Wolf Pack loses sixth consecutive time 4-3 to Amerks in OT | Pro Hockey News

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack built multiple leads Friday night at PeoplesBank Arena, but saw a third-period lead slip away to the Rochester Americans. The result was a 4-3 defeat in extra time, the sixth defeat in a row for the club (0-2-4-0).

Blake Hillman got the Wolf Pack on the board 1:57 into the hockey game with his second goal of the season. After a face-off win in the offensive zone, Trey Fix-Wolansky gained puck possession. He quickly passed it to Bryce McConnell-Barker, who tapped a backhand pass to the right point for Hillman.

There, Hillman boarded a drive that beat Topias Leinonen through traffic.

Anton Blidh extended the lead to 2-0 at 7:18 and scored his first goal of the season. Brennan Othmann won possession of the puck and then led a two-on-one rush into the offensive zone. Once there he chose to go to Blidh. The veteran defeated Leinonen with a quick shot.

Olivier Nadeau responded at 9:48 and got the Amerks on the board. The third-year forward ripped a shot from Talyn Boyko that hit the goal post and found the back of the net, making it a 2-1 game. The goal was Nadeau’s second career score and his first of the season.

The two-goal lead was restored at 4:21 PM when Jaroslav Chmelař lit the lamp for the third time this season. Brett Berard sent a pass from just inside the left circle to Chmelař, who tapped the puck into a wide open cage with Leinonen too far to the right.

Hartford’s 3-1 lead would last until the 11:43 mark of the middle frame, when Trevor Kuntar scored his sixth goal of the season to make it 3-2. Kuntar dragged his toes into the left circle and then fired a quick shot that beat Boyko at the glove for the only tally of the period.

The comeback continued with another Kuntar goal on the power play at 17:05 of the third period. With Fix-Wolansky in the box, Jack Rathbone fired a shot from the blueline that Kuntar tipped by Boyko. The goal was Kuntar’s second of the night and seventh of the season.

The goal forced overtime, allowing the Americans to complete their comeback bid.

After a great save on one side by Leinonen, the Americans were sprung in a strange rush in the other direction. Zach Metsa fed Riley Fiddler-Schultz, who buried the winning goal at 1:05 to complete the comeback.

The goal was Fiddler-Schultz’s third of the season and his third point (1 g, 2 a) of the evening.