It was a turbulent weekend for the Hartford Wolf Pack. Lineup changes were prevalent due to recalls and injuries, and Hartford was forced to make a coaching change on Sunday. Despite these changes, the Wolf Pack kept picking up points during their second three-in-three of the season.
Friday – Hartford Wolf Pack 3, Bridgeport Islanders 0
On Friday night, the Wolf Pack visited their in-state rival for the first meeting in the “Battle of Connecticut” this season. The Wolf Pack got a boost as Dylan Garand and Connor Mackey returned to the lineup. Both men were assigned to Hartford by the New York Rangers earlier that day.
Hartford got off to a strong start in the first period, with Anton Blidh scoring his second goal of the season. Blidh managed to collect the puck during a scrum and buried it into the Bridgeport net, giving the Wolf Pack a lead they would not lose.
Riley Nash added a pair of goals in the second period. Brett Berard forced a turnover in the Bridgeport zone and snapped a pass to Nash. Nash went to the forehand and flipped a shot over a sprawled-out Jakub Skarek to double the Hartford lead.
Nash added his second goal just over six minutes later. The veteran forward stripped Grant Hutton of the puck at the blue line and sped on a partial breakaway. Nash ripped a shot past Skarek for his second of the contest.
The Isles peppered Garand throughout the final period, firing 15 shots at the second-year netminder. All were denied, and Garand earned his first shutout of the year. The game was the final contest of the Wolf Pack’s five-game road trip. On the trip, Hartford went 3-1-1-0, earning seven of a possible ten points.
Saturday – Providence Bruins 2, Hartford Wolf Pack 0
Lineup changes were aplenty for Hartford’s Saturday night contest against Providence. Defenseman Connor Mackey was recalled by the Rangers before the contest. Additionally, forward Jake Leschyshyn and defenseman Mac Hollowell drew out of the lineup with injuries. Forward Turner Elson and defensemen Zach Berzolla and Matt Cairns drew in as replacements.
Olof Lindbom led the Wolf Pack onto the ice, making his first AHL start. Lindbom played well, making 17 saves on 19 shots and earning praise from head coach Kris Knoblauch in his postgame press conference. However, he was outplayed by Bruins goaltender Michael DiPietro. The Wolf Pack fired 34 shots at DiPietro, but the Providence netminder denied each one. The best among these saves was an absolute robbery of Nash during a Wolf Pack powerplay opportunity.
Nine out of ten times, that shot is finding the back of the net. Credit to DiPietro, he was superb on Saturday night.
Curtis Hall broke the ice just under three minutes into the first period, potting his first goal of the season just inside the right post. Dan Renouf doubled the lead at 8:34 of the third period with a slapshot over the shoulder of Lindbom. The Wolf Pack pulled Lindbom late in the third, desperately searching for an answer, but DiPietro held strong, and the Bruins snapped Hartford’s four-game point streak.
Sunday Afternoon Bombshell
The Wolf Pack traveled to Providence for a matinee rematch with the Bruins on Sunday. However, the game ended up playing second fiddle to the bombshell news that broke just a few hours before puck drop.
Sportsnet reporter Elliotte Friedman revealed that Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch would be replacing Jay Woodcroft as head coach of the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers confirmed the news minutes later.
In turn, New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury and Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced that assistant coach Steve Smith had been named interim head coach of the Wolf Pack. Smith’s first test as bench boss in Hartford? A Providence Bruins team that had shut out Hartford less than 24 hours ago.
Sunday – Providence Bruins 3, Hartford Wolf Pack 2 (OT)
After a scoreless first period, Providence found the icebreaker in the middle stanza. Anthony Richard took advantage of a Bobby Trivigno tripping minor and struck on the powerplay, giving Providence the game’s first lead.
It wouldn’t be until the third period where Hartford finally found the equalizer. Brandon Scanlin scored his first goal of the year just over five minutes into the period. Scanlin ripped a shot from beyond the circles that snuck by Brandon Bussi, evening the contest. It was Scanlin’s first tally of the season.
Providence would reinstate the lead just over six minutes later. Brett Berard was sent to the penalty box for goaltender interference. Marc McLaughlin scored on the ensuing powerplay, and the Bruins were back in front.
With time ticking away and the Wolf Pack facing a one-goal deficit, Smith opted to lift Dylan Garand for the extra skater. The gamble paid off, as Jonny Brodzinski blasted a one-timer into the back of the Providence net to even the score again.
Neither team could pull in front in the final two minutes of action, and the contest was sent to overtime. There, Jesper Boqvist delivered the extra point for the Bruins. However, considering Hartford had lost their head coach just hours prior to puck drop, the point was well-earned. The Wolf Pack finished their second three-in-three of the season earning three out of a possible six points.
Garand is Grand
Dylan Garand has been a star in net for Hartford to start the 2023-24 season. In seven games played, Garand owns a 4-1-2 record, posting a 2.30 goals against average and an 0.927 save percentage. Garand also earned his first shutout of the season on Friday against Bridgeport.
Garand really came into his own at the end of the 2022-23 season, and was a major part of Hartford’s run to the Atlantic Division Finals that year. The second year netminder has taken an extra step forward this season, and he’s a player that interim head coach Steve Smith can rely on throughout the year.
Brett’s a Threat
What I am about to say, I mean as a compliment – Brett Berard is a very annoying player.
The rookie forward has been a nightmare to play against through the first twelve games of the season, especially on the forecheck. There were multiple instances this weekend where Berard forced turnovers in the offensive zone and set up premium scoring chances. Berard is tied with linemate Riley Nash for third in points for Hartford, with nine. With continued strong play in the o-zone, that number will grow.
Up next
The Wolf Pack are back at the XL Center on Wednesday, renewing the I-91 Rivalry with the Springfield Thunderbirds. This is Hartford’s School Day Game, and puck drop is set for 11:00 am.
On Friday and Saturday, the Wolf Pack will play a home-and-home with the Syracuse Crunch. The Pack will travel to Syracuse on Friday before hosting the rematch at the XL Center on Saturday. Puck drop for both games is set for 7:00 pm.
