WOLF PACK’S BID FOR PERFECT WEEKEND SPOILED BY BRUINS SIX-GOAL OUTBURST
Feb 27, 2022
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack scored first for the first time in their season series with the Providence Bruins on Sunday afternoon, but couldn’t hold off a determined Bruins team that erupted for six goals in a 6-3 decision at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
Matt Filipe broke a 3-3 tie 16:12 into the middle stanza as he found clear air in front of the Wolf Pack goal. Filipe perfectly deflected a point shot from Tyler Lewington, putting it top shelf over the shoulder of Keith Kinkaid to give the Bruins a lead they would not lose. The goal was Filipe’s fourth of the season.
The Wolf Pack opened the scoring with a powerplay goal, just a night after converting twice with the skater advantage. Nils Lundkvist fired a shot into traffic that clipped the stick of Anthony Greco, providing a screen in front. The deflection fooled Bruins goaltender Troy Grosenick, giving Greco his 99th career AHL goal 11:02 into the hockey game.
Like on Saturday night, however, goals were coming fast and furious in the opening period on Sunday afternoon. Justin Brazeau needed just 53 seconds to even the contest 1-1. Brazeau scored his eighth goal of the season off a feed from Cameron Hughes on the powerplay at 11:55 of the first period. Brazeau’s goal extended his point streak to six games.
Brazeau scored his second of the game 2:02 later. Samuel Asselin flipped a puck into the neutral zone that Brazeau collected before sneaking past two Wolf Pack players to create a breakaway. Brazeau went backhand to forehand, then buried his ninth of the season by Kinkaid at 13:57. The goal gave Brazeau his second career multi-goal game.
Hartford battled back to tie the game with yet another powerplay goal of their own with just 3.5 seconds remaining in the period. Brady Lyle fanned on a clearing attempt behind his own goal, leaving the puck for Anthony Bitetto. Bitetto alertly collected the loose puck and fed a centering pass to Ty Ronning, who quickly fired home his 12th goal of the season to even the affair 2-2.
The Wolf Pack would score their third powerplay goal 13:36 into the middle frame, regaining their lead on a five-on-three. Lundkvist fired another point shot that was redirected home again, this time by Tim Gettinger. With an assist on the goal, Lundkvist registered his second multi-point game in the AHL.
Still on a five-on-four, the Wolf Pack took a penalty in their own zone. Patrick Khodorenko was called for a holding penalty at 13:45, briefly putting the game at four-on-four. On the ensuring Bruin powerplay, Jack Studnicka drew the Bruins even again.
On a three-on-one, Alex-Olivier Voyer snapped a shot that Kinkaid denied. The rebound sat in the crease, however, and Studnicka was able to locate it and bury it for his seventh goal of the season. The Bruins took the lead under two minutes later at 16:12 when Filipe tipped home the eventual game winner.
Providence tacked on two insurance markers in the third, both coming off the stick of Aaron Ness. First, Ness fired a wrist shot through traffic on the powerplay for his first as a Buin at 3:51. Then, he hit an empty net at 16:55 to conclude the scoring in this affair.
The Pack is back at the XL Center to open a three game homestand on Wednesday night, March 2nd, when they welcome the Belleville Senators to town. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. and tickets are available at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.
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ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and play at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.