Wolf pack too much for the Islanders on Wednesday

December 4, 2024 – American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders press release

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Alex Jefferies scored a power-play goal early in the second period on Wednesday, but the Bridgeport Islanders (5-13-1-2), affiliate of the New York Islanders in the American Hockey League, fell to a 6-1 loss. Taking a loss Lost to the Hartford Wolf Pack (9-8-2-1) at Total Mortgage Arena.

Alex Belzile scored three power play goals for his second hat trick of the season to lead the Wolfpack. Benoit-Olivier Groulx recorded a season-high four assists and Victor Mancini added three assists. Dylan Garand (6-2-2) made 31 saves on 32 shots.

Jefferies’ power-play goal was his first goal since Oct. 20 against Hartford. He has accumulated 11 points this season, making him the sole player to rank third on the team in points. Chris Terry and Calle Odelius were credited with assists on Jefferies’ fourth goal of the year.

At 17:24 of the first, the Islanders were assessed a penalty for having too many men on the ice, giving Hartford a man advantage. They took advantage 51 seconds later when Belzile fired a wrister from the right circle past Marcus Hogberg (2-5-3) to make it 1-0.

The Islanders responded at 6:32 with their only score of the night. After Ben Harpur received a sharp penalty, Jefferies took Terry’s cross-ice pass and fired a wrist shot that hit the top right crossbar and then deflected off the left post and finally fell into the net to tie the contest at 1-1 – 1.

Hartford responded about 10 minutes later and took the lead back for good. At 15:31, Terry was called for slashing and soon after, Belzile broke the tie when he pushed a wrister past Hogberg’s right side at 16:11. Two minutes and 51 seconds later, Anton Blidh took a pass from Groulx, buried it, and extended Hartford’s lead to 3-1.

Hartford added security in the final frame with three goals in just 52 seconds. At 8:47, Belzile scored his third power play goal of the night, earning his second hat trick in the last six games. Matt Rempe redirected Casey Fitzgerald’s shot past Hogberg at 9:32 and Bryce McConnell-Barker sent in a rebound just seven seconds later to make it 6-1. It was Hartford’s first road win of the season.

Bridgeport’s power play went 1-5 on the night. Despite the loss, the Islanders led 32-30 in shots.

The Islanders are 2-1-1-0 in four of their 10 meetings against Hartford this season.

Next time off: The Islanders return to the road in their next game on Friday, facing the Springfield Thunderbirds at MassMutual Center at 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard free on the Bridgeport Islanders Radio Network or watched live on AHLTV on FloHockey beginning with the Connecticut Lottery Pregame Countdown at 6:45 p.m

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