By Micah Collins
 |
| The Wolf Pack won their third straight game to open the season, this time a 3-2 decision over Springfield at the XL Center on Saturday night. |
HARTFORD—The Hartford Wolf Pack defeated the
Springfield Thunderbirds 3-1 Saturday night before 3,876
fans at the XL Center. The victory was keyed by the strong play of some
of the Wolf Pack’s more junior players. Nick Jones and Filip Chytil both scored
their first goals of the season to secure the victory, and Chytil also added an
assist.
The Thunderbirds opened up the scoring when Jonathan Ang
scored his second goal of the season, sneaking one past Igor Shesterkin (17
saves) on the power play at 9:49 of the first period. Kevin Roy and Ethan Prow
got the assists on the goal.
Springfield would not be able to carry the lead into the
intermission, though, as Jones would find the back of the net for the first
time this year off a close shot past Philippe Desrosiers (24 saves) to tie
things up with 1:54 left to play in the period. Patrick Newell and Ryan
Lindgren assisted on the goal, and the 1-1 tie would hold up through the end of
the period.
“Jones and Newell complement each other well,” said Wolf
Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch about the two young players. “You can see the
skill. The pass by Newell was an elite play, and the shot was a quick release.”
It was the battle of the goaltenders for most of the second
period, as Shesterkin and Desrosiers traded saves back and forth.
Eventually the Wolf Pack were able to break the tie when Di
Giuseppe scored his first of the season off a smooth-sailing wrist shot from
the right circle on the power play at 15:33. Chytil and Vincent LoVerde got the
assists.
“We have a lot of young guys, the biggest thing as a pro is
learning how to win games,” said Phil Di Giuseppe. “Tonight wasn’t the
prettiest, but it’ll benefit [the younger players] and encourage them to keep
doing the right things.”
The Wolf Pack would find themselves fending off a seemingly
endless Springfield attack for much of the third period, but thanks to the
strong play of Shesterkin, Springfield was not able to tie the game.
“Shesterkin was huge for us” added Di Giuseppe. “He kept us
in for sure, especially late. We were fortunate, and kudos to our goaltender
for getting us the win.”
The T-Birds pulled their goaltender in the dying minutes of
the third, but it would not prove successful, as Chytil buried his first goal
of the season into the empty net with one second left to guarantee the Wolf Pack
their third straight victory.
Knoblauch was quick to compliment Chytil and the work he has
put in so far. “Chytil has been playing well. He’s trying to make a play
every time he has the puck but he’s not forcing it. He has lots of skill, and
he uses his assets to create offense.”
With the win, the Wolf Pack improve to 3-0-0-0 to start
their season. The Pack are back at the XL Center on Sunday, hosting the
Rochester in a 3 p.m. game. Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Packs” including
two tickets, two sodas and one large
popcorn, will be available for $40.
Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on
sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office
at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com
and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12
or younger start at $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game
increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group
tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s ticketing options, call (860) 722-9425, or
click here to request more
info. To visit the Wolf Pack on line, go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com.
#hartfordwolfpack / @WolfPackAHL / #AHL / @TheAHL /
@hartford_wolfpack / #hartford / #wolfpack / #wolfpackhockey
/#hartford-wolf-pack /@nyrangers
BOX SCORE
Springfield Thunderbirds 1 at
Hartford Wolf Pack 3
Saturday, October 12, 2019 - XL Center
Springfield 1 0 0 - 1
Hartford 1 1 1 - 3
1st Period-1, Springfield, Ang 2 (Roy, Prow), 9:49 (PP). 2, Hartford, Jones 1 (Newell, Lindgren), 18:06. Penalties-Toninato Spr (boarding), 0:47; LoVerde Hfd (interference), 4:39; Day Hfd (tripping), 8:16; O'Regan Hfd (hooking), 10:11.
2nd Period-3, Hartford, Di Giuseppe 1 (Chytil, LoVerde), 15:33 (PP). Penalties-Lindgren Hfd (tripping), 0:50; Toninato Spr (holding), 9:18; Ang Spr (goaltender interference), 11:22; McCoshen Spr (hooking), 15:08.
3rd Period-4, Hartford, Chytil 1 (O'Regan, Raddysh), 19:59 (EN). Penalties-Mangene Spr (slashing), 5:07; Greco Spr (tripping), 11:28; Gettinger Hfd (tripping), 14:46.
Shots on Goal-Springfield 3-4-11-18. Hartford 8-11-8-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Springfield 1 / 5; Hartford 1 / 6.
Goalies-Springfield, Desrosiers 0-1-0 (26 shots-24 saves). Hartford, Shesterkin 2-0-0 (18 shots-17 saves).
Saturday, October 12, 2019 - XL Center
Springfield 1 0 0 - 1
Hartford 1 1 1 - 3
1st Period-1, Springfield, Ang 2 (Roy, Prow), 9:49 (PP). 2, Hartford, Jones 1 (Newell, Lindgren), 18:06. Penalties-Toninato Spr (boarding), 0:47; LoVerde Hfd (interference), 4:39; Day Hfd (tripping), 8:16; O'Regan Hfd (hooking), 10:11.
2nd Period-3, Hartford, Di Giuseppe 1 (Chytil, LoVerde), 15:33 (PP). Penalties-Lindgren Hfd (tripping), 0:50; Toninato Spr (holding), 9:18; Ang Spr (goaltender interference), 11:22; McCoshen Spr (hooking), 15:08.
3rd Period-4, Hartford, Chytil 1 (O'Regan, Raddysh), 19:59 (EN). Penalties-Mangene Spr (slashing), 5:07; Greco Spr (tripping), 11:28; Gettinger Hfd (tripping), 14:46.
Shots on Goal-Springfield 3-4-11-18. Hartford 8-11-8-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Springfield 1 / 5; Hartford 1 / 6.
Goalies-Springfield, Desrosiers 0-1-0 (26 shots-24 saves). Hartford, Shesterkin 2-0-0 (18 shots-17 saves).
A-3,876
Referees-Guillaume Labonte (35), Alex Normandin (65).
Linesmen-Kyle Flemington (55), Kevin Briganti (39).
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