CLEVELAND, OH – The Hartford Wolf Pack scored their second third period comeback win of the season on Saturday night, striking three times in the third period to beat the Cleveland Monsters 3-2.
The first period featured the Monsters outshooting the Wolf Pack by an 8-4 margin, but Spencer Martin stood tall in his club debut, making eight saves.
The Monsters opened the scoring 11:38 into the middle frame when Corson Ceulemans potted his second goal of the season. Ceulemans was knocked down to the ice, but from his stomach found a loose puck and slid it through the five-hole of Martin for his second goal of the season.
Hunter McKown extended the lead to 2-0 at 16:21, potting his second goal in as many nights. McKown drove down the left-wing side, cut to the front of the net, and beat Martin with a forehand shot.
The sides played an even third period until two penalties 20 seconds apart flipped the game upside down. Jack Williams was whistled for slashing at 11:18, then at 11:38 Connor Mackey was given the same minor infraction.
During the four-on-four sequence, the Wolf Pack struck twice in just nine seconds to tie the hockey game.
First, Justin Dowling fed Gabe Perreault in the slot. The rookie released a quick shot that beat Zach Sawchenko at 11:56 to get the Wolf Pack on the board.
Then, on the ensuing faceoff, Jaroslav Chmelař gained possession and drove down the right-wing side. He cut behind the net and tried to wrap the puck around but was denied by the right skate of Sawchenko. Trey Fix-Wolansky was on the doorstep, however, and found the loose puck. He lifted it over the right pad of the goaltender at 12:05 to tie the game.
The goal was Fix-Wolansky’s third of the weekend, and his team-leading ninth of the season.
Mikael Pyyhtiä was guilty of high-sticking deep in the Cleveland zone at 18:40 of the third period, giving the Wolf Pack a power play chance in the final 80 seconds.
On the power play, Brendan Brisson connected with Perreault, who ripped his second goal of the night by Sawchenko at 18:59 to give the Wolf Pack their first lead of the night.
Martin slammed the door shut, making 35 saves to collect his first victory in his Wolf Pack debut.
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