The Hartford Wolf Pack wrapped up the month of November with a trio of games last week. The Wolf Pack kept rolling to end the month, winning all three contests.
Wednesday – Hartford Wolf Pack 6, Providence Bruins 4
The Wolf Pack hosted the Bruins for some Thanksgiving Eve hockey on Wednesday night. Momentum swung back and forth in this contest, with Providence breaking the ice just 30 seconds into the game and Marc McLaughlin scoring on the game’s first shot. Hartford briefly grabbed momentum, as Karl Henriksson and Jonny Brodzinski tallied goals in a span of 1:49 between the first and second periods. However, the Bruins controlled the rest of the second period, tallying three unanswered goals to take a 4-2 lead into the final 20 minutes.
However, a window of opportunity opened for the Wolf Pack around the midway point of the period. Alex Belzile took advantage of a five-on-three powerplay opportunity to draw the Wolf Pack within one. Brennan Othmann tied the game just over three minutes later, coming out of the penalty box and converting on a partial breakaway.
The Wolf Pack finally took the lead back with 43.6 seconds to go in regulation. Alec Regula took an interference minor, giving the Wolf Pack their sixth powerplay opportunity of the game. Belzile struck again just six seconds later, slipping a shot past a diving Michael DiPietro to put Hartford in front for good. DiPietro was lifted for the extra skater as Providence searched for the equalizer. However, Adam Edström delivered the dagger, hitting the empty net as Hartford earned a 6-4 comeback win.
Speaking to local media after the game, Othmann noted that the Wolf Pack didn’t play up to their standards on Wednesday night. However, the rookie forward said the group “never gave up”, leading to the comeback win.
Friday – Hartford Wolf Pack 4, Springfield Thunderbirds 2
Last year, the Thunderbirds simply had the Wolf Pack’s number during the regular season. Hartford won just three of the twelve regular season meetings between the I-91 rivals in 2022-23.
This season, they’ve already matched that win total. Hartford’s win at the MassMutual Center on Friday was their third win in four games against the T-Birds on the campaign. The rivals played a scoreless first period before Riley Nash broke the ice six minutes into the middle frame. Nash took advantage of a too many men minor and tapped the puck over Malcom Subban to give the Wolf Pack the game’s first lead.
Hugh McGing would even the score just over four minutes later with his fourth goal of the campaign. The game would be sent to the third period with the two sides even at one.
Brett Berard broke the tie just over a minute into the final stanza. Subban denied a shot from Jonny Brodzinski, but Berard grabbed the rebound and tucked it into the goal to reinstate the Hartford lead. It was the fourth goal and eleventh point on the season for the rookie forward.
Nash took a tripping penalty at 8:43, and the T-Birds promptly tied the game. Joseph Duszak scored his second goal of the season on the powerplay to even the score once again. However, the tie wouldn’t last for long, as Matt Rempe put Hartford back in front for good by converting a breakaway. Rempe went from the forehand to the backhand before flipping a shot over Subban to take the lead.
Springfield eventually lifted Subban, searching for the equalizer, but Edström hit the empty net for the second time in as many games to seal the victory. The 4-2 win extended the Wolf Pack’s win streak to three games.
Saturday – Hartford Wolf Pack 4, Belleville Senators 3 (OT)
On Saturday, the Wolf Pack welcomed the Belleville Senators to Hartford for the first time since April 1, 2022. Belleville won that contest 4-1.
Maxence Guenette broke the ice at 18:26 of the first, beating Dylan Garand on the short side during a four-on-four sequence. Orrin Centazzo doubled the lead at 0:53 of the second period, intercepting a Matthew Robertson pass and finding twine on a quick shot.
Hartford cut the lead to one about three minutes later. Jacob Larsson was whistled for high-sticking, giving the Wolf Pack a powerplay opportunity. On the ensuing powerplay, Brodzinski slid a cross-ice pass to Othmann. Othmann promptly sniped a shot from the right circle to put Hartford on the board.
Adam Sýkora evened the score near the midway point of the period. Sýkora deflected a shot from Robertson past Kevin Mandolese to tie the game at two. The Slovak forward now has points in three of his last four games.
Angus Crookshank reinstated the Belleville lead at 5:35 of the third, snapping a shot that found the back of the Hartford net. With just over a minute remaining, Hartford opted to lift Garand for the extra attacker. The plan worked, as Othmann lit the lamp again to even the score at three and send the game to overtime.
The teams traded chances in the extra frame. Finally, Nash deflected a Mac Hollowell pass into the Belleville net to deliver the victory and the extra point to the Wolf Pack. With the overtime win, Hartford extended their win streak to four games and ended November on a high note.
Putting the Power in Powerplay
In my previous article, I discussed the Wolf Pack’s success on special teams. This weekend was no different. Riley Nash had a powerplay goal on Friday, and Brennan Othmann followed up with a powerplay goal on Saturday. That makes six straight games where the Wolf Pack have recorded a powerplay goal. The last time the Wolf Pack failed to record a powerplay goal was on November 12th, in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Providence Bruins. That game was also Steve Smith’s first as interim head coach.
Smith described the powerplay to AHL News Now as “dynamite all season long, [but] a little snakebit.” Smith additionally mentioned how important powerplay success is for the psyche of the unit, saying it’s “been wonderful to see them finally get rewarded.”
Othmann also had praise for the powerplay unit. The top unit, consisting of Othmann, Brodzinski, Nash, Belzile, and Hollowell, have only been together for a month. Othmann told AHL News Now that the group’s “chemistry has been good,” considering the group has played very little hockey together, “and it’s gonna continue to get better.”
Otter Gets Hot
If you haven’t been paying attention to Brennan Othmann this year, you should start now. The rookie forward has tallied six points in his last five games, recording three goals and three assists. This is a huge improvement over Othmann’s first twelve games, where he totaled seven points, with two goals and five assists.
Othmann’s goals have been impactful, too. His goal against Providence on Wednesday and his second goal against Bellville on Saturday were both game-tying goals which set the stage for a Wolf Pack win.
Othmann has credited the veteran leadership for helping him snap his goal drought. Othmann told AHL News Now that the veterans have told him “to stick with it; you can’t let that frustrate you.”
One of those veterans, forward Riley Nash, has been skating on a line with Othmann recently and sees him getting more comfortable. Nash told AHL News Now, “I thought [Othmann has] had a lot of good looks lately…it’s no shocker that they’re starting to go in.”
The transition from juniors to professional hockey will always present challenges. Using his recent performance as an indicator, Othmann is starting to overcome those challenges and adapt to pro hockey.
Rempe is Ready to Rumble
Matt Rempe loves to fight.
The towering forward led the Wolf Pack in penalty minutes last year, with 87. He’s looking to retain his crown this season, as he’s racked up 30 penalty minutes, leading the Wolf Pack. Rempe has earned four fighting majors on the campaign so far. The Calgary native dropped the gloves with Belleville’s Boko Imama on Saturday, and the two delivered an entertaining tilt. Give it a watch below.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack are back in action this weekend. They’ll host a pair of home games against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Friday and Saturday. Puck drop for both games is set for 7:00 pm.
