The Wolf Pack (23-20-2-4, 52 pts.) fell into a fifth-place tie in the Atlantic Division, after dropping all three games of a three-game homestand this past week. Prior to that, the Pack had lost only three times in regulation in their first 21 home contests (15-3-1-2). The Wolf Pack dropped a 5-4 decision to Norfolk in a see-saw battle Wednesday, then fell to the Lowell Devils by a 3-2 score on Friday. Saturday saw the Wolf Pack shut out for only the second time on the season, as the Manchester Monarchs hung a 2-0 loss on them. That game completed the eight-game season series between the Pack and the first-place Monarchs, and a schedule stretch in which the Wolf Pack played four out of seven games against Manchester. Kenny Roche, who just joined the Pack last Saturday, was the top offensive performer in last week’s three games, with a goal and two assists.
This week:
The Wolf Pack will embark on their farthest road trip of the season this week, as they travel to Newark, NJ Wednesday for a game against the Lowell Devils (7:00 PM faceoff), and then head down to Norfolk, VA for a pair of games vs. the Admirals. The Pack and Admirals will tangle on Friday and Saturday at Scope in Norfolk, with both games facing off at 7:15.
Wednesday, February 3 vs. Lowell at the Prudential Center (Newark, NJ), 7:00 PM
· This game is being played at the home of Lowell’s NHL affiliate, the New Jersey Devils. This is the second get-together of the year between the Pack and Devils at the Prudential Center, the Devils having taken a 3-2 decision from the Pack there on January 6.
· After their 3-2 loss to the Devils Friday night in Hartford, the Wolf Pack are even on the season against Lowell at 2-2-0-0. The Devils have taken the last two meetings after the Wolf Pack won the first pair.
· Former Yale Eli Brad Mills paced the Devils in Friday’s Lowell win, with a pair of goals, and Stephen Gionta and Cory Murphy had two assists apiece.
· At 29-17-3-1 for 62 points, Head Coach John MacLean’s Devil club is tied with Worcester for second place in the Atlantic Division, three points behind Manchester. Lowell has won back-to-back games and has at least a standings point in six of its last seven (5-1-0-1).
· 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 5 at Norfolk (Norfolk Scope), 7:15 PM
· The Admirals just completed a seven-game road trip 6-0-1-0 under new head coach Jim Johnson, who took over from Darren Rumble January 16. Norfolk is up to the .500 mark, 23-23-3-0 for 49 points, and to third place in the East Division.
· Norfolk captured the first game of a four-game season series with the Wolf Pack Wednesday at the XL Center, winning by a score of 5-4.
· Right wing Mark Parrish, who has played in 704 NHL games in his 11-year career, scored two goals, including the game-winner with 2:46 left in the third period, in Wednesday’s Admiral triumph over the Wolf Pack.
· This is the Wolf Pack’s first visit to Norfolk since a 3-2 win January 12, 2008. They swept a pair of games from the Admirals at Scope that year, also winning 4-2 on January 11. All-time in Norfolk, the Pack are 5(W)-5(L)-2(T) in 12 games.
· 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 6 at Norfolk (Norfolk Scope), 7:15 PM
· The Admirals head into this week 8-12-0-0 on home ice and 15-11-3-0 on the road, while the Wolf Pack sport a road record of 8-14-1-2 in 25 games.
· 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:
Chad Johnson – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers January 25.
Matt Zaba – returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers January 25.
Tyler Doig – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack January 28.
Julien Brouillette – signed to Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack January 30.
Miika Wiikman – reassigned by the New York Rangers to the Wolf Pack from Charlotte (ECHL) January 30.
Pack Tracks:
At the Wolf Pack’s home game Saturday, February 20 the first 3,000 fans into the XL Center will receive a free Wolf Pack mouse pad, courtesy of Comcast.
At every Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday-night Wolf Pack home game for the balance of the regular season, fans can enjoy $3 drafts and snacks in the XL Center Atrium. Also, the Comcast Coliseum Club features a “Warmup Menu”, with $3 domestic drafts and appetizers, before every Wolf Pack home game at the XL Center.
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 or online at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. Information on all of the Wolf Pack’s many terrific ticket options, including group discounts, season tickets, partial plans, Birthday Bash packages and more, is available by calling the Wolf Pack ticket office at (860) 548-2000, and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.
Every Friday-night Wolf Pack home game at the XL Center is Guida’s Family Value Night. Family Value packages start as low as $45 and include three tickets, three hot dogs or pizza slices, three sodas and a Wolf Pack souvenir. To order your Guida’s Family Value Night pack, visit the XL Center box office, or go on-line to www.hartfordwolfpack.com. The next Friday Guida’s Family Value Night is coming up February 19, as the Pack host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a 7:00 PM GEICO Connecticut Cup game.
Once again this season, the Wolf Pack are partnering with WTIC Radio to air Wolf Pack hockey action. 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. The next Wolf Pack game scheduled to be on WTIC NewsTalk 1080 is Saturday, February 27, when the Pack host the Portland Pirates at 7:00 PM.
The AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack is operated by Northland AEG LLC, a joint partnership between Northland Investment Corporation and AEG Facilities. The team is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers.
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TRACK THE PACK AT WWW.HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM
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