WOLF PACK WEEKLY: March 16 – 22, 2009 

The Wolf Pack won two out of their three games this past week, climbing to 37-25-3-3 for 80 points.  Friday night in Worcester, the Pack defeated the Sharks for the fourth straight time in the season series, scoring a 4-2 victory.  Then the Wolf Pack finished off the GEICO Connecticut Cup series with a 6-3 home win over Bridgeport Saturday night, before falling in a return trip to Worcester Sunday, 4-1.  That was only the third regulation loss in the last 13 games (10-2-1-0) for the Pack.  Defenseman Michael Sauer, who had totaled only 14 points in 52 games coming into the week, was the biggest offensive force in the three games.  Sauer broke out for a pro career-high two goals and three points in Saturday’s win, and registered a total of 2-4-6 on the week.

This week:

It’s a huge week for the Wolf Pack, with four Atlantic-Division games on the schedule.  First, the Pack host the Lowell Devils at the XL Center Wednesday, with Eric Hutchinson performing live at the game.  Faceoff is 7:00.  Then the Wolf Pack hit the road for three straight, at Portland Friday (7:00), at Springfield Saturday (7:00) and at division-leading Providence Sunday (4:05).

Wednesday, March 18 vs. Lowell at the XL Center, 7:00 PM

· Warner Brothers recording artist Eric Hutchinson will perform live at this game, and will also conduct a special “meet and greet” with fans.

· The Devils currently occupy sixth place in the Atlantic Division, but are only five points out of a playoff spot, with a record of 29-29-2-6 for 66 points.

· Prior to defeating the Devils 5-2 in Lowell February 20 in the teams’ last meeting, the Wolf Pack were 0-3-0-1 in the season series.  The Devils have won both of their previous trips to the XL Center, 4-3 in a shootout November 21 and 3-2 on January 23.

· Goaltender Scott Clemmensen is 1-1-0 in two starts since being returned to Lowell by parent-club New Jersey February 25.  In 40 games with the big club while Martin Brodeur was injured, Clemmensen went 25-13-1, with a 2.39 goals-against average, a 91.7% save percentage and two shutouts.

· 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, March 20 at Portland (Cumberland County Civic Center), 7:00 PM

· The Pirates (31-26-3-6, 71 pts.) are tied with Worcester for the fourth-and-final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, and trail the Wolf Pack by nine points.

· The Wolf Pack have won the last four meetings with the Pirates, and five of six overall.  The Pack are 2-0-0 in Portland thus far on the year, and 22(W)-9(L)-4(T)-2(OTL) in 37 all-time trips to the Cumberland County Civic Center.

· Tim Kennedy, the AHL’s leading rookie scorer (14-39-53 in 59 GP), had three assists in the Pirates’ last game, a 6-1 home win over Lowell Saturday.  Nathan Gerbe, who has the second-most goals (24) and is tied for the fifth-most points (46) among first-year players, had two goals and an assist in that contest.

· 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, March 21 at Springfield (MassMutual Center), 7:00 p.m.

· The Falcons have at least a standings point in three straight games, with a win and two shootout losses, but have won just four of their last 25 games (4-16-2-3).  Seventh-place Springfield is 20-37-7-4 on the year for 51 points.

· This is the last of the Wolf Pack’s five visits to Springfield this season.  The Pack are 4-0-0 thus far at the MassMutual Center, and 6-1-0-1 in eight overall meetings with the Falcons.

· Falcons leading scorer Ryan Potulny (27-17-44 in 58 GP) is tied for seventh in the AHL in goals.

· 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, March 22 at Providence (Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence), 4:05 p.m.

· With four straight wins, the P-Bruins (38-24-2-4, 82 pts.) have moved two points ahead of the Wolf Pack for first place in the Atlantic Division.

· The Wolf Pack and Bruins have not seen each other since January 17, when Providence beat the Wolf Pack 5-2 at the XL Center.  The Pack are 2-2-1-0 in the season series and have posted a regulation loss and an overtime loss in two previous visits to Providence, the last of which was back on November 30.

· Tuukka Rask’s 29 wins (29-19-2) are good for second in the AHL, and only one off the lead, and Rask has also played the second-most minutes (2,913) among league backstops.

· 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:

Maxime Daigneault – recalled by the Wolf Pack from loan to Charlotte (ECHL) March 10.

Matthew Ford – released by the Wolf Pack from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement March 10.

Pack Tracks:

The Wolf Pack’s home game Saturday, March 28 vs. the Providence Bruins (7:00 faceoff) is “Boy Scout Hat Night”.  All scouts who purchase group tickets in advance through the Wolf Pack ticket office at (860) 548-2000 will receive a special Wolf Pack scout hat.

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, coupon books and group tickets are also available.  Contact 860-548-2000 for more details.

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