HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack entered December without a road win. The club went 0-5-1-1 in their first seven games away from the XL Center this season. Hartford got another chance at their first road win on Wednesday, heading down to Bridgeport to take on the Islanders in the latest installment of the Battle of Connecticut.
Veteran forward Alex Belzile decided the Wolf Pack had gone long enough without a road win. Belzile notched a hat trick, his second of the season, as the Wolf Pack earned their first road win with a 6-1 decision over Bridgeport.
Opening Belz
Belzile earned the icebreaker in the final minutes of the opening frame. Bridgeport got caught with too many men on the ice, giving the Wolf Pack their second power play bid of the game. Belzile won a board battle and slid the puck up the ice to Victor Mancini. Mancini dished the puck to Bo Groulx at the opposite point, setting up the chance. Groulx walked in and sent another cross-ice pass to Belzile. Belzile waited out a blocking attempt by Seth Helgeson before sniping a shot past Marcus Hogberg to break the ice.
The final seconds of the frame ticked away before the Wolf Pack took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Putting the Power in Power Play
The Islanders tied the contest in the middle stanza. Ben Harpur went to the box for slashing, giving Bridgeport their second power play bid of the contest. Alex Jefferies capitalized on the advantage, snapping a shot from the circle by Dylan Garand to tie the game.
Connor Mackey took a slashing call of his own just seconds after Jefferies’ goal, giving the Islanders a chance to take the lead. However, the Wolf Pack penalty kill was up to task, preventing Bridgeport from pulling ahead.
When Chris Terry was whistled for the third slashing call of the period, Belzile put Hartford back in the lead for good. Mancini controlled the puck and the blue line and snapped a pass to Belzile in the left circle. The veteran forward blasted a shot through traffic and into the Bridgeport net for his second goal of the game.
The goal gave Belzile his fifth multi-goal game as a member of the Wolf Pack.
Number 5 for Mr. 500
On Wednesday night, Wolf Pack forward Anton Blidh skated in his 500th professional game in North America. Blidh has suited up in 415 AHL contests, for Providence, Colorado, and Hartford. He’s also a veteran of 85 NHL contests, playing for the Bruins, Avalanche, and Rangers.
Blidh celebrated the achievement by potting his fifth goal of the season. Chad Ruhwedel fired a shot from the point that went wide. Groulx, while attempting to collect the puck behind the net, got tripped by Travis Mitchell. Despite being down on the ice, Groulx found Blidh at the side of the net. Blidh snapped a quick shot by Hogberg to double the Hartford lead.
Blidh’s goal capped off the scoring for the frame, and the Wolf Pack sat just 20 minutes from their first road win of the season.
Alex Belzile, Mayor of Bridgeport
The Wolf Pack penalty kill would be tested early in the third period. Brandon Scanlin and Jaroslav Chmelař spent time in the box for cross-checking and tripping, respectively. However, the Wolf Pack penalty kill was up to task, preventing Bridgeport from drawing any closer.
Eetu Liukas took a hooking minor at 7:48 of the third period, sending the Wolf Pack back to the power play. Again, Belzile cashed in on the man advantage. Groulx held the puck at the top of the left circle and snapped a pass to Belzile in the slot. Belzile positioned his stick perfectly for a deflection, and the puck flew by Hogberg and into the net. The goal capped off a hat trick for Belzile, his second of the season. Belzile’s first three-goal performance came on November 19th against Charlotte.
With the goal, Belzile became the first Wolf Pack player to record multiple hat tricks in a season since P.A. Parenteau recorded two in the 2009-10 season.
Goals Galore
Just 45 seconds after Belzile’s hat trick tally, Matt Rempe stretched the Hartford lead even further. Adam Sýkora kept a clearing attempt in the zone and worked down the wall. Sýkora spun and slid the puck up to Casey Fitzgerald at the point. Fitzgerald took a shot that clipped Rempe and found the back of the Bridgeport net to push the lead to four.
The Wolf Pack finally capped off the scoring just seven seconds later. Dylan Roobroeck controlled the faceoff and Mackey dumped the puck into the Bridgeport zone. Hogberg misplayed the dump-in, and the puck sat in the slot. Bryce McConnell-Barker sped in and snapped a quick shot by Hogberg for Hartford’s sixth goal of the contest.
The Wolf Pack’s six goals in the game matched their season-high. They last scored six goals in their home opener on October 18th in a 6-5 win over Springfield.
Groulx Gives Out Assists
Wolf Pack forward Bo Groulx recorded four assists in Wednesday night’s contest. He earned the primary helper on Belzile’s first and third goal, plus Blidh’s goal, while adding a secondary assist on Belzile’s second tally. Groulx is the first Wolf Pack player to record four assists in a game since Mac Hollowell earned four helpers on November 22, 2023 against Providence.
Groulx has been an incredible find for the Wolf Pack. He leads the team in goals, with eight, and is tied for the team lead in points, with 19. He’s been a perfect fit as Hartford’s top center, and his line with Belzile and Blidh has been one of the Wolf Pack’s best so far this season.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack return to the XL Center for a four-game home stand starting on Friday. They’ll host the Rockford IceHogs for just the second time ever. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm.
