Hershey Whips Wolf Pack 9-2
December 6, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release
Hershey, PA, December 6, 2009 - The Hartford Wolf Pack tied franchise records for most goals-against in a game, and largest margin of defeat, Sunday at the Giant Center, in a 9-2 loss to the Hershey Bears.
The Wolf Pack gave up a franchise-worst six goals in the second period, as their season-high winless streak stretched to five games (0-3-1-1).
Andrew Gordon and Steve Pinizzotto led the offensive charge for defending Calder Cup-champion Hershey, with two goals and an assist apiece. Kyle Wilson had a goal and two assists. The Bears were 3/7 on the power play and scored two shorthanded goals.
Hershey opened the scoring at 5:33 of the first period with a shorthanded goal, as Gavin Morgan scored off of a pass from Andrew Joudrey. Gordon made it 2-0 on a power play at 12:22, on a shot from the left-wing circle, and Joudrey upped it to 3-0 at 15:26, beating Wolf Pack starting goaltender Steve Valiquette with a snapshot over the glove from the slot.
Things further degenerated on the Wolf Pack 50 seconds into the second frame, as Gordon scored his second of the game, on a bad-angle shot from the left-wing side, to make it 4-0. Wilson scored on a power-play breakaway at 2:47, chasing Valiquette from the game, before Jordan Owens finally got the Wolf Pack on the board 19 seconds later at 3:06. Owens scored shorthanded on a rebound from in close.
Michael Dubuc got that one back on the same power play, though, making it 6-1 at 4:51.
The Bears then scored three goals in a span of 2:48, starting at 15:23, when Chris Bourque drove home a shot from the top of the right circle for Hershey's third power-play goal of the game. Pinizzotto then tallied the last two Bear goals, an even-strength score at 16:36 and an unassisted shorthander at 18:11.
Down 9-1 entering the third period, the Wolf Pack salvaged some pride by scoring the only goal of the third session. That was a power-play marker at 18:23 by Dane Byers, who banged in a rebound from the right-wing side of the crease.
Michal Neuvirth got the win in net for Hershey with 23 saves. Valiquette allowed five goals on 16 shots for the Wolf Pack and took the loss, and reliever Matt Zaba allowed four goals on 19 shots.
The loss dropped the Wolf Pack's season record to 13-11-1-2. With 29 points, they are tied with Providence for fifth place in the Atlantic Division.
The Pack return to action this Friday night, December 11, starting a three-game home weekend at the XL Center with a Guida's Family Value Night battle against the Portland Pirates (7:00 PM faceoff).
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