HARTFORD, Connecticut (Ticker) -- Brad Smyth scored the winning goal 8:24 into the final period as the Hartford Wolf Pack defeated the Springfield Falcons, 3-2, in the opening game of their best-of-five series. Smyth, who had just one goal in 10 regular-season games versus Springfield, was assisted by Ken Gernander. Johan Whitehall tied the contest at 2-2 for Hartford with a power-play marker 5:23 into the third. Jean-Francois Labbe, who had a 5-2-2 record in nine appearances against the Falcons, turned away 27 shots for the win. Eric Houde's goal 5:28 into the middle stanza supplied Springfield with a 2-1 lead. Robert Esche stopped 41 of the 44 shots he faced for the Falcons. The Wolf Pack, who will be hosting Springfield in Game Two on Saturday, won just four of 22 games when trailing after two periods in the regular season (4-16-2).