The Hartford Wolf Pack’s skid grew to four straight on Friday night, and this one stung. Hartford fell 2-1 to the Charlotte Checkers at Bojangles Coliseum, a game that was tied after two periods before the home side broke through twice in the third.
It was a familiar script early on. For the second game in a row, the Wolf Pack went through the opening 20 minutes locked in a 0-0 tie. Callum Tung held firm with 17 saves in the first period, while Kirill Gerasimyuk matched him at the other end with 11 stops.
Charlotte finally struck 1:38 into the second period. Donovan Sebrango fired from the right-wing circle and beat Tung for his first goal as a member of the Checkers. Gracyn Sawchyn and Nathan Bastian were credited with the assists.
Hartford answered at 8:50 to level things up. Bryce McConnell-Barker scored his first goal of the season after leading a two-on-one rush into the offensive zone. Working from the right side, he held the puck, cut into the slot, and snapped one past Gerasimyuk to make it 1-1.
The tie didn’t survive the third period, and for the second straight game that final frame ended up being the difference. At 15:10, Cole Reinhardt was called for goaltender interference, and the Wolf Pack power play immediately gave up a shorthanded goal. That put Charlotte back in front for good.
Then Hartford’s own mistake helped seal it. An offensive-zone turnover led to a two-on-one the other way, with John Beecher carrying in on the left side before setting up Hunter St.
Martin on the right wing. St.
Martin finished the chance at 16:14 to make it 2-1.
The Wolf Pack pressed late, but they couldn’t get the equalizer. The defeat was Hartford’s first on the road this season, dropping the club to 3-1-0-0 away from home.
The back-to-back against Charlotte wraps up Saturday, Oct. 17 at 6:00 p.m. Coverage is available on AHLTV on FloHockey. Hartford returns to PeoplesBank Arena on Friday, Oct. 23, when it hosts the Providence Bruins at 7:00 p.m. with Wolf Pack Pregame beginning at 6:45 p.m. on AHLTV of FloHockey and Mixlr.
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Wolf Pack Get Immediate Shot To Answer Back After Costly Finish
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Charlotte ultimately found the finish when the game tilted late, and now the Wolf Pack get an immediate chance to respond in the rematch the next day. For Hartford, that makes the next outing feel less like another regular season game and more like a quick test of recovery, especially after a finish that denied them at least a point. The reset comes fast, and so does the opportunity to show the first result was not the full story. [Read more 🡒]