Wolf Pack Bank Point, Fall to Checkers 2-1 in Overtime

The Hartford Wolf Pack opened a massive two-game set against the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday night. Hartford sat six points back in the playoff race entering action with ten games to play.

The teams played a tight, defensive game, and it ended up requiring overtime. However, it would be the Checkers who secured the extra point, taking a 2-1 decision.

BMB, PPG

The Checkers would break the ice just over eight minutes into the contest. During the final seconds of a Wolf Pack power play bid, Mackenzie Entwhistle swiped the puck and sped into the Hartford zone. Callum Tung made the stop on Entwhistle's bid, but the puck popped to Brian Pinho, who tapped it home to put the visitors in front. The play was reviewed, but officials ultimately upheld the goal.

However, the Wolf Pack struck back just under the 11 minute mark in the opening frame. Hartford got another power play chance when Sandis Vilmanis sat for hooking. Connor Mackey sent the puck to Brody Lamb, who sped through the neutral zone. Lamb then found Bryce McConnell-Barker, who weaved his way to the slot before rifling a shot past Cooper Black to tie the score.

The goal was McConnell-Barker's 10th of the season, a new career high. Both McConnell-Barker and Lamb extended their point streaks on the goal; they've recorded points in four and five straight games, respectively. The teams entered the first intermission with the score knotted at one.

Neither team could find the twine in the middle frame, sending the contest to the third period with the score still deadlocked at one. The Wolf Pack had three man advantage opportunities, but they couldn't capitalize on them, while the Checkers were stymied on their own power play bid in the frame.

Time's Ticking

Both teams got chances in the final frame, with the Wolf Pack having an edge in shots by an 11-10 margin. However, Tung and Black kept the puck out of the net, sending the game to overtime.

In the extra session, Pinho sniped home his second goal of the night with just seconds remaining to secure the win and the extra point for the visitors.

"I thought both teams checked very well," Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny told Blueshirt Banter after the game. "They're a heavy forecheck team. If you can't break their forecheck, you're gonna spend a lot of time in your own end. If you can, you have an opportunity for some odd-man rushes. We had opportunities for a couple that we just couldn't get to the next guy."

It's a disappointing loss for the Wolf Pack, who cannot afford to miss out on points as the regular season slowly fades. They have nine games remaining to get themselves above the playoff cut line.

"I'd like to see us have a better start tomorrow," Potulny noted to Blueshirt Banter. "It took us a little bit to match their speed and intensity. But again, we're played a lot of very solid games lately."

The Wolf Pack will need to play their best hockey over the remaining nine regular season contests if they want to find their way back into the Calder Cup Playoffs.

Up Next

The Wolf Pack and Checkers will wrap up the season series tomorrow afternoon. Puck drop is set for 3 pm.