CANTLON: ISLANDERS KNOCK OFF PACK 

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

BRIDGEPORT, CT – Kyle MacLean’s late, controversial goal gave The Bridgeport Islanders a 4-3 win over the visiting Hartford Wolf Pack.

MacLean’s shot went in-and-out of the net incredibly quickly, which the referee ruled a goal. The play was set up by a Hunter Skinner turnover. MacLean’s shot came from twenty feet out and hit the post. After a lengthy review, the refs stood by their goal call with 24.1 left to play.

That was not the only call of the game that came without controversy. On the entry into the zone on the game-winner, Arnaud Durandeau had Austin Czarnik with him. The play looked to be offside. There was a collision at center ice just seconds before between the Islanders’ Robin Salo and the Pack’s Jonny Brodzinski. There was, what appeared to be, an obvious trip of Anthony Bitetto by Richard Pánik inside the Islanders’ blue line with the puck on the other side. There was also an icing that was waved off.

REFEREE MISTAKES ARE COSTLY

“There were mistakes, but I’m saying nothing about the officiating. I’m not going to hang this on (Skinner’s clear). It could have been better, but several blown coverages were starting with where they scored the goal. It was a good call. They can look at offsides too.”

There was a moment when it looked as if the team would salvage a road point. Lauri Pajuniemi was able to wrestle the puck away from Bridgeport captain Seth Helgeson. They transitioned quickly into a two-on-one with Ty Ronning against Parker Wotherspoon, the one player between them. Pajuniemi used Ronning as a decoy, who was wide open on the right-wing. Pajuniemi sniped a shot high to the blocker side with 3:51 left.

Braden Schneider made the whole play possible as he got the puck in play after taking it from two Islanders, Reece Newkirk and Blade Jenkins.

“All around a good play. Lauri is figuring it out. The youngster made an NHL shot and decision.”

SECOND PERIOD

In the second period, Hartford showed the effects of having played their third game in three days, going the first eight minutes of the period with no shots on goal. The Islanders tied it early when Durandeau was wide open on the right-wing off a two-on-one. He snapped a wrister high to the blocker side for the second goal at 1:56 to regain the lead.

It was a reasonable road period in the first; the second half belonged to the Wolf Pack.

Zac Jones made an intelligent read-and-react in the neutral zone on a play to intercept a pass meant for Simon Holmstrom. He caught Tanner Fritz down low, then went to the right side and sent a low shot to the net on Jakub Skarek. The puck eluded him and hit the post. Johnny-On-The-Spot to clean up the garbage was Cristiano DiCiacinto, who scored his second goal late with 2:02 left following a Morgan Barron miss off a two-on-one break.

KNOBLAUCH ON JONES

“Zac is another one making the smart plays. He puts himself into position, and Keith (Kincaid) plays very solidly and steadily. I wished we had given him more of the support that he deserves in the net. Another smart play from Jones. Fritz’s shot and Cristiano…some guys walk past an opportunity, he didn’t.” Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said.

The first half of the game was all Bridgeport. Otto Koivula scored the first goal from Anatoli Golyshev, their leading scorer. He had three good chances all stopped, but this Koivula shot beat Kinkaid low to the glove side at 3:31. He has a team-leading ten points.

LINES

Gettinger-Brodzinski-Greco
Barron-Ronning- Pajuniemi
Fritz-Richards-Ronning
Labrie-Whalen- DiCiacinto

Bitetto-Robertson
Jones-Schneider
Reunanen-Skinner

Kinkaid
Huska

SCRATCHES

Guitarri
Taylor
Rueschoff
Khordorenko (concussion)
Wall

NOTES

Ryan Reaves was taken off IR by the Rangers, so Gregg McKegg was reassigned to Hartford. Filip Chytil is down with an injury.

He arrived late from Calgary was not available to play because he is still with the Rangers in Calgary.

A recall now isn’t likely. The Rangers are back home on Monday night.

Ex Wolf Pack Ryan Dmowski (Old Lyme/ Gunnery) was recalled by the Hershey Bears from the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL).

No word yet regarding potential disciplinary action against Cam Lee of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for his hit on Patrick Khordorenko Saturday night.

UCONN NEWS

UCONN continues with a conference sweep of Maine in another one-goal game 3-2 in overtime.

Defenseman Harrison Rees, a second-pair d-man, had two goals. The second came with twenty seconds left in the three-on-three extra session. Rees was tied with the second most shots for the Huskies at five.

Tied for first in shots scoring in the last minute of regulation in the first was reliable Ryan Tverberg, who had six.

Donovan Villaneuva-Houle got both Black Bear goals.

Victor Ostman had 39 saves for Maine, while Darion Hanson had 21 for UCONN.

BIRTHDAY WISHES FOR THE AHL

The AHL’s official 85th birthday was on Sunday. The first four teams were the Buffalo Bisons, who lasted eleven games, the Syracuse Stars, the first edition of the Cleveland Barons who won a Calder Cup a few years later, the Philadelphia Ramblers, and the Pittsburgh Hornets. When the International moniker was dropped (IAHL), the Hershey Bears, New Haven Eagles, and Springfield Indians franchises were added.

The newest team, number 32, is in the Coachella Valley in the California desert. The Firebirds have a great logo and will debut next year. They are currently constructing a 250-million-dollar arena.

The first two hockey employees of the new team are likely to be Dan Bylsma, who is now the Charlotte Checkers assistant coach and is listed as the Director of Hockey Operations will be ex-Springfield Falcon, Troy Bodie, the son-in-law of Seattle part-owner/CEO Tod Leiweke.

After one game with the Florida Panthers (NHL), Chase Priskie (QU) returned to the Charlotte Checkers.

BOY OH BOYKO

Talyn Boyko, one of two 6’8 goalie prospects. Hugo Ollas of Merrimack (HE) is the other. Boyko was drafted in the fourth round (92nd overall) by the New York Rangers last year. The Tri-City (WA) Americans traded him after a poor start this season. In eight games, Boyko has a 1-6-1 record with a 4.49 GAA and .887 save percentage. In three years, his stats are on the low side. He has a 15-31-2-2 record with a .888 save percentage. He was sent over to the Kelowna (BC) Rockets for Cole Tisdale, another goalie. Tisdale has a 5-1-1 record with a .927 save percentage and a 1.839 GAA. He was a 2022 third-round WHL Prospects selection in the late spring.

Boyko’s first game for the Rockets is a home game at the end of a homestand this Wednesday against the Kamloops Blazers. They feature another Ranger goalie prospect and WJC candidate, ex-Pack Dyland Garand.

After 15 games, ex-Pack Devin DiDiomete is released by the HC Meran/Merano Eagles (AlpsHL).

Joey Muldowney, a forward at Nichols School (MAPREP) and from the Buffalo area, made a 2023-23 commit to the University of Connecticut (HE).

HARTFORD WOLF PACK
HOME