Pack Falls to Springfield
December 8, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hartford Wolf Pack News Release
Hartford, CT, December 8, 2013 - Alex Aleardi had a goal and two assists, and Sean Collins added a goal and an assist, to lead the Springfield Falcons to a 4-2 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack Sunday at the XL Center.
It was the fifth straight loss for the Pack, dropping Hartford to 9-13-0-2, and Springfield's fifth victory in five tries against the Wolf Pack on the season.
Danny Syvret and Oscar Lindberg scored the Wolf Pack goals Sunday, and Darryl Boyce and Jonathan Marchessault also scored for Springfield.
"I think we overall played a good game," Wolf Pack captain Aaron Johnson said. "We just have to play a full 60 minutes now.
Hartford outshot the Falcons 35-22 in the contest, including a combined 23-10 over the final two periods, but Jeremy Smith made 33 saves in the Springfield goal.
Springfield took the game's first lead at 9:25 of the first period, with Boyce connecting for his fifth goal of the season. Johnson had an attempted breakout pass blocked by Aleardi, who fed to Collins. Collins was able to send Boyce in alone on Missiaen, and Collins beat Missiaen with a move to the backhand.
Wolf Pack newcomer Kyle Beach was then penalized for hooking at 16:29, and the Falcons made it a 2-0 lead on the game's first power play. Collins took a pass from Cody Goloubef and broke quickly into the Hartford zone, and Collins' backhander from the right-wing side squeezed between Missiaen's right arm and his body, and into the net.
The Wolf Pack got the only goal of the second period on a late power-play, as Syvret buried his first of the season. Danny Kristo carried the puck across the high slot from left to right and dished to Syvret in the right circle, and Syvret's quick, high shot went through an Oscar Lindberg screen and cleanly beat Smith at 16:56.
The momentum from that goal was snuffed out early in the third period, however, as the Falcons came back with two goals in the first 6:10 of the third.
Marchessault restored Springfield's two-goal advantage at 3:25, after Aleardi forced a neutral-zone turnover. Marchessault skated down left wing and put a hard snap shot into the net on Missiaen's stick side. Aleardi then registered his third point of the game with a goal at 6:10, putting on a burst of speed down right wing and firing a shot off of Missiaen and in.
Lindberg cut it back to a two-goal margin with 6:53 left, on a goal that was only allowed after a video review. Smith hugged the goalpost to his right to attempt to shut off a Lindberg wraparound attempt, and the puck disappeared from view. After checking the video replay, referee Kendrick Nicholson ruled that Smith was unable to keep the puck from crossing the goal line.
The Wolf Pack were unable to get any closer, however, despite an 11-3 shots on goal advantage in the third, and the Falcons improved their Northeast Division-leading record to 16-4-1-1 for 34 points.
The Wolf Pack are now off until this Friday night, December 13, when they will battle the Adirondack Phantoms at the XL Center. Faceoff is 7:00 PM. At all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games this year, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers at the XL Center, through the start of the second period.
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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