HARTFORD, CT – After picking up a win in a brief stop at home on Wednesday, the Hartford Wolf Pack hit the road for a pair of contests this weekend. The Pack visited Rochester for the only time this season on Friday, taking on the Americans. After a day off on Saturday, they travelled to Providence for the first of ten meetings against the Bruins.
The Wolf Pack’s road struggles continued over the two-game set. Hartford dropped both contests, and will continue to search for their first road win of the campaign.
Friday – Rochester Americans 6, Hartford Wolf Pack 3
The Wolf Pack kicked off their weekend with their only visit to Rochester aiming for their first win at the Blue Cross Arena since December 2018. However, the Amerks would quickly take the lead with a pair of power play goals. Brett Murray and Jiří Kulich both struck on the man advantage in the game’s first 10:15, giving Rochester a lead they’d never give up.
Dylan Roobroeck got Hartford on the board about 14 minutes into the opening frame. Bryce McConnell-Barker carried the puck into the Rochester zone and slid it to Roobroeck in the slot. Roobroeck blasted a shot by Felix Sandström for his fourth goal and fifth point in his last six games.
The middle frame would be all Rochester. Victor Neuchev, Konsta Helenius, and Josh Dunne all scored in a 3:30 stretch in the period. Hartford had no answer as the lead ballooned to four.
Late in the frame, defenseman Ben Harpur was assessed a major penalty and a game misconduct for charging Sandström. As a result, the Americans received a five-minute power play. However, the Wolf Pack killed off the major penalty, which stretched into the final frame. Brett Berard promptly potted a backhander as the penalty expired to bring the Wolf Pack within three. The goal was Berard’s team-leading sixth of the season.
Isak Rosén reinstated the four-goal lead five minutes later, but the Wolf Pack found the back of the net once again. McConnell-Barker tallied his second goal in as many nights, tucking a loose puck just inside the post.
However, Michael Houser, who entered in relief of the injured Sandström, slammed the door shut from there. The Wolf Pack suffered their sixth straight loss in Rochester by a score of 6-3.
Sunday – Providence Bruins 4, Hartford Wolf Pack 2
The Wolf Pack faced off with the Providence Bruins for the first of ten meetings this season on Sunday. Ironically, the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence was the sight of their last road win, a 4-3 triumph in the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Bo Groulx gave the Wolf Pack the game’s first lead about halfway into the opening frame. Groulx dumped the puck into the Providence zone from just beyond the blue line. The puck caromed off the wall, then off goaltender Michael DiPietro before ending up in the back of the net. The goal was Groulx’s 100th career AHL point, and the Wolf Pack broke the ice.
From there, the tides turned in favor of the Bruins. Max Jones potted his first goal with Providence, burying a rebound from a Fabian Lysell shot. Five minutes later, former Hartford forward Tyler Pitlick gave the Bruins the lead, deflecting an Ian Mitchell shot by Dylan Garand on the power play.
Disaster struck in the final frame, as two Wolf Pack players collided, allowing Pitlick and Marc McLaughlin to move in on a two-on-none. Pitlick fed McLaughlin, who beat Garand through the five-hole to put the game out of reach.
However, the Wolf Pack would not go quietly. Jaroslav Chmelař fired a shot from the point, and Adam Sýkora deflected it into the Providence net. The goal drew Hartford within one with just over 14 minutes to play in regulation.
The Wolf Pack continued to push for the equalizer. However, an interference penalty against Chad Ruhwedel forced Hartford to the penalty kill. The Wolf Pack, needing a goal, opted to lift Garand for the extra skater and play five-on-five with the net empty. It wouldn’t matter, however, as Patrick Brown nailed the empty net and Hartford fell 4-2.
Harpur Suspended
On Friday night, Wolf Pack defenseman Ben Harpur charged Rochester goaltender Felix Sandström. The two have history – last season, Harpur suffered a season-ending pectoral injury when Sandström, then with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, tripped him into the back boards as he scored a goal. Harpur’s hit on Sandström was seemingly in retaliation.
As a result of the hit, the AHL suspended Harpur for four games. He served the first game of his suspension on Sunday, sitting out the Wolf Pack’s game against Providence. Harpur is eligible to return to the lineup on Saturday, November 23rd, when the Wolf Pack host Springfield. In the meantime, expect Blake Hillman to get the majority of Harpur’s reps.
The Long and Winding Road
With the pair of losses on the weekend, the Wolf Pack dropped to 0-4-1-1 on the road to start the season. They’ve earned just two of a possible twelve points. The only other AHL team without a road win is the Utica Comets, who have yet to win a game at all this season and recently dismissed head coach Kevin Dineen. To say it’s been tough for the Wolf Pack on the road this season is an understatement.
However, the Wolf Pack have been great at home. They’ve posted a 5-1-0-0 record at the XL Center so far this season, earning ten of a possible twelve points. With the Wolf Pack returning to Hartford for a six game home stand, starting Friday, they’ll have plenty of time to reset and prepare for their next road contest in late November.
Up Next
The Wolf Pack start a six-game home stand on Friday. They’ll host the Charlotte Checkers, with puck drop set for 7:00 pm. The homestand continues Saturday, with the Wolf Pack searching for revenge on the Bruins. Puck drop is set for 6:00 pm.
