Just over a week ago, the Hartford Wolf Pack named Steve Smith as their new interim head coach. In Smith’s first week as bench boss in Hartford, the Wolf Pack have continued to find success. This week, the team went 2-1-0-0, earning four more points and staying near the top of the AHL.
Wednesday – Hartford Wolf Pack 5, Springfield Thunderbirds 1
The Wolf Pack gave Smith his first win as interim head coach on Wednesday morning. Hartford got off to a fast start, scoring three goals in the first period. Jonny Brodzinski broke the ice about five minutes into the period, and Alex Belzile put the game out of reach about six minutes later. The first period onslaught was ended by Adam Sýkora, who scored his first AHL goal to put the Wolf Pack ahead by three.
Nikolas Brouillard’s tally in the second period gave Hartford their biggest lead of the game. Mathias Laferriere got the T-Birds on the board with his first goal of the season just over the 15 minute mark of the second period. However, Adam Edström reinstated the four-goal lead in the final stanza, and the Wolf Pack earned a 5-1 win.
Speaking to local media after the game, Smith called the first period “as good as we’ve played all season long”. Brodzinski agreed, calling it “the best period of the year”. The stats back it up, as Hartford doubled Springfield in shots on goal in the first period. The win continued a strong start to Smith’s tenure as interim head coach.
Friday – Syracuse Crunch 5, Hartford Wolf Pack 3
The Wolf Pack traveled to upstate New York to begin a weekend home-and-home series with the Syracuse Crunch. Maxim Groshev broke the ice, scoring his eighth goal of the season about halfway through the first period. However, Hartford controlled the rest of the period. Gabriel Dumont went to the box for holding at 13:03. Just two seconds later, Brodzinski blasted a one-timer over the glove of Brandon Halverson to even the score.
Next, a wild series of events led to Anton Blidh’s third goal of the campaign. Blake Hillman took a shot from the left circle that went off the skate of Joe Carroll. The puck then ricocheted off the leg of Blidh and into the Syracuse net, putting Hartford in front.
Daniel Walcott evened the score again at 10:25 of the second period. deflecting a shot that made its way past Dylan Garand. Walcott put Syracuse back in front at 3:21 of the third with a quick shot that beat Garand short side.
However, Brodzinski drew the teams even yet again with his second powerplay goal of the night. With Devante Stephens in the box for high-sticking, Brodzinski took a cross-ice pass from Brennan Othmann and uncorked another one-timer into the Syracuse net.
Brodzinski’s efforts wouldn’t be enough this time. Gabriel Dumont put the Crunch back on top at 13:23 and buried one more for good measure at 18:34, handing Smith his first regulation loss.
Saturday – Hartford Wolf Pack 5, Syracuse Crunch 2
The Wolf Pack hosted their half of the home-and-home on Saturday with revenge in mind. Hartford got off to a quick start, with Karl Henriksson breaking the ice just over two minutes into the contest. After Sýkora was denied on a wraparound attempt, Henriksson collected the puck in the slot and snapped a shot that lit the lamp.
Mitchell Chaffee drew the teams even at 10:26, firing a shot that beat Domingue on the short side. However, it was all Hartford from there. Brett Berard answered back just 30 seconds later. Hugo Alnefelt went to settle the puck, but turned it over to Brodzinski. The captain then snapped a pass to Berard, who tucked the puck just inside the post on a wraparound to put Hartford back in front. It was the third goal and tenth point on the season for Berard, tying him with Mac Hollowell for fourth on the team.
Adam Edström doubled the Hartford lead five minutes later. Matthew Robertson took a shot from the top of the zone, and Edström deflected the puck into the net. The goal was originally credited to Robertson, with the change announced on Monday morning.
Belzile followed up at 17:01 with a powerplay goal. Brennan Othmann took a shot that Alnefelt turned away. Riley Nash grabbed the rebound and snapped a pass to Belzile, who buried it into the goal to stretch the lead to three. It was the 14th point of the season for Belzile, good for second on the team.
Trailing by three late in the third period, Syracuse pulled Alnefelt from net. However, Bobby Trivigno hit the empty net for his second goal of the season. Ilya Usau cut the lead to three at 18:37, but it wasn’t enough, and Hartford earned revenge.
Hockey or WarGames?
A hockey game briefly turned into a WWE show on Saturday night. After Adam Edström’s goal, an all-out brawl broke out during the Wolf Pack’s celebration.
The scrum resulted in 34 penalty minutes handed out between the two teams. Gabriel Dumont himself earned 14 minutes: a two-minute roughing, a two-minute unsportsmanlike, and a ten-minute misconduct. Other Syracuse penalties went to Max Crozier and Daniel Walcott, who each earned a two-minute roughing minor.
On the Hartford side, Edström was awarded twelve minutes, earning a two-minute unsportsmanlike and a ten-minute misconduct. Zach Berzolla and Matthew Robertson were each awarded a two-minute roughing.
You truly never know what you’re going to see at a hockey game!
Jonny B Good
Jonny Brodzinski is scorching hot right now. The Wolf Pack captain has tallied six points (3 G, 3 A) in his last three games. Brodzinski leads the Wolf Pack in goals, with ten, and points, with 18. He’s also second on the team in assists, as his eight trail only Mac Hollowell and Alex Belzile at nine apiece.
Brodzinski’s 18 points are tied for second in the American Hockey League with Toronto’s Alex Steeves, Texas’ Logan Stankoven and Mavrik Bourque, and Laval’s Joshua Roy. The five men trail only Springfield’s Adam Gaudette, who was the first skater to 20 points on the campaign.
It’s still very early in the season. However, if Brodzinski keeps this production up, he could easily be a Les Cunningham Award contender come the end of the season.
Injury Updates
On Monday, New York Rangers reporter Vince Mercogliano revealed that Ben Harpur has undergone season-ending pectoral surgery. Harpur last skated on November 3rd against Lehigh Valley, and left the game early due to an injury. That injury will end up costing him his season. It’s a brutal loss for Hartford, who is already playing with a depleted defense, but we wish Harpur the best as he recovers.
On the plus side, defenseman Mac Hollowell is gearing up for a return to the lineup. Hollowell last played on November 10th against Bridgeport. However, he returned to practice Monday, and interim head coach Steve Smith indicated he could be an option this week. Hollowell’s return will provide a nice boost to the Hartford blue line.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack return to action tonight, hosting the Providence Bruins at the XL Center. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm.
On Friday, Hartford will travel up I-91 to Springfield for a meeting with the Thunderbirds. It will be the fourth meeting between the rivals this year. Puck drop is set for 7:05 pm.
The Wolf Pack will wrap up November on Saturday, hosting the Belleville Senators. It will be the B-Sens first visit to Hartford since April 1, 2022, where they took a 4-1 decision. Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm.
