Garand Blanks Thunderbirds, Leads Wolf Pack to First Win of Season

After falling in each of their first three games, the Hartford Wolf Pack returned to the PeoplesBank Arena on Wednesday night searching for their first win of the year. They hosted the Springfield Thunderbirds in the first iteration of the I-91 Rivalry this season.

Goaltender Dylan Garand would not let the losing streak go on any longer. Garand stopped all 28 shots he faced in the contest, earning his first shutout of the season as the Wolf Pack picked up a 3-0 win.

Perfect PK

The Wolf Pack got themselves into early penalty trouble. Brendan Brisson took a slashing call just over two minutes into the game, and Brett Berard was whistled for tripping just a minute later. As a result, the Thunderbirds earned a five-on-three power play bid. However, the Wolf Pack penalty kill was up to task, preventing Springfield from finding the icebreaker.

The penalty killing units would be tested twice more in the opening frame. Brennan Othmann went to the box for delay of game, while Casey Fitzgerald sat for hooking. Once again, the penalty killing units denied Springfield on both opportunities, with Garand flashing the leather for some impressive saves.

Hartford earned one power play bid when Dylan Peterson went off for slashing, but they couldn't beat Georgi Romanov and the game entered the first intermission with a scoreless tie.

Bryce is Nice

The Wolf Pack finally broke the ice about eight minutes into the middle frame. Bryce McConnell-Barker picked off an outlet pass attempt and sped into the left circle. McConnell-Barker lasered a shot that beat Romanov over the shoulder, giving the Wolf Pack a lead they'd never lose.

The goal was McConnell-Barker's first of the season.

Hartford's penalty kill would be challenged thrice more in the middle stanza, but again, they prevented Springfield from finding the equalizer. The Wolf Pack took the one-goal lead into the second intermission.

Count Carey In

The Wolf Pack penalty kill faced their final challenge of the night early in the third period as Trey Fix-Wolansky sat for slashing. Once again, Springfield was unable to capitalize on the advantage. Hartford's penalty kill would go eight-for-eight on the night.

The Wolf Pack doubled their lead 8:38 into the final frame. Jackson Dorrington threw a puck into the offensive zone, and Anton Blidh won a board battle for it. Blidh skated to the back wall and found Carey Terrance stationed in front of the net. Blidh fed Terrance, who blasted the puck home to push the lead to two.

The goal was Terrance's first of the season and first as a professional hockey player. Terrance joins Gabe Perreault as Wolf Pack players to score their first professional goals so far this season.

Win #1

Springfield would lift Romanov for the extra skater late in the game, but Adam Sýkora ended the intrigue with an empty-net goal, sealing a 3-0 win for the Wolf Pack.

The win was also Garand's 50th in the AHL.

"[Tonight's game] is more of what I thought I would see to start the year," Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny told Blueshirt Banter following the game. "We had to build our foundation, which is a work-based, forechecking team. Tonight, I thought we did a really nice job of that."

"Starting 0-3 didn't sit well for us," Garand told Blueshirt Banter after the contest. "We knew that we could raise our compete level. It was kind of a win-or-die mindset for me. Obviously, a good result."

There's certainly some things the Wolf Pack need to clean up - you can't take eight penalties in a game, even if you have a great PK - but getting into the win column was a big step for the team tonight. They'll have an opportunity to build on the character win this weekend and right the wrongs from their first three contests.

Up Next

The Wolf Pack will return to the ice on Friday, hosting the Bridgeport Islanders for the first installment of the Battle of Connecticut this season. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm.