Garand, Wolf Pack End Seven-Game Slide with 4-3 Win in Wilkes‑Barre

Hartford Wolf Pack ended a bruising seven-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Wilkes-Barre Penguins in Wilkes-Barre on Jan. 16, 2026, a win that restored confidence and paid dividends on a difficult road trip. The Pack rode a second-period surge and timely goaltending to secure the result and finish the five-game road swing with a 3-2-0-0 record.

Wilkes-Barre struck first when Gabe Klassen opened the scoring early, but Jaroslav Chmelař answered for Hartford with a power-play redirection that knotted the game. The second period belonged to the Wolf Pack as Hartford produced a three-goal flurry to seize control. Brett Berard was among the scorers in that decisive stretch, giving Hartford a lead it would not relinquish. Klassen finished with two goals for the Penguins, who countered but could not overcome Dylan Garand’s late-game interventions.

Garand made several timely saves down the stretch to preserve the lead and blunt a late Wilkes-Barre push. His performance under pressure was the backbone of Hartford’s victory and highlighted goaltending as a stabilizing force for a club seeking consistency. Offense came when it mattered for Hartford: Chmelař’s special teams finish and Berard’s second-period strike exemplified the kind of execution the Wolf Pack needs to convert chances into wins.

From a team-dynamics perspective, Hartford’s ability to respond after an early deficit and then sustain a multi-goal stretch in the middle frame speaks to improved in-game adjustments and resilience. The win not only snapped the skid but also capped a successful road trip overall. Finishing 3-2-0-0 away from home reduces pressure entering the next homestand and affords coach and management more latitude as the Atlantic Division race tightens.

The victory carries broader implications for the market and the league. For Hartford fans, a timely road win can rekindle engagement and ticket demand as the season moves into its stretch run. For players, especially those on the bubble for NHL consideration, moments like Chmelař’s power-play conversion and Garand’s late saves provide tangible entries on development reports and scouts’ notebooks. At the league level, games that feature comeback elements, special teams drama, and goaltending heroics help sustain AHL narratives that drive regional interest and local broadcast value.

Hartford leaves Wilkes-Barre with a short-term lift and measurable progress in the standings. The Wolf Pack will look to translate the road trip momentum into consistent results at home, with Garand’s form and contributions from Chmelař and Berard central to the club’s next chapter.