#ScottPerunovich

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK SWEEP FIRST ROUND OVER SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – For the first time since 2015, playoff hockey returned to the XL Center, as the Hartford Wolf Pack hosted the rival Springfield Thunderbirds in Game Two of the First Round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Seven players scored as the Pack routed Springfield 7-1, completing the sweep and advancing to the Atlantic Division Semifinals series. Wyatt Kalynuk potted the eventual game-winner for the Wolf Pack 10:48 into the game. Anton Blidh forced a turnover behind the Springfield net and found Tanner Fritz in the left-wing circle. Fritz quickly snapped the puck to Kalynuk at the blue line, setting up the chance. Kalynuk stepped into a shot and blasted a howitzer through traffic that Joel Hofer never saw. The goal was Kalynuk's first as a member of the Wolf Pack, his first career playoff goal, and his first game-winning goal. Additionally, the assists by Fritz and Blidh were the second points of eventual three-point nights for the duo. Fritz tallied six points (1 g, 5 a) in the two-game series, the most for either team. Fritz's first point was the icebreaker 8:03 into the first period. Blidh entered the offensive zone and sent a pass to Lauri Pajuniemi in the slot. Pajuniemi found Fritz powering towards the goal, and the veteran forward beat Hofer by the glove to give the Wolf Pack a lead they would not lose. The tally was Fritz's first career playoff goal. Kalynuk potted the eventual game-winner at 10:48, but the Wolf Pack were far from done. Ty Emberson tallied his second goal in as many games just over two minutes later. Fritz held the puck just beyond the left circle and fired a cross-ice pass to an open Emberson. Emberson walked in before ripping a wrist shot through the five-hole of Hofer to put the Pack up by three. The Thunderbirds got on the board in the final minute of the opening stanza. Kalynuk was sent to the box for hooking, initiating the game's first powerplay. Nikita Alexandrov attempted to jam the puck into the Hartford net, but Dylan Garand denied the attempt. Instead, the puck bounced to Will Bitten, who fired a shot that deflected off the pad of Garand and into the net, putting the Thunderbirds on the board. Unfortunately, the goal would be the only blemish on Garand's record, as the rookie netminder denied 19 of the 20 Thunderbird's shots. Hartford continued to pour it on in the middle stanza. Brady Lyle was sent to the box for tripping at 2:18, giving the Wolf Pack their first and only powerplay opportunity of the night. Turner Elson powered into the offensive zone and found Bobby Trivigno in the slot. Trivigno promptly lit the lamp with a shot by the glove of Hofer to extend the Hartford lead back to three. The tally was Trivigno's first playoff goal. Blake Hillman followed up, scoring his second goal in as many games at 6:30 of the second period. An extended sequence in the Springfield zone ended with Zac Jones corralling the puck along the left wall. Jones snapped a pass to a wide-open Hillman, who walked in and uncorked a shot from the right circle that Hofer could not stop. Hillman, who did not have a goal during the regular season, has scored in both of Hartford's playoff contests. The Wolf Pack tacked on a pair of empty-net goals in the final stanza. Blidh put Hartford up by five at 13:34. The Wolf Pack were forced to play four-on-six hockey, with Jones in the box for delay of game and the extra attacker on in favor of Hofer. Blake Hillman controlled the puck along the back wall and rimmed it around the boards to clear. A footrace for the loose puck ensued between Blidh and Scott Perunovich. Blidh tripped, got back up, and redirected the puck into the empty net. The goal was Blidh's third point of the night. It was the first time Hartford hit the empty net while short-handed this season. Tim Gettinger capped off the scoring with another empty net goal at 15:02. It was the first playoff goal and point for Gettinger, the longest-tenured member of the Wolf Pack who has played 237 games in Hartford. Five minutes later, Hartford completed the sweep and advanced to the Atlantic Division Semifinals. The Wolf Pack will face the Providence Bruins in the Atlantic Division Semifinals of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The series begins at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence on Friday, April 28th. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. The Pack return to the XL Center for Game Three of the best-of-five series on Wednesday, May 3rd. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. To get tickets, visit hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team's inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK DROP 1-0 DECISION TO SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack SPRINGFIELD, MA – The Hartford Wolf Pack put forth a valiant effort on Saturday night, outshooting the rival Springfield Thunderbirds 35-21 in the regular season finale. However, a late first-period goal was enough for the home side, as the T-Birds claimed a 1-0 shutout victory at the MassMutual Center. Adam Gaudette opened and closed the scoring 17:29 into the game, potting his 27th goal of the season. After a turnover in the neutral zone, Scott Perunovich sent a pass to Gaudette, who entered the Hartford zone and gained a partial breakaway. Gaudette went forehand to backhand and lifted the puck over a sprawling Dylan Garand for the game's only tally. The sides played a relatively even first 40 minutes, with both goaltenders making highlight-reel saves. Springfield's Joel Hofer made 19 saves through the first 40 minutes, including a terrific stop on Bobby Trivigno off a backdoor pass. Garand was also strong, turning aside 15 Thunderbirds bids in the opening two periods. Both penalty kills were busy as well. The Wolf Pack killed both of the Thunderbirds' powerplays this night, with their final one coming in the second period. The kills give Hartford 26 straight successful penalty kills to end the regular season. In the third period, the Wolf Pack fired everything they could on Hofer, but the All-Star netminder stopped everything he saw. The Wolf Pack fired 16 shots on goal in the final 20 minutes, outshooting the T-Birds 16-5. Hofer, however, made 16 saves to steal the victory. It was Hofer's third shutout of the season against Hartford and the team's fourth clean slate in twelve games against the Pack. The Wolf Pack will begin the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs next week. Hartford's First Round opponent and game dates and times are still to be determined. For Calder Cup Playoff tickets and seeding information, please visit  www.hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team's inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS BLANK HARTFORD WOLF PACK

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – After a thrilling comeback victory in last night's contest over the Springfield Thunderbirds, the Hartford Wolf Pack returned to the XL Center on Saturday night looking for the weekend sweep. However, the Pack couldn't figure out veteran netminder Garret Sparks, who made 21 saves in a 4-0 decision for the T-Birds. Nikita Alexandrov potted the eventual game-winner for the Thunderbirds just over fourteen minutes into the opening stanza. Alexandrov deflected a pass from Scott Perunovich past the glove of Dylan Garand to give Springfield a lead they would not give up. The goal stood as Alexandrov's second game-winning tally in the campaign. The Thunderbirds tacked on a pair of goals midway through the second period. Mathias Laferriere and Adam Gaudette took a two-on-one rush opportunity into the Hartford zone. Laferriere opted to shoot the puck, which Garand denied. However, Garand couldn't hang onto the rebound, and Gaudette buried the puck into the Wolf Pack net to push the Springfield lead to two. Laferriere added a goal of his own just over a minute later. With Jake Leschyshyn in the box for interference, one of just two powerplays in the contest, Laferriere tipped a Matthew Highmore pass into the Hartford net, pushing the T-Birds lead to three. Highmore's assist was his team-leading 41st of the season. The Wolf Pack got a powerplay opportunity after Greg Printz was called for hooking at 3:38 of the third period, but Hartford could not capitalize on the man advantage. Hugh McGing capped off the scoring at 14:44 of the final stanza, lighting the lamp with a one-timer from just outside the right circle. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team's inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS RALLY TO 4-2 WIN OVER HARTFORD WOLF PACK 

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack continued their chase toward the Calder Cup Playoffs on Friday night, welcoming the Springfield Thunderbirds to town for the first of three meetings between the two teams at the XL Center this month. The Wolf Pack took a 2-0 lead into the third period, but a four-goal performance from Springfield delivered a stunning 4-2 decision for the T-Birds. Martin Frk potted the eventual game-winner for the Thunderbirds, their third straight goal in the four-goal stretch. Wyatt Kalynuk was sent to the penalty box at 13:14 of the third period, giving Springfield a late powerplay opportunity. Frk took a shot from the slot, but his shot went high. Matthew Peca sent the puck back to Scott Perunovich, who fed Frk near the top of the offensive zone. Frk blasted a one-timer that found the back of the Hartford net, giving Springfield their first lead of the game at 14:39, one they would not give up. In the opening stanza, Anton Blidh quickly snapped the Wolf Pack’s skid of six scoreless periods against the Thunderbirds. Lauri Pajuniemi had a breakaway opportunity, but Vadim Zherenko made a kick save to prevent the icebreaker. Blidh collected the rebound and went bar down over Zherenko, putting the Pack on top just over the four-and-a-half-minute mark. Blidh’s goal was his third since joining the Wolf Pack on March 3rd. Will Cuylle stretched the lead to two just over a minute later. Ty Emberson took a shot from the blue line into a chaotic scramble in front of the net. The puck was tipped by Jake Leschyshyn and finally by Cuylle before finding its way into the Springfield net. The tally was Cuylle’s 21st goal, and 37th point of the campaign, both good for the team lead. Leschyshyn’s helper on the goal was his seventh point in eight games with the Wolf Pack this season. Leschyshyn has tallied two goals and five assists since being assigned to Hartford by the New York Rangers on February 26th. The netminders kept the second period scoreless. Zherenko stopped eleven Wolf Pack shots, while Dylan Garand denied twelve Thunderbirds bids. Garand made an impressive save at 6:41, denying Mikhail Abramov on a wraparound opportunity to keep the Thunderbirds off the board and send the game into the final period with the Wolf Pack leading by two. However, the Pack’s lead would soon be erased as Will Bitten drew the Thunderbirds even with a pair of goals in a five-minute stretch in the final stanza. Bitten put Springfield on the board at 6:21 when he backhanded an Abramov pass over the glove of Garand. Bitten scored again at 11:41, drawing the teams even. Hugh McGing stripped the puck from Matthew Robertson behind the Hartford net and fed Bitten, who walked to the right side and slid the puck under Garand’s glove. Frk lit the lamp at 14:39 of the final period, putting the game out of reach for good. Bitten would cap off a hat trick, scoring on the empty Hartford net at 18:47. The Wolf Pack hit the road for a pivotal installment of the ‘Battle of Connecticut' against the Bridgeport Islanders tomorrow. The puck drop is set for 7:00 pm. The Pack return to the XL Center on Friday, March 24th, for a rematch with the Thunderbirds. Join us for Pucks ‘N Paws and College Night! The puck drop is set for 7:00 pm. To get tickets, visit  hartfordwolfpack.com. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article