HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack continued their chase for a Calder Cup Playoff spot on Saturday. The Wolf Pack visited the Providence Bruins as they aimed to keep their four-game point streak alive.
The Wolf Pack took a lead into the final frame. However, for the second straight game, they couldn’t hold said lead. Providence scored twice in the final frame to take a 2-1 decision and snap Hartford’s point streak.
Back-to-Back Belzy
Providence controlled play throughout the opening frame, outshooting Hartford 10-5. The Bruins got a pair of power play bids thanks to a slashing call on Chad Ruhwedel and a tripping call against Brendan Brisson. However, the Hartford penalty kill was up to task, preventing Providence from capitalizing on the man advantage. Hartford also got a power play opportunity when Trevor Kuntar took a double minor for high-sticking, but they couldn’t score either.
The Wolf Pack finally broke the ice in the final minute of the first period. Anton Blidh chipped the puck out of the Hartford zone, allowing Alex Belzile to gain control. Belzile danced his way to the left circle before ripping a shot by Brandon Bussi to open the scoring.
The goal was Belzile’s 18th of the campaign, giving him sole possession of the team lead. Belzile now leads the Wolf Pack in goals (18), assists (36), points (54), plus/minus (+9), and penalty minutes (117).
The Wolf Pack took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Slipping Away
The Wolf Pack challenged Bussi to the tune of 12 shots in the middle frame. However, the Bruin netminder denied all 12 bids. On the other end of the ice, Dylan Garand stopped nine shots in the second period to preserve the one-goal lead heading into the final frame.
The Bruins needed just 2:05 to tie the game in the third period. Former Hartford forward Tyler Pitlick made a pretty move to cut to the net before shoveling a shot by Garand’s pad to tie the game. Pitlick has recorded nine points in eight games against his former team.
Jaxon Nelson gave the Bruins the lead with just over five minutes to play in the contest. Riley Tufte won a battle along the back wall before finding Nelson in the slot. Nelson ripped a quick shot into the Hartford net to give the Bruins their first lead of the game.
The Wolf Pack pushed for the equalizer in the final minutes of the contest, but they couldn’t solve Bussi. As a result, the Bruins walked away with a 2-1 decision, breaking the Wolf Pack’s four-game point streak.
This loss, combined with a trio of wins by Springfield this weekend, means the Wolf Pack now sit nine games out of a Calder Cup Playoff spot with just seven games to play. The Wolf Pack are now chasing the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for said spot.
The Wolf Pack will need every bounce to favor them over the last seven games if they want a shot at returning to the Calder Cup Playoffs for the third year in a row.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack kick off a weekend set in Hershey on Saturday, taking on the Bears for the first of two times on the weekend. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm.
