Wolf Pack Blank Bruins 2-0 Behind Reimer's 35 Save Shutout

Following a two-game set in Charlotte last weekend, the Hartford Wolf Pack returned to the PeoplesBank Arena on Friday night. The Wolf Pack aimed to get back in the win column as they hosted the Providence Bruins for the first time this season.

The visitors challenged Hartford, firing 35 shots throughout the game. However, they couldn't solve James Reimer, who stopped all 35 shots as the Wolf Pack knocked off Providence 2-0.

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The opening frame saw plenty of action between the New England rivals, but neither could find the twine. Reimer was an early difference maker, stopping all 14 shots he saw in the frame. Hartford also got a big penalty kill midway through the frame to keep the Bruins off the board. At the other end of the ice, Simon Zajíček denied four bids to send the game into the first intermission in a scoreless tie.

The second period was more of the same, with neither side able to break the ice. Reimer made 12 saves, bringing his total to 26 through 40 minutes of action. Zajíčeck saw just three shots and turned them all aside.

Each team killed a penalty in the middle frame, and the Wolf Pack generated their best chance immediately following the kill. Liam Greentree created a breakaway for himself, but Zajíček made the stop. Nathan Aspinall, coming out of the box, attempted to pot the rebound, but he couldn't put it on net. During the play, Dans Locmelis hooked Greentree, sending the Wolf Pack to a power play bid that carried over to the final stanza.

Just 57 seconds into the third frame, the Wolf Pack cashed in. Glenn Gawdin gloved down a clearing attempt and worked into the slot. The veteran forward dished the puck to Greentree on the backdoor, who tapped it home to finally give the Wolf Pack the lead.

The goal was Greentree's fourth of the season, giving him the team lead.

"That was a huge one for us," Greentree told Blueshirt Banter following the contest. "Great play by Gawdin to get me that puck. That's a pretty skilled play. It was nice to see that one go in the back of the net."

Reimer Reason

The Bruins pressed throughout the remainder of the frame, challenging Reimer. However, the Hartford netminder continued to stand tall.

In the waning seconds of the game, Carey Terrance delivered the dagger by hitting the empty net. The intrigue would end there, with the Wolf Pack picking up a 2-0 win and Reimer pitching his first shutout with Hartford.

"Thankful to the boys, they worked hard," Reimer told Blueshirt Banter after the game. "I thought we battled and the tide kind of turned in the third. The rest is history."

"He was really the guy that kept us in it and allowed us to battle," Wolf Pack head coach Jay Leach told Blueshirt Banter when asked about Reimer's performance. "He did a terrific job keeping us in [the game]. He was the guy that kind of allowed us to find our way."

With the clean sheet, Reimer became the oldest netminder to pitch a shutout in the AHL since Wade Flaherty (40y, 62d) did so for the Rockford IceHogs on March 13, 2008.

"When you haven't played in a while, getting in there and facing some rubber early was really helpful," Reimer noted after the game. "We've done a great job this week getting ready. Felt pretty comfortable."

The Wolf Pack will now embark on a season-long eight game road trip, starting tomorrow in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

"The road teaches you how to play a simple, straightforward game," Leach told Blueshirt Banter after the game. "We certainly need that. We'll be put into some tough situations, which will be great to learn how to play the right way."

Up Next

The Wolf Pack hit the road tomorrow, heading to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to take on the Penguins. Puck drop is set for 6:05 pm.