WOLF PACK WEEKLY: November 24 – 30, 2008
The Wolf Pack’s first four-games-in-five-days stretch of the season yielded a 1-2-0-1 record last week. On Wednesday night at home, the Pack built leads of 1-0 and 2-1 against division-leading Portland, but the Pirates rebounded to score the final three goals of the contest and defeat the Wolf Pack, 4-2. The Pack then stormed back from a 3-1 third-period deficit on Friday at home against Lowell, tying the score on a pair of Artem Anisimov goals, the second coming with less than seven seconds left in regulation. That gained the Wolf Pack a standings point, in what would end as a 4-3 shootout loss. On Friday night in Portland, the Wolf Pack handed the Pirates only their second regulation defeat in 16 games on the season, thumping their hosts by a score of 6-2. The momentum did not carry over, however, into Sunday’s visit to Providence, in which the Bruins prevailed over the Wolf Pack, 6-3. Anisimov was the week’s top performer for the Pack, with three goals and two assists for five points in the four games.
This week:
The Wolf Pack celebrate Thanksgiving with a second straight three-game weekend. The Pack make their first GEICO Connecticut Cup visit to Bridgeport on Friday for a 7:00 game. Saturday night is the Wolf Pack’s only home date in a stretch of eight games, as the Manchester Monarchs invade the XL Center at 7:00. The first 3,000 fans that night receive a Wolf Pack beanie cap. The Pack then travel to Providence for a second straight Sunday, facing off with the Bruins at 4:05.
Friday, November 28th at Bridgeport (Bridgeport’s Arena at Harbor Yard), 7:00 p.m.
· This game is the second installment of this year’s GEICO Connecticut Cup series between the Wolf Pack and Sound Tigers. The Pack captured the first battle, 2-1 in a shootout, October 12th at the XL Center, in their second game of the season.
· The Sound Tigers have the most points in the AHL, and have failed to get a standings point only four times in their first 20 games (14-4-0-2, 30 pts.).
· Mike Iggulden (11 goals, nine assists) and Kurtis McLean (six goals, 14 assists) are tied for tops on the Bridgeport club in scoring, both with 20 points in 20 games.
· The Wolf Pack were 3-2-0 in five visits to Bridgeport last season.
· 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, November 29th vs. Manchester at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.
· The first 3,000 fans through the doors for this game will take home a free, exclusive Wolf Pack beanie cap.
· This game will also feature a winter accessories drive. Fans are asked to bring gently-used winter clothing to the game to be donated to Hartford Project Homeless Connect.
· The Monarchs have won their last three games and are three points behind the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division standings, with a record of 6-6-0-3 for 15 points.
· Last season’s AHL Rookie of the Year, Teddy Purcell, has goals in four of his last five games (4-3-7), after being held to 2-3-5 in his first ten outings.
· The Wolf Pack took the first game between these two clubs on the season, winning 4-1 on October 25th in Hartford.
· 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.
Sunday, November 30th at Providence (Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence), 4:05 p.m.
· This past Sunday’s 6-3 win over the Wolf Pack in Providence lifted the Bruins’ record to 11-6-1-0 for 23 points. They are in second place in the Atlantic Division, three points behind Portland.
· Vladimir Sobotka tallied a pair of goals, including the game-winner, for the Bruins in Sunday’s contest, Martin St. Pierre chipped in a goal and two assists and rookie Brad Marchand had three helpers.
· Radio – this is the second Wolf Pack broadcast of the year on the 50,000-watt AM powerhouse, WTIC NewsTalk 1080. Bob Crawford and WTIC NewsTalk 1080’s Scott Gray will be at the mikes. The action can also be heard live in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and www.wtic.com.
Recent Transactions:
Patrick Rissmiller – recalled by the New York Rangers from conditioning loan to the Wolf Pack, November 24th.
Chris Murray – loaned by the Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL) November 18th.
Maxime Daigneault – recalled by the Wolf Pack from Charlotte November 22nd.
Pack Tracks:
The Wolf Pack has announced an exciting new ticket-pricing promotion, effective now through January 2nd. Starting immediately, adult tickets for every home game through January 2nd will be available for as low as $10 each. 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 (860) 525-4500, (203) 744-8100, (203) 624-0033 or (413) 733-2500 or online at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. Season tickets, six, 10 and 20-game packages, coupon books and group tickets are also available. Contact 860-548-2000 for more details.
The first 3,000 fans into the Wolf Pack’s home game Saturday, December 13th will receive a free Miika Wiikman bobblehead doll, courtesy of Click it or Ticket. That night’s game is a 7:00 faceoff against the Pack’s I-91 rivals the Springfield Falcons.
Fans can take advantage of a fantastic ticket deal, and come to three prime Saturday-night Wolf Pack games, by purchasing the Wolf Pack’s “Holiday Hat Trick” package. The three games in the Holiday Hat Trick are: Saturday, January 3rd vs. Hershey, Saturday, January 17th against Providence, and Saturday, January 24th vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The package price for blue-level seats, a $57 value, is only $39, and red-level packages, a $69 value, are only $48. Plus, you get a free Wolf Pack hat with your Holiday Hat Trick purchase. Order on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com, or by calling the Wolf Pack ticket office at 860-548-2000.
The Wolf Pack’s annual “Scout Sleepover” is coming up Saturday, January 24th at the XL Center. The Pack host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins that night at 7:00, and all scouts, family and friends are invited to the post-game sleepover. The special Scout Sleepover offer includes a ticket to the game, a post-game skate (bring your own skates), a post-game movie and the special Wolf Pack scout patch, and costs only $14 per person. To order Scout Sleepover tickets, call the Wolf Pack ticket office at 860-548-2000.
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.
TRACK THE PACK AT WWW.HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM
