WOLF PACK WEEKLY: February 8-15, 2010 

The Wolf Pack (25-20-3-4, 57 pts.) went 2-0-1-0 in three road games this past week, for their longest road undefeated streak of the season.  The junket started with a game in Newark, NJ against the Lowell Devils Wednesday, and the Pack posted a 3-2 overtime triumph for their franchise-record eighth OT win of the year.  The overtime result went the other way in Norfolk on Friday, however, with the Wolf Pack losing a 3-2 extra-time decision to the Admirals.  The two teams went right back at it Saturday night at Scope in Norfolk, and the Wolf Pack handed the Admirals their first regulation loss in 10 games, a 5-1 verdict that was the Pack’s first regulation win in a span of 13 games.  Corey Locke totaled a goal and four assists for five points in the three games, including a three-assist, +4 performance in Saturday’s win, and Matt Zaba played all three contests in goal, allowing a total of only six goals on 113 shots (1.91 goals-against average, 94.7% save percentage).

The Wolf Pack finish up a stretch of four straight road games this Friday night with a visit to Providence to take on the Bruins (7:05 PM faceoff), and then start a run of six out of eight at home on Saturday, when the Bridgeport Sound Tigers visit the XL Center for a GEICO Connecticut Cup game (7:00).  Monday then finds the Wolf Pack in Portland, Maine for a holiday matinee against the Pirates, with faceoff at 1:00.

Friday, February 12 at Providence (Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence), 7:05 PM

The seventh-place Bruins have won four of their last five games, scoring a total of 25 goals in the process, to climb above the .500 mark (25-24-3-0, 53 pts.) and to within four points of the fifth-place Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division.

This is the last of five visits on the year to Providence for the Wolf Pack, who are 5-1-1-0 thus far in the season series and have won their last three road games vs. the Bruins, after losing their first game of the season in Providence.

Bruins leading point-scorer Mikko Lehtonen (17-25-42 in 52 GP) had 3-2-5 in a home-and-home sweep of the Worcester Sharks Saturday and Sunday, and has struck for 6-1-7 in seven games against the Wolf Pack this year.

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 13 vs. Bridgeport at the XL Center, 7:00 PM

The Wolf Pack are unbeaten in regulation in this year’s GEICO Connecticut Cup series vs. the Sound Tigers, at 3-0-0-2, and have won both of the previous meetings between the two teams at the XL Center, 2-1 in overtime December 12 and 3-2 January 2.

Bridgeport starts the week two points behind the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division standings, at 23-21-3-6 for 55 points.  The Sound Tigers snapped a six-game winless streak (0-2-1-3) with a 6-4, come-from-behind victory over Manchester Saturday night at home.

Sound Tiger scoring leader Greg Mauldin (17-17-34, +13 in 50 GP) had a goal and two assists in Saturday night’s Bridgeport win over Manchester.

As with all Wolf Pack Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday-night home games, this night features $3 domestic drafts and snacks in the XL Center Atrium.

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.

Monday, February 15 at Portland (Cumberland County Civic Center), 1:00 PM

Head Coach Kevin Dineen’s Pirates have won six straight games, and eight of their last nine, and are four points ahead of the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic, at 27-16-5-2 for 61 points.

The Wolf Pack have dropped two of the first three games this season between themselves and the Pirates, including a 6-3 loss October 16 in their only previous visit to Portland.

Pirates points leader Mark Mancari was named Reebok AHL Player of the Week for last week, after working his way into the top ten in AHL scoring—he stands tied for ninth in the league with 20-29-49 in 49 GP—with 1-6-7 in his last three 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:

Andres Ambühl – reassigned by the New York Rangers from the Wolf Pack to the Swiss National Team February 7.
Julien Brouillette – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack February 7.

Pack Tracks:

At the Wolf Pack’s home game Saturday, February 20 against the Worcester Sharks, the first 3,000 fans into the XL Center will receive a free Wolf Pack mouse pad, courtesy of Comcast.  Faceoff as usual is 7:00 PM.

The Wolf Pack players will be wearing specialty jerseys at their home games Friday, February 26 against Springfield and Saturday, February 27 vs. Portland, and the jerseys will be auctioned off throughout the February 27 game.  Proceeds from the auction benefit the March of Dimes, and the jersey design can be seen on the Wolf Pack’s official website, www.hartfordwolfpack.com

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.

Since 1972, the CT Lottery has generated more than $19.3 billion in sales and has transferred nearly $6.7 billion to the state’s General Fund.  Prizes have exceeded more than $11.1 billion.  Purchasers must be 18 years or older.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-346-6238.  For more information about the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, call (860) 713-2000, or visit the CT Lottery web site at ctlottery.org.

TRACK THE PACK AT WWW.HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM