Wolf Pack Edge Islanders in Another Classic Connecticut Clash
The Battle of Connecticut added another chapter Friday night, and once again, it didn’t disappoint. In a tightly contested matchup between in-state rivals, the Hartford Wolf Pack came out on top, grinding out a 3-2 win over the Bridgeport Islanders at the XL Center. It was Hartford’s fourth win in their last five games and a statement victory in a playoff race that’s heating up by the day.
Coming off a successful four-game road swing through Pennsylvania where they went 3-1-0-0, the Wolf Pack returned home looking to keep the momentum rolling. And while it wasn’t always pretty, they found a way to get it done-thanks to timely goals, disciplined defense, and a little bit of Juuso magic.
Juuso Pärssinen Makes His Presence Felt
Bridgeport struck first on the night, capitalizing on an early power play after Jackson Dorrington was sent off for tripping. Liam Foudy found the back of the net on the man advantage, slipping one past Dylan Garand. The Hartford netminder argued for goalie interference, but after a review, the goal stood, giving the Islanders a 1-0 lead just under seven minutes into the game.
But the Wolf Pack didn’t waste any time answering back-and the response came from a welcome face.
Juuso Pärssinen, playing in his first game since suffering an upper-body injury back on November 28th, made an immediate impact. After Derrick Pouliot corralled the puck behind the net, Trey Fix-Wolansky turned on the jets through the neutral zone and fed a pass into the slot.
Pärssinen drove hard to the net and redirected the puck past Henrik Tikkanen, tying the game at 1-1. It was Pärssinen’s first goal of the season-and a reminder of the kind of spark he can bring when healthy.
Brisson Hits Double Digits
Hartford wasn’t done there. Just three minutes later, they took the lead on a textbook transition play that started with Garand himself.
The goaltender handled a dump-in and launched a stretch pass to Fix-Wolansky at center ice. The veteran winger drew defenders toward him before slipping the puck to Brendan Brisson, who was flying into the zone. Brisson wasted no time, snapping a shot under Tikkanen’s arm for his tenth goal of the season.
That tally puts Brisson in good company-he joins Fix-Wolansky and Gabe Perreault as the third Wolf Pack player to hit double-digit goals this year. The chemistry between Hartford’s top skaters continues to build, and it showed in that perfectly executed breakout.
With the 2-1 lead in hand, the Wolf Pack carried that momentum into the first intermission.
Defensive Discipline Takes Over
The second period didn’t add to the scoreboard, but it was far from uneventful. Both teams traded chances, but the goaltenders stood tall. Garand turned away all six shots he faced in the frame, while Tikkanen denied nine from Hartford.
Special teams came into play as well, with the Wolf Pack killing off two penalties and Bridgeport staving off one of their own. In a game where one mistake could swing the momentum, Hartford’s structure and discipline were on full display.
Dowling Seals It Late
Bridgeport kept pushing in the third, and when Dylan Roobroeck was called for roughing early in the period, the Islanders saw their chance. But once again, the Wolf Pack penalty kill came through, shutting down the opportunity and keeping the one-goal edge intact.
With time winding down, Bridgeport pulled Tikkanen for the extra attacker in search of the equalizer. Instead, it was Justin Dowling who delivered the dagger. From deep in the defensive zone, Dowling lofted a backhander that tracked perfectly into the empty net, giving Hartford a 3-1 cushion.
Chris Terry would pull one back for the Islanders with a late six-on-five goal, but it wasn’t enough. The Wolf Pack held firm in the final moments to secure the 3-2 win-and a crucial two points in the standings.
A Win With Playoff Implications
With the victory, Hartford pulls even with Bridgeport in the standings-both teams now sitting on 37 points. Given how tight the playoff race is shaping up to be, every head-to-head matchup between these two clubs feels like a postseason preview. And as Dylan Garand put it after the game, “We like to call these a four-point game.”
Garand, who made several key saves throughout the night, praised the team’s effort. “We’ve kind of struggled a bit over the year putting a full sixty together. I thought that was one of our best efforts.”
Head coach Grant Potulny echoed that sentiment. “Something we’ve talked about from the start of the year is, what can you do to have repeatable success.
It’s forechecking, staying above the puck, defending fast and hard. It’s having great structure, it’s being a smart player.
Those things have started to come together for us.”
And they came together when it mattered most.
What’s Next
The Wolf Pack aren’t done yet. They’ll continue their four-game homestand on Saturday night when they host the Toronto Marlies. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m., and with the way Hartford’s playing right now, it’s a matchup worth keeping an eye on.
The Battle of Connecticut may not be over, but for now, the Wolf Pack have the bragging rights-and a little more belief in what this team can become.