HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack embarked on a rare road trip of the Midwest this week. The Wolf Pack kicked off the trip on Wednesday night in Grand Rapids for a matchup with the Griffins.
Much like the first meeting between the teams this season, goaltenders Dylan Garand and Sebastian Cossa told the story through much of the contest. However, a pair of late penalties against Hartford gave the Griffins a prime chance to win. They converted, stealing a 2-1 decision and a point from the Wolf Pack.
Let Jake Bake
The Wolf Pack opened the contest with fire, recording the game’s first eleven shots. A tripping call against Eemil Viro gave the Wolf Pack an opportunity at the icebreaker, but Cossa and the penalty killers prevented Hartford from converting.
At the other end of the ice, Garand matched the performance. The 2025 AHL All-Star denied nine shots in the opening frame to send the game into the first intermission scoreless.
Ondřej Becher finally broke the ice just over the halfway point in the game. Cross Hanas fired a pass from the defensive zone that spring Becher on a breakaway bid. Becher stuffed a shot by Garand to open the scoring.
However, the Wolf Pack would respond in the final minutes of the middle frame. Joe Snively took a minor penalty for hooking, sending the Wolf Pack to their second power play bid of the contest. On the ensuing power play, Matthew Robertson teed up Brendan Brisson for a one-timer from the right circle. Brisson uncorked a shot that clipped Jake Leschyshyn in front before trickling into the Grand Rapids net.
The goal gave Leschyshyn three goals in his last two games – he potted a pair of goals last Sunday against Belleville.
Brisson’s assist on the tally gave him his first point as a member of the Wolf Pack. Brisson was acquired by the New York Rangers from the Vegas Golden Knights for Reilly Smith on March 6th.
Bringin’ On the Heartbreak
With under three minutes to play in the final frame, Anton Blidh took a hooking call, forcing the Wolf Pack to the penalty kill. Just 44 seconds later, Robertson flipped a puck out of play, earning himself a delay of gamer penalty. As a result, the Wolf Pack were forced to play five-on-three hockey as time ticked away.
The Griffins wouldn’t need long. Amadeus Lombardi found Austin Watson in the left circle, and the veteran forward fired a howitzer by Garand to put the Griffins up with just over two minutes to play.
The Wolf Pack were unable to get out of their own zone in the final minutes of regulation, and the Griffins swiped a 2-1 decision.
It’s the latest in a series of heartbreaking losses where Hartford has left points on the table. The Wolf Pack trail the Lehigh Valley Phantoms by ten points for the final Calder Cup Playoff spot in the Atlantic Division with just 13 games left. They’ll need to win at least ten of those contests to have a puncher’s chance at returning to the dance. They’ve done it before, but time is no longer the enemy – it’s the arch nemesis.
If the Wolf Pack end up missing out on the dance, losses like this one will be the reason.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack continue their Midwest tour on Friday, visiting Rockford to take on the IceHogs. Puck drop is set for 8:00 pm.
