Wolf Pack Drop Shootout Decision to Checkers 2-1

After suffering a disappointing loss in overtime last night, the Hartford Wolf Pack took the ice on Sunday afternoon with revenge on the mind. They hosted the Charlotte Checkers for the final matchup in the season series between the division rivals.

In a repeat of last night's contest, the Atlantic Division opponents required extra time to find a winner. The teams progressed to the shootout, where the Checkers would secure the extra point and their second straight 2-1 decision.

Scan't Stop

The opening period was a continuation of the tight game the sides played last night. Spencer Martin made eight saves in the period while Louis Domingue denied seven bids as the teams entered the first intermission in a scoreless tie.

For the second time in as many nights, the Checkers found the opening goal. Daniel Walcott and Casey Fitzgerald were in the box for tripping and delay of game, respectively, giving Charlotte a five-on-three power play bid. Jack Devine tipped home a shot from Ludvig Jansson to break the ice.

However, the Wolf Pack would tie the contest just over four minutes later. Brody Lamb fed Brandon Scanlin at the blue line, and the defenseman sniped a long shot past Domingue to even the score at one.

The goal was Scanlin's fourth of the season, while Lamb extended his point streak to six straight games. Lamb tied fellow forward Trey Fix-Wolansky for the longest point streak by a Wolf Pack player this season.

The sides engaged in some extracurriculars throughout the remainder of the period, but neither could pull ahead, sending the game into the second intermission with the score tied 1-1 for the second straight night.

You Gotta Believe

Both sides got chances in the final frame, but once again, neither could find the twine. For the second straight contest, the Wolf Pack and Checkers went to overtime with the score tied at one.

The overtime frame passed without producing a winner. Charlotte had a 40 second power play bid to end the extra session after the Wolf Pack were whistled for too many men on the ice, but the Hartford penalty kill got the job done and forced the shootout.

In the skills contest, Brian Pinho scored in the top of the second round to give Charlotte the advantage, while Fix-Wolansky was denied. Jack Studnicka couldn't notch the game-winner in the top of the third round, giving Brendan Brisson a bid to tie it. However, Brisson couldn't get a shot away, and the Checkers picked up the extra point.

"If you would've told me before the weekend that we were gonna give up one goal two nights in a row, I would've felt pretty good about our chances," Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny told Blueshirt Banter following the contest. "We gotta find a way to keep playing stingy defensively, but add in some more offense."

The Wolf Pack do move within a point of the playoff cut line, but they remain six points back with just eight games to play in the regular season. Six of those contests are against Hartford's biggest rivals, Bridgeport and Springfield, both of whom the Wolf Pack are chasing in the playoff race.

"You have to continue to believe," Potulny remarked to Blueshirt Banter. "You have to continue to highlight the things you're doing well. It's not a time of year that you're gonna come down on people. You gotta try to do whatever you can to motivate them and make them feel good about their game."

A six-point margin is not massive, especially in the AHL, where a majority of a team's games are divisional contests. That said, it's going to require a near perfect stretch for the Wolf Pack if they want to make it back to the Calder Cup Playoffs.

"You come in next weekend, can you come out with four points, and does somebody else have a tough weekend? All of a sudden, looks different," Potulny concluded.

Up Next

The Wolf Pack hit the road on Friday, traveling down to Bridgeport for the tenth installment of the Battle of Connecticut against the Islanders. Puck drop is set for 7 pm.

The Wolf Pack return home on Saturday, hosting the Hershey Bears for the final time this season. Puck drop is set for 6 pm.