By Zachary Grenier
Hartford, CT, November 14, 2014 – Wethersfield, CT native Colin McDonald had four points, with two goals and two assists, Friday night at the XL Center, to lead the Bridgeport Sound Tigers to a 6-1 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack, in the front end of a home-and-home series between the two Connecticut rivals.
Justin Courtnall, Alan Quine, Mike Halmo and Ryan Pulock also scored for Bridgeport, and Kevin Poulin had 34 saves. Ryan Haggerty scored the only Hartford goal.
The Pack started out in a hole early, when Courtnall fired a backhander over the shoulder of Wolf Pack goaltender Cedrick Desjardins (15 saves) just four minutes in to the game, for his second goal of the season.
It wasn’t until there was 3:04 remaining in the first that there was another goal. This too went to the Sound Tigers, when Halmo scored his third goal of the season. Halmo intercepted a Hartford breakout pass in the defensive zone and fired a wrist shot past Desjardins’ catching glove from the slot.
The scoring was not done in the opening period for Bridgeport, as Quine scored his fifth goal of the season, set up by McDonald, with 1:16 remaining in the first. The goal dug the Pack in to a larger hole and caused Coach Ken Gernander to use his timeout.
The second period was dominated by the Wolf Pack, as they outshot the Sound Tigers 17-4 in the period, but Poulin stood strong.
The lone Pack goal came with 14:44 left in the second period, when Haggerty showed determination in front of the net and took a few swipes at the puck, after an Oscar Lindberg shot was blocked. The assist gave Lindberg his team-leading 12th point of the season.
The second period ended with the score at 3-1, despite a number of quality chances for Hartford.
It was all Bridgeport the rest of the way, as they tallied three third-period goals, two of them by McDonald with under six minutes left to play, to make it a 6-1 final.
The Wolf Pack and Sound Tigers complete the home-and-home Saturday night at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, with faceoff at 7:00 PM. 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 Sunday, November 16, as the Manchester Monarchs visit the XL Center for a 3:00 game. That is the next chance for fans to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Packs”, which feature 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.
Bridgeport Sound Tigers 6 at Hartford Wolf Pack 1
Friday, November 14, 2014 – XL Center
Bridgeport 3 0 3 – 6
Hartford 0 1 0 – 1
1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Courtnall 2 4:00. 2, Bridgeport, Halmo 3 16:56. 3, Bridgeport, Quine 5 (McDonald), 18:44. Penalties-Mouillierat Bri (holding), 0:40.
2nd Period-4, Hartford, Haggerty 3 (Lindberg, R. Bourque), 5:16. Penalties-Gallant Bri (fighting), 3:14; Vaive Hfd (fighting), 3:14; R. Bourque Hfd (delay of game), 9:33; Mayfield Bri (interference), 13:28.
3rd Period-5, Bridgeport, Pulock 3 (McDonald), 8:44. 6, Bridgeport, McDonald 2 (Graham, Mouillierat), 14:04. 7, Bridgeport, McDonald 3 (Ness), 18:04. Penalties-Pelech Bri (hooking), 2:08; Lindberg Hfd (elbowing), 9:17; Halmo Bri (hooking), 14:13; Czuczman Bri (delay of game), 19:03.
Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 10-4-7-21. Hartford 7-17-11-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 2; Hartford 0 / 5.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Poulin 7-1-1 (35 shots-34 saves). Hartford, Desjardins 4-2-0 (21 shots-15 saves).
A-4,627
Referees-Ryan Hersey (8).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Paul Simeon (66).
