The first weekend of November could’ve spelled disaster for the Hartford Wolf Pack. Last Friday, before the team’s first game of the weekend against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the New York Rangers recalled forward and captain Jonny Brodzinski, defenseman Connor Mackey, and goaltender Louis Domingue. However, the sudden loss of three veteran leaders proved to be no issue for the Pack. Hartford collected three out of a possible four points in the first weekend of November.
Friday – Lehigh Valley Phantoms 5, Hartford Wolf Pack 4 (OT)
Just two hours before puck drop in Allentown, the Wolf Pack announced that Brodzinski, Mackey, and Domingue had been recalled by the Rangers. This caused some quick lineup changes, and even forced Hartford to sign an emergency goaltender to back up Dylan Garand.
Despite these changes, Hartford broke the ice in the first period. Defenseman Ben Harpur, skating in his 200th AHL game, deflected a pass from Alex Belzile past goaltender Felix Sandstrom and into the net. It was Harpur’s first goal of the season, and it put the Wolf Pack on top early.
Second Period Scares
The second period told a different story. First, the Wolf Pack ran into injury troubles. Defensemen Harpur and Matthew Robertson were banged up, forcing Hartford to play with just four defenders. Forward Anton Blidh also missed part of the game, meaning the Wolf Pack were playing significantly shorthanded.
The Phantoms rattled off three goals in the middle stanza. Elliot Desnoyers tied the game just over the four minute mark. Olle Lycksell followed up, taking advantage of a Mac Hollowell interference penalty and putting the Phantoms in the lead. Jon-Randall Avon struck less than a minute later, and Hartford suddenly found themselves in a two-goal deficit.
Matt Rempe would quickly cut the deficit in half by scoring his first goal of the season. The towering forward deflected a pass from Mac Hollowell past Parker Gahagen, who replaced Sandstrom in net to start the middle stanza. Hollowell’s assist extended his point streak to eight games, and the Wolf Pack were right back in it.
The Comeback Falls Just Short
The Wolf Pack evened the score 1:40 into the third period. Ethan Samson began the period in the penalty box for slashing. In the waning moments of the powerplay, Jake Leschyshyn aimed to center the puck in front of the Lehigh Valley net. However, the puck deflected off a Phantom and into the goal, tying the score. It was Leschyshyn’s first tally on the campaign.
Ryder Korczak reinstated the Hartford lead just over two minutes later. Blake Hillman sent a stretch pass to Korczak, who sped into the offensive zone. Korczak ripped a wrist shot from the right circle past Gahagen for his first AHL goal.
Hartford couldn’t hold the lead, however, as Rhett Gardner evened the score again just under seven minutes into the period. Neither team could take the lead in the final thirteen minutes of action, sending the game to overtime.
Just over a minute into the overtime period, Samu Tuomaala lit the lamp and gave the Phantoms the extra point. Obviously, this was not the result the Wolf Pack wanted. However, considering the team was down two forwards, three defenseman, and a goaltender, the point was well-earned.
Saturday – Hartford Wolf Pack 3, Utica Comets 2
Reinforcements joined the Wolf Pack for their only trip to Utica this season. The Rangers reassigned goaltender Olof Lindbom to Hartford from ECHL Cincinnati. Additionally, the Wolf Pack added two defenseman from Cincinnati, recalling Zach Berzolla and signing Matt Cairns to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Robertson and Blidh, both listed as game time decisions, returned to the lineup.
T.J. Friedmann got the scoring started 16:31 into the first, giving Utica the game’s first lead. However, Mac Hollowell answered back two and a half minutes later with his first goal of the season. Xavier Parent was sent to the box for slashing, giving the Wolf Pack their first powerplay opportunity of the contest. Hollowell took a feed from Nikolas Brouillard and blasted a one-timer into the back of the Utica net to even the score. The goal extended Hollowell’s point streak to nine games.
Zach is Back
In his first game after being recalled from ECHL Cincinnati, Zach Berzolla made an impact. Berzolla put Hartford in front at 13:51 of the second period. Berzolla took a feed from Brett Berard and skated to the low part of the offensive zone. The defenseman flung a shot on net that found its way past Erik Källgren and gave the Wolf Pack their first lead of the game.
The lead would not last long, however, as Ryan Schmelzer lit the lamp just over a minute later. After two periods of action, the score was even at two.
A Well Fought Win
Adam Edström reinstated the Hartford lead early in the third period. Matthew Robertson stepped into a blast at the top of the offensive zone, but Källgren turned it away. Edström collected the rebound and promptly buried it into the back of the net for his third goal of the year. The goal was Edström’s second point of the night, as he collected the secondary assist on Berzolla’s goal. It was the first multi-point game in Edström’s AHL career.
The Comets had multiple chances to tie the contest, including a pair of powerplay opportunities in the third period. However, the Wolf Pack prevented Utica from finding the equalizer, earning a 3-2 win and collecting three out of a possible four points on the weekend.
Road Warriors
The Wolf Pack are in the midst of a five-game road trip. So far, they have posted a 2-1-1-0 record, earning five out of a possible eight points. On the season, the Wolf Pack are 4-1-1-0 outside the XL Center, earning nine of a possible twelve points. Hartford leads the AHL in points earned while on the road this season. While a .750 win percentage is likely unsustainable, success on the road will be key for the Wolf Pack throughout the 2023-24 season.
The Pack Runs Deep
This was a weekend that very easily could’ve been one to forget for the Wolf Pack. The losses of Brodzinski, Mackey, and Domingue to recall hurt, and injuries to Harpur, Robertson, and Blidh only increased the pain. The Wolf Pack were forced to lean on their depth pieces for most of the weekend, and it paid off.
Matt Rempe, Jake Leschyshyn, Ryder Korczak, and Zach Berzolla all scored goals this past weekend. Blake Hillman had a pair of assists on Friday. Adam Edström had his first multi-point AHL game on Saturday. In a league where depth is pivotal, the Wolf Pack have proven that their depth is a strength.
The Mac Daddy of Point Streaks
In last week’s article, I mentioned how Mac Hollowell had the second-longest point streak in the American Hockey League. After this weekend’s contests, Hollowell now owns the longest point streak in the AHL this season at nine games. The Hartford defenseman has recorded a point in all nine of Hartford’s games, totaling one goal and nine assists. Hollowell’s point streak is the longest point streak by a Wolf Pack player since Ryan Carpenter had an eight-game point streak from January 11 to January 28, 2023.
Up next
The Wolf Pack finish up their road trip on Friday in Bridgeport. There, they take on the Islanders for the first edition of the Battle of Connecticut this season. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm.
The Wolf Pack briefly return to the XL Center in Hartford on Saturday for a matchup with the Providence Bruins. Puck drop is set for 7:30 pm. The Wolf Pack will wrap up their second three-in-three of the campaign on Sunday in Providence. They’ll have a matinee rematch with the Bruins, with puck drop set for 3:05 pm.
