Wolf Pack Edge Thunderbirds 3-2 in Shootout Thriller

The Hartford Wolf Pack made their long-awaited return to the PeoplesBank Arena on Saturday night, fresh off a season-long eight game road trip. They welcomed the Springfield Thunderbirds to town for round three of the I-91 Rivalry this season.

65 minutes wouldn't be enough to decide a winner between the fierce rivals, sending the game to a shootout. The Wolf Pack struck twice in the skills contest to secure a 3-2 victory in their return to home ice.

Nate the Great

The Wolf Pack broke the ice just 37 seconds into the contest. Justin Dowling picked off a pass at center ice and worked into the Springfield zone. Dowling slipped a feed to Nathan Aspinall powering to the net, and the rookie forward lifted a backhander by Will Cranley to give the Wolf Pack the game's first lead.

The goal was Aspinall's second of the season, as well as Hartford's fastest goal to start a game on the campaign.

However, the T-Birds would strike back about five minutes later. Zach Dean snapped a shot through the five-hole of Callum Tung off an odd-man rush to tie the game. The game would enter the first intermission with the sides even at one.

The intensity picked up in the second period, highlighted by a tilt between Drew Fortescue and Lukas Fischer. It was the first professional fight for the Boston College product.

However, neither side could pull ahead in the middle frame, sending the game to the second intermission with the score still even at one.

Blidh It In

The Wolf Pack regained the lead just 30 seconds into the final frame. Juuso Pärssinen tried to set up Aspinall going to the goal, but the pass clipped a defender and popped into the air. Anton Blidh, stationed on the goal line, knocked the puck out of the air and into the net to put Hartford back in front.

The goal was Blidh's fourth of the season.

"I used to play a lot of tennis in the summer, so I worked on that," the veteran forward joked to Blueshirt Banter when asked about the goal following the game. "It's like a reflex, the puck comes to you. I just tried putting it on net."

However, the Thunderbirds would once again tie the contest. With Carey Terrance in the box for high-sticking, Jack Finley corralled a loose puck in the slot and fired it over Tung to draw the teams even at two.

Neither team could find the lead in the remainder of the period, sending the game to overtime.

Callum A Winner

Both teams got looks in overtime, with Springfield having the edge in shots 3-1. However, the netminders kept the puck out of the net in the extra session, and the game progressed to a shootout. It was the first time the Wolf Pack played in the skills contest this season.

In the top of the first round, Dowling found the back of the net, but Otto Stenberg matched it in the bottom of the round. Taylor Raddysh scored in the top of the second round to give Hartford the advantage again, while Tung denied Dean at the other end of the ice.

Aspinall couldn't find the winner in the top of the third round, giving Nathan Walker a chance to tie it in the bottom of the round. However, Tung once again made the save, securing a 3-2 win for the Wolf Pack.

"He's given us a chance to win every game," Wolf Pack head coach Jay Leach told Blueshirt Banter when asked about Tung after the game. "He did the same thing tonight, especially with us having a lead and they're trying to kind of chase us. They definitely got some looks. He was really good."

The win was the Wolf Pack's third in a row, and it kicks off their stint of six of their next seven games at home with a victory.

"It feels great to come out on the right side," Blidh told Blueshirt Banter when asked about the game. "We did a lot of good things. We played hard. We played simple when we needed. I'm proud of the group."

Up Next

The Wolf Pack are back in action on Tuesday morning, welcoming the Charlotte Checkers to town for their annual School Day Game. Puck drop is set for 11 am.