Hartford, CT, March 1, 2014 – Dov Grumet-Morris made 31 saves, to improve his record to 8-1-1 in his last 10 decisions, Saturday night at the XL Center, and T.J. Hensick had a goal and an assist, as the Hartford Wolf Pack downed the Portland Pirates, 4-2.

The win was the fourth straight for the Wolf Pack, which also got goals from Danny Syvret and Dylan McIlrath, and an empty-net tally from Arron Asham.  Darroll Powe and Jesper Fast had two assists apiece.  Jordan Martinook and Andy Miele scored for the Pirates.

“We believe in ourselves right now and we’re rolling in the right direction,” Hensick said.  “We’ve just got to keep it going into tomorrow night.”

The Wolf Pack and Pirates complete a home-and-home set Sunday afternoon at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine.

After having fallen behind 3-0 in the first period of the last meeting between the two teams Tuesday night in Lewiston, the Wolf Pack scored the first three of Saturday’s contest.

Syvret opened the scoring in a four-on-four situation at 6:40 of the first period, off of an assist from Powe.  Powe moved the puck from the right-wing circle to Syvret at the left point, and Syvret moved down to the top of the circle before slamming a shot past Pirate starting goaltender Louis Domingue on the stick side.

Hensick made it a 2-0 Wolf Pack lead at 9:55, with Powe again creating the play.  Domingue made a stellar save, sliding to his left, on a wraparound try by Powe, but as the Pirates’ Ethan Werek tried to drop it back to Domingue, it slid through his legs and laid loose for Hensick to bang into the net.

McIlrath then scored his fifth of the season at 14:01, to increase the lead to 3-0.  Hensick feathered a pass from the left-wing boards to a wide-open McIlrath headed up the slot, and McIlrath niftily pulled the puck back before rapping it past Domingue from close range.

The Pirates replaced Domingue (four saves) with Mark Visentin at that point, and Portland would get on the scoreboard with only 8.2 seconds remaining in the period.  After the Wolf Pack were unable to get the puck out of their zone up the boards, Martinook broke down the left-wing side and snapped a shot that squeezed past Grumet-Morris on the glove side.

Portland carried the momentum of that goal into the second period, in which they outshot the Wolf Pack by a margin of 14-5, but Grumet-Morris kept the Pirates from cutting further into the lead.

Portland closed to within one goal at 4:17 of the third period on a power play, with Conor Allen off for roughing.  Daine Todd worked the puck to Miele near the top of the left circle, and Miele’s shot went through a screen and past Grumet-Morris.

The Wolf Pack settled things down after that, though, and Asham, who had missed 15 straight games before returning to the Hartford lineup Friday night, fired home an open-net goal at 19:12 to ice the victory.

The Wolf Pack and Pirates face off again at 4:00 PM Sunday back up in Lewiston.  All of the action of that battle 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 this Friday, March 7, a 7:00 PM contest against the Springfield Falcons.  All Wolf Pack Friday-night home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Marc’s Appliance Warehouse, located at 75 Prospect Ave., Hartford, CT.

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, 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 representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.

Portland Pirates 2 at Hartford Wolf Pack 4
Saturday, March 1, 2014 – XL Center

Portland 1 0 1 – 2
Hartford 3 0 1 – 4

1st Period-1, Hartford, Syvret 7 (Powe, Allen), 6:40. 2, Hartford, Hensick 6 (Powe), 9:55. 3, Hartford, McIlrath 5 (Hensick, Fast), 14:01. 4, Portland, Martinook 8 (Hextall, Klesla), 19:51. Penalties-Martinook Por (boarding), 4:57; Grumet-Morris Hfd (delay of game), 6:22; Hughes Hfd (tripping), 16:02; Hagel Por (fighting), 19:02; McIlrath Hfd (fighting), 19:02.

2nd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Stamler Hfd (holding), 3:05; Yip Por (hooking), 8:37.

3rd Period-5, Portland, Miele 23 (Todd, Gormley), 4:17 (PP). 6, Hartford, Asham 2 (Fast, Johnson), 19:12 (EN). Penalties-Allen Hfd (roughing), 2:51; Lindberg Hfd (tripping), 14:19; Lessio Por (hooking), 15:34.

Shots on Goal-Portland 9-14-10-33. Hartford 10-5-9-24.
Power Play Opportunities-Portland 1 / 5; Hartford 0 / 3.
Goalies-Portland, Domingue 7-10-2 (7 shots-4 saves); Visentin 13-16-4 (16 shots-16 saves). Hartford, Grumet-Morris 11-11-5 (33 shots-31 saves).
A-4,404
Referees-Tim Mayer (19), Brett Montsion (80).
Linesmen-Brent Colby (7), Luke Galvin (2).

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Hartford, CT, February 28, 2014 – Dov Grumet-Morris made 29 saves Friday night at the XL Center, and Marek Hrivik and T.J. Hensick scored shootout goals, as the Hartford Wolf Pack captured their third straight win, 2-1 over the Hershey Bears.

The Wolf Pack had not won three consecutive games since a five-game winning streak October 5-19, and now have at least a point in six of their last eight games (5-2-0-1).  They have come from behind to win in the third period in each of the three victories in their current streak.

Peter LeBlanc scored a late second-period goal for Hershey, and Ryan Bourque replied for the Wolf Pack on a third-period two-man advantage.  David Leggio made 34 saves in the Hershey net.

“Third periods have been pretty good to us this season,” Wolf Pack head coach Ken Gernander said.  “We had some opportunities on the power play, our guys stuck with it. We got a big goal to send it to overtime and we picked up two points in the shootout.”

The two teams battled through nearly two full scoreless periods, before the Bears finally opened the scoring with 1:04 remaining in the second period, just 10 seconds after a Hershey power play expired.  Matt Watkins wrapped the puck around the post to Grumet-Morris’ left, and it slid right to LeBlanc headed down the left side of the slot.  Grumet-Morris could not move to his right fast enough, and LeBlanc’s one-timer found the back of the net.

The Wolf Pack then took advantage of some Hershey penalty trouble in the third period.  The Bears took three minor penalties in quick succession starting at 7:34, and a boarding infraction against Julien Brouillette at 9:51 gave Hartford 1:35 of five-on-three time.

Near the end of that man advantage, Oscar Lindberg moved down the right-wing side and fired a shot that went off of Bourque, who was causing traffic to Leggio’s left, and deflected into the net at 11:15.

That was the end of the scoring through the rest of regulation and overtime, and in the shootout, Leggio stopped Jesper Fast on the Wolf Pack’s first attempt, but Hrivik and Hensick then scored on back-to-back shots.  That proved to be enough, as, after Ryan Stoa connected on Hershey’s first attempt, Grumet-Morris stopped four straight, including a poke-check on Jeff Taffe to end the game.

The Wolf Pack are right back on home ice at the XL Center Saturday night, hosting the Portland Pirates in a 7:00 game.  Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, 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 representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.

Hershey Bears 1 at Hartford Wolf Pack 2 (SO)
Friday, February 28, 2014 – XL Center

Hershey 0 1 0 0 – 1
Hartford 0 0 1 0 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring. Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-1, Hershey, LeBlanc 12 (Watkins, Byers), 18:56. Penalties-Wellar Her (roughing), 5:54; Lindberg Hfd (tripping), 16:46.

3rd Period-2, Hartford, Bourque 15 (Lindberg, Syvret), 11:15 (PP). Penalties-Wellar Her (slashing), 6:57; Beach Hfd (diving/embellishment), 6:57; Gazley Her (hooking), 7:34; Oleksy Her (kneeing), 9:26; Brouillette Her (boarding), 9:51.

OT Period- No Scoring. Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Hershey 1 (Stoa G, Galiev NG, Potulny NG, Byers NG, Taffe NG), Hartford 2 (Fast NG, Hrivik G, Hensick G, Yogan NG, Asham NG).
Shots on Goal-Hershey 10-9-9-2-0-30. Hartford 6-15-12-2-1-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 0 / 1; Hartford 1 / 4.
Goalies-Hershey, Leggio 15-14-3 (35 shots-34 saves). Hartford, Grumet-Morris 10-11-5 (30 shots-29 saves).
A-4,172
Referees-Ryan Murphy (5), Jarrod Ragusin (54).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Derek Wahl (46).

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

HARTFORD, February 28, 2014:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned forward Kyle Jean to the Wolf Pack from its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors.

Prior to being assigned to Greenville January 14, Jean, a second-year pro out of Lake Superior State University, skated in 27 games with the Wolf Pack, scoring two goals and adding two assists for four points, while serving 19 penalty minutes.  In 18 ECHL games with the Road Warriors, the 6-4, 203-pound Sault Ste. Marie, MI native struck for four goals and seven assists for 11 points, including seven points (three goals, four assists) in his last four games, and had nine PIM.

Jean signed as a free agent with the Rangers July 5, 2012.

The Wolf Pack return to action tonight on home ice at the XL Center, taking on the Hershey Bears at 7:00 PM  All Wolf Pack Friday-night home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Marc’s Appliance Warehouse, located at 75 Prospect Ave., Hartford, CT.

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, 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 representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

HARTFORD, February 26, 2014:  Global Spectrum, operators of the XL Center and Hartford Wolf Pack, today announced a new Wolf Pack  community support program, “Selfless Saturdays”.

This initiative will allow fans purchasing tickets for Saturday Wolf Pack home games to earmark a portion of their ticket purchase to be donated to one of four charities.  Those beneficiaries are the Susan G. Komen Foundation, March of Dimes, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the You Can Play Project.

The Wolf Pack have five Saturday-night home games remaining in the regular season, and when purchasing tickets for those games on-line through the Wolf Pack’s official website, www.hartfordwolfpack.com, fans can enter a special promotional code.  The particular code entered will direct the Wolf Pack to donate $2 from each ticket purchased to a specific one of the four charities.

The promo codes are: KOMEN, for the Susan G. Komen Foundation, DIMES, for March of Dimes, BGCA, for Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and PLAY, for the You Can Play Project.

The first of the Wolf Pack’s remaining Saturday home games is this Saturday, March 1, when the Portland Pirates visit the XL Center for a 7:00 PM game.  To purchase Wolf Pack single-game tickets on-line, go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com and, under the “Tickets” tab, select “Single Game Tickets”.  Then click on “Buy Tickets” next to the desired game date(s).

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, 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 representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Lewiston, ME, February 25, 2014 – The Hartford Wolf Pack spotted the Portland Pirates a 3-0 first-period lead Tuesday night at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee, but rebounded to score the last four goals of the game for a 4-3 victory.

It was the second straight come-from-behind win for the Wolf Pack, who erased a 3-1 third-period deficit in their 4-3 victory at Springfield on Saturday night.  Tuesday’s win allowed the Wolf Pack (21-26-0-6, 48 pts.) to move past the Adirondack Phantoms and into fourth place in the AHL’s Northeast Division, and to jump past both the Phantoms and the Pirates in the Eastern Conference standings.

Conor Allen had a goal an assist for the Wolf Pack, which also got goals from Andrew Yogan and Darroll Powe, and Jesper Fast scored the game-winner with 3:30 left in the third period.  Dov Grumet-Morris got the win in goal, stopping all 16 shots he faced in relief of starter David LeNeveu.

Lucas Lessio, Andy Miele and Rostislav Klesla scored the Portland goals in the first period, and Louis Domingue made 24 saves in the Pirate net.

“We started to skate in the second period,” Grumet-Morris said.  “We were standing around the whole first period and we kind of left David out to dry, it could have been 5-0 if it wasn’t for Lenny (LeNeveu).  I think once we kind of got our butts kicked a little bit in between periods, we started to skate, and when we do that we’re actually a very good team.

“We’re starting to develop some confidence about being able to come back, and that’s part of the learning curve for a younger team to learn how to win.  We’ve been talking about it for months now and it’s starting to come to fruition.”

The Pirates dominated the opening period, outshooting the Wolf Pack 14-7 on the way to building their 3-0 lead.

Lessio opened the scoring with a breakaway goal at 8:50, after a perfect pass from David Rundblad sent him into the Wolf Pack zone.  Lessio got behind Hartford defenseman Aaron Johnson and beat LeNeveu with a move to the forehand.

Miele, Portland’s leading scorer, made it 2-0 at 12:25 with his 21^st of the year, just seconds after the Wolf Pack finished killing a penalty.  Powe had a pass blocked near the Hartford blue line, and Tobias Rieder moved it back down deep to an unguarded Miele, who snapped a shot into the top shelf on LeNeveu’s glove side.

The Pirates stretched the lead to 3-0 with 1:59 remaining, with Klesla scoring through a screen from the top of the circles.  Tim Kennedy played the puck from the right-wing side to Klesla, whose shot appeared to hit Wolf Pack defenseman Tommy Hughes in front of the net and re-direct past LeNeveu.

After Grumet-Morris replaced LeNeveu to start the second period, the Wolf Pack started to turn the tide with a pair of second-period goals, outshooting Portland 14-10 in the process.

Allen got Hartford on the board on a power play at 5:45, with Connor Murphy in the penalty box on a holding-the-stick call.  Marek Hrivik passed from the right circle to Allen high in the slot, and, with Powe screening Domingue, Allen’s snapshot got through and into the goal.

Then, at 9:32, Yogan scored for a second straight game to cut the margin at 3-2.  Kyle Beach found Yogan with a pass on left wing, and Yogan was able to open up an angle for himself and put the puck past Domingue on the stick side.

That was the last goal for more than a full period, until Powe lifted the Wolf Pack into a tie with his tenth goal of the season at 12:42 of the third session.  Allen fed a pass to Powe at the top of the right circle, and Powe’s one-timer cleanly beat Domingue.

Then, after being bottled up in their own end for most of a shift late in the period, the Wolf Pack broke out, led by Justin Vaive.  Vaive carried into the Portland zone on right wing and backhanded a pass toward the front of the net, and Fast, driving the middle, deflected it past Domingue at 16:30, for what turned out to be the game-winner.

The Wolf Pack’s next game is on home ice at the XL Center this Friday night, a 7:00 PM contest against the Hershey Bears.  All Wolf Pack Friday-night home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Marc’s Appliance Warehouse, located at 75 Prospect Ave., Hartford, CT.

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, 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 representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.

Hartford Wolf Pack 4 at Portland Pirates 3
Tuesday, February 25, 2014 – Androscoggin Bank Colisee

Hartford 0 2 2 – 4
Portland 3 0 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Portland, Lessio 18 (Rundblad, Gormley), 8:50. 2, Portland, Miele 21 (Rieder), 12:25. 3, Portland, Klesla 3 (Kennedy, Yip), 18:01. Penalties-Stamler Hfd (cross-checking), 10:14; O'Donnell Hfd (fighting), 19:30; Jones Por (fighting), 19:30.

2nd Period-4, Hartford, Allen 6 (Hrivik, Lindberg), 5:45 (PP). 5, Hartford, Yogan 5 (Beach, O'Donnell), 9:32. Penalties-Allen Hfd (holding), 1:23; served by Louis Por (bench minor – too many men), 2:57; Murphy Por (holding the stick), 5:07; Vaive Hfd (tripping), 6:29; McIlrath Hfd (tripping), 10:39; Gormley Por (tripping), 11:23; Klesla Por (hooking), 13:35.

3rd Period-6, Hartford, Powe 10 (Allen, Stamler), 12:42. 7, Hartford, Fast 10 (Vaive), 16:30. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Hartford 7-14-7-28. Portland 14-10-6-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 1 / 4; Portland 0 / 4.
Goalies-Hartford, LeNeveu 4-6-0 (14 shots-11 saves); Grumet-Morris 9-11-5 (16 shots-16 saves). Portland, Domingue 7-9-2 (28 shots-24 saves).
A-1,358
Referees-Mark Lemelin (41), Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Joe Ross (92), Pat Turcotte (10).

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

NEW YORK, February 25, 2014 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has recalled forward J.T. Miller from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).

Miller, 20, has recorded 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 18 games with Hartford since returning to the team on January 11^th. He has established AHL career-highs with 10 goals, 16 assists, 26 points, and a plus-seven rating in 26 games with the Wolf Pack this season. Miller ranks fourth on the team in goals and assists, fifth in points, and is tied for first in plus/minus rating. His 1.00 points per game average also ranks second on Hartford. Miller, who represented the Eastern Conference as an AHL All-Star on January 28^th, tallied a career-high, three assists, on January 26^th at Adirondack, and posted a career-best, four points, with two goals and two assists on February 14^th at Springfield.

The East Palestine, Ohio native returns to the Rangers where he has registered two goals and two assists for four points, along with 14 penalty minutes in 25 games this season. Miller notched his first goal of the season on November 10^th against Florida.

Miller was originally selected by the Rangers as a first round choice, 15^th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

HARTFORD, February 24, 2014:  Global Spectrum, operators of the XL Center and Hartford Wolf Pack, today announced that the Wolf Pack’s tenth annual “Tip-a-Player” Dinner and Sports Carnival event Tuesday night at the XL Center raised $10,000 for its beneficiary, Gaylord Specialty Healthcare of Wallingford, CT.

Tip-a-Player involved the Wolf Pack players serving dinner to event guests, who dined on great food donated by area restaurants, and enjoying the fun of the sports carnival’s various diversions.  The players also competed for “tips” in “puck bucks”, by engaging in all manner of good-natured fun. 

Among the highlights of the evening were Wolf Pack players showing off their vocal talents by serenading a young lady with “Happy Birthday”, vying to show who could shove the most bubble gum into his maw at one time, and competing to be the player who could leap the highest on the “velcro wall” while clad in a “velcro suit”.

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare provides specialty care for people with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, stroke and pulmonary disease. 

The Wolf Pack are back in action tomorrow night, Tuesday night, February 25, when they travel to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine to take on the Portland Pirates.  Faceoff is 7:00 PM, 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 this Friday, February 28, a 7:00 PM contest against the Hershey Bears.  All Wolf Pack Friday-night home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Marc’s Appliance Warehouse, located at 75 Prospect Ave., Hartford, CT.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

HARTFORD, February 24, 2014:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned forward Michael St. Croix to the Wolf Pack from its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors.

St. Croix, a rookie out of the Western Hockey League and a fourth-round (106^th overall) draft pick by the Rangers in 2011, is scoreless with two penalty minutes and seven shots on goal in nine games this season with the Wolf Pack.  In 37 games with Greenville, the 5-11, 179-pound Winnipeg, Manitoba native has 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 points, which is good for second among ECHL rookie scorers.  The 20-year-old St. Croix also ranks second on the Greenville club in assists and tied for third in points.

The Wolf Pack are back in action tomorrow night, Tuesday night, February 25, when they travel to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine to take on the Portland Pirates.  Faceoff is 7:00 PM, 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 this Friday, February 28, a 7:00 PM contest against the Hershey Bears.  All Wolf Pack Friday-night home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Marc’s Appliance Warehouse, located at 75 Prospect Ave., Hartford, CT.

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, 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 representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Springfield, MA, February 22, 2014 – The Hartford Wolf Pack came back from a 3-1 deficit with three third-period goals Saturday night at the MassMutual Center, defeating the Springfield Falcons, 4-3.

Andrew Yogan scored the game-winner at 8:14 of the third period, and also added an assist, and T.J. Hensick also had a goal and an assist.  The Wolf Pack also got goals from Kyle Beach and Marek Hrivik, and David LeNeveu made 28 saves.  Ryan Craig, J.F. Jacques and Austin Madaisky scored for Springfield.

It was the Wolf Pack’s third consecutive win in the season series against the Falcons, after Hartford went 0-4-0-2 in the first six games between the two teams.

“We came back to the locker room and went back to our game plan,” Yogan said of the third-period comeback by the Wolf Pack, who had lost a 3-2 lead late in the third period of their 4-3 home defeat to Bridgeport the night before.  “We all talked about it, hard on the forecheck, and when we’re playing in the offensive zone and we’re protecting the puck and cycling, there’s not too many teams that can skate with us and handle our physical attributes, and we were able to capitalize on that.

“Whenever I can help out and contribute offensively, I’m going to do that, and I’m proud of the guys the way they responded in the third period.”

After a second period in which they were outshot 16-7, and trailing 3-1 going into the third, the Wolf Pack erupted for three scores in a span of only 2:57 in the third, starting with a goal by Hensick at the 5:17 mark.

Aaron Johnson headmanned the puck out of the Wolf Pack zone to Justin Vaive on right wing in center ice, and Vaive handed it off beautifully to Hensick.  Hensick got behind Andrew Joudrey, who was covering for the Springfield defense, and beat Falcon goaltender Mike McKenna (19 saves) on the glove side with a move to the backhand.

Just 2:26 later, at 7:43, Hrivik tied the game with his second goal in as many games, and his fourth in the last six games.  Hensick intercepted a Madaisky breakout pass on the right-wing boards and found Hrivik all alone in front, and Hrivik was able to make a move to the forehand and slip the puck past McKenna.

Then, only 31 seconds after that, at 8:14, Yogan scored what turned out to be the winner, after he jumped on a fumble by Joudrey.  Moving laterally at his own blue line, Joudrey coughed the puck up to Yogan, who burst down the left side and gunned a shot that McKenna got a piece of but could not stop.  The goal was Yogan’s fourth of the season, all of which have been game-winners.          

The Wolf Pack controlled much of the play in the first period, and outshot the Falcons 8-6, but Springfield got the only goal.

Craig put the Falcons on top at 13:42, firing a high shot off of left wing past LeNeveu on the stick side, after Trent Vogelhuber worked the puck away from Shawn O’Donnell just outside the Wolf Pack blue line.

The Wolf Pack tied the game at 7:32 of the second period, taking advantage of Falcon goaltender Mike McKenna losing his stick.  Yogan worked the puck to Beach in the left-wing corner, and Beach got it past McKenna, as the Falcon netminder scrambled to try to recover the stick.

Springfield came back with a pair before the end of the period, though, the first on a power play at 11:49.  With Dylan McIlrath off for interference, Tim Erixon moved down the left-wing boards and fed a pass into the slot to Jacques, who ripped a shot past LeNeveu for a 2-1 Springfield lead.

Madaisky then made it 3-1 at 16:53, with an unassisted goal.  Madaisky prevented a Wolf Pack clearing attempt at the right point, and then unloaded a slap shot that deflected off the Pack’s Darroll Powe and past LeNeveu on the glove side.

The Wolf Pack’s next action is this Tuesday night, February 25, when they travel to the Androscoggin Bank Colisee in Lewiston, Maine to take on the Portland Pirates.  Faceoff is 7:00 PM, 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, February 28, a 7:00 PM contest against the Hershey Bears.  All Wolf Pack Friday-night home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Marc’s Appliance Warehouse, located at 75 Prospect Ave., Hartford, CT.

Tickets for all Wolf Pack 2013-14 home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, 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 representative about season or group tickets, call (855) 762-6451.

Hartford Wolf Pack 4 at Springfield Falcons 3
Saturday, February 22, 2014 – MassMutual Center

Hartford 0 1 3 – 4
Springfield 1 2 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Springfield, Craig 8 (Vogelhuber), 13:42. Penalties-Miller Hfd (fighting), 0:02; Boyce Spr (fighting), 0:02; Marchessault Spr (slashing), 10:52.

2nd Period-2, Hartford, Beach 6 (Yogan, Lindberg), 7:32. 3, Springfield, Jacques 9 (Erixon, Marchessault), 11:49 (PP). 4, Springfield, Madaisky 3   16:53. Penalties-McIlrath Hfd (interference), 10:42.

3rd Period-5, Hartford, Hensick 5 (Vaive, Johnson), 5:17. 6, Hartford, Hrivik 9 (Hensick), 7:43. 7, Hartford, Yogan 4   8:14. Penalties-Miller Hfd (hooking), 8:59; St. Denis Spr (holding), 14:27.

Shots on Goal-Hartford 8-7-8-23. Springfield 6-16-9-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 2; Springfield 1 / 2.
Goalies-Hartford, LeNeveu 4-6-0 (31 shots-28 saves). Springfield, McKenna 15-7-0 (23 shots-19 saves).
A-4,891
Referees-Geno Binda (22).
Linesmen-Frank Murphy (29), Luke Galvin (2).

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.