HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack kicked off a three-game road trip on Wednesday night. The Wolf Pack made their only visit to Utica for a matchup against the Comets.
After conceding the first three goals, Hartford stormed back to tie the contest. However, Utica would pull away once again, taking a 7-3 decision.
Quick Crater
The Wolf Pack earned a premium chance to break the ice 11:37 into the contest when Topias Vilen took a boarding minor. However, on the ensuing power play, officials whistled Alex Belzile for interference in the offensive zone, setting up a four-on-four sequence. During the four-on-four, Max Willman sniped a sharp-angle shot by Dylan Garand to give Utica the game’s first lead.
Vilen exited the box, giving the Comets a partial power play bid. On the man advantage, Nolan Foote snapped a shot by Garand to double the lead. Utica took that lead into the first intermission.
Chase Stillman made it a three-goal game just over five minutes after the break ended. Stillman rifled a shot from the right circle into the back of the net to give the Comets their largest lead of the night.
Bo’s Back
However, just 32 seconds later, the Wolf Pack got on the board. Belzile held the puck down low and found Bo Groulx out in front. Groulx snapped a quick shot by Nico Daws to cut into the deficit.
The goal was Groulx’s team-leading 12th of the campaign. Additionally, the goal was Groulx’s first since being assigned back to Hartford by the New York Rangers on Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, the assist on the play gave Belzile his team-leading 33rd point of the season. Belzile is the only Wolf Pack player to be playing at a point-per-game pace.
Big Man Scores Shorthanded
Things once again looked troubling for the Wolf Pack when Jake Leschyshyn went off for cross-checking at 7:41 of the second. However, Dylan Roobroeck instead cut into the deficit further with a shorthanded tally. Stillman attempted to play the puck up to Jack Malone, but Malone couldn’t handle the feed. The puck sat loose at the top of the Hartford zone, allowing Roobroeck to grab it and speed away on a breakaway. Roobroeck went to the backhand and flipped a shot over the glove of Daws to make it a one-goal game.
The goal was Hartford’s fifth shorthanded marker of the season and their first since Belzile scored shorthanded on November 19th, 2024 against Charlotte.
Brand New Ballgame
The Wolf Pack tied the contest just two minutes after Roobroeck’s shorthanded goal. Shane Bowers attempted to clear the puck out of the Utica zone, but Connor Mackey kept it in at the blue line. Mackey fired a long shot that Anton Blidh got a piece of, and the puck snuck by Daws.
The goal was Hartford’s third unanswered score in five minutes of action, and suddenly, it was a brand new game in Utica.
Comets Shoot Away
Simon Nemec reinstated the Utica lead just over the 13 minute mark in the middle frame. The Wolf Pack defense broke down, allowing Nemec to walk into the slot by himself. Nemec took a pass from Bowers and snuck a backhander by Garand, putting Utica in the lead for good.
Nemec potted his second goal of the game 1:33 into the third frame, rifling a shot by Garand from between the circles.
Willman added his second goal of the contest at 11:42, and Xavier Parent capped off the scoring at 16:50, allowing Utica to take a 7-3 decision.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack head down to Charlotte for a weekend set with the Checkers on Saturday and Sunday. Puck drop for both games is set for 4:00 pm.
