Berard, Chmelař Lead Wolf Pack to 4-3 Win Over Penguins

The Hartford Wolf Pack continued their four-game trip through Pennsylvania on Friday night. Their trip took them to Wilkes-Barre for a matchup against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The offense erupted for three goals in the second period, giving Hartford the cushion they needed. The Wolf Pack withstood a late push from the home side to secure a 4-3 victory.

He's Him-elař

The Penguins would find the icebreaker in this contest. Atley Calvert forced a turnover in the Wolf Pack zone. Calvert fed Tristan Broz, who promptly set up Gabe Klassen in the slot. Klassen ripped a shot by Dylan Garand to break the ice.

However, the Wolf Pack would respond three minutes later. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard took a tripping call, sending the Wolf Pack to the game's first power play. On the man advantage, Brett Berard held the puck along the right wing wall and sent a pass to Casey Fitzgerald at the top of the zone. Fitzgerald glided to the high slot before snapping a shot towards the net. Fitzgerald's bid clipped Jaroslav Chmelař in front of the net and went tumbling by Sergei Murashov to even the score.

The goal was Chmelař's sixth of the season, and it sent the game into the first intermission with a 1-1 tie.

Bet on Brett

The Penguins would tie the game nearly 12 minutes into the middle frame. During an extended sequence in the Wolf Pack zone, Klassen potted his second tally of the night, hammering a rebound off a Finn Harding shot home.

However, the Wolf Pack responded just 26 seconds later. Chmelař blocked a shot by Scooter Brickey and sped away on a two-on-none with Berard. Chmelař fed Berard, who elected to shoot and lasered the bid by Murashov to tie the score again.

The goal was Berard's sixth of the season, as well as his fourth over his last four games.

Väis City

Just over two minutes later, the Wolf Pack grabbed their first lead of the contest. Jackson Dorrington swung a pass to Fitzgerald at the point, setting up the chance. The captain fired a shot that Kalle Väisänen deflected by Murashov to give the Wolf Pack a lead they wouldn't lose.

The goal was Väisänen's third of the season. The assist also gave Fitzgerald his first multi-assist game of the campaign.

On The Way, Dowls

The Wolf Pack doubled their lead in the waning seconds of the middle frame. Chmelař won a footrace to a loose puck in the Penguins' zone and snapped a feed to Berard, powering towards the goal. Murashov denied Berard's bid, but the rebound popped in front of the net. Justin Dowling crashed in and tapped the loose change home, giving the Wolf Pack some much-needed insurance.

The goal was Dowling's seventh of the season. With their assists on the goal, Berard and Chmelař each recorded their third point of the night - both men tallied a goal and two assists in the game. The Wolf Pack took a 4-2 lead into the second intermission.

Aidan McDonough cut the lead back to one midway through the final frame, but Garand prevented any more damage from there. The Wolf Pack hung on to secure a 4-3 win for their second straight victory.

Up Next

The Wolf Pack and Penguins will have a rematch in Wilkes-Barre tomorrow night. Puck drop is set for 6:05 pm.