WOLF PACK WIN WILD AFFAIR 4-3 IN SHOOTOUT OVER BEARS

Mar 26, 2022

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack built a 3-0 lead on the Hershey Bears Saturday night at the XL Center in Hartford, but the Bears stormed back to tie the game and eventually force a shootout. In the skills competition, however, the Wolf Pack got three big saves from Keith Kinkaid and a goal from Ty Ronning to take a 4-3 decision in a crucial Atlantic Division tilt.  

Ty Ronning took the ice in the top half of the third round with the shootout still looking for its first goal. Ronning cut into the attacking zone, slowing down before eventually going to his backhand and lifting the puck over Pheonix Copley to make it 1-0. Lucas Johansen was given the chance to counter, but Kinkaid slammed the door shut for a huge victory for the Wolf Pack.

For the third time on this homestand, the Wolf Pack drew first blood. On their first powerplay of the night, the Pack went to work as the top unit applied pressure. Anthony Greco fired a shot towards goal that was set to whistle wide, but Nick Merkley had other ideas. Merkley redirected the puck past Copley for his first goal as a member of the Wolf Pack 12:54 into contest.

After not being able to build on their lead in the previous two games, Hartford found the insurance goal less than two minutes later. Jarred Tinordi’s shot went wide and bounced off the wall to the side of the net. Alex Whelan went to work, digging away for the loose change. The puck finally popped loose in the crease, where Cristiano DiGiacinto located it. DiGiacinto quickly went to his backhand and stuffed home his fifth goal of the season at 14:28.

Hartford kept their foot on the gas early in the second period as they went to their second powerplay of the night. Zac Jones sent a pass to Greco in the far faceoff circle, where the veteran forward had plenty of space. Greco worked his way into the slot, where he snapped his 15^th goal of the season over the shoulder of Copley to make it 3-0 Hartford.

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