Wolf Pack Score Two Shorthanded Goals, Edge Comets 2-1

The Hartford Wolf Pack kicked off a two-game road trip on Friday night. They made their only visit of the year to Utica for a matchup against the Comets.

The Wolf Pack's best offense would come when they were down a man. Hartford struck twice while shorthanded, helping them edge past the Comets by a score of 2-1.

Otter Opens the Scoring

The Wolf Pack were forced to the first penalty kill of the contest just five minutes into the game. Bryce McConnell-Barker took a tripping call, initiating a power play bid for Utica.

On the ensuing man advantage, Jackson Dorrington controlled a dump in by the Comets and sent the puck away from a pair of forecheckers. Carey Terrance grabbed the loose puck and fired a stretch pass for Brennan Othmann in the neutral zone. Othmann worked into the Utica zone on a one-on-one rush, skating to the left circle before wiring a shot by Jakub Málek to break the ice.

The goal was Othmann's third of the season and represented Hartford's first shorthanded marker of the campaign. The Wolf Pack took the one goal lead into the first intermission.

However, the Wolf Pack's penalty issues would eventually come back to bite them. During a four-on-three sequence, with Trey Fix-Wolansky in the box for roughing and Connor Mackey sitting for interference, Lenni Hämeenaho blasted a one-timer by Dylan Garand to even the score.

Sýky Shorthanded

Just 51 seconds after Hämeenaho tied the contest, the Wolf Pack retook the lead. Mackey remained in the box while Hartford aimed to get the game back to even strength.

The Comets attempted to set up a play, but they couldn't handle the puck. Anton Blidh knocked a Comet off the puck, allowing Adam Sýkora to poke it into the neutral zone and speed in on a shorthanded breakaway. Sýkora powered to the slot before snapping a shot by Málek's glove to reinstate the Wolf Pack lead.

The goal was Sýkora's fifth of the campaign. The Wolf Pack would take the 2-1 lead into the second intermission.

Utica pushed late, getting a six-on-four bid with Terrance in the box for interference and the extra skater out in favor of Málek. However, they couldn't solve Garand, and the Wolf Pack hung on for the 2-1 victory.

Up Next

The Wolf Pack will complete their weekend road trip tomorrow night, visiting Syracuse for the only time this season to take on the Crunch. Puck drop is set for 7 pm.