Hartford, CT - Paul Carey scored twice, and Jakub Zboril had a goal and an assist, Wednesday night at the XL Center, as the Providence Bruins extended a winning streak to 12 games with a 3-1 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Vitali Kravtsov scored the only goal for the Wolf Pack, who fell to 31-20-6-5 (73 pts.) on the season. Providence improved to 38-18-3-3 for 82 points and moved past idle Hershey and into first place in the Atlantic Division.
The Wolf Pack, who were missing regulars Vinni Lettieri, Matt Beleskey and Mason Geertsen due to AHL suspensions, Boo Nieves and Tim Gettinger due to injury and captain Steven Fogarty to recall to the parent New York Rangers, outshot the Bruins 20-15 in the first two periods, but were held to one shot on goal in the third.
“Providence is the hottest team in the league, to go in shorthanded wasn’t ideal, but our veterans put in the efforts, and our new guys showed some promise,” said Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch. “There’s room to grow, but definitely a good start for them.”
Carey scored first for Providence, netting his twenty-first goal of the year 15:34 into the first period off a point shot that just snuck past J-F Berube (21 saves). Steven Kampfer had the lone assist on the tally, and the goal would give Providence the lead into the first intermission.
Just 3:56 into the second, the Wolf Pack tied the game when Kravtsov deflected the puck into the net for his sixth goal of the year. Ryan Gropp and Danny O’Regan had the assists.
“That was a great play by Gropp and Vitali,” said O’Regan of the goal, “I think (Nick) Ebert also made a good pinch to make that play possible, and then Vitali had a great finish.”
Providence was able to regain the lead with 9:25 left in the middle frame. Zboril scored his third goal of the season, with assists from Peter Cehlarik and Ryan Fitzgerald.
The Bruins added to the lead near the end of the period, with Carey tipping in his second goal of the game with 2:08 left. Zach Senyshyn assisted on the goal.
Providence protected goaltender Dan Vladar (20 saves) well in a scoreless third period, outshooting the Wolf Pack 9-1.
“We’ve had success against them in the past,” O’Regan said of the streaking Bruins. “We just have to get some chemistry going and get back to doing what we were doing when we were winning.”
Knoblauch added, “Some practice will help the guys get more familiar with each other. It was a good game considering the circumstances.”
The Wolf Pack’s next game is this Friday night, March 13, a 7:05 visit to Springfield to take on the Thunderbirds. All of the action can be heard live on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. Video streaming is available at theahl.com/AHLTV.
The next home action for the Wolf Pack is also against Springfield, next Wednesday night, March 18 at 7:00. That is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”. The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas and one large popcorn, all for just $40.
Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425. Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase.
To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info. To visit the Wolf Pack on line, go to www.hartfordwolfpack.com.
Providence Bruins 3 at Hartford Wolf Pack 1
Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - XL Center
3rd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Bleackley Hfd (elbowing), 7:25; Petrovic Pro (high-sticking), 10:08; Gaunce Pro (hooking), 19:15.
Shots on Goal-Providence 8-7-9-24. Hartford 10-10-1-21.
Power Play Opportunities-Providence 0 / 2; Hartford 0 / 2.
Goalies-Providence, Vladar 14-7-1 (21 shots-20 saves). Hartford, Berube 13-17-4 (24 shots-21 saves).
A-2,594
Referees-Mitch Dunning (43), Dan Kelly (45).
Linesmen-Kyle Richetelle (47), Robert St. Lawrence (10).
