Wolf Pack Fall to Sound Tigers in Preseason Opener
Oct 5, 2016Andrew Rowe scored twice and added an assist, and Kane Lafranchise had a goal and two assists, Wednesday night at Trinity College’s Koeppel Community Sports Center, as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers defeated the Wolf Pack 4-1, in the AHL preseason opener for both teams.
Spiro Goulakos scored the only Wolf Pack goal.
After a pair of unsuccessful Wolf Pack power plays in the first period, Bridgeport put on a quick burst late in the frame, scoring three goals in a span of only 1:48.
The spurt began with Travis St. Denis and Kane Lafranchise scoring just 21 seconds apart, starting at the 14:58 mark. Ryan Obuchowski set St. Denis up at 14:58, and then Lafranchise made it 2-0 at 15:19, taking a pass from Andrew Rowe from off of left wing and putting the puck past Wolf Pack starting goaltender Jeff Malcolm.
The Sound Tigers then took advantage of their first power play of the game, after Tommy Thompson was sent to the box for boarding at 16:05. Rowe got a sharp-angle shot past Malcolm from the right-wing side at 16:46, for a 3-0 Bridgeport advantage.
After being outshot 17-12 in the first, the Wolf Pack had an 11-6 edge in that department in the second period, but the Sound Tigers got the period’s only goal.
After the Wolf Pack replaced Malcolm (three goals-against on 19 shots) with Brandon Halverson at 10:20, Halverson was promptly greeted by Rowe’s second tally of the game 1:21 later. Perched to Halverson’s left, Rowe was able to sneak the puck off of Halverson’s (11 saves) left arm and inside the goal post.
The Wolf Pack foiled Sound Tiger goaltender Eamon McAdam’s (30 saves) shutout bid just 31 seconds into the third period, with Goulakos scoring on a snap shot from the left point, off of a pass from defense partner Troy Donnay.
The Wolf Pack continue their preseason action this Saturday night, October 8, when they travel to Springfield to take on the Thunderbirds at the MassMutual Center. Faceoff is 7:00 PM. The preseason slate concludes this Sunday, October 9 at Champions Skating Center in Cromwell, CT. That will be a 1:00 battle with the Albany Devils, with a $5 admission charge benefitting Whalers Youth Hockey.
The Wolf Pack’s twentieth-anniversary 2016-17 regular season begins Friday, October 14 at the XL Center with the Wolf Pack’s home opener, a 7:15 PM contest vs. the St. John’s IceCaps. Tickets for that game, and all Wolf Pack 2016-17 home games, are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.
Season ticket information for the Wolf Pack’s 2016-17 AHL season can be found on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. To speak with a representative about all of the Wolf Pack’s many attractive ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451.
Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4 (OT) at Hartford Wolf Pack 1
Wednesday, October 5, 2016 - Koeppel Community Sports Center
Bridgeport 3 1 0 0 - 4
Hartford 0 0 1 0 - 1
1st Period-1, Bridgeport, St. Denis 1 (Obuchowski, Lafranchise), 14:58. 2, Bridgeport, Lafranchise 1 (Rowe, Berisha), 15:19. 3, Bridgeport, Rowe 1 (St. Denis, Lafranchise), 16:46 (PP). Penalties-Noreau Bri (roughing), 5:41; Noreau Bri (roughing), 9:17; Thompson Hfd (boarding), 16:05.
2nd Period-4, Bridgeport, Rowe 2 (Berisha), 11:41. Penalties-Juha Bri (holding), 4:49; Rowe Bri (tripping), 8:20; McPherson Hfd (hooking), 8:59; Pereira Hfd (hooking), 14:50.
3rd Period-5, Hartford, Goulakos 1 (Donnay, Oksanen), 0:31. Penalties-Jones Bri (tripping), 18:25.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 17-6-8-0-31. Hartford 12-11-8-0-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 1 / 3; Hartford 0 / 5.
Goalies-Bridgeport, McAdam 1-0-0-0 (31 shots-30 saves). Hartford, Malcolm 0-1-0-0 (19 shots-16 saves); Halverson 0-0-0-0 (12 shots-11 saves).
A-0
Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Geno Binda (22).
Linesmen-Kevin Briganti (39), Luke Galvin (2).