
Wolf Pack Suffer 3-2 Overtime Loss Following Late Surge from Americans
December 15, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Hartford Wolf Pack News Release
HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack welcomed the Rochester Americans to the XL Center for the first of two meetings this season in front of a crowd of 5,140. The Wolf Pack never trailed on this night, but some late-game heroics from Jiri Kulich would be enough to push the Americans to a comeback victory by a final score of 3-2 in overtime.
Kulich, Rochester's leading scorer, secured the Amerks win in overtime with his team-leading 15th tally of the season. Kulich's game-winner was his second of the night, with his winner coming on the powerplay. The goal came at 2:51 of the overtime period, snapping a three-game losing streak for the visitors.
It was a high-octane opening frame, with the teams exchanging 23 total shots. Both Louis Domingue and Devin Cooley stood tall on some grade-A chances between the clubs, treating fans to a little bit of everything on this night.
Late in the period, Blake Hillman was able to save the puck from exiting the zone on the blue line, before making a nifty move along the right wall to create space. Hillman then found Karl Henriksson above the right-wing circle, and he buried a wrist shot above Cooley for his fourth of the year to make it 1-0 Hartford at 19:01.
The Pack got an early powerplay opportunity in the middle stanza as the Americans received a too-many men on the ice penalty. Rochester applied pressure on the penalty kill, preventing the Wolf Pack from getting set up in the offensive zone.
Brandon Biro then sped down the ice with the puck and evened the score with a pinpoint shot that crept above Domingue's shoulder. The goal, Rochester's fifth shorthanded tally of the season, made it 1-1 at 2:21.
The Americans found a spark following the tying goal, testing Domingue with several high-danger chances. After gaining an 11-1 stranglehold on shots, the Amerks were stunned late in the period when the Wolf Pack went to work and regained the lead.
Brett Berard had a handful of strong chances this evening and was finally rewarded with a crisp pass from Matthew Robertson at the top of the left-wing circle. Berard ripped his seventh goal of the season by Cooley to make it 2-1 at 17:05 of the second period.
It was a stalemate in the final frame, with each team getting their share of powerplay opportunities. The Pack failed to convert on back-to-back man advantages in the final ten minutes before a hooking penalty at 14:20 put Hartford on the kill late.
It would be Kulich who notched his 14th goal of the year mere seconds after the powerplay expired, beating Domingue up high through a screen to make it 2-2 at 16:27.
Kulich's late tally would force overtime at the XL Center for the third straight home game.
Two early penalties in the overtime period led to some brief three-on-three hockey before Kulich would strike for the second time of the night to secure the 3-2 win on a four-on-three powerplay. The goal was rocketed from the right-wing circle.
Despite falling in overtime, the Wolf Pack extended their point streak at the XL Center to eight games (6-0-2-0).
The Wolf Pack are back at home this Sunday for an afternoon matchup against the Toronto Marlies. Puck drop is slated for 3:00 p.m., with coverage on AHLTV and Mixlr. Tickets are available on www.hartfordwolfpack.com.
American Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2023
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- Wild Take Game One from IceHogs - Rockford IceHogs
- Canucks Fall 5-0 in Tucson - Abbotsford Canucks
- Kulich Sends Amerks Past Wolf Pack in Overtime - Rochester Americans
- Griffins Erase Two-Goal Deficit In 4-2 Victory Over Stars - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Rocket Rally to Stun Phantoms - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Monsters Battle To 2-1 Victory Over Senators - Cleveland Monsters
- Wallstedt Shuts Down IceHogs, Bankier Scores First Goal in 2-1 Win - Iowa Wild
- O'Reilly, Admirals Turn Back Moose - Milwaukee Admirals
- Wolf Pack Suffer 3-2 Overtime Loss Following Late Surge from Americans - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Penguins Topple Comets, 4-1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Checkers Blank Islanders - Bridgeport Islanders
- Spencer Knight Shutout Leads Checkers To Win Over Bridgeport - Charlotte Checkers
- Griffins Snap Stars' Three-Game Winning Streak - Texas Stars
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- Belleville Sens and Quinte Mall Expand Partnership for 2023-24 - Belleville Senators
- Jonatan Berggren Returns to Grand Rapids - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Roadrunners Announce Watch Party on December 20 at Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers - Tucson Roadrunners
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- Tip-A-Roadrunner January 22 at Dave & Buster's - Tucson Roadrunners
- Team USA Package Available Now for IIHF Women's World Championship - Utica Comets
- Game #23: Tucson Roadrunners vs. Abbotsford - Tucson Roadrunners
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