Wolf Pack Comeback Ends in Shootout Loss

The Wolf Pack battled back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to earn a standings point Saturday night at Bridgeport's Arena at Harbor Yard, but lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Bridgeport goaltender Nathan Lawson made 39 saves in regulation and overtime and stopped five of six shootout attempts. Rookie Justin DiBenedetto had the shootout winner and also scored in regulation.

Corey Locke's power-play goal tied the game at two for the Wolf Pack with 1:14 remaining in regulation, and Steve Valiquette made 27 saves in the Hartford net, but the Wolf Pack fell to 0-4 in shootouts.

The Wolf Pack were stymied by Lawson in a scoreless first period, in which the Wolf Pack outshot Bridgeport 14-7.

The Sound Tigers then jumped on top only 3:06 into the second frame, on the sixth goal of the season for DiBenedetto. The Wolf Pack's Bobby Sanguinetti had the puck in the corner, but lost it to Bridgeport defenseman Mark Katic. Katic fed Jesse Joensuu, who sent a perfect pass to DiBenedetto at the right-wing side of the crease, allowing DiBenedetto easily to beat Valiquette.

Hartford nearly tied it moments later, but Lawson was able to deny Mike Hoffman's try on a partial breakaway, and the Sound Tigers carried the 1-0 advantage into the third period.

After Valiquette made a glove save on former Wolf Pack captain Greg Moore on a breakaway at 1:12, Paul Crowder came out of the penalty box to get the Pack on the scoreboard at 7:19. Nigel Williams sent P.A. Parenteau down right wing with a pass, and Parenteau found Crowder in the left-wing circle for a shot that squeaked through Lawson.

Bridgeport regained the lead exactly three minutes later at 7:19, as Matt Martin converted on a penalty shot. Referee Geno Binda made the penalty shot call when David Urquhart hooked Martin on a partial breakaway, although Martin still got off a shot, which hit the post behind Valiquette. On the penalty shot, Martin snuck a shot through on Valiquette's stick side.

Locke's tying goal was set up by a tripping penalty against Bridgeport's Dustin Kohn at 17:54 of the third. Locke knocked in a rebound from the right side of the crease, after Dane Byers deflected the puck to him.

After a scoreless overtime, the shootout went to a sixth round, with DiBenedetto beating Valiquette for the deciding goal after Parenteau was the only one of the Pack's six shooters to solve Lawson.

With the shootout loss, the Wolf Pack (15-13-1-4, 35 points) have at least a standings point in four of their last five games (2-1-0-2), but have won only two of their last 11 (2-5-1-3).

Hartford Wolf Pack 2 At Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3 (SO)
Dec 26, 2009 - Arena at Harbor Yard

Hartford 0 0 2 0 - 2
Bridgeport 0 1 1 0 - 3

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Couture Hfd (hooking), 8:19; Bartley Bri (interference), 11:58; Smith Bri (tripping), 14:51; Sauer Hfd (roughing), 19:12; Moore Bri (roughing), 19:12.

2nd Period-1, Bridgeport, DiBenedetto 6 (Joensuu, Katic), 3:06. Penalties-Ambuhl Hfd (interference), 5:24; Wotton Bri (interference), 8:10.

3rd Period-2, Hartford, Crowder 7 (Williams, Parenteau), 7:19. 3, Bridgeport, Martin 8 10:19 (ps). 4, Hartford, Locke 14 (Byers, Heikkinen), 18:46 (pp). Penalties-Crowder Hfd (hooking), 5:12; Sanguinetti Hfd (slashing), 10:42; Kohn Bri (tripping), 17:54.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Hartford 1 (Locke NG, Parenteau G, Crowder NG, Byers NG, Weise NG, Dupont NG), Bridgeport 2 (Smith G, Moore NG, Mauldin NG, Joensuu NG, Bentivoglio NG, DiBenedetto G).
Shots on Goal-Hartford 14-10-15-2-0-41. Bridgeport 7-11-9-2-1-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 1 of 4; Bridgeport 0 of 4.
Goalies-Hartford, Valiquette 2-3-1 (29 shots-27 saves). Bridgeport, Lawson 7-7-1 (41 shots-39 saves).
A-6,143
Referees-Geno Binda (22).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Brent Colby (7).