HARTFORD, CT – After securing a wild win in their home opener last Friday, the Hartford Wolf Pack began a weekend home-and-home with their in-state rivals, the Bridgeport Islanders. Hartford picked up a dramatic win on Saturday, but couldn’t complete the sweep on Sunday.
Saturday – Hartford Wolf Pack 5, Bridgeport Islanders 4 (OT)
The 2024-25 Battle of Connecticut kicked off on Saturday as the Islanders made their first trip to the XL Center. The Wolf Pack aimed to continue their dominance in the rivalry – they posted a 7-2-0-1 record against the Islanders last season. Meanwhile, Bridgeport sought to reverse their misfortunes and pick up their first win of the season over their rivals.
Bo Knows Goals
The two teams traded chances early in the contest. Each side earned a power play bid, but neither could break the ice.
Finally, just over 14 minutes into the contest, the Wolf Pack grabbed the game’s first lead. Bo Groulx carried the puck into Bridgeport’s zone and sent a feed to Alex Belzile. The pass was tipped away by an Islander, but Ryan Siedem made a great play to keep the puck in. Belzile blasted a one-timer from the high slot, but the puck didn’t make it to Marcus Hogberg. The loose puck landed right on Groulx’s stick, and he snapped a shot by Hogberg for the icebreaker.
Fredrik Karlström answered back under 40 seconds later, converting on a partial breakaway to tie the contest at one. The score remained knotted heading into the first intermission.
The Wolf Pack couldn’t take advantage of a pair of early power play opportunities in the second period. Bridgeport, however, took the lead thanks to Wyatt Newpower, who powered to the net and tucked a backhander by Dylan Garand just over the halfway mark in the middle frame.
A holding penalty against Cole Bardreau initiated the fifth power play of the game for Hartford. This time, they’d capitalize on the man advantage. Casey Fitzgerald ripped a shot that Hogberg turned aside. However, Groulx was in perfect position for the rebound, and he blasted it home to tie the game again.
Back and Forth Battle (of Connecticut)
Brett Berard put the Pack back in front about three minutes later. Brandon Scanlin fired a shot from the blue line that Hogberg turned aside. Berard collected the rebound, wrapped around the goal, and tucked the puck inside the post for his thrid goal of the campaign.
The Wolf Pack hung onto that lead into the third period. However, Bridgeport simply wouldn’t go away. Matthew Robertson went off for holding at 12:32 of the frame, and Alex Jefferies potted a power play goal just 26 seconds later to tie the game again.
The tie wouldn’t last long. Seconds later, Groulx attempted to center a pass for Adam Sýkora in the slot. Sýkora’s initial bid was denied by Hogberg, but the second-year forward stuck with it and slipped his own rebound by the Bridgeport netminder. Just a minute after Bridgeport tied the contest, the Wolf Pack were back in front.
However, the Islanders once again found the equalizer. Karlström potted his second of the night, beating a diving Garand to tie the contest at four with just over two minutes to play. Neither team could wrestle the lead away in the final minutes of regulation, sending the contest to overtime.
Berard Beats Bridgeport
As regulation time expired, Bridgeport’s Marc Gatcomb was whistled for boarding, allowing the Wolf Pack to start the extra frame on the power play. Hartford began the overtime period slowly, searching for the right point of attack. Hogberg denied a bid by Groulx, and the Wolf Pack opted to take a timeout to talk things over.
After the timeout, Groulx won the faceoff, which Berard slipped to Fitzgerald. The two traded places, with Fitzgerald handing the puck to Berard. Berard sent a pass back to the blueliner, who faked a one-timer. Fitzgerald sent the puck back to Berard, who finally blasted a shot by Hogberg’s glove to secure the victory.
Despite the extra effort required to win, Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny was impressed with his team’s performance in the contest.
“It was one of those nights where, as a coach, you think you deserve to win,” Potulny told The Calder Times after the game. “That was my message the whole time, we’re doing the things required to win.”
Meanwhile, Berard, who tallied four goals and two assists through Hartford’s first three contests, was humble about his hot start to the season.
“I wish I had an answer for you, I don’t know,” Berard told The Calder Times. “I’m just trying to get pucks to the net, trying to play my game. I say it all the time, I’m not really focused on points. I’m trying to play fast, down low, use my size to my advantage. Luckily, so far, that puck’s been able to go in the net. I’m a big believer in if you [do] the right thing, good things will happen. Just trying to keep doing that.”
Sunday – Bridgeport Islanders 4, Hartford Wolf Pack 0
After the thrill of Saturday’s overtime win, the Wolf Pack aimed to sweep their three-in-three in the matinee rematch in Bridgeport.
However, they’d much rather forget about this game. Jakub Skarek blanked Hartford, stopping all 24 shots on goal, while Brian Pinho potted the game-winner shorthanded, and Bridgeport never looked back. The Wolf Pack, playing an early season three-in-three, simply ran out of gas in this contest. As a result, they earned their first regulation loss of the year. The loss was also their first regulation loss in Bridgeport since November 23rd, 2022, where they were doubled up 6-3 by the Isles.
It was a disappointing conclusion to a successful weekend. The Wolf Pack earned some much-needed rest before their next game on Friday night.
Injury Notes
While the Wolf Pack picked up the win on Saturday night, they lost one of their top playmakers. Forward Brennan Othmann exited the game early with a suspected upper body injury. Othmann went down hard during a scrum in the second period and was slow to get up, eventually skating right to the bench and heading down the tunnel. He did not play in Sunday’s contest, and his status is unknown.
Defenseman Matthew Robertson also missed Sunday’s game, and is listed as day-to-day. The Wolf Pack inked defenseman Griffin Luce to a professional tryout contract on Sunday, and he suited up for the game. The team released Luce after the contest and he returned to ECHL Worcester.
Defenseman Ben Harpur has missed Hartford’s last two games. His status is unknown. The Wolf Pack recalled defenseman Case McCarthy from ECHL Bloomington as insurance in case Robertson or Harpur are unavailable for Friday’s game.
Forward Nathan Sucese missed all of Hartford’s games this weekend. He’s still listed as day-to-day after suffering an injury in the Wolf Pack’s season opener in Lehigh Valley.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack play a pair of home games this weekend. They’ll take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday night, searching for revenge from their season opener. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm.
The Wolf Pack welcome the Springfield Thunderbirds back to town on Sunday afternoon. Puck drop is slated for 4:00 pm.
