Wolf Pack lose first game of the season 5-3 to Bridgeport

The Hartford Wolf Pack dropped their first game of the season, losing 5-3 to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 5-3 on Wednesday.  The New York Rangers’ top farm team is now 2-1 on the season.

Unlike their first two games of the season when the Pack came roaring back to win, this time it was the Sound Tigers who came from behind, scoring three third period goals to seal the victory.

The Wolf Pack’s first goal scorer was scored by Austin Rueschhoff with the first goal of his professional career with the goal coming in the final minute of the first period.   Defenseman Tarmo Reunanen added an assist on Rueschhoff’s goal, his four point in three games.

The Rangers are no doubt keeping an eye on Reunanen considering the injury to Jacob Trouba. His points per game average of 1.33 is second best among AHL defensemen in a very small sample size.  He is a left shot defender,but has a strong offensive game and if he keeps scoring at this pace, we may see him make his NHL debut this season.  He turns 23 in two weeks, so he has more experience than some of his fellow defense prospects.

Jonny Brodzinski scored the second goal for Hartford.

Highly touted prospect Morgan Barron got his second point of the season and his first assist on Bodzinski’s goal.   Brodzinski leads the team in scoring with two goals and three assists for five points in three games.

The final goal was scored by Patrick Newell, his second of the season.

Anthony Greco was on ice for four of the Bridgeport goals. He was second on the team with five shots. Brodzinski led all skaters with nine shots on goal.

Tyler Wall made his professional debut in goal for Hartford.  He made 13 saves on 17 shots as Bridgeport added an empty net goal as time expired.  Keith Kinkaid had started the first two games for Hartford.

With only three teams in the Atlantic Division, it seems kind of silly to talk about the standings.  Hartford does have the best record in the Division, tied with Providence. In the entire AHL they hve the ninth best record.

They are 2 for 10 on the power play, a 20% efficiency percentage and they have killed all nine penalties that they have taken. They are one of four teams in the AHL to do that and they have faced more penalties than the other three teams.

In some roster news, defenseman Braden Schneider was returned to the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL as their season is about to start.  He had played in Hartford’s first two games with one assist.   That leaves only winger Will Cuylle and goalie Dylan Garand with the Pack.  Garand backed up Tyler Wall on Wednesday, but has yet to play.  Cuylle has played in all three games and has a goal and an  assist.  He plays for the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL and Garand is with the Kamloops Blazers and they have not gotten the go ahead to return to their junior teams.

The Wolf Pack’s next game is Sunday afternoon at home against the Providence Bruins.