Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Norfolk 2 (Rakell G, Sarault NG, Smith-Pelly G, Whitney NG), Hartford 1 (Lindberg NG, Kristo G, Kreider NG, Yogan NG, Bourque NG).
Shots on Goal-Norfolk 9-9-6-3-1-28. Hartford 9-15-12-1-0-37.
Power Play Opportunities-Norfolk 1 / 7; Hartford 1 / 8.
Goalies-Norfolk, Andersen 1-0-0 (37 shots-35 saves). Hartford, Talbot 0-0-1 (27 shots-25 saves).
A-6,347
Referees-Geno Binda (22).
Linesmen-Brent Colby (7), Luke Galvin (2).