The chase for the Calder Cup Playoffs is on, and the Hartford Wolf Pack picked up some reinforcements this weekend. The reinforcements helped Hartford pick up three of a possible four points, extending their point streak to five games.
Friday – Hartford Wolf Pack 7, Providence Bruins 4
The Wolf Pack hosted the Providence Bruins for the second consecutive meeting between the teams on Friday night. The Wolf Pack got a pair of big returns – forwards Alex Belzile (assignment) and Matej Pekar (injury) returned to the lineup.
Hartford played with intensity from opening puck drop, recording the game’s first six shots on goal. It was the sixth shot that provided the icebreaker just under four minutes into the game. Blade Jenkins deflected a Pekar shot over Michael DiPietro to give Hartford a lead they would never lose.
The Wolf Pack earned the game’s first powerplay opportunity when Jayson Megna took a hooking minor 6:23 into the contest. Brett Berard would cash in just over a minute into the man advantage, beating DiPietro on the short side to double the lead. With the goal, Berard became the first Wolf Pack player to record 20 goals on the campaign.
The Bruins were forced to play five-on-three hockey when Joey Abate took a double minor for roughing and Anthony Richard took a tripping minor. Again, Berard took advantage of the penalties, tucking a shot under the bar to push the Hartford lead to three.
The lamp-lighting onslaught continued in the middle stanza. The sides played four-on-four hockey to start the period, as Bobby Trivigno and Anthony Richard were awarded duel minors at the end of the opening period. Hartford got a four-on-three opportunity just 31 seconds later as Georgii Merkulov went off for slashing. During the man advantage, Michael Callahan boarded Brennan Othmann, and Hartford sent out the extra attacker. The two-skater advantage proved to be the difference maker, as Belzile uncorked a one-timer through DiPietro to stretch the lead to four.
Berard Sends the Hats Flying
The Wolf Pack remained on the powerplay as Callahan entered the box for boarding. On the ensuing powerplay, Berard set up in the slot and took a feed from Belzile. Berard ripped a quick shot that DiPietro had no chance of stopping, completing his first professional hat trick.
Speaking to The Calder Times after the contest, Berard was happier about the win than the hat trick, saying:
It always feels good to get a hat trick. It’s been a long time since it’s happened. But I’ve said before, [we earned] two big points against a team that’s right in front of us [in the standings]. It’s always good to get the win, and the crowd was great tonight too.
Wolf Pack forward Brett Berard on his hat trick vs. Providence, 3/8/24
Providence swapped DiPietro for Brandon Bussi in net, but the Wolf Pack were far from done. Ryder Korczak gave Hartford their biggest lead of the night, tipping a pass from Pekar into the open net on the back door.
Patrick Brown got the Bruins on the board, jamming the puck by Dylan Garand on a net front bid. However, Nikolas Brouillard would reinstate the six-goal lead. Brouillard took a high-sticking minor midway through the period, but the Wolf Pack killed the penalty. Brouillard exited the box and took a feed from Blake Hillman before dashing towards the Providence net on a breakaway. The Hartford blueliner promptly beat Bussi by the glove, and the extra point was good.
From there, the Bruins attempted to claw their way back into the contest. Oskar Steen notched a powerplay goal in the final minutes of the second period to cut the lead back down to five. Providence scored two more powerplay goals in the third frame courtesy of Brown and Merkulov. However, the Wolf Pack settled things down, riding out the rest of the contest on their way to a 7-4 victory.
After the game, interim head coach Steve Smith noted that he was pleased with his team’s start, but felt they could’ve finished the game better. Smith told The Calder Times:
It’s really difficult to motivate when you’re up by five, six, seven goals. It was hard for our guys to not take a bit of a breath – and they did. We were able to hang on, and kudos to them. It’s a character builder.
Wolf Pack interim head coach Steve Smith after his team’s 7-4 win vs. Providence, 3/8/24
Saturday – Bridgeport Islanders 3, Hartford Wolf Pack 2 (SO)
The Wolf Pack traveled down to Bridgeport on Saturday for the latest installment of the Battle of Connecticut against their rival Islanders. Forwards Nic Petan (trade) and Adam Edström (assignment) drew into the Hartford lineup.
The rivals played a scoreless first period, with Dylan Garand stopping eleven shots and Jakub Skarek denying five. Bridgeport finally broke the ice in the middle stanza off an unfortunate turnover from Hartford. Brandon Scanlin tripped on a discarded stick in the Hartford zone and lost control of the puck. William Dufour grabbed the loose change and sent it to Brian Pinho, who promptly potted the icebreaker.
The Wolf Pack finally found the equalizer in the third period. Petan walked into the slot and rifled a shot that Skarek turned aside. However, Alex Belzile jammed the rebound into the Bridgeport net to even the score at one.
The Wolf Pack took their first lead of the contest four minutes later. Edström intercepted a pass at neutral ice and skated low into the Bridgeport zone. Edström sent a pass to the slot, where Jake Leschyshyn snuck a shot through Skarek to put Hartford in front.
The lead would not last long, however, as Dufour snuck a shot over the shoulder of Garand just over a minute later, evening the score again. Neither side could pull ahead in the remainder of regulation, and the extra frame also failed to produce a winner. As a result, Hartford was sent to the shootout for the fourth time this season.
Matthew Maggio gave Bridgeport the advantage, notching a goal in the bottom of the first round. Petan evened things in the top of the third round. However, Ruslan Iskhakov scored a beautiful goal in the bottom of the third round to deliver the extra point to Bridgeport.
Petan Joins the Pack
There’s a new face in the Connecticut capital – forward Nic Petan has joined the Hartford Wolf Pack. Petan was traded to the New York Rangers from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Turner Elson on NHL trade deadline day, and was assigned to Hartford.
Petan, 28, joined the Wolf Pack as a veteran of 281 American Hockey League games. He also joined as a career point-per-game player, recording 281 career points (92 G, 189 A). He made an immediate impression in Hartford, notching an assist in his Wolf Pack debut on Saturday night. Petan provides offensive prowess to a Hartford forward group that has struggled recently thanks to injuries and recalls. He’s lined up at both center and wing, providing Steve Smith more lineup flexibility during the Wolf Pack’s Calder Cup Playoff chase.
Elson, meanwhile, departs Hartford having played 110 regular season games and nine Calder Cup Playoff games in a Wolf Pack uniform. He recorded 53 points in the regular season (22 G, 31 A) and added six points (2 G, 4 A) in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Elson’s best moment in Hartford came during the 2023 Atlantic Division Semifinals, where he notched the eventual series-winning goal as the Wolf Pack eliminated the Providence Bruins with a 4-0 win in Game Four.
Wolf Pack interim head coach Steve Smith had lots of praise for Elson during his postgame press conference on Friday night, telling The Calder Times:
He’s just an incredible human being. He was a fun, fun person to coach. His professionalism was second to none. He was good for our young players, [and] our young players liked him. We wish him well and hopefully he gets a chance in Iowa.
Wolf Pack interim head coach Steve Smith on forward Turner Elson after his trade to Iowa, 3/8/24
Brett Berard: The Closer
In baseball, teams have a pitcher known as a closer. This is a relief pitcher who is trusted when the pressure is highest and the game is on the line.
Brett Berard is the hockey equivalent to a closer.
The rookie forward has a knack for putting games out of reach. Berard has tallied the game-winner in the Wolf Pack’s last three wins. The torrid stretch gives Berard eight game-winning goals on the campaign, tying Tucson’s Josh Doan and Ontario’s Samuel Fagemo for most game-winners in the AHL.
Despite his personal success, Berard is quick to give credit to his teammates. Berard told The Calder Times after his hat trick on Friday night:
I got lucky enough to play with good players, we had a couple power plays there, and I was fortunate enough to see the puck go into the net. It was fun and it was an awesome time.
Wolf Pack forward Brett Berard on his hat trick vs. Providence, 3/8/24
A word of advice to opposing teams – if you want to win, don’t let Brett Berard score on you.
Domingue Signs the Dotted Line
On Sunday morning, the New York Rangers agreed to a one-year contract extension with Wolf Pack goaltender Louis Domingue.
Domingue is a veteran of 194 games at the AHL level, suiting up for the Wolf Pack, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Stockton Heat, Syracuse Crunch, Binghamton Devils, Springfield Falcons, and Portland Pirates. He’s posted a record of 91-68-22 in those games with a career 2.73 GAA and .908 SV%. Domingue has also recorded ten shutouts, four assists, and 78 penalty minutes in his AHL career.
In his Wolf Pack career, Domingue has made 69 starts, posting a 35-19-12 record with a 2.58 GAA and a .910 SV%. Domingue’s recorded five clean sheets, an assist, and 33 penalty minutes in the Connecticut capital.
This was a well-deserved extension for Domingue. He has formed an elite tandem with Dylan Garand this year, and the two have kept Hartford in games during their rough stretches this season. Domingue is the third Wolf Pack player to earn an extension this year, following defensemen Brandon Scanlin and Connor Mackey.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack will play a quartet of games this week. First, the team will make their first voyage to the Bojangles Coliseum this week, taking on the Charlotte Checkers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Puck drop in both games is set for 7:00 pm.
The Wolf Pack will make a brief stop at home on Saturday night, hosting the Utica Comets for the only time this season. Puck drop is set for 6:00 pm. Finally, the Wolf Pack’s weekend wraps up on the road in Hershey, taking on the Bears on Sunday afternoon. The puck will drop at 5:00 pm.
