By Zachary Grenier
Hartford, CT, October 18, 2014 – In a physical home opener, the Hartford Wolf Pack defeated the Portland Pirates 2-1 Saturday night at the XL Center.
The teams were evenly matched throughout the first period, as the score was 0-0 and the shots 8-4 in favor of the Pirates.
In the second period, the Pack’s offense dominated, as they outshot their Portland foe 19-7 in the period, but still no goals materialized.
“If it wasn’t for their goalie (Mike McKenna) that they rallied around, we could have put that game out of hand right away,” said Hartford goaltender Cedrick Desjardins.
After the Wolf Pack and the Pirates entered the third period tied up, Ryan Haggerty put the first goal on the board in the newly-renovated XL Center in Hartford with 13:15 left in the third period.
J.T. Miller got his first of the season with 7:12 left in the third to give the Wolf Pack a 2-0 lead.
With 5:09 remaining in the game, Portland’s Alexandre Bolduc cut the Pirate’s deficit to one, making it a 2-1 game after putting a bouncing puck away from in front of the net.
The Pirates appeared to have scored a goal that would have tied the game with just under three minutes to go, but it was disallowed because of goaltender interference.
Desjardins and the Wolf Pack held on in a game that went down to the wire, 2-1.
“We are very deep right now so we have to use that to our advantage,” said Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander.
The Wolf Pack are right back at the XL Center Sunday, hosting the Hershey Bears in a 3:00 PM game. The Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack” will again be featured on Sundays this year, starting with this game, and has been expanded to Wednesday and Thursday home games as well. The Family Value Pack features two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for only $35. 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.
Portland Pirates 1 at Hartford Wolf Pack 2
Saturday, October 18, 2014 – XL Center
Portland 0 0 1 – 1
Hartford 0 0 2 – 2
1st Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Louis Por (roughing, fighting), 4:18; McIlrath Hfd (fighting), 4:18; Selleck Por (tripping), 8:57; Bourque Hfd (interference), 9:04; Hughes Hfd (slashing), 11:52.
2nd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Martinook Por (roughing), 12:02; Bolduc Por (holding), 16:15.
3rd Period-1, Hartford, Haggerty 1 (Lindberg, Potulny), 6:45 (PP). 2, Hartford, Miller 1 (Bourque), 12:48. 3, Portland, Bolduc 1 (Lessio, Louis), 14:51. Penalties-Campbell Por (hooking), 5:10; Bourque Hfd (roughing), 7:28; Bolduc Por (unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:53; McIlrath Hfd (unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:53.
Shots on Goal-Portland 8-7-5-20. Hartford 4-19-9-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Portland 0 / 3; Hartford 1 / 5.
Goalies-Portland, McKenna 1-2-0 (32 shots-30 saves). Hartford, Desjardins 2-0-0 (20 shots-19 saves).
A-7,389
Referees-Jonathan Alarie (38).
Linesmen-Paul Simeon (66), Brent Colby (7).
