CHARLOTTE, NC – The Hartford Wolf Pack snapped their six-game losing streak with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday evening.
For the eighth straight game, the Wolf Pack surrendered the game’s first goal.
Despite a good start to the game, the Checkers drew first blood when Mike Benning fired a shot from the left-wing point. Benning’s shot was tipped in front by Jack Studnicka, who collected his fourth goal of the season at 4:40 to make it 1-0.
The Wolf Pack stuck with it, however, and were rewarded with three goals in a span of 6:27.
Justin Dowling tied the affair at 9:01 with his ninth goal of the campaign. Dowling entered into the zone on the right-wing side, worked into the circle, and fired a low shot that Cooper Black got a piece off. Despite getting a piece, Black was unable to fully slow the puck down, as it rolled over the line to equalize the score.
Brendan Brisson put the Wolf Pack ahead at 13:42, lighting the lamp for the 13th time this season. Brisson took a pass from Jaroslav Chmelař in the slot and ripped a shot by Black to make it a 2-1 game.
Derrick Pouliot then took a shot from the point at 15:28, firing straight away. The shot was tipped by Chmelař and got by Black, making it 3-1 in favor of the Wolf Pack.
The goal completed a three point period (1 g, 2 a) for Chmelař. Dowling (1 g, 1 a) and Pouliot (2 a) both collected two points in the frame.
Noah Gregor got the Checkers back within one at 4:09 of the second period, converting off a nice bounce. Dylan Garand made the initial save late in the Checkers’ first power play of the game, but the rebound bounced high into the air.
Gregor waited for the puck to get below the crossbar, then batted home the rebound for his third goal of the season to make it 3-2.
The Checkers pushed in the final frame, but Garand was sensational. The Wolf Pack netminder made 12 saves to cement the victory, his eleventh of the season.
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