Wolf Pack Lose in Shootout at Springfield

Nov 1, 2013

Andrew Rowe’s second-period goal got the Wolf Pack a standings point Friday night at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, but shootout goals by Alex Aleardi and Jonathan Marchessault gave the Springfield Falcons a 3-2 win.

Rowe also had a shootout goal for the Wolf Pack, and Dylan McIlrath scored the other Hartford goal in regulation.  Jason Missiaen made 32 saves in the Wolf Pack net. 

Lukas Sedlak and Andrew Joudrey scored regulation goals for Springfield, and Mike McKenna stopped 22 shots in regulation and overtime and went four-for-five in the shootout.

“I thought we came out pretty strong in the first,” Rowe said, “forechecked pretty hard, forwards were going, defense were really moving the puck up.  A little letdown in the second, but overall I thought we worked pretty hard tonight.”

The Wolf Pack outshot the Falcons 11-5 in the first period, and had an 8-1 shots edge at one point, but could only manage a 1-1 tie after 20 minutes.

McIlrath gave Hartford the game’s first lead at 8:04, with his third goal of the season.  McIlrath fired a long snap shot from the right point and, with a screen set in front, the puck got by McKenna high on the stick side.

The Falcons tied it only 1:52 later, though, at 9:56.  The Wolf Pack’s Oscar Lindberg had the puck stripped away from him just inside the Springfield line by Sedlak, and Lindberg then inadvertently collided with a teammate, allowing the Falcons to break two-on-one.  Sedlak kept the puck on right wing and banged a shot off of Missiaen and into the net.

It was Springfield’s turn to dominate the territorial play in the second period, as they outshot the Wolf Pack 12-3, but the two teams again were even on the scoreboard.

Joudrey gave the Falcons their first lead of the game at 9:02, after he was set up with an open net by Aleardi.  Aleardi caught Wolf Pack defenseman Tommy Hughes flat-footed on left wing and got around him, and found Joudrey with a perfect pass.

Rowe, though, got that one back for the Wolf Pack, in his first game back with Hartford from Greenville of the ECHL, at 17:50.  Rowe got free on a breakaway out of some traffic in the neutral zone, and his move to the forehand beat McKenna.

The Wolf Pack were outshot by a 14-8 margin in the third period, but Missiaen kept the Falcons off the board, and he also stopped an Aleardi breakaway in overtime.

In the shootout, Rowe was the only Wolf Pack shooter to beat McKenna.  Missiaen stopped the Falcons’ first two tries, by Ilari Melart and Sean Collins, but then Aleardi and Marchessault scored on back-to-back attempts for the win.

The Wolf Pack and Falcons go at it again Saturday night, November 2, right back at the MassMutual Center.  Faceoff is 7:00 PM, and all the action can be heard live on Fox Sports Radio 1410, on-line at www.foxsportsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio.  Video streaming is available at www.ahllive.com.

The Pack’s next home game at the XL Center is next Friday, November 8, a 7:00 battle with the Providence Bruins.  Once again this season, each and every Wolf Pack Friday-night home game features $1 hot dogs and $2 beers, through the start of the second period, presented by Marc's Appliance Warehouse, located at 75 Prospect St., Hartford, CT..

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.  To speak with a representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.

Hartford Wolf Pack 2 at Springfield Falcons 3 (SO)
Friday, November 1, 2013 - MassMutual Center

Hartford 1 1 0 0 - 2
Springfield 1 1 0 0 - 3

1st Period-1, Hartford, McIlrath 3 (Johnson, Bourque), 8:04. 2, Springfield, Sedlak 4   9:56. Penalties-Nash Hfd (interference), 18:37.

2nd Period-3, Springfield, Joudrey 1 (Aleardi, St. Denis), 9:02. 4, Hartford, Rowe 2 (Hughes, Nash), 17:15. Penalties-Dupont Hfd (slashing), 4:04.

3rd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-No Penalties

OT Period- No Scoring. Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout - Hartford 1 (Kristo NG, Lindberg NG, Fast NG, Rowe G, Hrivik NG), Springfield 2 (Melart NG, Collins NG, Aleardi G, Marchessault G).
Shots on Goal-Hartford 11-3-8-2-0-24. Springfield 5-12-14-3-1-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 0; Springfield 0 / 2.
Goalies-Hartford, Missiaen 2-1-1 (34 shots-32 saves). Springfield, McKenna 3-1-0 (24 shots-22 saves).
A-2,888
Referees-Trevor Hanson (47).
Linesmen-Kevin Redding (16), Paul Simeon (66).