Wolf Pack Nip Phantoms, 3-2
Mar 20, 2015The Wolf Pack defeated the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3-2 Friday night at the XL Center, to secure a four-game season sweep of the Phantoms.
Hartford was led by Chris Mueller (goal and two assists), Oscar Lindberg (goal and assist), Carl Klingberg (two assists) and Ryan Bourque, who had the game-winning goal. Yann Danis stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced.
Lehigh Valley had goals from Cole Bardreau and Blair Jones. Rob Zepp had 29 saves on 32 shots.
“We had two power play goals early, lots of shots (16 in the first period), I liked our start,” said Hartford coach Ken Gernander. “There’s going to be some ups and downs in a game, so the second period was a bit of a push back by them and then a pretty tight third.”
As Gernander said, the Pack power play unit had a big impact in the game early. The first man-advantage goal came when Lindberg drove to the net and fired a shot at the pad of Zepp. Mueller came crashing in and banged the rebound home at 12:44, to give the Pack a 1-0 lead.
Just 3:10 later, Lindberg had a power-play goal of his own after some nice passing by the unit. The passing led to Klingberg with the puck behind the net. He was the man who found Lindberg in the middle of the Phantoms’ defense.
“Pretty good chemistry between the two Swedes (Lindberg and Klingberg),” said Gernander. “[Klingberg] has been pretty good net-front for us and then he pops off on to that goal line. He and [Lindberg] seem to have a little bit of chemistry there, and [Mueller] had an assist. Really everyone on the PP had touched the puck at that point. They were working it around pretty good. and it was just a good finish.”
After stopping a breakaway on another Pack power play, Danis (27 saves) had a tipped shot get past him to cut the lead to just one, at 7:07 of the second period. The deflection was Bardreau’s first goal of the season, in his pro debut.
“It was one of his (Danis) stronger games as of late, and it’s pretty good timing for him,” said Gernander. “That’s the goalie we signed, that’s the goalie we’re expecting and we all know is there. It’s great, it’s coming to the forefront at a real important time and he’s been a big part of our last several starts here.”
Both Bourque brothers got on the score sheet early in the third period. Chris Bourque took a hooking penalty 16 seconds into the third, and shortly after he came out of the box, Michael Kostka sent a pass over to Ryan Bourque, who fired a one-timer past Zepp at 2:23, to make it a 3-1 game.
“It was a good rush and shooter’s mentality in the offensive zone,” said Gernander.
With 11:42 remaining in regulation, the Phantoms again made it a one-goal-game. Brett Hextall fired a shot from the bottom of the right faceoff circle that led to Jones slamming it home for his sixth goal of the season.
The Wolf Pack are back in action Saturday night, traveling to Springfield to take on the Falcons in a 7:00 game. All of the action of that contest can be heard live on Fox Sports Radio 1410, and on-line at www.foxsportsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio. Video streaming is available at www.ahllive.com.
The Wolf Pack’s next home game is Friday, March 27, when the Providence Bruins invade the XL Center for a 7:00 game. As at all Friday-night Wolf Pack games, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs an $2 beers through the start of the second period.
Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the Agera Energy 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 Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms 2 at Hartford Wolf Pack 3
Friday, March 20, 2015 - XL Center
Lehigh Valley 0 1 1 - 2
Hartford 2 0 1 - 3
1st Period-1, Hartford, Mueller 12 (Klingberg, Lindberg), 12:44 (PP). 2, Hartford, Lindberg 20 (Klingberg, Mueller), 15:54 (PP). Penalties-Summers Hfd (holding), 3:22; Manning Lv (high-sticking), 12:12; Jones Lv (checking to the head), 14:44.
2nd Period-3, Lehigh Valley, Bardreau 1 (Delisle, Laughton), 7:07. Penalties-Hextall Lv (roughing), 3:47; Hrivik Hfd (roughing), 3:47; Straka Lv (hooking), 4:33; Stortini Lv (hooking), 10:43; Summers Hfd (hooking), 13:13.
3rd Period-4, Hartford, R. Bourque 11 (Kostka, Mueller), 2:23. 5, Lehigh Valley, Jones 6 (Leier, Hextall), 8:19. Penalties-Bourque Hfd (hooking), 0:16; Hagg Lv (high-sticking), 9:17; Stortini Lv (roughing, roughing), 20:00; Kostka Hfd (hooking), 20:00; Lindberg Hfd (cross-checking), 20:00.
Shots on Goal-Lehigh Valley 7-9-13-29. Hartford 16-8-8-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Lehigh Valley 0 / 3; Hartford 2 / 5.
Goalies-Lehigh Valley, Zepp 17-12-1 (32 shots-29 saves). Hartford, Danis 12-12-1 (29 shots-27 saves).
A-4,686
Referees-Mark Lemelin (41).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Paul Simeon (66).