Late Goals Lead Wolf Pack Over Manchester

The Wolf Pack needed just about all of regulation Friday night finally to put away the Manchester Monarchs, winning 2-0 in front of a crowd of 4,551 at the XL Center.

Hartford’s Derek Couture converted a rebound off of Manchester goaltender Jonathan Bernier, the shot just trickling over the goal line, to give the Wolf Pack a 1-0 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the third period.

After being stymied for over two periods by Bernier, who beat the Wolf Pack Wednesday night in Manchester (2-1), Hartford extended their lead to 2-0 when Dane Byers connected for his third goal of the year for the second tally in 38 seconds at 17:32.

Byers, in his first game back after a five-game stint with the parent New York Rangers, skated down the left wing on an odd-man rush and neatly placed a shot above Bernier’s right shoulder after receiving a pass from Jordan Owens.

Hartford utilized excellent goaltending from rookie Chad Johnson in the close matchup. Johnson recorded his second shutout of the season after turning aside 26 Manchester shots.

“You cannot think too far ahead, if you’re thinking about shutouts, stuff like that, you’re looking too far ahead," Johnson said. You’re just in the moment, trying to get the two points.”

Neither team managed to mount much offense in the first two periods, despite the Wolf Pack’s league-leading power-play receiving two opportunities on a pair of Kevin Westgarth penalties in the first.

Hartford’s best chance early on came from Dale Weise, who was turned away in the slot by Bernier after a nice setup with the extraattacker with just under five minutes remaining in the first period.

The Wolf Pack’s Evgeny Grachev also was denied by Bernier, who made a pad save on a quality chance after Grachev took a shot from the right wing.

One of Manchester’s best scoring chances of the night came with just under a minute to play in the second period, as Monarchs' defenseman Drew Bagnall received a pass at the point and took a hard slap shot that was covered up by Johnson.

“I wasn’t really paying attention to who was shooting, again you’re just in the moment, not really thinking about the shooter,” said Johnson.

The win over Manchester was the second time in the last three meetings with the Monarchs in which the Wolf Pack has triumphed late. The Pack took a 3-2 decision in the teams' last matchup in Hartford when Corey Locke scored in the final second of overtime November 1.

Friday's victory improved the Wolf Pack's record on the season to 9-7-0-0 for 18 points and moved them into a third-place tie with the Springfield Falcons in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of Worcester, whom the Pack visit Saturday night (7:05 PM faceoff, WTIC NewsTalk 1080).

Manchester Monarchs 0 At Hartford Wolf Pack 2
Nov 13, 2009 - XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Manchester 0 0 0 - 0
Hartford 0 0 2 - 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Potter Hfd (tripping), 2:03; Westgarth Mch (interference), 5:49; Westgarth Mch (elbowing), 14:57.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Kolomatis Mch (hooking), 2:45.

3rd Period-1, Hartford, Couture 1 (Soryal, Garlock), 16:54. 2, Hartford, Byers 3 (Owens), 17:32. Penalties-Byers Hfd (hooking), 9:19.

Shots on Goal-Manchester 9-9-8-26. Hartford 6-11-8-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Manchester 0 of 2; Hartford 0 of 3.
Goalies-Manchester, Bernier 7-4-1 (25 shots-23 saves). Hartford, Johnson 7-4-0 (26 shots-26 saves).
A-4,551
Referees-Chris Ciamaga (41).
Linesmen-Kevin Redding (16), Derek Wahl (46).