SPRINGFIELD, MA – The Hartford Wolf Pack returned from the Christmas break on Friday night. The Wolf Pack visited the Springfield Thunderbirds for the fifth installment in the I-91 Rivalry this season.
Unfortunately for Hartford, their return did not go as planned. A three-goal third period led the T-Birds to a 5-2 decision at the MassMutual Center.
Here We Bo
Springfield found the icebreaker just 2:10 into the contest. Former Wolf Pack defenseman Hunter Skinner fired a shot from the point that Dylan Garand denied with the pad. Sam Bitten crashed on the loose puck and buried it by the Hartford netminder to give the T-Birds the game’s first lead.
The Wolf Pack earned the contest’s first power play at 13:44 of the frame when Michael Buchinger went off for tripping. However, the Thunderbirds got the kill to keep their lead intact.
Hartford outshot Springfield 14-7 in the frame, but Vadim Zherenko was up to task, keeping the Wolf Pack off the board for the majority of the period. However, with just 7.1 seconds to play, Bo Groulx tied the contest with his ninth goal of the season. Alex Belzile controlled the puck in the left-wing circle and found Groulx in the slot. Groulx uncorked a shot bar down over the Springfield netminder to tie the game.
The rivals played out the final seven seconds of the frame and entered the first intermission tied at one.
Belzy on the Back Door
The Thunderbirds scored the only goal of the middle frame. Matthew Kessel sniped a shot from the right circle by the glove of Garand, putting Springfield back in the lead for good. The T-Birds had a chance to stretch the lead to two when Blade Jenkins went to the box for delay of game at 17:19. However, Hartford’s penalty killers prevented them from finding twine. As a result, the rivals entered the second intermission with the Wolf Pack trailing by one.
Around eight minutes into the third period, Skinner cross-checked Brennan Othmann twice with no call from officials. Othmann retaliated with a stick check, which officials whistled for slashing. Skinner was also sent to the box for slashing, setting up a four-on-four sequence.
During the four on four, Matthew Peca converted on an odd-man rush to double the Springfield lead.
Belzile cut the lead back to one just over two minutes later. Nathan Sucese took a cross-ice feed from Groulx. Sucese snapped the puck to Belzile at the front of the net, and Belzile tipped the feed by Zherenko and into the Springfield net.
It was Belzile’s tenth goal and 28th point of the campaign, both good for the team lead.
Can’t Come Back
Just two minutes after Bezlile’s goal, Marcus Sylvegard made it a two-goal game once again. Sylvegard snapped a beautiful shot by Garand to give Springfield insurance.
The Wolf Pack made a late push with Garand on the bench. However, Dylan Peterson nailed the empty net to secure a 5-2 decision for Springfield.
“I thought we played pretty well. They capitalized on their chances, and three of them were great shots. That’s hockey,” Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny told The Calder Times after the contest. “We had some looks and couldn’t get them to go. We just couldn’t get it tied. The whole game, you felt like you were chasing a bit, and that’s the result when that happens.”
Othmann agreed with Potulny’s words, telling The Calder Times, “I thought we did well, I didn’t think we deserved to lose 5-2. I thought it should’ve been a closer game.”
It’s hard to argue with that assessment. Hartford put together a solid game, but just couldn’t get a couple bounces to go their way. If even one of those bounces gets the opposite result, you’re looking at a completely different game. However, they didn’t, and the Wolf Pack will need to regroup against Providence tonight.
Brennan’s Back, Tell A Friend
Speaking of Othmann, the second-year forward made his return to the ice last night. Othmann had missed just over two months of action with an upper-body injury he sustained in the Wolf Pack’s third game of the year.
In the game, Othmann recorded an assist, picking up the secondary helper on Groulx’s goal. He also recorded three shots on goal, four penalty minutes, and was plus-one while skating on Hartford’s top line.
“I felt good [being back on the ice],” Othmann told The Calder Times after the game. “We put in a lot of work over the last two months…not just myself, but training staff, development staff, and skills coaches. Our whole organization put in a lot of work to try to get me back as fast as possible.”
Potulny was impressed with Othmann’s return to the lineup. “I thought he played good,” the Wolf Pack bench boss told The Calder Times after the contest. “I thought they [the line with Belzile and Groulx] were good. Almost every time they were on the ice, something was happening. I thought it was a really good first game back for him.”
Othmann’s return is a big boost to the Wolf Pack lineup. Othmann was second on the team in points last season, recording 49 in 67 contests. If Othmann can quickly get back to game speed, the Wolf Pack will be set up for a successful second half.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack return to action tonight, hosting the Providence Bruins for their final home game of 2024. Puck drop is set for 6:00 pm.
