Wolf Pack Can't Complete Comeback, Lose to Crunch 5-3

The Hartford Wolf Pack returned to the PeoplesBank Arena on Friday night for their final home game before Christmas. They welcomed the Syracuse Crunch to town for the only time this season and sought revenge for a 7-2 loss in upstate New York last Saturday.

The Wolf Pack came out sluggish, and that proved to be the difference. A late push simply wasn't enough, and they fell to Syracuse by a 5-3 score.

Six for Sýky

Syracuse broke the ice in controversial fashion midway through the opening frame. A pass from Maxim Groshev clipped the skate of Brendan Furry and trickled by Dylan Garand. Officials reviewed the tally for a kicked puck but ultimately awarded Furry the goal, giving Syracuse the game's first lead.

Mitchell Chaffee doubled the lead in the final minutes of the period, roofing a deflection off a Nick Abruzzese feed. The Crunch took the 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Wolf Pack would finally get on the board just over the 13 minute mark in the second period. Anton Blidh laid a hit behind the Syracuse net, forcing a turnover. Blidh sent a pass to Adam Sýkora, all alone in front of the net, and Sýkora promplty buried it by Brandon Halverson to get the Wolf Pack on the board.

The goal was Sýkora's sixth of the season and gave the Wolf Pack the spark they'd been seeking.

All About Anton

The Wolf Pack would get an extended power play bid in the final minutes of the frame with Tommy Miller sitting for hooking and Furry off for a high-stick. In the waning moments of the power play, Bryce McConnell-Barker took a feed from Connor Mackey and worked his way down the wall. McConnell-Barker spun away from a Syracuse defender before threading a pass through the crease to Blidh. The veteran Swede hammered the puck by Halverson to tie the game at two.

The goal was Blidh's third of the season.

However, Syracuse would take the lead just 17 seconds later. Gavin Hain turned the puck over to Lucas Mercuri, who danced to the goal and stuffed a shot by Garand to reinstate the lead. Syracuse took the 3-2 margin into the second intermission.

Jaro Jumps In

Syracuse would double their lead just 2:29 into the final frame as Scott Sabourin converted on a partial breakaway.

The Wolf Pack lifted Garand for the extra skater late. The move paid off, as Jaroslav Chmelař blasted a rebound by Halverson.

The goal was Chmelař's fourth of the campaign.

A wild scrum would erupt in the final minutes of regulation, giving the Wolf Pack a power play to end the contest. However, Dylan Duke would nail the empty net to secure the 5-3 decision.

"Everybody talks about skill all the time. A lot of times, it's about will," Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny told Blueshirt Banter after the game. "There's a puck right there, who's gonna win it? That's the name of the game."

"When you look at the best teams at any level, what do people say about them? They're competitive. We need to find a way to become more competitive."

Up Next

The Wolf Pack will hit the road for a matchup against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms tomorrow. Puck drop is set for 7:05 pm.