WOLF PACK WEEKLY: February 16 – 22, 2009

The Wolf Pack (27-22-2-3, 59 pts.) went 1-2-0-0 last week, in three non-conference games. The Pack lost a pair to the Manitoba Moose, 4-2 on Wednesday and 4-1 on Saturday, and in between defeated the Lake Erie Monsters, 6-2, on Friday. Patrick Rissmiller led the way offensively for the Wolf Pack, with 1-4-5 in the three games, and Corey Potter had his first career multiple-goal game in the AHL in Friday’s win, with 2-1-3 and a team season-high nine shots.

This week:

The Wolf Pack face their fourth four-game week of the season this week, starting with a GEICO Connecticut Cup skirmish with Bridgeport Wednesday at the XL Center (7:00 faceoff). The Pack travel to Lowell on Friday to take on the Devils (7:00), are back at the XL Center Saturday to host Portland (7:00), and finish the weekend at Manchester on Sunday (4:00).

Wednesday, February 18^th vs. Bridgeport at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

· Kids can save with Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s mascot, at this game. The first 1,500 kids through the doors will receive their very own, free Sonar piggy bank.

· This is the eighth game of this year’s GEICO Connecticut Cup series between the Wolf Pack and Sound Tigers. The Pack are 4-3-0-0 in the series thus far and have won all three previous games played at the XL Center.

· Bridgeport currently stands third in the East Division, with a record of 30-17-3-3 for 66 points.

· Goaltender Tobias Stephan, loaned to Bridgeport February 6^th by the Dallas Stars, is 3-0-0 since joining the Sound Tigers, with only six goals-against on 76 shots (1.96 GAA, 92.1% save percentage).

· 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.

Friday, February 20^th at Lowell (Paul E. Tsongas Arena), 7:00 p.m.

· The Wolf Pack have struggled against the Devils this year, going 0-3-0-1 in four meetings and 0-2-0-0 in two previous trips to Lowell.

· Unbeaten in regulation in their last five games (3-0-0-2) and 6-2-0-2 in their last ten, the Devils (25-21-1-5, 56 pts.) have crept up into a tie for fourth place in the Atlantic Division and are only three points behind the Wolf Pack.

· Defenseman Anssi Salmela has five points (2-3-5) in Lowell’s last two games and 23 points (8-15-23) in 36 AHL games on the 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, February 21^st vs. Portland at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

· Head Coach Kevin Dineen’s Pirates lead the Wolf Pack by three points in the Atlantic standings, with a record of 28-20-1-5 for 62 points. Portland is unbeaten in regulation in its last six games (3-0-0-3).

· The Wolf Pack have taken three out of four thus far in the season series with Portland, and the two clubs have split a pair of games at the XL Center.

· Pirates rookie Tim Kennedy leads all first-year pros in points and assists (12-33-45 in 49 GP) was named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Week for last week, after chalking up 5-5-10 in four games.

· Fans are encouraged to wear red to this game to show their support for the American Heart Association's GO RED for Women campaign

· 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.

Sunday, February 22^nd at Manchester (Verizon Wireless Arena), 4:00 p.m.

· The Monarchs enter this week on a three-game winning streak and three points out of a playoff spot in the Atlantic. Coach Mark Morris’ club is 24-24-0-5 for 53 points.

· The Wolf Pack lost for the first time in four battles with the Monarchs the last time the two teams met, February 4^th in Hartford, a 6-3 verdict.

· 13^th-year pro Marty Murray, the Monarchs’ captain, has taken over the Manchester team scoring lead. Murray has 4-8-12 in his last seven games to up his totals on the year to 9-26-35 in 53 GP.

· 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:

Sean Avery – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the Dallas Stars February 10^th.

Tomas Zaborsky – reassigned by the New York Rangers to the Wolf Pack from Dayton (ECHL) February 12^th.

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.

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, benefiting 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.