Wolf Pack defeat Sound Tigers in OT

Published on December 12, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


Hartford, CT - Dale Weise scored the overtime game-winner and Brodie Dupont had two assists, as the Wolf Pack beat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a GEICO Connecticut Cup game Saturday night, 2-1, in front of 5,752 fans at the XL Center.

A tied-up Dupont passed to a wide open Weise, who one-timed the shot past Sound Tigers goaltender Scott Munroe for the winner at 1:15 of the extra session.

The goal, Weise's ninth, snapped a six-game winless streak (0-4-1-1) for the Wolf Pack.

"We played hard, we played smart," said Hartford Head Coach Ken Gernander. "It was a pretty good effort."

The Wolf Pack had jumped out to a first period lead at 13:33, as Evgeny Grachev recorded a power-play goal with Bridgeport's Tyler Haskins in the box on a holding the stick call.

Defenseman Matt Gilroy had passed across to Dupont, who quickly fed Grachev on the side of the net. Grachev was able to find an opening to the left of Munroe for his seventh goal of the year.

Gilroy's assist was his second in as many games since being assigned to Hartford from the New York Rangers.

Wolf Pack goaltender Steve Valiquette (25 saves), playing in Hartford for the first time since the 2006-07 season, made eight saves in the first, including a stop on a quality chance by Bridgeport's Matt Martin at 1:57.

The second period proved to be a scoreless affair, as Valiquette made 11 saves on Bridgeport to preserve the Wolf Pack's 1-0 lead. Munroe made nine saves in the frame for the Sound Tigers, and stopped a great chance on a Hartford power-play opportunity by Weise midway through.

The Sound Tigers, however, capitalized on a Corey Potter turnover 9:03 into the third period, tying the score at 1-1 on Matt Martin's sixth goal of the season.

Potter lost the puck to Martin in front of the Hartford goal crease, and Martin lifted the puck over Valiquette's catching glove for the equalizer.

The remainder of the third was scoreless, with Munroe turning away several chances that would have given the Wolf Pack the lead, including an opportunity when Gilroy sent a pass from behind the net across the crease.

Entering overtime tied at one, Hartford did not wait long to score the game-winner, as defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti gathered the puck and sent a pass to Dupont in the slot, setting up Weise's goal.

"I more or less just threw it into an area," said Dupont. "We (he and Weise) have a pretty good chemistry, so whenever he yells, generally he's open."

The win bumped Hartford (14-12-1-2, 31 points) into a tie for sixth place in the Atlantic Division with the Providence Bruins.

The Wolf Pack will complete this week's section of their five-game home stand with a 4:00 tilt Sunday against the Albany River Rats, before hosting the Toronto Marlies (Dec. 18, 7:00) and the Hamilton Bulldogs (Dec. 19, 7:00) next weekend.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2009


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