Providence, RI, March 16, 2014 – Alexander Khohkhlachev’s power-play goal at 2:21 of overtime gave the Providence Bruins a 3-2 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack Sunday at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence.
It was the first overtime loss of the season for the Wolf Pack (26-29-0-7, 59 pts.), who battled back from an early 2-0 deficit with goals by Micheal Haley and Jesper Fast, with Fast tying the game in the last minute of regulation.
“Once again, we didn’t start the way we wanted, but like we’ve shown a lot the past while here, we’re resilient and we’ve got some character,” Haley said. “It was a (standings) point we needed.”
Seth Griffith had a goal and an assist for the Bruins, and Matt Lindblad also scored. Niklas Svedberg made 27 saves to get the win. Dov Grumet-Morris stopped 36 shots for the Wolf Pack.
Two early goals-against put the Wolf Pack behind the eight ball in the first period. Lindblad opened the scoring only 21 seconds into the game, firing from the right-wing side off of a feed from Anthony Camara.
Griffith then made it a 2-0 Providence advantage at 3:38, on the game’s first power play. Near the top of the circles, Griffith had a shot blocked right back to him and blasted away again, and the second shot cleanly beat Grumet-Morris.
Nothing else got by Grumet-Morris for the rest of regulation time, though, and the Wolf Pack started their comeback at the 10:22 mark of the second period. That was when Haley scored from right on top of Svedberg, after Darroll Powe worked the puck into the middle from Svedberg’s right.
The Bruins nearly made the 2-1 advantage stand up for a regulation win, but the Wolf Pack pulled Grumet-Morris for a faceoff in the Providence end with 1:01 left, and Fast got Hartford even with 53.9 seconds on the clock. Aaron Johnson unloaded a shot from the left point, which Ryan Bourque deflected to Fast below the left faceoff dot, and Fast one-timed it in off of Svedberg.
Johnson was penalized for hooking at 1:51 of overtime, however, and the Bruins capitalized for the winning goal. J.T. Miller had the puck knocked away at the Providence blue line on a shorthanded rush, and Griffith and Khokhlachev broke two-on-one. Griffith carried down the right side and sent a perfect feed to Khokhlachev, who put it high into the net behind Grumet-Morris.
The Wolf Pack’s next action is on home ice this Wednesday, March 19, a 7:00 PM contest against Bridgeport Sound Tigers. That’s a Wolf Pack “Winning Wednesday”, meaning that if the Wolf Pack win, each fan can get a free ticket to the next Wolf Pack home game, which is Friday night, March 21 against the St. John’s IceCaps.
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 2 at Providence Bruins 3 (OT)
Sunday, March 16, 2014 – Dunkin’ Donuts Center
Hartford 0 1 1 0 – 2
Providence 2 0 0 1 – 3
1st Period-1, Providence, Lindblad 8 (Camara), 0:21. 2, Providence, Griffith 19 (Cunningham, Trotman), 3:38 (PP). Penalties-Haley Hfd (unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting), 2:12; Robins Pro (fighting), 2:12; Knight Pro (tripping), 8:46; Lindberg Hfd (tripping), 13:56; Cunningham Pro (holding the stick), 15:17; Powe Hfd (boarding), 17:53; Haley Hfd (fighting), 20:00; Robins Pro (slashing, fighting), 20:00.
2nd Period-3, Hartford, Haley 6 (Powe, Beach), 10:22. Penalties-Cunningham Pro (hooking), 6:59; Stamler Hfd (interference), 10:50; Robins Pro (interference, boarding), 16:04.
3rd Period-4, Hartford, Fast 13 (Johnson, Syvret), 19:06. Penalties-Haley Hfd (hooking), 12:31; Casto Pro (delay of game), 16:42.
OT Period-5, Providence, Khokhlachev 19 (Griffith, Spooner), 2:21 (PP). Penalties-Johnson Hfd (hooking), 1:51.
Shots on Goal-Hartford 9-12-7-1-29. Providence 14-9-12-4-39.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 7; Providence 2 / 6.
Goalies-Hartford, Grumet-Morris 14-13-5 (39 shots-36 saves). Providence, Svedberg 21-14-3 (29 shots-27 saves).
A-8,699
Referees-Graham Skilliter (48), Trevor Hanson (47).
Linesmen-Brian MacDonald (72), Kevin Keenan (22).
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
