HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack hosted their final home game before the holidays on Friday night. They took on the Providence Bruins for the second of three straight meetings between the division rivals.
Dylan Garand turned in another superb performance, making 43 saves on 44 shots. However, the Wolf Pack offense couldn’t solve Michael DiPietro, and the Bruins escaped the Connecticut capital with a 1-0 win.
Surviving the Naughty List
The Wolf Pack opened the contest by recording four of the first five shots on goal. Nathan Sucese got the best look at the icebreaker, cutting to the net and flipping a backhand shot, but DiPietro made the stop.
From there, Providence heavily tilted the ice in their favor. The Bruins fired 20 of the next 21 shots on goal, good for a 21-5 shot margin in the frame. Providence earned a golden opportunity at the icebreaker near the 13 minute mark of the first period. Victor Mancini took an interference minor, and Connor Mackey followed up with a double-minor for high-sticking just ten seconds later. The penalties forced the Wolf Pack to play five on three hockey for 1:50. The Bruins peppered Garand, but the Hartford netminder stood tall, helping his team kill off the penalties and send the game to the first intermission scoreless.
Coal in Hartford’s Stocking
The Bruins scored the only goal of the contest about six minutes into the middle frame. Billy Sweezey fired a shot from the point that Garand denied. The rebound bounced around the slot and was eventually popped into the air. Former Wolf Pack forward Tyler Pitlick batted the puck out of the air and by Garand, putting Providence on top for good. The goal was Pitlick’s fourth point in four games against the Wolf Pack, and his second game-winning tally in as many nights.
Tensions rose throughout the middle frame, with a large scrum breaking out near the nine minute mark that saw Alex Belzile and Ryan Mast head off for fighting. Meanwhile, Providence continued to pepper Garand, but Pitlick’s goal stood as the only blemish on his record. Garand’s strong play helped the Wolf Pack reach the second intermission only trailing by one.
Too Little, Too Late
The Wolf Pack pushed for the equalizer in the third period. Hartford had a few great looks, but a couple wide shots and strong play from DiPietro maintained the Providence lead.
At the other end of the ice, the Bruins believed they stretched their lead to two as Trevor Kuntar attempted a wraparound bid. Garand made the save, and officials confirmed that the puck didn’t cross the goal line to keep the deficit at one.
The Wolf Pack eventually pulled Garand for the extra attacker as they sought to tie the contest late. However, Providence held on, taking a 1-0 decision at the final horn.
“I thought we passed up some shots,” Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny told The Calder Times after the contest. “Sometimes one shot might lead to three or four cause there’s some chaos to it. I didn’t think we got to the net enough. If you’re there, [the shot] might hit you and there’s a rebound.”
One person Potulny did have praise for was Garand. “Dylan played well again tonight,” Potulny told The Calder Times on Friday night. “I think anybody would say he’s having an A year. He gives us a chance every night. As a goalie, when you’re giving up one or two, you’re doing a great job. For the most part, Dylan’s done that all year.”
Up Next
The Wolf Pack and Bruins will meet for the third straight game tonight in Providence. Puck drop is set for 7:05 pm.
