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AHL Hartford Wolf Pack

Manchester Earns 5-2 Win over Wolf Pack

December 29, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hartford Wolf Pack News Release


Manchester, NH, December 29, 2013 - The Hartford Wolf Pack had a two-game winning streak snapped Sunday at the Verizon Wireless Arena, in a 5-2 loss to the AHL-leading Manchester Monarchs.

Linden Vey led the way for Manchester with two goals and an assist, and Tanner Pearson had three assists. J.F Berube made 25 saves to get the win.

The Wolf Pack (11-16-0-4, 26 pts.) got goals from Jesper Fast and Danny Syvret.

Two Manchester goals in 2:03 early in the first put the Wolf Pack on their heels.

Andy Andreoff opened the scoring for the Monarchs at 4:37, with Pearson's aerial pass from the right-wing circle hitting Andreoff's leg as he went hard towards the net and going through Wolf Pack starting goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris.

A.J. Gale made it a 2-0 Manchester lead at 6:40 on a rebound. Grumet-Morris made a stick save on Brian O'Neill's shot from the right-wing circle, but the rebound went right out into the slot, and Gale swept it in as he was being knocked to the ice.

A power-play goal by Vey at 14:25 chased Grumet-Morris (six saves) from the game in favor of Jeff Malcolm. With Fast in the penalty box for hooking, Vey's shot from the right circle hit Grumet-Morris in the shoulder and dropped behind him and over the goal line.

After that poor opening 20 minutes, the Wolf Pack picked up their play considerably in the second, outshooting Manchester 13-4.

The first 14:01 of the second were scoreless, but the two teams then combined for three goals in a span of just 2:13.

Vey scored his second of the game at 14:02 to make it 4-0 for Manchester. Covering the left point, Vey picked up the puck and faked a shot to freeze a Wolf Pack defender, then moved in close and got a shot past Malcolm's stick side.

The Wolf Pack replied to that goal with a pair in only 30 seconds, though, to get back into the game.

Fast broke Berube's shutout bid on a breakaway at 15:45, just 1:43 after Vey's goal. Brendon Nash made a perfect feed out of his own zone to send Fast in alone, and Fast beat Berube with a backhander to the stick side.

Syvret then cut the lead to 4-2 at 16:15, scoring his second goal of the season. Marek Hrivik spun in the right-wing corner and sent a pass to Syvret between the circles, and Syvret slapped a high shot past Berube's catching glove and into the net.

That would be as close as the Wolf Pack could get, however, and Brandon Kozun put the game out of reach for the Monarchs with a goal at 12:11 of the third. Jordan Weal carried the puck down the left-wing side into the Wolf Pack zone and handed off to Nick Deslauriers, whose cross-slot feed found Kozun on right wing. Malcolm (12 saves) got a piece of Kozun's quick shot but could not keep it out of the net.

The win snapped a broke a two-game losing streak for the Monarchs, who are 22-7-1-4 on the year for 49 points.

The Wolf Pack's next action is at home at the XL Center this Friday, January 3, a 7:00 PM contest against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. All Wolf Pack Friday-night home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Marc's Appliance Warehouse, located at 75 Prospect Ave., Hartford, CT.

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.

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