WOLF PACK WEEKLY: December 22 – 28, 2008

The Wolf Pack finished off its pre-Christmas action by winning two out of three home games this past week.  The Pack defeated the Providence Bruins for a second straight Wednesday, 3-2, before suffering a 6-2 loss at the hands of the Hamilton Bulldogs on Saturday.  The Wolf Pack rebounded on Sunday vs. the Toronto Marlies, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to post a 4-3 victory.  Greg Moore notched the game-winning goal in both of the week’s wins, a shorthander in Wednesday’s game and a power-play tally on Sunday.  Ken Gernander’s club now has at least a standings point in six of its last seven games (5-1-0-1) and nine of its last 12 (7-3-1-1).

This week:

The Wolf Pack start a stretch of three straight and seven out of nine on the road with a GEICO Connecticut Cup visit to Bridgeport on Friday night (7:00 faceoff).  The Pack then travel to the Bay State for games Saturday in Springfield (7:00) and Sunday at Lowell (4:00).

Friday, December 26^th at Bridgeport (Bridgeport’s Arena at Harbor Yard), 7:00 p.m.

· The Wolf Pack are 2-1-0-0 in this year’s GEICO Connecticut Cup series vs. the Sound Tigers, and have split two visits to Bridgeport.

· The Sound Tigers sport the second-best overall record in the AHL, at 20-8-1-2 for 43 points, trailing only their East-Division rivals the Hershey Bears, who have 45 points.

· Bridgeport’s top point-getter is veteran winger Mike Iggulden, who has totaled 15-20-35 in 31 games on the year and stands only two points off the league lead.

· 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, December 27^th at Springfield (MassMutual Center), 7:00 p.m.

· The Falcons have fallen to 12-14-3-1 for 28 points, tied for fifth in the Atlantic Division and six points behind the Wolf Pack, by losing three straight games and going 1-5-1-0 in their last seven.  Their only win in that span was a 4-3 shootout victory over the Wolf Pack December 13^th in Hartford.

· This is the Pack’s first visit of the season to Springfield.  They are 1-1-0-1 in three home games this year vs. the Falcons, and Springfield has come back from 3-0 deficits in both of their victories against the Wolf Pack.

· The Falcons’ Devan Dubnyk has been by far the busiest goaltender in the AHL this year, having seen action in 29 of Springfield’s 30 games (12-16-1, 3.01, 90.4, 1 SHO).

· Radio – this game will be carried live 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.

Sunday, December 28^th at Lowell (Paul E. Tsongas Arena), 4:00 p.m.

· This is the second meeting of the year between the Wolf Pack and the Devils, and the Pack’s first visit to Lowell.  The Devils took the first encounter between the two clubs, 4-3 in a shootout, November 21^st in Hartford.  The Wolf Pack was 3-0-0-1 in four trips to Lowell last year.

· Lowell rookie goaltender Jeff Frazee sports the fifth-best save percentage in the AHL at 92.6%, and is 10^th in the league in goals-against average with a mark of 2.49.

· The Devils are currently mired in an 0-6-0-1 slump and are last in the Atlantic, at 11-14-1-3 for 26 points.  They are, however, only two points behind Springfield and Manchester and six points behind fourth-place Worcester.

· 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.

Recent Transactions:

Corey Potter – returned on loan to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers December 22^nd.

Pack Tracks:

The Wolf Pack’s home game Friday, January 2^nd vs. the Grand Rapids Griffins is the last game for the Pack’s exciting ticket-discount promotion, with adult tickets 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.

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 3^rd vs. Hershey, Saturday, January 17^th against Providence, and Saturday, January 24^th 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, limited-edition Wolf Pack hat with your Holiday Hat Trick purchase.  Order on-line at www.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 24^th 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.

Friday, January 30^th, when the Wolf Pack host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, is Girl Scout Night at the XL Center.  $25 tickets are available to Girl Scouts for only $14 each.  Order by calling the Wolf Pack ticket office at 860-548-2000, and the first 1,500 Girl Scouts will receive a free Wolf Pack beanie hat.