WOLF PACK OUTSHOOT ICEHOGS 40-25, BUT FALL 3-2 IN ROAD TRIP FINALE
Dec 17, 2022ROCKFORD, IL – The Hartford Wolf Pack fired 40 shots on goal Saturday night, outshooting the Rockford IceHogs by a 40-25 margin. Goaltender Dylan Wells slammed the door shut down the stretch for the home side, however, as the IceHogs hung on for a 3-2 victory at BMO Center.
Filip Roos scored his second goal in just three AHL games to break a 2-2 tie at the 19:26 mark of the second period, giving the IceHogs the eventual game-winning goal. Roos collected the puck at the blue-line and navigated down the left-wing wall, eventually working his way into the faceoff circle. There, Roos released a shot that beat Wolf Pack goaltender Dylan Garand by the glove to put the IceHogs ahead for good, 3-2.
The Wolf Pack struck first, scoring the only goal of the first period at the 17:07 mark. Gustav Rydahl won a faceoff cleanly back to Mattew Robertson, who blasted his second goal of the season home to break the ice.
The IceHogs would find the equalizer 5:36 into the middle frame, however, pouncing on a turnover. Josiah Slavin entered the offensive zone with possession and drove to the right-wing faceoff circle. Slavin then dished a pass to D.J. Busdeker, who tapped home his first goal of the season.
On the ensuing faceoff, Brandon Cutler would be penalized for a faceoff violation. The IceHogs made the Wolf Pack pay. Just 56 seconds after the Busdeker goal, Michal Teply blasted home a one-time shot for his fifth goal of the season at 6:32.
Turner Elson notched the 100th goal of his AHL career just over two minutes later, crashing the net and finding a loose puck. Elson chipped his fifth goal of the season and his third in the last four games by Wells to draw the game to 2-2.
Roos would break the tie in the final minute, however, putting Rockford ahead for good.
The Wolf Pack pushed hard in the final period, outshooting the IceHogs by a 13-10 margin. The club had numerous good scoring chances, including a breakaway for Tanner Fritz and a late six-on-four powerplay chance. Wells made 13 saves to cement the victory, however.
The Wolf Pack conclude their Midwest trip with a record of 2-1-0-0, and finish with a 3-3-0-0 record against the Central Division.
The Pack returns to the XL Center on Thursday, December 22nd, taking on the Springfield Thunderbirds in the latest installment of the I-91 Rivalry. To get tickets, please visit 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.