Wolf Pack End Losing Streak with OT Win

In a physical game at the XL Center Saturday night, Mat Bodie’s three-on-three goal with 60 seconds left in overtime gave the Wolf Pack a 2-1 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

The victory snapped a five-game losing streak (0-4-1-0) for the Wolf Pack, who also got a goal and an assist from Chris Bourque, and 17 saves from Mackenzie Skapski. C.J. Stretch scored for Bridgeport, and Kevin Poulin stopped 28 shots.

“I don’t think we got swept up in some of the physical play,” said Hartford coach Ken Gernander. “We were able to get our hits and maintain our coverage and play physical without crossing the line and taking penalties, which certainly is helpful.”

“That was our best game in the last five or six,” said Skapski. “It really got us excited, but at the same time we have to carry that on to the next game, and replicate what we did tonight.”

The first goal of the game came with 12:35 left in the second period. It came when the Sound Tigers sent their league-leading power-play unit to the ice after a Ryan Potulny hooking penalty. Harry Zolnierczyk got the puck in the corner, scanned the rink and found Stretch breaking to the back door.

Stretch’s fourth goal of the season gave Bridgeport a 1-0 lead.

With 2:28 left in the second, the Hartford power-play unit took to the ice looking to tie the game up before the period was over. It was Conor Allen and Bourque with an exchange of the puck at the blue line that led to a Bourque one-timer, which beat Poulin over his catching glove to tie the game at one.

“Great pass by Conor, we had some great movement on the power play and it was a great screen by my brother (Ryan Bourque) in front of the net,” said Chris Bourque. “That’s the whole play right there, is making sure the goalie doesn’t see it, and he did a great job of getting in front of him.”

In overtime it was Bodie who ended the Wolf Pack’s five-game skid, when he beat Poulin over his blocker on a wrist shot from the slot. After Bodie broke up a Bridgeport rush, Chris Bourque and J.T. Miller combined to find Bodie trailing on a three-on-two.

“I like it (playing three-on-three),” said Gernander. “I prefer that to a shootout. I don’t appreciate the excitement of a shootout compared to three-on-three hockey. You go down and get an offensive opportunity and you’d better be pretty proficient or it’s coming back the other way, and to me that’s a lot more exciting.”

Next up for the Wolf Pack is a trip to Albany this Wednesday, November 26 to battle the Devils. That game faces off at 7:00, and all of the action can be heard live on Fox Sports Radio 1410, and on-line at www.foxsportsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio. Video streaming is available at www.ahllive.com.

The Wolf Pack’s next home game is Friday, November 28, with the Norfolk Admirals visiting the XL Center for a 7:00 game. Once again this season, every Friday night home game features $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, and November 28 is also “Flashback Friday”, with the Wolf Pack wearing “throwback”, 1997-98-era jerseys. Plus, there will be “Black Friday” giveaways of some of the holiday season’s hot gift items.

Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1 at Hartford Wolf Pack 2 (OT)

Saturday, November 22, 2014 - XL Center

Bridgeport 0 1 0 0 - 1

Hartford 0 1 0 1 - 2

1st Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Pedan Bri (fighting), 0:58; McIlrath Hfd (fighting), 0:58; Pedan Bri (boarding), 11:26; Allen Hfd (interference), 18:51; Ness Bri (slashing), 19:46.

2nd Period-1, Bridgeport, Stretch 4 (Zolnierczyk, Pedan), 8:25 (PP). 2, Hartford, C. Bourque 7 (Allen, Kristo), 17:32 (PP). Penalties-Vaughan Bri (fighting), 4:23; Allen Hfd (fighting), 4:23; Mouillierat Bri (roughing), 5:02; Potulny Hfd (hooking), 8:00; Reinhart Bri (holding), 11:58; Courtnall Bri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 13:59; Miller Hfd (unsportsmanlike conduct), 13:59; Langkow Bri (hooking), 17:15; Halmo Bri (holding), 19:22; Bodie Hfd (holding the stick, cross-checking), 19:22.

3rd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Bodie Hfd (interference), 8:41; Halmo Bri (holding, unsportsmanlike conduct, misconduct - unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:45.

OT Period-3, Hartford, Bodie 2 (Miller, C. Bourque), 6:00. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 11-5-2-0-18. Hartford 5-10-9-6-30.

Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 1 / 4; Hartford 1 / 7.

Goalies-Bridgeport, Poulin 7-3-1 (30 shots-28 saves). Hartford, Skapski 4-3-0 (18 shots-17 saves).

A-4,055

Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).

Linesmen-Brent Colby (7), Paul Simeon (66).