Wolf Pack get Shootout Win in Georgiev's Return

Mar 28, 2018

By Nick Ward

Alexandar Georgiev made 33 saves in his return to the AHL, and was 3-for-3 in the shootout Wednesday night at the XL Center, helping the Wolf Pack to a 4-3 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds.

The Wolf Pack’s Scott Kosmachuk had the only goal of the shootout, and Vinni Lettieri, Brandon Crawley and Adam Tambellini scored for Hartford in regulation.  Dryden Hunt had a goal and an assist for the Thunderbirds, who came back from 1-0 and 3-1 deficits in the game, and Chase Balisy and Joel Lowry also scored Springfield goals.

The Wolf Pack were able to strike first in the first period of play, as Lettieri scored his 21st goal of the season to put the Pack ahead 1-0 with 14:34 remaining in the period. Lettieri scored after being fed the puck on the right side of the slot, where he was able to use a wrist shot to put the puck in the net.

Balisy answered that goal at 12:02, knocking his own rebound past Georgiev to tie the game at 1-1.

After trading goals in the first period, the teams were unable to find the net in the second period, as Georgiev was able to settle into the game and continue to dominate in the net. The Wolf Pack also thrived defensively in the second period, after they were called for back to back penalties at 1:14 and 1:59, hooking on Boo Nieves and slashing on Dan Catenacci, they were able to kill the 5-on-3 penalty.

“It was nice to be able to kill the 5 on 3, have a good second period, and then come out in the third period flying around,” said Georgiev.

The Wolf Pack came out hot in the third period, as Crawley was able to score on a wrist shot just 51 seconds into the period.

Shortly thereafter, Georgiev lost the puck and almost allowed a Thunderbirds player to tap it in, but the Wolf Pack escaped the scoring chance and instead scored one of their own, as Tambellini was able to finish a wrist shot on the break with 13:35 remaining in the period.

“We came out with a lot of jump out of the dressing room to start the game, as well as the third period,” said Wolf Pack head coach Keith McCambridge.

The Wolf Pack lead was then cut to 3-2, after Dryden Hunt was somehow able to find the net in front of a crowded crease at 9:08 of the third period.

The Thunderbirds tied the score at 3-3 just 3:09 later, at 12:17, when Joel Lowry knocked the puck into the net after a shot by Hunt from the right point hit the goal post.

The Wolf Pack continued the aggressive play defensively late in the third. Catenacci was called for slashing with 1:11 remaining in the final period of regulation, and the Pack were able to settle into their penalty kill and send the game to overtime.

The Wolf Pack were held without a shot in the OT, but allowed only one on their net, and the game moved on to the shootout, the Wolf Pack’s league-high 12^th of the season.

Tambellini started the shootout off trying to deke Harri Sateri, but was unable to get the puck past the leg pad of the Thunderbirds' goalie. Dan DeSalvo would also fail to put the puck in the net as the second shooter, but the third shooter for the Wolf Pack, Kosmachuk, was able to beat the Thunderbirds goaltender for the victory, which Georgiev sealed by stopping Curtis Valk.

“I shot a few times in shoot outs this season coming down the left side, and I decided to switch it up and put it in the net.” said Kosmachuk.

The Wolf Pack are back on home ice for their next action this Friday night, March 30, hosting the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 7:15 PM game.  As at all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Dave & Buster’s.

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2017-18 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 2017-18 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.

 

 

Springfield Thunderbirds 3 at Hartford Wolf Pack 4 (SO)
Wednesday, March 28, 2018 - XL Center

Springfield 1 0 2 0 - 3
Hartford 1 0 2 0 - 4

1st Period-1, Hartford, Lettieri 21 (Schneider, Fontaine), 5:26. 2, Springfield, Balisy 14 (Fortunus), 12:02. Penalties-Hunt Spr (tripping), 13:36.

2nd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Nieves Hfd (hooking), 1:14; Catenacci Hfd (slashing), 1:59; Horton Spr (high-sticking), 8:58.

3rd Period-3, Hartford, Crawley 2 (Beleskey, Albert), 0:51. 4, Hartford, Tambellini 15 (Kosmachuk, Nieves), 6:25. 5, Springfield, Hunt 19   9:08. 6, Springfield, Lowry 1 (Hunt, Fortunus), 12:17. Penalties-Catenacci Hfd (slashing), 18:49.

OT Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Farnham Spr (misconduct - abuse of officials), 4:50.

Shootout - Springfield 0 (Schemitsch NG, Beauchemin NG, Valk NG), Hartford 1 (Tambellini NG, DeSalvo NG, Kosmachuk G).
Shots on Goal-Springfield 10-13-12-1-0-36. Hartford 12-7-13-0-1-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Springfield 0 / 3; Hartford 0 / 2.
Goalies-Springfield, Sateri 10-7-3 (32 shots-29 saves). Hartford, Georgiev 13-11-6 (36 shots-33 saves).
A-2,039
Referees-Olivier Gouin (54), Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Robert St. Lawrence (10), Paul Simeon (66).