HARTFORD, CT – After dropping just their second home game of the season Saturday night, the Hartford Wolf Pack aimed for a bounce-back performance on Sunday. The Wolf Pack hosted the Bridgeport Islanders for the latest installment in the Battle of Connecticut.
Unfortunately, the Wolf Pack simply could not find the bounce-back performance they sought. Bridgeport rode a three-goal third period to a 4-1 win, handing Hartford their second loss of the weekend.
Groulx Gets Gritty
The in-state rivals played an even first period. The Islanders slightly led in shots on goal 10-8, while the Wolf Pack got the game’s first power play as Brian Pinho took a hooking minor at 6:15. However, neither side could find the icebreaker, and the opening frame concluded with both teams scoreless.
Bridgeport got their first power play of the game in the second period. Bo Groulx high-sticked Chris Terry and drew blood, earning a double minor. However, Bridgeport couldn’t capitalize on the advantage. Hartford killed off the first two minutes and change before Matthew Maggio drew a high-sticking call of his own. As a result, the team’s played four on four hockey.
Just ten seconds into the four on four session, Travis Mitchell gave Bridgeport the game’s first lead. Mitchell forced a turnover and sped into the Hartford zone on a breakaway. Mitchell promptly beat Louis Domingue with a quick shot for the icebreaker.
Roughly six minutes later, the Wolf Pack tied the contest. Groulx laid a big hit along the boards and got the puck to Alex Belzile. Belzile then found Matthew Robertson at the top of the zone, setting up the chance. Robertson walked down the wall and fired a shot into traffic that Groulx deflected into the net, tying the game at one.
The goal was Groulx’s seventh of the season, tied for the team lead. The goal sent the rivals into the final frame with the game tied at one apiece.
The Island of Lost Dreams
Bridgeport regained the lead, this time for good, 4:11 into the final stanza. Justin Gill took a shot that Domingue denied. However, the rebound fell into the crease, and Marc Gatcomb went bar down to put the Islanders in front once again.
Liam Foudy nailed the empty net at 18:16, and Pinho added an additional insurance goal ten seconds later to deliver a 4-1 decision to Bridgeport.
“Every analytic there is yesterday said we should’ve won. I betcha tonight that every analytic said we should lose the game,” Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny told The Calder Times after Sunday’s contest. “Tonight was an uncharacteristic effort for us, and that part’s disappointing.”
Big Apple Beebs
Wolf Pack forward Brett Berard did not take warmups on Sunday, fueling speculation among fans. Later, during the game, the New York Rangers announced that Berard had been recalled to New York, with defensemen Chad Ruhwedel and Victor Mancini returning to Hartford.
It’s Berard’s first recall to New York, and it’s a well-deserved promotion. As a rookie in 2023-24, Berard led the Wolf Pack in goals, with 25, and his 48 points were good for third on the team. Among AHL rookies that season, Berard’s 25 goals trailed only Tucson’s Josh Doan. Additionally, his 48 points tied Milwaukee’s Zach L’Heureux for fifth in the lead.
Berard has kept up the performance this season. His seven goals are tied with Groulx for most on the Wolf Pack, and his 13 points lead the team outright. Berard has also notched two game-winning tallies – nobody else on the team has more than one.
When speaking to The Calder Times after the game, Potulny had a lot of praise to offer for Berard. “[He’s] probably been the most consistent player we’ve had here,” Potulny told The Calder Times. “I coached Brett a couple years ago on a World Junior team, and just to watch the growth in his game…it’s a well-earned call-up.”
While the promotion is well-deserved, the move will likely hurt the Wolf Pack for the immediate future. They’re already without forward Brennan Othmann, who has an upper body injury likely to sideline him for at least another month. Losing Berard to recall means that two of Hartford’s top-three point scorers from a season ago are now unavailable.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack cap off their six-game home stand on Thanksgiving Eve, hosting the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm.
