Wolf Pack Drop Home Opener 5-2 to WBS Penguins

The newly-renovated PeoplesBank Arena opened on Friday night, welcoming a raucous crowd of 7,185 for the Hartford Wolf Pack's 2025-26 home opener. The Wolf Pack hosted the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a rematch of last Saturday's season opener.

The Penguins would spoil the party on this night. Bad Wolf Pack turnovers led to an early deficit they simply couldn't overcome, and the Penguins took a 5-2 decision.

Digging Holes

The early part of the contest was a feeling-out process between the teams. The Wolf Pack penalty kill was challenged in the opening minutes of the frame. Jackson Dorrington went off for hooking at 5:56, and a delay of game penalty against Dylan Garand at 6:57 forced the Wolf Pack to play 59 seconds of five-on-three hockey. The penalty killers were up to task, however, preventing the Penguins from finding the net.

Dorrington had a partial breakaway bid as he exited the box, but Sergei Murashov made a pair of impressive saves to keep the game scoreless.

The Penguins would eventually open the scoring just over twelve minutes into the contest. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard sped into the Wolf Pack zone on a partial breakaway before crossing up Garand. The goal gave the Penguins a lead they wouldn't lose.

Three minutes later, a turnover in the Wolf Pack zone allowed Danton Heinen to find Atley Calvert alone in front of the Hartford net. Calvert ripped a shot home to double the Penguin lead. The game would enter the first intermission with the Wolf Pack trailing by two.

Avery Hayes gave the visitors their largest lead of the night about six minutes into the middle frame. With Brett Berard in the box for hooking, Hayes ripped a shot that beat Garand top shelf, putting the Penguins up 3-0.

The Perreault Show

The Wolf Pack would finally get on the board in the final minutes of the second period. An extended sequence ended with Blake Hillman controlling the puck at the top of the offensive zone. Hillman flung a shot on net, and Gabe Perreault deflected it into the net to cut into the Penguins' lead.

The goal was Perreault's first as a pro. Perreault is the only Wolf Pack player to record at least one point in both of their contests so far this season (1 G, 1 A).

Hartford continued to push in the remainder of the frame, but Murashov held on from there, and the Penguins took a 3-1 lead into the second intermission.

Sýk Stick

The Wolf Pack continued to apply pressure in the opening minutes of the final frame. Around seven minutes in, Derrick Pouliot took a shot from the point. Adam Sýkora cut to the net and got a piece of the shot, beautifully deflecting it by Murashov and into the net to cut the lead to one.

The goal was Sýkora's first of the season.

"I think Adam, in two games, has played very well," Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny told Blueshirt Banter following the contest. "He’s played hard. Adam will win a fight. You have to win a couple fights to get some offensive zone time. He’s the type of player to…do everything in his power to do what you’re asking him to do."

The Wolf Pack earned a power play bid just 15 seconds later thanks to Brennan Othmann taking a stick up high. However, they couldn't capitalize on the advantage.

Calvert reinstated the two-goal lead about twelve minutes in, tapping the puck home on the backdoor. Hartford pushed late with the extra skater out in favor of Garand, but Tristan Broz nailed the empty cage to cement the 5-2 decision.

Up Next

The Wolf Pack are back in action on Saturday, hitting the road to take on the Providence Bruins for the first time this season. Puck drop is set for 7:05 pm.

The Wolf Pack return home on Wednesday, October 22nd, hosting the Springfield Thunderbirds for the first game of the I-91 Rivalry this season. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm.