Pack Drop 4-1 Decision in Providence

A two-goal, late-second period burst by the Providence Bruins made the difference Friday night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence, as the Bruins defeated the Wolf Pack by a score of 4-1.

Jordan Caron and Matt Lindblad scored 1:44 apart late in the second, to break open a 1-1 game and send the Wolf Pack (8-7-2-0, 18 pts.) to their fifth straight defeat (0-4-1-0).

“We do a lot of good things, but obviously we’re not doing enough good things the whole time,” Wolf Pack forward Joey Crabb said. “We’ve got to clean things up, and I think we know what we need to do, we’ve just got to do it.”

Caron also had an assist for the victorious Bruins, and David Pastrnak added a goal and an assist. Chris Bourque had the only Wolf Pack goal.

The only score of an evenly-played first period came at the 11:32 mark, and it was a Providence shorthander.

With Chris Breen in the penalty box for interference, Tyler Randell broke into the Wolf Pack zone on a two-on-one with Craig Cunningham. Randell sent the puck toward the net from the right-wing side, and it appeared to hit Wolf Pack defenseman Michael Kostka before getting by goaltender Mackenzie Skapski (29 saves).

The Wolf Pack tied it only 1:06 into the second period, on Chris Bourque’s sixth goal of the season. After an icing call was washed out, Bourque played the puck on net from the slot and, after Providence goaltender Jeremy Smith (21 saves) made the stop, Bourque jammed the front of the net and poked the rebound in.

Caron put the Bruins in front to stay, though, at 15:41, backhanding a rebound past a sprawling Skapski, after Skapski had stopped a shot from the left circle by Ryan Spooner.

Then, at 17:25, Lindblad upped the lead to two. Left alone in front of Skapski, Lindblad had time to make a move, after getting a pass from the left-wing boards from Brian Ferlin, and Lindblad put a backhander up under the crossbar.

Providence made the final margin 4-1 on a Pastrnak breakaway goal with 2:40 left in the third. Caron’s long pass sent Pastrnak behind the Wolf Pack defense, and Pastrnak’s deke to the backhand allowed him to slip the puck between Skapski’s legs.

The Wolf Pack are back in action Saturday night at the XL Center, hosting the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a 7:30 game. The first 3,000 fans receive a Wolf Pack winter hat, courtesy of CT-DOT, and there will also be a souvenir cup special. Soft drink souvenir cups, normally $7, can be purchased for only $4, and souvenir cup refills are only $1.

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.

Hartford Wolf Pack 1 at Providence Bruins 4

Friday, November 21, 2014 - Dunkin' Donuts Center

Hartford 0 1 0 - 1

Providence 1 2 1 - 4

1st Period-1, Providence, Randell 4 (Cunningham, Eminger), 11:32 (SH). Penalties-Breen Pro (interference), 10:55.

2nd Period-2, Hartford, C. Bourque 6 (Potulny, Kristo), 1:07. 3, Providence, Caron 5 (Spooner, Pastrnak), 15:41. 4, Providence, Lindblad 2 (Ferlin, Eminger), 17:25. Penalties-Ferlin Pro (slashing), 2:48; Hrivik Hfd (hooking), 10:51.

3rd Period-5, Providence, Pastrnak 5 (Caron), 17:20. Penalties-served by Kane Pro (bench minor - too many men), 1:45; Vaive Hfd (roughing), 9:38; Cross Pro (roughing), 9:38; Lindberg Hfd (boarding), 13:20.

Shots on Goal-Hartford 11-7-4-22. Providence 13-9-11-33.

Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 3; Providence 0 / 2.

Goalies-Hartford, Skapski 3-3-0 (33 shots-29 saves). Providence, Smith 5-3-0 (22 shots-21 saves).

A-8,045

Referees-Terry Koharski (10).

Linesmen-Alex Stagnone (7), Brian MacDonald (72).