The Hartford Wolf Pack opened the 2024 portion of their schedule with a trio of road games. It was a hot start for the Wolf Pack, who won two of the three contests.
Thursday – Hartford Wolf Pack 3, Bridgeport Islanders 2
After defeating the Islanders in their final contest of 2023, the Wolf Pack traveled to Bridgeport for another matchup with their rivals.
The teams traded goals in each of the first two periods. Matt Rempe broke the ice in the first period, but Otto Koivula tied the contest with a powerplay goal. Brett Berard converted on Hartford’s only powerplay opportunity to reinstate the lead four and a half minutes into the second. However, Cole Bardreau evened the score again, sneaking a loose puck by Dylan Garand during a scrum.
Finally, just over a minute into the third period, Artem Anisimov re-introduced himself to Wolf Pack fans by potting the go-ahead tally. After signing a professional tryout agreement with Hartford on January 2nd, Anisimov drew into the lineup two days later. The veteran forward fired a sharp-angle shot that snuck by Bridgeport goaltender Henrik Tikkanen. The goal was Anisimov’s first game-winner for Hartford since their 5-1 win over the Albany River Rats on March 27th, 2009.
Bridgeport pulled Tikkanen in the final minute of regulation, searching for the equalizer. However, Garand held strong, and the Wolf Pack earned their first win of 2024.
Saturday – Hartford Wolf Pack 5, Hershey Bears 3
The Wolf Pack continued their road trip Saturday, traveling to Hershey for their first matchup with the Bears this season. The teams met in last year’s Calder Cup Playoffs, with Hershey sweeping Hartford 3-0 in the Atlantic Division Finals.
A hooking minor to Joe Snively allowed Jake Leschyshyn to break the ice midway through the first period. Alex Belzile tipped a Mac Hollowell shot towards the net, but Clay Stevenson turned it away. Leschyshyn buried the rebound, giving Hartford the game’s first lead.
However, the ice would quickly tilt in Hershey’s favor. Garrett Roe tied the contest late in the first period. Jimmy Huntington put the Bears in front early in the second period, taking advantage of an Artem Anisimov tripping minor. Henrik Rybinski doubled the lead just 40 seconds later, and Hartford quickly found themselves trailing 3-1.
Matthew Robertson drew the Wolf Pack within one at 12:33 of the second. Robertson took a handoff from Karl Henriksson before ripping a wrist shot off the post and in to cut the lead in half.
The teams drew even again just over four minutes later. An extended sequence in the Hershey zone ended with Bobby Trivigno holding the puck behind the net. Connor Mackey streaked towards the net and called for the puck. Trivigno fed Mackey, who went bar down over Stevenson, tying the score at three.
Brett Berard put the Wolf Pack back in front just 23 seconds into the third period. Berard grabbed a loose puck in the slot and snapped a quick shot by Stevenson to reinstate the Hartford lead.
With Brandon Scanlin in the box for cross-checking late in regulation, Hershey pulled Stevenson, giving them a six-on-four advantage. However, Leschyshyn hit the empty net, delivering Hershey just their seventh loss of the season.
Sweet Revenge
About a week ago, I released my list of the ten best Wolf Pack games of 2023. This win in Hershey is an early contender to make the 2024 list.
The Wolf Pack went into Hershey to take on a Bears team in the middle of a historic season. Coming into this contest, the Bears had lost only six games on the season and were in the midst of a nine-game win streak. Also, Hershey swept Hartford out of the Calder Cup Playoffs last year, and that series is still fresh in the mind of many in the Wolf Pack organization.
Neither Hershey’s impressive season nor last year’s sweep mattered. The Wolf Pack staged a comeback win, handing the Bears their seventh loss of the season and snapping the nine-game win streak. Making the comeback even more impressive is the fact that Hartford was without Jonny Brodzinski, Brennan Othmann, Riley Nash, and Adam Edström.
The bottom line – revenge sure is sweet. But a comeback win in a division rival’s barn? That’s even sweeter.
Sunday – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 2, Hartford Wolf Pack 1
After the thrilling comeback win over the AHL’s top team on Saturday night, the Wolf Pack couldn’t get out of their own way on Sunday afternoon in Wilkes-Barre. Sam Poulin broke the ice 7:27 into the first period, giving the Penguins a lead they wouldn’t lose. Jonathan Gruden doubled the lead midway through the second period with a shorthanded goal. It was the fifth shorthanded marker Hartford has given up this season, tying them with the Penguins and the Charlotte Checkers for the most in the Atlantic Division.
Brandon Scanlin got the Wolf Pack on the board about eight minutes into the third period with his fourth goal of the campaign. Scanlin fired a shot from the point that snuck through traffic and found twine, cutting the lead in half.
However, Scanlin’s tally was all the Hartford offense could muster, and the Wolf Pack dropped the final game of the weekend.
Total Team Efforts
The Hartford Wolf Pack’s depth has been challenged all year thanks to recalls and injuries. However, Hartford has faced increased challenges recently.
The Wolf Pack played these three games without four of their usual top-six forwards. Jonny Brodzinski and Brennan Othmann are on recall with the New York Rangers, and Riley Nash and Adam Edström are both week-to-week with injuries. Despite these losses, the Wolf Pack continue to pick up wins thanks to their depth.
Artem Anisimov joined the team on a PTO and scored a game-winning goal two days later. Jake Leschyshyn potted a pair of goals on Saturday night, his first since returning from injury on December 27th. Defensemen like Connor Mackey, Matthew Robertson, and Brandon Scanlin all scored this weekend. The Wolf Pack are getting contributions up and down the lineup. If and when reinforcements rejoin the lineup, the Wolf Pack will be in a great position for a deep playoff run.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack will wrap up their road trip in Allentown, PA, on Friday, taking on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Puck drop is set for 7:05 pm. The Wolf Pack will return home on Saturday, hosting the Providence Bruins. Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm.
