AHL Hartford Wolf Pack

Wolf Pack Close Season Series with Rochester with 4-2 Victory

February 14, 2016 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hartford Wolf Pack News Release


Hartford, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack rebounded Sunday at the XL Center from a three-game losing streak, and a 7-3 loss in Bridgeport the night before, defeating the Rochester Americans, 4-2, in the teams' fourth and final meeting of the season.

Adam Tambellini, Marek Hrivik, Travis Oleksuk and Chad Nehring scored Wolf Pack goals, with the game winner being scored by Oleksuk. Magnus Hellberg made 32 saves on 34 shots, earning his 18th win of the season.

The Americans' two goals were scored by Chad Ruhwedel and Evan Rodrigues, and Linus Ullmark made 16 saves in the loss.

Early in the first the Wolf Pack scored on a one-timer by Tambellini, his 13th goal of the year. The goal was set up by a pass from Jayson Megna, also assisted by Brady Skjei, 3:56 into the period.

The Wolf Pack were able to go on the power play early courtesy of a double-minor on Allan McPherson for high-sticking at 6:04. However, the Wolf Pack were called for too many men on the ice 1:08 into the advantage and were unable to get a shot off during the four minutes.

Oleksuk spoke about the rough patch the team has gone through, "The first two games of the weekend we didn't come out with the effort we expect from ourselves, so to basically salvage the weekend with two points is big for us going forward."

Later in the first, Hrivik scored off a rebound of a shot by Mat Bodie. The goal was Hrivik's seventh of the season, scored at 16:44.

The Americans got on the board midway through the second with a goal by Ruhwedel, assisted by William Carrier and Nick Baptiste, Ruhwedel's fourth goal of the season. With 6:54 left in the third, Rochester struck again, tying the game at 2-2. The goal was scored by Rodrigues, unassisted.

Oleksuk also talked about the team's rebound from the late tying goal. "We're trying to stay up of course, there is six minutes left in the game, we've been in that position before and we know we can get that next goal to put us over the top."

The Wolf Pack struck back quickly with the game-winning goal, a tip-in by Oleksuk of a shot by Chris Summers, only 53 seconds after the Americans had tied the game.

With 2:44 left, the Wolf Pack were hit with their only penalty of the game, when Luke Adam was called for high-sticking. The Americans pulled their goalie with two minutes left, but the Pack successfully killed the six on four.

Hellberg was forced to make a late save on a prime opportunity for Nick Baptiste, and the Wolf Pack goaltender said, "I know he tries to be pretty patient with the puck and force me to make the first move. It felt good, I think we needed that as a team."

With 6.3 seconds left on the clock, Chad Nehring broke behind the Rochester defense and scored into the empty net, cementing the Wolf Pack lead. That increased Nehring's team-leading goal total to 16, assisted by Raphael Diaz.

"If you look at the standings, we're in there but we have to keep trying," Hellberg said of the race for AHL playoff spots. "We can play really good hockey if we want to, but I think yesterday was just a bump, we have to learn from it, but at the same time we can't take it too hard."

The Wolf Pack's next action is a home game this Wednesday night, February 17 vs. the Providence Bruins. Faceoff is 7:00 PM, and it's a "Winning Wednesday". If the Wolf Pack win, fans can show their Winning Wednesday ticket at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center and receive a free ticket to the next Wolf Pack home game, which is next Sunday, February 21 vs. the Binghamton Senators (some restrictions apply).

Tickets for all remaining 2015-16 Wolf Pack home games are on sale at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.

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.

Check out the Hartford Wolf Pack Statistics



American Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2016


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.

OurSports Central