Wolf Pack Doubled Up by Americans 6-3

The Hartford Wolf Pack wrapped up their five-game road trip on Sunday afternoon. They visited Rochester for the only time this season for their last matchup against the Americans.

The Wolf Pack found a 3-1 lead, but they couldn't put the Amerks away. Rochester scored five unanswered goals on their way to a 6-3 decision, sinking the Wolf Pack to a 2-3-0-0 record on the road swing.

Quick Fix

For the fourth straight game, the Wolf Pack found the icebreaker. Adam Sýkora poked the puck away from an Amerk, allowing Brendan Brisson to corral it. Brisson sprung Trey Fix-Wolansky on a breakaway, who cut to the net and lifted a shot over the left pad of Devon Levi to give the Wolf Pack the game's first lead.

The goal was Fix-Wolansky's team-leading 26th of the season.

Rochester struck back four minutes later as Konsta Helenius snapped a shot that Spencer Martin couldn't get enough of, tying the score at one.

Blidh It

The Wolf Pack restored the lead just a minute and a half later. Scott Morrow danced around a Rochester defender and walked down the right wall. Morrow sent a pass across to Anton Blidh, who hammered it home on the back door to put Hartford back on top.

The goal was Blidh's seventh of the campaign. Phip Waugh, signed to a professional tryout contract by the Wolf Pack on Friday, notched the secondary helper in his Wolf Pack debut.

Lamb-orghini

The Wolf Pack found their largest lead of the night about 13 minutes into the frame. Bryce McConnell-Barker snapped a cross-ice feed for Morrow, who walked towards the goal. Morrow opted to send a pass to Brody Lamb in front of the net, and the rookie forward deflected the bid past Levi to put the Wolf Pack up by two.

The goal was Lamb's second of the season, as well as his second in as many games. Morrow's assist gave him four points (1 G, 3 A) over his last two contests.

The Wolf Pack nearly went up by three during a power play bid when Blidh stuffed a shot home, but officials waved off the goal for goaltender interference. In the waning seconds of the frame, Helenius netted his second tally of the night to bring the Amerks back within one. The score remained 3-2 Hartford heading into the first intermission.

A Missed Opportunity

Just 30 seconds into the middle frame, Helenius completed the hat trick. During a four-on-four sequence, Helenius sped in and ripped a shot by the glove of Martin to draw the teams even.

Rochester took their first lead of the night just over the 13 minute mark in the period. Carson Meyer sent a centering feed to old friend Jake Leschyshyn, who tapped it past Martin to put the home side in front. Rochester took the 4-3 lead into the second intermission.

Jagger Joshua added a goal just over two minutes into the third period, stuffing a shot that squeaked through Martin and over the line to put Rochester up 5-3.

Vsevolod Komarov capped off the scoring with an empty net dagger in the waning minutes of regulation to cement the 6-3 decision.

It's a missed opportunity for Hartford, who needed these two points. They sit at least four points back of a playoff spot, pending additional results from today, with just ten games to play. The Wolf Pack cannot afford any more games like this or they'll once again find themselves watching the Calder Cup Playoffs from home.

Up Next

The Wolf Pack return home on Saturday, hosting the Charlotte Checkers for a weekend set. Puck drop is set for 6 pm.