UPDATE: The Hartford Wolf Pack faced a disappointing start to their season, falling to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins with a score of 5-2 during their home opener at PeoplesBank Arena on October 13, 2023. The Penguins surged ahead early, establishing a commanding three-goal lead that the Wolf Pack could not overcome.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s Rafael Harvey-Pinard and Atley Calvert struck first, scoring in the opening period, followed by Avery Hayes adding a third goal just minutes into the second period. This early onslaught left the Wolf Pack trailing 3-0, putting immense pressure on the home team right from the start.
In a bid to claw back, Gabe Perreault finally got the Wolf Pack on the scoreboard at 16:41 of the second period, with assists from Dylan Roobroeck and Blake Hillman. The momentum briefly shifted, and fans at PeoplesBank Arena felt a glimmer of hope.
As the third period unfolded, Adam Sykora narrowed the gap to 3-2 at 6:50, thanks to assists from Derrick Pouliot and Conner Mackey. However, the Penguins responded decisively, with Calvert netting his second goal of the night at 11:53, extinguishing any hopes of a comeback.
Tristan Broz capped off the Penguins’ victory with an empty-net goal at 17:53, sealing the Wolf Pack’s fate and leaving the home crowd in disappointment. The Wolf Pack’s goalie, Dyland Garand, made 27 saves while Sergei Murashov of the Penguins stopped 28 shots, highlighting a competitive matchup despite the final score.
This defeat marks the Wolf Pack’s second loss of the season, now standing at 0-2-0-0. Fans are eagerly anticipating their next chance for redemption as the team prepares to face the Providence Bruins on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. in a must-win situation.
Stay tuned for updates as the Wolf Pack look to rebound and find their rhythm in the coming games.
