The Sharks exercised their game plan from the outset Saturday night, charging the Wolf Pack net as Zaba dodged and ducked and teammates came to his rescue.

The Wolf Pack retaliated in the best way possible, scoring three times on eight shots in the opening 12:01, then survived a three-goal Worcester second period to win 5-3 as Mike Ouellette and Mark Bell scored in the third for a 2-0 lead in the Atlantic Division semifinals.

Zaba had another stellar game, stopping 44 shots before 2,703 at the XL Center, making him 82-for-85 in his first two AHL playoff starts. He was especially sharp in the first two periods, when the Wolf Pack were outshot 41-13, and while helping kill 12 of 13 Sharks power plays.

Ouellette got the winner 2:23 into the third when he took a pass from Dane Byers and fired a backhander that went through the legs of Thomas Greiss.

“It was a no-look shot,” Ouellette said with a smile. “Byers has been out for a while (the last 71 games of the regular season), but his hockey sense hasn’t tapered off in any way, and he’s one of the easiest guys I’ve ever had to play with.

“I had my back to the net and he just put the puck on my stick, I spun and put it on net. I didn’t even look. It just found a way in.  It was a chippy game, and it’s going to be a long, chippy series. I think they were getting desperate and searching for any way to get us off our game, and it worked (in the second period). But then we refocused and found our bearings. Thankfully Zaba is a rock back there, and we’ve been leaning on him for a long time. He’s the best player on the team right now.”

The Wolf Pack won the first two games for the first time in seven series since they swept the Worcester IceCats in the 2004 Atlantic Division semifinals. But they realized they had to improve if they are to make it three in a row in Game 3, which is at 6:35 p.m. Monday at the DCU Center in Worcester.

“We got the lead and then did some things that aren’t scripted, ad-libbing a bit,” Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander said. “That puts more pressure on guys taking penalties and more pressure on your goaltender. But you have to realize you have to play puck possession and get it deep in their defensive zone, which is something we didn’t do a very good job of recognizing.

“Why would you start to run-and-gun and get more high risk and detract from what had got you the lead?  We overburdened some guys with the amount of penalty killing they had to do.”

The Wolf Pack got plenty of help early, as Artem Anisimov scored on a wraparound at 3:40 after stealing the puck from Sharks defenseman Kyle McLaren. Then during a 4-on-4, Jordan Owens made a spinning move out of the right corner and took a shot that Sharks defenseman Jason Demers deflected past Thomas Greiss at 7:08.

Demers was victimized again at 12:01, as Bobby Sanguinetti took a drop pass from Greg Moore and fired a shot from the top of the left circle that ricocheted off the Sharks defenseman and past Greiss, who shook his head in disbelief.

The Wolf Pack had a 3-0 lead but wouldn’t get another shot in the period, while Zaba was stopping all 22 that he faced as referee Francois St. Laurent’s whistle caused the teams to play 5-on-5 for only 4:22 and only 1:09 after the Sharks’ Ryan Vesce got the game’s first penalty.

The only downer for the Wolf Pack in the first period was losing Corey Potter, their defenseman of the year, who was given a 5-minute major and game misconduct for slashing Dan DaSilva, who had just run over Zaba.

“I didn’t think (Potter’s) penalty was necessarily deserved because I thought there was too much contact on our goalie early on,” Gernander said. “Potter’s intention was just to get between our goalie and their player. Losing him was tough, but the rest of the defense stepped up and we got the win.”

The Sharks continued their shot barrage early in the second period and finally broke through when Brendan Buckley’s knuckling shot from the right point took a crazy bounce past Zaba at 9:51.

Just 1:29 later, the Sharks got to 3-2 as Andrew Desjardins took a pass from Frazer McLaren and banked in a shot off Zaba from behind the goal line.

And the Sharks got even at 14:57 on another fluke goal as Riley Armstrong’s shot from the right point was stopped by Zaba, bounded in the air and went in off Wolf Pack defenseman Brian Fahey.

But Ouellette got the tie-breaker early in the third and then the teams jousted for whatever ice they could get before Bell scored shorthanded into an empty net with 4.6 seconds left.

“We got the start we wanted, but we had a rough second period with a lot of penalties, so it was a great lesson learned,” Owens said. “We have to protect a three-goal lead. It’s playoff hockey, and we can’t let them back in the game. We have to stick to the game plan and finish them off.”

SUMMARY

Worcester       0      3     0  –   3

Hartford          3      0     2  –   5

1st Period-1, Hartford, Anisimov 2   3:40 (pp). 2, Hartford, Owens 1   7:08. 3, Hartford, Sanguinetti 1 (Moore), 12:01. Penalties-Vesce Wor (interference), 3:13; McLaren Wor (misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 3:40; Armstrong Wor (boarding), 5:18; Fahey Hfd (interference), 6:31; Sauer Hfd (holding the stick), 7:52; Armstrong Wor (slashing, roughing), 9:27; Potter Hfd (roughing), 9:27; Sanguinetti Hfd (tripping), 9:52; Rissmiller Hfd (hooking), 12:46; DaSilva Wor (roughing), 14:54; Potter Hfd (major – slashing, game misconduct – slashing), 14:54; Couture Wor (major – charging the goaltender), 15:58; Fahey Hfd (tripping), 19:06.
2nd Period-4, Worcester, Buckley 1   9:51. 5, Worcester, Desjardins 1 (McLaren), 10:20. 6, Worcester, Armstrong 1   14:40 (pp). Penalties-Crowder Hfd (hooking), 3:14; Vesce Wor (high-sticking), 3:51; DiDiomete Hfd (delay of game), 11:59; Nightingale Hfd (hooking), 13:37; served by Byers Hfd (bench minor – too many men), 15:42; Moore Wor (roughing), 19:31; DiDiomete Hfd (roughing), 19:31.

3rd Period-7, Hartford, Ouellette 1 (Byers, Owens), 2:23. 8, Hartford, Bell 1 (Sanguinetti), 19:55 (sh en). Penalties-Desjardins Wor (hooking), 3:29; served by Armstrong Wor (delay of game), 7:09; Bell Hfd (hooking), 11:04; Dupont Hfd (hooking), 14:52; Ouellette Hfd (slashing), 19:30.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 22-19-6-47. Hartford 8-5-6-19.
Power-play opportunities-Worcester 1 of 13; Hartford 1 of 7.
Goalies-Worcester, Greiss 0-2-0 (18 shots-14 saves). Hartford, Zaba 2-0-0 (47 shots-44 saves).
A-2,703
Referees-Francois St. Laurent (38).
Linesmen-Rich Patry (52), Luke Galvin (2).

Zaba made 31 saves, but Kurtis McLean’s rebound goal with 2:18 left in the first period proved the difference at the Bridgeport Sound Tigers beat the Wolf Pack 1-0 before 3,583 at the XL Center Wednesday night.

The Wolf Pack (27-23-2-3) were shut out for the second time this season and have only one goal in the last two games and have lost four of five. It also was their first loss at the XL in four meetings with the Sound Tigers, who tied the GEICO Connecticut Cup series at 4-4.

“We didn’t have a very good start, and if you’re having trouble creating offense, you can’t afford to wait until the second or third period to really sense desperation or jumpstart your game,” Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander said. “We were turning over a lot of pucks. Instead of playing along the walls and having puck possession with a ground game, we were just trying to do aerial saucers and toss things into the middle of their coverage.”

But Gernander had no complaints with Zaba.

“He played dynamite,” Gernander said. “He has played well for us, and that was a very good game for him.”

But Sound Tigers rookie Nathan Lawson was one better than Zaba, stopping 23 shots for his second shutout as the Sound Tigers (32-17-3-3) extended their point streak to 4-0-0-1.

“I thought we started well, and then kind of went into a lull and they got the momentum,” Zaba said. “We weren’t generating much offense, and they were doing a good job of staying disciplined and keeping our power play off the ice, which was pretty much the game.

“I felt good, but for whatever reason, we were a little flat. We definitely didn’t have our ‘A’ game, but we’ll get it back together for the weekend.”

Zaba enabled the Pack to escape the first period trailing only 1-0 after being outshot 18-8, including 6-3 in the final 10 minutes. Zaba made a handful of stellar saves, notably off Ben Walter (twice), Micheal Haley and Sean Bentivoglio.

Matthew Ford and Sean Avery, playing his second game with the Wolf Pack after being loaned by the Dallas Stars on Feb. 10, had the Wolf Pack’s best chances early before the Sound Tigers took the lead as McLean beat Patrick Rissmiller to a rebound of former Yale defenseman Joe Callahan’s shot and jammed it past Zaba.

“Honestly, I probably should have had it,” Zaba said. “The rebound was kind of lying to the side, and I slid over into my butterfly. I was there, but he made a nice play. He hesitated, then moved over a little and I had to kind of open up and he put it through my five hole.”

The Sound Tigers continued to press early in the second period, but Zaba smothered the backhander of a wide-open Chris Lee at 4:10.

The Wolf Pack finally put together some sustained offense late in the period, but Lawson stopped Artem Anisimov breaking down the slot off a pass from Avery with 4:15 left, then stopped Tommy Pyatt at the right post a minute later.

Zaba then made bang-bang saves on Bentivoglio racing down left wing and Haley’s rebound with 2:20 left.

Things got testy on the Wolf Pack’s second power when Avery got in a yapping match with Lawson, who wasn’t happy the winger was in the crease, and then poked Tyler Haskins in the face along the boards without an official noticing it with 1:11 to go.

Zaba kept the Wolf Pack close when he stopped Haskins’ semi-breakaway at 3:35 of the third period.

The Sound Tigers had a goal disallowed with 7:20 left when Haley was called for goaltender inference before backhanding in his own rebound after Zaba stopped his partial breakaway.

The Wolf Pack then had their most sustained pressure of the game, but Lawson stopped Mike Ouellette’s one-timer from Avery with 1:15 left and Anisimov’s deflection with Zaba pulled for a sixth attacker.

“You have to have a heightened sense of emotion or intensity before the last 10 minutes,” Gernander said. “I’d like to see a heightened sense of urgency to start the game.”

Avery said he felt better than in his Wolf Pack debut Saturday night.

“As far as battles go and getting hits, it was better on the lungs than in the first game, so I’m happy about that,” said Avery, who had two shots and was on the ice for the only goal. “They were coming at me from the start of the game, and I was a little quiet, which takes a little away from my game. Then I started to give back a little of what I was getting, which makes me play better.

“I’m targeted, but I know I did it eight years ago. They’re all trying to get to the next level, so they wouldn’t be doing their job if they didn’t go after me. I’m not too happy about the loss, but I feel better for sure.”

SUMMARY

Bridgeport       1     0     0   –  1

Hartford          0     0     0    –  0

First period: 1. Bri, McLean 14 (Callahan, Walter), 17:42; Penalty: Smith, Bri (hooking), 1:13.

Second period: No scoring. Penalties: Dupont, Hfd (interference), 10:38; Joensuu, Bri (tripping), 18:38.

Third period: No scoring. Penalty: Dupont, Hfd (hooking), 16:11.

Shots on goal: Bridgeport 18-7-7_32, Hartford 8-5-10_23; Power-play opportunities:  Bridgeport 0-for-2, Hartford 0-for-2; Goalies: Bridgeport, Lawson 12-5-2-1 (23 shots-23 saves), Hartford, Zaba 11-8-0-0 (32-31); Referee: Ian Croft; Linesmen: Brent Colby, Kevin Redding; A: 3,583.

With 4:17 left, referee Terry Koharski assessed DiDiomete five minutes for interfering with Moose defenseman Zack FitzGerald, who needed about two minutes to be helped to his feet and off the ice.

Michael Grabner broke a 2-2 tie when his screen shot from the right point beat Miika Wiiikman for his team-leading 22^nd goal and second of the game with 1:36 left. Grabner had rejoined the Moose after missing five games to represent his native Austria in an Olympic qualifying tournament in Hanover, Germany.

With 55 seconds left, a wide-open Guillaume Desbiens clinched the victory in the Moose’s first visit to Hartford since Dec. 4, 2002 when he scored on a backhander in front. The Moose (36-14-0-4) are on a 14-2-0-2 run and moved into sole possession of first overall in the AHL for the first time this season when Hershey lost to Hamilton, 4-2. One of the Moose’s regulation losses in their last 18 games was 6-3 to the Wolf Pack in Winnipeg on Jan. 6.

The Wolf Pack were upset with the penalty call that helped lead to the Moose getting the final five shots of the game.

“I disagree,” Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander said. “(DiDiomete) hit the puck carrier, so it’s pretty hard to call interference. (Koharski) offered no explanation.”

DiDiomete concurred with his coach.

“(FitzGerald) reversed the puck and had his head down, and I just finished my check,” DiDiomete said. “There was no intent to hurt him or anything. I’m a physical player who when I have checks that need to be finished, I finish them.

“I didn’t think it was dirty at all. I didn’t have my elbows up or anything. I just try to finish my checks when I have an opportunity, and that’s all I did. But the ref thought it was worthy of a five-minute major, and that’s what he gave me. There’s nothing I can do about it now. It (stinks), but that’s hockey.”

FitzGerald sustained a shoulder injury and was scheduled to be X-rayed when the team got to Manchester, N.H., where the Moose play Friday night.

“I thought it was a great call,” Moose coach Scott Arniel said. “(FitzGerald) made the reverse to his partner, and it was 4, 5, 6 seconds later that the guy (DiDiomete) blindsided him.”

The Wolf Pack scored on the game’s first shift as Patrick Rissmiller intercepted an errant clearing attempt and passed to Tommy Pyatt, who backhanded his own rebound past Cory Schneider for his first of two goals. The Moose goalie entered the game as the AHL leader in goals-against average (1.67) and save percentage (.936) with an 18-3-0-1 record and a seven-week stint with the NHL Vancouver Canucks while Roberto Luongo was injured.

Wiikman, back in the lineup for the first time since Jan. 24 after missing five games with a liver ailment, kept the Wolf Pack ahead at 10:09 when he denied Jason Jaffray breaking in off right wing on a setup from Jason Krog, the AHL MVP last season while with the Chicago Wolves. Schneider then made a diving save on Brodie Dupont’s rebound with 3:10 left in the first period.

The Moose tied it at 1 as Krog passed from behind the net to Grabner breaking in alone out of the right circle at 5:14 of the second period.

Wolf Pack captain Greg Moore’s deflected shot from the right point ricocheted off the post at 8:35, but his hustle led to a shot from the right circle that Pyatt redirected past Schneider for his first two-goal game of the season. Rissmiller got his second assist of the game.

But just 1:39 later, Moose defenseman Nolan Baumgartner skated down left wing, came out of the corner and jammed the puck past Wiikman to tie the game again. It was Baumgartner’s seventh goal of the season and third against the Wolf Pack, including the winner with 1.7 seconds left in overtime on Jan. 7 in Winnipeg.

Pyatt nearly completed a hat trick on the Wolf Pack’s first power play, but Schneider stopped his point-blank rebound bid at 1:45 of the third period. It remained tied until the final minutes, when the Moose improved to 18-4-0-2 on the road.

“It was a pretty even game, and Miika was all right,” Gernander said. “But we needed two points. It comes down to a power play, and they get (two) power-play goals.”

The Wolf Pack’s P.A. Parenteau and Artem Anisimov, who started the night as the AHL’s No. 3 and 4 scorers, had scoring streaks stopped at six and four games, respectively.

Left wing Sean Avery did not make his Wolf Pack debut after joining the team Tuesday, when he was assigned by the Dallas Stars. Avery hasn’t played since his six-game NHL suspension in December for making derogatory remarks about other hockey players dating former girlfriends. He completed treatment in a NHL counseling program last weekend, cleared waivers Monday and was allowed to join the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers on a conditioning assignment and could rejoin the NHL team on re-entry waivers.

Avery, 28, was acquired by the Rangers at the 2007 trade deadline and played last season in New York before signing a four-year, $15.5 million deal with Dallas. The Stars are the only NHL team without a primary affiliate and could have sent him to any interested team. They have said Avery won’t return to the Stars.

The Wolf Pack’s next game is Friday night at the XL Center against Lake Erie.

SUMMARY

Manitoba       0     2    2  –  4

Hartford        1      1    0  –  2

First period: 1. Hfd, Pyatt 12 (Rissmiller), :54; Penalties: None.

Second period: 2. Mtb, Grabner 20 (Krog, Jaffray), 5:14; 3. Hfd, Pyatt 13 (Moore, Rissmiller), 13:13; 4. Mtb, Baumgartner 7 (Desbiens), 14:52; Penalty: Potter, Hfd (hooking), 1:23.

Third period: 5. Mtb, Grabner 21 (Baumgartner, Krog), 18:24, pp; 6. Mtb, Desbiens 13 (Krog, Jaffray), 19:05, pp; Penalties: Soares, Mtb (tripping), 0:45; Keane, Mtb (holding), 13:03; DiDiomete, Hfd (major-interference 56.4), 15:43.

Shots on goal: Manitoba 8-9-14_31, Hartford 9-8-9_26; Power-play opportunities: Manitoba 2-for-3, Hartford 0-for-2; Goalies: Manibota, Schneider 19-3-0-1 (26 shots-24 saves), Hartford, Wiikman 16-13-2-3 (31-27); Referee: Terry Koharski; Linesmen: Jim Briggs, Rich Patry; A: 2,127.

This week:

It’s a busy week of home-ice action for the Wolf Pack this week, with three games vs. Western-Conference opponents.  The Manitoba Moose are in town for a pair of games, this Wednesday, February 11^th and Saturday, February 14^th, and sandwiched in between those two is the first-ever visit to Hartford by the Lake Erie Monsters on Friday night, February 13^th.  Faceoff is 7:00 all three nights.  Friday night is Guida’s Family Value Night, and the first 2,500 fans on Saturday receive a Nigel Dawes bobblehead.

Wednesday, February 11^th vs. Manitoba at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

• The Moose enter the week tied with Hershey for first place overall in the AHL, with a record of 35-14-0-4 for 74 points. Head Coach Scott Arniel’s club is 9-1-0-2 in its last 12 games and 13-2-0-2 in its last 17.
• This is the first visit by the Moose to the XL Center since December of 2002. The Wolf Pack posted a 6-3 win and a 3-2 overtime loss in a two-game trip to Winnipeg in early January.
• Jason Krog, last season’s AHL MVP and scoring champ (39-73-112 in 80 games with the Calder Cup-champion Chicago Wolves), is the top scorer on this year’s Moose club. His totals of 17-34-51 in 47 games rank him ninth in the league in points.
• Radio – live with Mark Bailey in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.

Friday, February 13^th vs. Lake Erie at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

• This will be the first-ever XL Center appearance by the Monsters, a second-year franchise in the AHL and the top affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche. The Wolf Pack won the first-ever meeting between the two clubs, 5-3, November 16^th in Cleveland.
• Being a Friday night, this is a Guida’s Family Value Night. Family Value packages start at $39 and include three tickets, three hot dogs or pizza slices, three sodas and a Wolf Pack souvenir. To order your Family Value Night pack, visit the XL Center box office, or go on-line to www.hartfordwolfpack.com.
• The Monsters (21-25-1-5, 48 pts.) currently stand sixth in the North Division, seven points out of a playoff spot.
• Lake Erie goaltender Tyler Weiman, who helped represent the Monsters in the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic, leads the AHL in shutouts with six, and carries the league’s fourth-best goals-against average (2.27).
• Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.

Saturday, February 14^th vs. Manitoba at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

• The first 2,500 fans into this game will take home a bobblehead of former Wolf Pack sniper, and current New York Ranger regular, Nigel Dawes.
• The Moose sport the AHL’s best road record, having failed to gain at least a point only four times in 23 away games on the season (17-4-0-2).
• Radio – this game can be heard live on the 50,000-watt AM powerhouse, WTIC NewsTalk 1080. Bob Crawford, Mark Bailey and WTIC NewsTalk 1080’s Scott Gray comprise the broadcast team. The action will also be carried live in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.

Recent Transactions:

Artem Anisimov – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers February 1^st, and returned to the Wolf Pack February 4^th.

Corey Potter – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers February 5^th, and returned to the Wolf Pack February 7^th.

Maxime Daigneault – returned on loan by the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) February 9^th.

Practice:
All Wolf Pack practices are open to the media at the XL Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell.  As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 246-7825 before attending a practice.

Tues., February 10         11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Champions Skating Center

Wed., February 11         10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game vs. Manitoba)

Thurs., February 12        11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., XL Center
Fri., February 13            10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game vs. Lake Erie)
Sat., February 14           10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game vs. Manitoba)
Sun., February 15          No Practice

Mon., February 16          11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Champions Skating Center

Pack Tracks:

Adult tickets for Wolf Pack home games can be purchased for as low as $10 each for the rest of the regular season, sponsored by Click It or Ticket.  Individual tickets for Wolf Pack games are on sale now at the XL Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations including Macy’s at the Buckland Hills Mall and at the Westfarms Mall. Tickets may also be charged by phone at 1-800-745-3000, and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.  Season tickets, six and 10-game packages, coupon books and group tickets are also available.  Contact 860-548-2000 for more details.

Kids can save with Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s mascot, by attending the Pack’s home game Wednesday, February 18^th, a GEICO Connecticut Cup battle with Bridgeport (7:00 faceoff).  The first 1,500 kids into the game will receive their very own, free Sonar piggy bank.

The Wolf Pack Community Foundation’s annual “Tip a Player” Dinner and Sports Carnival is coming up Sunday, March 1^st at the XL Center from 4-7 PM, benefitting Gaylord Hospital.  For ticket information, visit the Wolf Pack’s official website, www.hartfordwolfpack.com.  The Wolf Pack Tip-a-Player Dinner and Sports Carnival features great food, donated by Hartford-area restaurants and served by the Wolf Pack players.  Players compete to earn tips in “pucks bucks” for their service and for entertaining guests.

The Wolf Pack has a new broadcast partnership this season with WTIC NewsTalk 1080 and WTIC-FM.  All of the Wolf Pack’s regular-season and playoff games will air on 96.5 WTIC-FM’s HD 2 channel and will be streamed on-line at www.wtic.com . Select games will be carried live on the 50,000-watt AM powerhouse, WTIC NewsTalk 1080.  And, as part of the partnership, all Wolf Pack full season ticket accounts will receive a free HD car radio, with installation from JoDi’s Sound Center, courtesy of the two stations and the Wolf Pack.  To purchase your season seats, contact the Wolf Pack ticket office at 860-548-2000.

Moore, voted by the players to succeed Andrew Hutchinson as captain on Thursday, scored a shorthanded goal and contributed to solid defensive play in front of Matt Zaba as the Wolf Pack beat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3-1 before 5,699 at the XL Center.

“I was really happy with the team’s effort for the full 60 minutes,” Moore said. “We really stuck to our systems, finished our checks and didn’t back down from any challenge on the ice. Usually after (All-Star Game) breaks, team ease into games, so there isn’t the intensity. But there was a lot of pace and physicalness and definitely a good way to get us back into the rhythm of things for the rest of the season.”

Jordan Owens and Mike Ouellette scored in the last 4:39 as the Wolf Pack (24-18-2-3) moved six games above .500 for the first time this season and into a three-way tie for the Atlantic Division lead with Providence and Portland, which beat the Bruins, 4-2. It was accomplished in front of Rangers general manager Glen Sather and Wolf Pack GM Jim Schoenfeld, who made a pit stop on the way to Boston for the Rangers’ game today at 1 p.m. against the Bruins.

“We’ve been looking at the division (lead) for a while now, and it’s definitely a goal of ours to be in the top,” Moore said. “We’ve been pushing every day to get there, and I think the guys have really done a great job putting the effort forward to make a push at the end of the year.”

All-Star center Artem Anisimov had his eight-game point streak, which tied the team season high of Parenteau, snapped, but not before he failed to bang a loose puck into an open net off a rebound at 4:20. Zaba (25 saves) stopped a good bid by Vladimir Nikiforov off a 3-on-2 at 9:05 and then denied Kurtis McLean alone in front during a power play at 11:37.

Moore gave the Wolf Pack the lead for good when he took a rink-wide pass from P.A. Parenteau in the neutral zone, raced down the left wing and around defenseman Chris Lee and put a backhander between the legs of Nathan Lawson (26 saves) at 13:21. It was Moore’s second goal in as many games after going eight games without scoring.

“It was a good pass by P.A., and I just tried to drive wide and put the puck on the net,” Moore said.

“That’s the kind of play we want him to get back to,” Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander said. “He had a lot of those good, strong wide drives last season, and he did it again and got rewarded.”

Owens nearly got the Wolf Pack’s second shorthanded goal at 7:58 of the second period, but his backhander off a steal was stopped by Lawson. Then while lying on his back in the crease, Zaba stopped a wide-open Jeremy Colliton, who was back in the Sound Tigers’ lineup after missing 10 games with a rib injury.

It stayed 1-0 until Brian Fahey passed to Owens, who raced into the right circle on a 2-on-1 with Moore and fired a knuckleball that beat Lawson to the far corner with 4:39 left.

The Sound Tigers got to 2-1 on Trevor Smith’s shorthanded goal, a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Sean Bentivoglio with 1:43 left after Wolf Pack defenseman Corey Potter lost his stick.

But Ouellette clinched the victory 31 seconds later when he scored from the right circle off a hustling assist from behind the net by Owens.

“It’s tough after a long break like that,” Gernander said. “The real skilled plays that take a little more dexterity are the last to come back, so that’s why it’s important to keep things as simple as possible and rely a little more on hard work and grit.

“You could probably be critical of some turnovers, but in the big picture we worked hard, kept it pretty simple and got our two points, so I’m pleased. And Zaba had a solid game and was another guy who grinded it out and got the win. It’s nice to have a share of first place, but it’s really close from top to bottom and a long way from the finish line. So we have to keep plugging, hopefully keep moving and stay the course.”

The Sound Tigers (26-15-3-2) have only six goals in the last five games and lost their third in a row for the first time this season. The Wolf Pack are now 5-0-0-2 at home against the Sound Tigers in their last seven meetings.

SUMMARY

Bridgeport       0     0     1  –  1

Hartford           1    0     2   –  3

First period: 1. Hfd, Moore 14 (Parenteau, Sauer), 13:21, sh; Penalties: Fritz, Bri (fighting), 2:33; Sugden, Hfd (fighting), 2:33; Lee, Bri (delay of game), 3:01; Moore, Hfd (holding), 11:05; Ouellette, Hfd (tripping), 13:10.

Second period: No scoring. Penalties: Kohn, Bri (slashing), 0:31; Packard, Bri (holding), 5:03; Parenteau, Hfd (interference), 6:16; Marcinko, Bri (tripping), 9:21; Served by Iggulden, Bri (bench minor, too many men), 14:02; Callahan, Bri (fighting), 16:19; Weise, Hfd (fighting), 16:19.

Third period: 2. Hfd, Owens 8 (Fahey), 15:21; 3. Bri, Smith 23 (Wotton), 18:17, sh; 4. Hfd, Ouellette 9 (Owens, Sauer), 18:48; Penalty: Iggulden, Bri (high-sticking), 16:19.

Shots on goal: Bridgeport 12-7-7_26, Hartford 8-10-11_29; Power-play opportunities: Bridgeport 0-for-3, Hartford 0-for-6; Goalies: Bridgeport, Lawson 10-3-2-0 (29 shots-26 saves), Hartford, Zaba 8-6-0-0 (26-25); Referee: Chris Cozzan; Linesmen: Jim Briggs, Kevin Redding; A: 5,699.