HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack continued their four-game road trip on Wednesday. The Wolf Pack went north of the border for the first time this season, heading to Belleville for a matchup with the Senators.
Despite never trailing in the contest, the Wolf Pack found themselves in overtime. In the extra session, Cole Reinhardt buried the game-winner just 16 seconds in to give Belleville a 6-5 decision.
Stay Hot, Otter
The Wolf Pack opened the scoring just 20 seconds into the contest. Victor Mancini started a rush up the ice and found Alex Belzile on the right wing. Belzile took a shot that Michael Simpson turned aside, but the rebound popped right to Brennan Othmann. Othmann buried the puck by Simpson to give Hartford the game’s first lead.
The tally gave Othmann goals in four straight games. Also, Belzile’s assist on the play kept him at a point-per-game pace.
The Senators tied the contest near the midway point of the frame on a controversial play. Belleville had a power play thanks to a tripping call against Connor Mackey. Stephen Halliday held the puck and fired a shot that trickled through Dylan Garand and across the line. However, the Hartford net was off its moorings, so the call on the ice was no goal.
Officials decided to review the play, taking almost five minutes to watch the replay. Eventually, they overturned the call on the ice and awarded Halliday the goal.
Roobroeck on the Forecheck
The Wolf Pack took the lead back just over a minute after the controversial call. Anton Blidh picked off a pass in the Belleville zone and found Dylan Roobroeck in the slot. The rookie forward then rifled a shot by the glove of Simpson to put Hartford back on top.
The goal was Roobroeck’s eighth of the campaign, tying him for fourth on the team. The goal also sent the Wolf Pack into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.
Lucky 13
The Wolf Pack grabbed their biggest lead of the night just over six minutes into the middle frame. Lucas Edmonds carried the puck into the Belleville zone before dropping it to a trailing Mackey. Mackey fired a shot from the high slot, but pushed it wide. The puck popped onto the stick of Roobroeck, and the rookie forward attempted to jam it home, but his bid wouldn’t go. The puck pinballed around the crease before Blidh buried it to put the Wolf Pack up by two.
The goal was Blidh’s 13th of the season, tying his previous career high. Blidh potted 13 goals in 53 games between the Wolf Pack and Colorado Eagles in 2022-23. The goal also gave Blidh three straight games with a goal and a four-game point streak.
However, Belleville would storm back to tie the game at three. Jan Jeník cut the lead back to one at 12:23 with Mancini in the box for tripping. Angus Crookshank followed up, evening the score at 17:10 thanks to a cross-checking call against Mackey.
There Goes Jaro
The Wolf Pack took the lead back in the final minutes of the second frame. Jamieson Rees carried the puck into the Hartford zone before blowing a tire. The puck trickled away from him, and Adam Sýkora batted it right to Jaroslav Chmelař. Chmelař and Jake Leschyshyn sped into the Belleville zone on a two-on-none rush, and Chmelař elected to shoot. The rookie forward ripped a shot by Simpson to reinstate the Wolf Pack lead.
The goal gave Chmelař goals in two of his last three games and gave the Wolf Pack a 4-3 lead heading into the second intermission.
Belzy-ville
Belzile gave the Wolf Pack their second two-goal lead of the contest just 25 seconds into the third period. Bo Groulx won an offensive zone draw, and Belzile controlled the puck. The 2025 AHL All-Star sniped a shot from the left circle by Simpson to double the lead.
The goal gave Belzile 40 points on the season, becoming the first Wolf Pack player to hit that mark. Belzile is also playing at above a point-per-game pace with 40 points through 39 games.
Breakdown in Belleville
However, it was all downhill from there for Hartford. First, Simpson denied Blidh on a breakaway bid that would’ve put Hartford up by three. Seconds later, Wyatt Bongiovanni was sprung on a breakaway of his own and converted to cut the lead back to one just 61 seconds after Belzile’s tally.
Oskar Petterson tied the affair at 3:17 of the frame. Keean Washkurak beat Garand to a puck along the back wall and found Petterson in front. Petterson nailed the vacant net to tie the game.
The Wolf Pack got a late power play bid thanks to a holding call against Jeník, but a goaltender interference minor to Belzile quickly wiped away the man advantage. Ultimately, neither team could take the lead in the remainder of regulation, and the game went to overtime.
Reinhardt buried the game winner off a feed from Jeremy Davies just 16 seconds into the extra session. As a result, the Wolf Pack lost in a game where they never trailed for their fourth straight defeat.
Let’s Talk
Let’s state the obvious – that was an absolutely brutal loss for the Wolf Pack.
Hartford outplayed Belleville at five-on-five to the tune of five goals for and just two against. However, special teams became the deciding factor – the Wolf Pack allowed three power play goals and scored none. More often than not, the team who wins the special teams battle win the game. That was the case last night.
The Wolf Pack are 0-3-1-0 in their last four. They’ve got two tough games in Laval coming up before the break. The road isn’t getting any easier and it’s starting to get late on the calendar.
That said, I’m in no way giving up on this team, and you shouldn’t either.
After being around this team since the 2022-23 season, I’ve quickly learned that you should never count them out. They sat in eighth place in the Atlantic Division in mid-March 2023 before winning 10 of their last 12 games to catapult into a playoff spot. They lost 13 of 14 in March and April 2024 before a Louis Domingue goalie goal clinched their playoff spot and sparked a change of fortunes. In both those years, the Wolf Pack were one of the last eight teams standing in the AHL. This is a group that can do the same.
All teams go through struggles – it’s part of sports. Struggles in January can turn into success in May. The Wolf Pack done it before, and they can do it again.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack head to Laval for a weekend set against the Rocket before the All-Star break. Puck drop on Friday is set for 7:00 pm, with Saturday’s contest starting at 3:00 pm.
