Wolf Pack strike twice in third period to bank a point, but fall 3-2 to Islanders in the shootout

The Hartford Wolf Pack struck twice in the third period on Saturday night to turn a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead at the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport. The lead lasted only 1:22, however, as the Islanders tied it up and eventually won it 3-2 in the shootout.

Ruslan Iskhakov dazzled in the bottom half of the third round of the shootout, going behind the back and beating Dylan Garand for victory. Iskhakov’s goal broke a 1-1 tie in the third round, giving the Isles a 2-1 edge in the skills competition.

The first 20 minutes of the game passed without much in the way of scoring chances, as both teams played a responsible defensive game. Garand made eleven saves in the frame, while Jakub Skarek turned aside five bids from the Wolf Pack.

Each team got a late powerplay in the first period, but both teams would take penalties to negate their skater advantages.

The Islanders broke through 5:05 into the second period, as a bad break for the Wolf Pack ended up in the back of the net. Brandon Scanlin inadvertently lost his balance when hitting a discarded stick in his own zone, resulting in a turnover.

William Dufour found the loose puck and sent a pass to Brian Pinho, who polished off the play for his sixth goal of the season.

Alex Belzile drew the Wolf Pack even 6:48 into the third period, jamming home a rebound for his 16^th goal of the season. Nic Petan’s shot from the high slot was denied by Skarek but popped to the top of the crease. Belzile found the rebound and beat Skarek to tie the contest.

3:53 later, the Wolf Pack took a 2-1 lead when Jake Leschyshyn converted a pass from Adam Edström for his sixth goal of the season. Edström muscled his way into the zone and set up Leschyshyn directly in front of Skarek.

82 seconds later, however, Dufour evened the affair with a goal from the right-wing circle. His shot snuck over the shoulder of Garand at 12:03 of the third period, forcing an eventual overtime.

After the Wolf Pack killed off a too many men of the ice penalty early in overtime, Brett Berard had an opportunity to end the game. He was stoned by the right pad of Skarek, however, sending the game to a shootout.

Matthew Maggio opened the shootout with a goal in the bottom half of the first round, a goal that would stand as the only tally through four shooters. Petan tied the shootout in the top half of the third round, snapping a shot by the glove of Skarek.

Iskhakov’s brilliant move in the bottom half of the third round would prove to be the difference, however, as the Isles prevailed 2-1 in the shootout and 3-2 in the game.

The loss snapped a six-game overall winning streak for the Wolf Pack against the Islanders and a seven-game winning streak at Total Mortgage Arena.

The Wolf Pack continue their three-game road trip Tuesday night when they visit the Charlotte Checkers The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., with ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting at 6:45 p.m. on AHLTV & Mixlr.

The Pack is back at the XL Center on Saturday, March 16^th, when the Utica Comets come to town. The puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m., and tickets are available at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.

Share your Hartford Wolf Pack experience with us by using #findingconnecticut on Instagram

Click here for the 2023-2024 Hartford Wolf Pack Home Schedule
Click here for the latest Hartford Wolf Pack
Click here for the latest news in Hartford
Click here for the upcoming events in Hartford
Click here for the latest news in Hartford County
Click here for upcoming events in Hartford County

••••• Message center •••••••

Connecticut business owners: Connecticut with us! Are you a local business owner in Connecticut looking to boost your visibility and reach more customers? Look no further! Our platform provides a unique opportunity to showcase your business to an engaged audience of people who love and live in Connecticut. By partnering with us, you can reach potential customers who are actively seeking things to do, places to dine, and local merchants and service providers to support. Don’t miss out on this chance to grow your business and connect with the local community!

Connecticut with us!

Get our news straight into your inbox daily

Stay connected with us on social media Facebook • Instagram • Threads • Tiktok Join our Redditcommunity

Share your Connecticut experiences with us by using #findingconnecticut on Instagram

Click here to return to Finding Connecticut’s home page

Looking for the latest news by region, topic and events

Foxwoods Resort Casino shares lineup of November events

Finding Connecticut

ICYMI: Our top 5 stories of the week