Cromwell, CT, October 1, 2014 – Michael St. Croix scored the third-period game-winning goal, and Jeff Malcolm stopped 28 out of 29 shots, as the Hartford Wolf Pack defeated the Albany Devils 3-1 Wednesday night at Champions Skating Center, in the AHL preseason opener for both teams.
Andrew Yogan also scored for the Wolf Pack, and Nick Crawford added an empty-net goal. Paul Thompson tallied the only Albany goal, on a penalty shot, and Maxime Clermont made 19 saves.
After the two goaltenders kept the game scoreless for more than 37 minutes, the clubs combined for a pair of goals in 16 seconds late in the second period.
The Devils’ Thompson finally broke the 0-0 deadlock at 17:23. He was awarded a penalty-shot opportunity after he blocked a Brandon Martell shot from the left point and Martell tripped him from behind after Thompson broke away. Thompson came in slowly on the penalty shot attempt and beat Malcolm with a forehand shot.
The Wolf Pack came back to tie the score almost immediately, though, as Mike Catenacci stole the puck on the left-wing side and passed across the slot to Yogan, who one-timed it into the net behind a helpless Clermont at 17:39.
The Wolf Pack then took the lead at 9:45 of the third period. Pat Mullane poked the puck off of an Albany stick just outside the Devil blue line, allowing St. Croix to get a step on the Albany defense. St. Croix cut across the slot from left to right and slipped the puck inside the post to Clermont’s left.
Crawford made the final 3-1 by scoring into an open goal, on a shot from the left point, with 42.4 seconds left.
The Wolf Pack are right back in preseason action Thursday, October 2, hosting the Worcester Sharks at the TD Bank Sports Center at Quinnipiac University. Faceoff is 7:00 PM, and the TD Bank Sports Center is located at 275 Mt. Carmel Ave. in Hamden, CT. Tickets for the game are available through the TD Bank Sports Center ticket office, as well as by phone at (203) 582-3905. The on-line address to purchase tickets is www.quinnipiacbobcats.com. Proceeds from the game will benefit Gaylord Specialty Healthcare of Wallingford, CT.
The Wolf Pack will open the home portion of their 2014-15 AHL regular season Saturday, October 18 at the XL Center, hosting the Portland Pirates at 7:00 PM. Tickets for that game, and 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.
Albany Devils 1 at Hartford Wolf Pack 3
Wednesday, October 1, 2014 – Champions Skating Center
Albany 0 1 0 – 1
Hartford 0 1 2 – 3
1st Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Timmins Alb (delay of game), 1:38; Martell Hfd (delay of game), 6:56; Clark Hfd (hooking), 14:58; Wohlberg Alb (cross-checking), 18:50.
2nd Period-1, Albany, Thompson 4 17:23 (PS). 2, Hartford, Yogan 2 (Catenacci), 17:39. Penalties-Scarlett Alb (interference), 2:41; Kelly Alb (boarding, roughing), 3:22; Yogan Hfd (roughing), 3:22; Clark Hfd (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:03; Burlon Alb (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:47.
3rd Period-3, Hartford, St. Croix 2 (Mullane), 9:45. 4, Hartford, Crawford 3 19:17 (EN). Penalties-Kelly Alb (fighting), 0:15; Vaive Hfd (fighting), 0:15; Carrier Alb (fighting), 3:36; Zajac Alb (fighting), 3:36; O’Donnell Hfd (cross-checking, fighting, misconduct – instigating), 3:36; Spinell Hfd (fighting), 3:36; Thompson Alb (fighting), 4:59; Tam Hfd (fighting), 4:59; Spinell Hfd (slashing), 12:08.
Shots on Goal-Albany 8-7-14-29. Hartford 5-13-4-22.
Power Play Opportunities-Albany 0 / 4; Hartford 0 / 5.
Goalies-Albany, Clermont 1-1-0 (21 shots-19 saves). Hartford, Malcolm 2-0-0 (29 shots-28 saves).
A-0
Referees-Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Kevin Redding (16), Luke Galvin (2).
