Albany Devils 4, Hartford Wolf Pack 3
April 1, 2017 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hartford Wolf Pack News Release
Albany, NY - Nicklas Jensen had a goal and an assist for the Hartford Wolf Pack Saturday at the Times Union Center, but Blake Pietila scored two power-play goals, including the third-period game-winner, for the Albany Devils in a 4-3 Albany victory.
Max Novak added a goal and an assist for the Devils, and Jacob MacDonald had three assists. Marek Hrivik chipped in two assists for the Wolf Pack.
The two teams traded goals in the first period, the Devils scoring early and the Wolf Pack replying late.
Novak gave the Devils the game's first lead 4:41 in, on a rebound. MacDonald's shot from the left point was stopped by Wolf Pack goaltender Chris Nell (26 saves), making his first pro appearance out of Bowling Green University, but the rebound came to Novak in front, and he poked it home.
Jensen, the Wolf Pack's goal-scoring leader, answered that tally with his 28th of the year, with 2:14 remaining in the period. Hrivik spun on the right-wing boards and handed the puck off to Jensen, who moved towards the middle, got to his forehand and dove across sprawling Albany goaltender Ken Appleby (30 saves), pushing the puck into the net on his forehand.
The Wolf Pack outshot Albany 15-8 in the second period, but the Devil special teams accounted for the only two goals of the frame.
Albany regained the lead with a shorthanded goal at 7:38, with Vojtech Mozik in the penalty box for delay-of-game. Novak blocked a left-wing pass in center ice by Vince Pedrie, and broke 2-on-1 with Kevin Rooney. Rooney kept the puck and beat Nell to the stick side with a forehand shot.
Then, after the Wolf Pack's Dan Catenacci took a double minor for high-sticking at 17:21, Pietila made it a 3-1 Albany lead with a power-play score with 38.4 seconds remaining in the period. MacDonald fed the puck from the right point to Pietila on the left side, and he carried down to the faceoff dot before firing a high shot over Nell's right shoulder and into the net.
The Wolf Pack cut it back to a one-goal margin at 7:26 of the third period, on Matt Carey's 19th goal of the season. Philip McRae passed the puck to Carey high in the slot, and his shot went off of Albany's Ben Thomson in front of the net and deflected through Appleby's legs.
Albany responded only 24 seconds later, though, after the Wolf Pack's Taylor Beck was called for holding at 7:37. Former Wolf Pack Brian Gibbons sent a pass from the left circle to Pietila at the other side of the goalmouth, and Pietila easily slammed it in for his second of the night.
That goal would loom large, as the Wolf Pack came back to get a power-play strike of their own at 11:34. With Luke Gazdic off for tripping, Beck snapped a perfect shot from the right faceoff dot over Appleby's shoulder on the glove side.
The Wolf Pack could never get the equalizer, though, despite getting another man advantage on an interference call against Andrew MacWilliam at 17:40, and getting Nell to the bench for an extra attacker.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 1, 2017
- No Fooling, Admirals Fall to Texas - Milwaukee Admirals
- No Fooling, Admirals Fall to Texas - Milwaukee Admirals
- Crunch Drop Second Straight to Marlies - Syracuse Crunch
- Comets Win Eighth Straight at the Aud - Utica Comets
- DeSmith Stops 26, Penguins Shut-Out Phantoms Again - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- IceCaps Bounce Back to Beat Senators 4-2 - St. John's IceCaps
- Albany Devils 4, Hartford Wolf Pack 3 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Syracuse Crunch Sign Zenon Konopka to One-Day Contract - Syracuse Crunch
- Connor Jones Earns First NHL Call-Up - Bridgeport Islanders
- Agostino Departs Wolves for NHL - Chicago Wolves
- Hogs Face Griffins on April Fools Jersey Auction Night - Rockford IceHogs
- Reign Release Defenseman Craig Wyszomirski from PTO - Ontario Reign
- Lindbohm Recalled to NHL - Chicago Wolves
- Ontario Reign Game Preview: Ontario Reign Close Season Series with Condors Tonight - Ontario Reign
- Texas Signs Will Merchant to Tryout Agreement - Texas Stars
- Griffins Sign Spink to PTO - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Andy Welinski Scores First Hat Trick in Gulls History in 8-2 Rout - San Diego Gulls
- Crunch Edged by Marlies, 3-2, in Shootout - Syracuse Crunch
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
