The message was simple for the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday – win or go home. On Saturday afternoon, the Wolf Pack took on the Charlotte Checkers for Game Two of the First Round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. After dropping a heartbreaker in Game One, the Wolf Pack needed a win to keep their season alive.
Thanks to some late heroics, the Wolf Pack have forced a Game Three, winning 3-2.
A Familiar Feeling
Like so many meetings between the two teams this season, the Checkers grabbed an early lead. Gerry Mayhew got a step on the Hartford defense and sped toward the net. Mayhew then snuck a shot through Dylan Garand to put Charlotte on top early.
Trailing to Charlotte, especially inside the Bojangles Coliseum, is a familiar feeling for the Wolf Pack. However, the game was far from over, and a solid effort in the opening frame indicated good things would come Hartford’s way.
The Wolf Pack finally got a break in the middle stanza. Mayhew was sent off for tripping, giving Hartford the first powerplay opportunity of the game. In the waning seconds of the man advantage, Ryder Korczak took the puck into the Charlotte zone and slid a pass to Nic Petan. Petan lofted a shot over the shoulder of Spencer Knight and into the net, knotting the score at one.
However, Hartford once again found themselves trailing the Checkers just over seven minutes later. Nikolas Brouillard went off for cross-checking, giving Charlotte their first powerplay of the evening. Wilmer Skoog screened Garand, allowing Justin Sourdif to snipe a shot from the high slot into the Hartford net.
The Wolf Pack could not find the equalizer in the final minutes of the middle frame, sending the game to the third period with Hartford trailing. During the regular season, Hartford had not won a single road game where they trailed after two periods.
They needed to turn in their best effort of the campaign to keep their season alive.
The Kids Come Through
In the opening minutes of the third period, Korczak won a board battle and poked the puck to Brett Berard. Berard then slid a pass to Brennan Othmann, who found Korczak on the back door. Korczak finished the sequence by tapping the pass into the Charlotte net, tying the game at two. It was the first playoff goal for Korczak, as well as his first multi-point playoff game.
The Wolf Pack got a powerplay opportunity late in the period as Charlotte was called for too many men on the ice. However, the Checker penalty kill was up to the task, preventing Hartford from pulling ahead. With neither team able to capture the lead in the final minutes of the third period, the contest was sent to overtime.
The Pack Keeps Running
The teams traded chances in the overtime period. Dylan Garand and Spencer Knight were equally up to the task, turning aside multiple bids each. Finally, Hartford got an extended sequence in the Charlotte zone. With Checkers forward Skyler Brind’Amour playing without a stick, the Wolf Pack had a prime chance to steal the victory.
Nic Petan danced through a pair of Charlotte defenders and into the slot. Petan took a shot that Knight kicked away. However, the rebound popped right to Alex Belzile, who flipped a shot over a prostrate Knight to steal Game Two for the Wolf Pack.
The goal was Belzile’s first career playoff overtime winner. To paraphrase the late, great Jack Buck, we will see you tomorrow afternoon for a winner-take-all Game Three.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack and Checkers will meet in a winner-take-all Game Three on Sunday afternoon. The winner of the series will advance to the Atlantic Division Semifinals against the Providence Bruins, while the loser’s season will come to an unfortunate end. Puck drop is set for 4:00 pm.
