HARTFORD, CONN. – The Syracuse Crunch fell to the Hartford Wolf Pack, 5-2, tonight at the XL Center.
Crunch goaltender Adam Wilcox made 28 saves on 32 shots in his first start of the season. The opposing netminder, Magnus Hellberg, stopped 33 of 35. Syracuse was unable to convert on four power-play opportunities, while Hartford went 1-for-6 on the man-advantage.
Matt Peca opened scoring at the 12:19 mark of the first period. While Hellberg was screened, Peca stick handled through traffic and netted his first of the season. Joel Vermin and Jake Dotchin picked up the assists.
The Wolf Pack evened the score at the 12:33 mark of the middle period. Luke Adam and Marek Hrivik started an odd-man rush in the neutral zone. Adam threw a cross-slot pass to Hrivik, who fired past Wilcox from the right circle. Calle Andersson grabbed the secondary assist.
Just over a minute later, Hartford struck again. Adam Tambellini passed out from the corner for Jayson Megna to score from the weak side.
The Wolf Pack scored twice in the third period before earning a response from the Crunch. While on the power play, Raphael Diaz ripped a slap shot from the high slot that was redirected in by Ryan Bourque at the 3:05 mark. With 4:55 remaining, Brian Gibbons gave Hartford a 4-1 lead with a breakaway tally.
Syracuse finally got one back with 3:05 remaining in the contest. Matt Taormina shot on goal, but was stopped by Hellberg. Philippe Paradis got a stick on the puck and backhanded the rebound for his second of the season.
Hartford solidified a 5-2 win with a shorthanded empty net tally by Tommy Hughes.
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