Wolf Pack Finish Season with Victory, Win GEICO Connecticut Cup

The Wolf Pack defeated the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 2-1, Sunday afternoon in their season finale, in front of 6,060 at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport.

Ryan Garlock’s goal at the 6:01 mark of the third period proved to be the game-winner for Hartford, who were also supported by 30 saves from goaltender Chad Johnson.

“It was a good effort tonight, a good win,” said Wolf Pack head coach Ken Gernander, who completed his third season as Hartford’s bench boss Sunday. “A little bittersweet.”

“It’s easy to pack it in when you’re not making the playoffs,” said Garlock. “But it was a good character win against a real good team.”

The Wolf Pack’s win over the Sound Tigers also gave Hartford the GEICO Connecticut Cup, as they posted a record of 5-3-0-2 against Bridgeport, earning twelve of a possible 20 points to Bridgeport’s eleven (5-4-1-0).

The Sound Tigers had taken an early 1-0 lead to start the game, as Jeremy Reich scored on Bridgeport’s first shot of the game just 1:34 into the first period. Johnson was unable to reel in the attempt, as the shot tipped off of the top of his glove and into the net.

Dane Byers soon managed to pull the Wolf Pack even at 11:57, while the Pack were on the power play. Sound Tigers goaltender Nathan Lawson (23 saves) had taken a delay of game penalty for knocking a puck out of play at 10:58 of the first, leaving Bridgeport shorthanded with Robin Figren serving the penalty.

On the scoring play, Corey Potter sent a pass across to his partner Ilkka Heikkinen, who took a hard slap shot from the point. Byers, screening Lawson in front of the crease, then tipped Heikkinen’s bid past the Bridgeport goaltender for the equalizer. The goal was a professional career-high 25th for Byers.

Neither team could find the back of the net during the second period of play, as Johnson and Lawson made 12 and 11 saves, respectively. Bridgeport outshot the Wolf Pack for the second period in a row, after firing 11 attempts on goal during the first period.

The best scoring chance of the second may have came off the stick of Hartford’s Justin Soryal, as he intercepted a Bridgeport pass in the slot in front of Lawson and fired on, however his bid was covered up.

Both the Sound Tigers and the Wolf Pack killed off one penalty in the scoreless frame.

The Wolf Pack finally took the lead at 6:01 of the third period, as Garlock deflected a Chris McKelvie centering pass off of his skates and past Lawson for the 2-1 advantage.

McKelvie carried the puck into the Sound Tigers’ zone, where he was ridden off into the boards, but managed to get the puck towards Garlock, who was driving hard to the net. The goal was the seventh of the season for Garlock. Jared Nightingale recorded the secondary assist on the goal.

“McKelvie was taking the puck wide, I just figured I’d make my way to the net and look for a rebound. Anything can happen there,” said Garlock.

The Sound Tigers had opportunities to even the game in the third, as Tyler Haskins had several quality chances in the period. Johnson, however, was able add to an already strong appearance and deny Haskins, one of his best saves coming on a shorthanded bid at 4:43 of the third.

“[Johnson] was more comfortable with more playing time, a more stable situation,” said Gernander. “As far as team defense, it goes hand in hand. The more confidence the goalie has, the more confident the people in front of him are to make plays. It’s a team game.”

The win was the Wolf Pack’s third in a row and their fifth in six games to close out the season, posting a final record of 36-33-6-5, for 83 points and sixth place in the AHL’s Atlantic Division. It was the Wolf Pack’s thirteenth consecutive winning season, despite their not making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

“You’ve got to look yourself in the mirror and ask if you did everything you could to get to get the team into the playoffs. If not, you need to work on your mistakes and get ready for next year,” said Byers.

Hartford Wolf Pack 2 At Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1
Apr 11, 2010 - Arena at Harbor Yard

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

1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Reich 12 (Joensuu), 1:34. 2, Hartford, Byers 25 (Heikkinen, Potter), 11:57 (pp). Penalties-Lawson Bri (delay of game), 10:58.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Brashear Hfd (hooking), 12:30; Flood Bri (holding), 17:06.

3rd Period-3, Hartford, Garlock 7 (McKelvie, Nightingale), 6:01. Penalties-Gleed Bri (hooking), 3:05; Dupont Hfd (interference), 6:16; Nightingale Hfd (interference), 14:05.

Shots on Goal-Hartford 9-11-5-25. Bridgeport 11-12-8-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 1 of 3; Bridgeport 0 of 3.
Goalies-Hartford, Johnson 24-18-2 (31 shots-30 saves). Bridgeport, Lawson 16-16-3 (25 shots-23 saves).
A-6,060
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), David Spannaus (8).