Nov 19, 2024
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack picked up their third consecutive victory on Tuesday morning, knocking off the Charlotte Checkers in a wild ‘School Day Game’ affair. When the dust settled, the Pack won their fifth straight at home thanks to a 5-4 shootout victory.
Alex Belzile capped a spectacular day with a shootout goal in the first round of the skills competition. His goal would stand as the winner, as Louis Domingue turned aside all three Checkers’ attempts to preserve the victory for the Wolf Pack.
Bo Groulx wasted no time getting the Wolf Pack on the board, striking just 14 seconds into the hockey game. After a defensive zone turnover by the Checkers, Groulx collected possession and weaved his way to the goal. He backhanded a shot that beat Chris Driedger for his sixth goal of the season and the 101st point of his AHL career.
The goal was the fastest to start a game this season for the Wolf Pack.
The Checkers, for the second straight meeting, would find a first period equalizer to even the tilt 1-1. Aidan McDonough entered the zone on the left-wing side and looked to thread a pass to the backdoor. The puck banked off a defenseman, clipped Domingue, and found the back of the net at 7:19.
The goal was McDonough’s tenth of the season in just his 13th game.
Belzile wrestled the lead back for the Wolf Pack at 15:41, scoring his second goal of the season. Belzile started a sequence in the offensive zone, winning a foot race to a loose puck. After a sliding defenseman turned away a pass to Brett Berard, the puck came to Dylan Roobroeck, who fired it toward the front of the net. Belzile collected the puck and deposited his first regulation goal of the season to restore the lead.
Domingue made a season-high 20 saves in the second period, denying the Checkers at every opportunity. Domingue made the first 15 saves of the frame, keeping the Wolf Pack ahead 2-1.
Connor Mackey was whistled for delay of game at 10:22, giving the Checkers their second power play of the contest. The Wolf Pack ripped the momentum from the visitors, however, outshooting them 3-0.
Belzile buried his second goal of the game, and first shorthanded goal of the season, at 10:33 to give the Wolf Pack a 3-1 lead.
Adam Sýkora won the puck just inside the offensive zone and found Belzile, who deked out Mike Benning, deked out Driedger and went upstairs on a backhand shot for the Wolf Pack’s fourth shorthanded goal of the…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Hartford Wolf Pack…