The Wolf Pack (25-23-3-4, 57 pts.) dropped three Atlantic-Division games between Friday and Monday, remaining tied with Bridgeport and Providence for fifth place in the Atlantic. The Pack fell to the P-Bruins by a 7-1 score in Providence on Friday night, lost a 6-4 GEICO Connecticut Cup verdict at home to Bridgeport Saturday, and then were downed 7-4 in a holiday matinee at Portland on Monday. Dane Byers (3-1-4) and defenseman Nigel Williams (1-3-4) led the Pack with four points apiece in the three games, and Williams has at least a point in a personal pro career-high four straight games (1-4-5).
This week:
The Wolf Pack continue a busy stretch of five games in seven days this week, which features three home games at the XL Center. The Norfolk Admirals visit Hartford for a 7:00 game on Wednesday, and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers come to town Friday night for a GEICO Connecticut Cup battle, on Guida’s Family Value Night. The Worcester Sharks, the Atlantic Division leaders, invade the XL Center on Saturday night (7:00), before the Wolf Pack finish up the hectic stretch with a visit to Bridgeport on Sunday (3:00).
Wednesday, February 17 vs. Norfolk at the XL Center, 7:00 PM
- This game wraps up a four-game season series between the Wolf Pack and the Admirals, and the Pack are 1-1-1-0 in the first three games between the two teams. The Admirals won the only previous encounter at the XL Center, 5-4, on January 27.
- Norfolk is on a 10-2-1-1 run in its last 14 games and has climbed into third place in the East Division, with a 27-25-3-1 record for 58 points.
- Goaltender Jaroslav Janus, who made 29 saves in a 3-2 overtime victory over the Wolf Pack in Norfolk February 5, has won his last three starts, allowing a total of only three goals on 82 shots.
- 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.
Friday, February 19 vs. Bridgeport at the XL Center, 7:00 PM
- Being a Friday home game, this is a 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. Guida’s Family Value Night packs are available at the XL Center box office and on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.
- At 24-23-3-6 for 57 points, the Sound Tigers are tied with the Wolf Pack for fifth place in the Atlantic Division. Bridgeport has only two wins in its last 10 games, but has at least a standings point in six of those contests (2-4-1-3).
- Saturday’s 6-4 home loss to Bridgeport was the Wolf Pack’s first regulation defeat in six GEICO Connecticut Cup games this season (3-1-0-2). The Pack are 2-1-0-0 in three home games on the year vs. the Sound Tigers.
- Sound Tiger leading point-scorer Greg Mauldin (18-22-40 in 53 GP) lit up the Wolf Pack for five points in Saturday’s Bridgeport win, with a goal and four assists.
- 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 20 vs. Worcester at the XL Center, 7:00 PM
- The first 3,000 fans into this game will receive a free Wolf Pack mouse pad, courtesy of Comcast.
- The Sharks enter the week in first place in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of Manchester, at 33-16-2-2 for 70 points. Worcester is only 2-2-0-0 in its last four games, but has lost only twice in regulation in its last 12 outings (9-2-1-0).
- The Wolf Pack have swept the previous three games between themselves and the Sharks this season, and posted a 4-3 win October 25 in the only prior meeting at the XL Center.
- Shark eighth-year pro defenseman Danny Groulx leads all AHL blueliners in assists, and is tied for tops in the league in points among defensemen (8-33-41 in 53 GP).
- 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.
Sunday, February 21 at Bridgeport (Bridgeport’s Arena at Harbor Yard), 3:00 PM
- This is the Wolf Pack’s fourth of five visits on the year to Bridgeport, and they have a win and two shootout losses to show for three previous trips.
- 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 – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers February 9, returned February 11, recalled February 13 and returned February 14.
Chad Johnson – returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers February 11.
Matt Zaba – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers February 11.
Andrew Carroll – signed Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement with Wolf Pack February 12.
Donald Brashear – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers February 13.
Pack Tracks:
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.
The Wolf Pack will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with “Go Green Night” Saturday, March 13. The Mighty Ploughboys will be performing live, as the Wolf Pack host the Lowell Devils that evening at 7:00.
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.
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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New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that goaltender Steve Valiquette has been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL), and goaltender Matt Zaba has been assigned to Hartford.
Valiquette, 32, has posted a record of 4-5-1, along with a 3.73 goals against average and an .877 save percentage in 11 appearances with Hartford this season. Valiquette posted a 4-1-1 mark, with a 2.29 goals against average and a .919 save percentage in a six-game stretch from December 12 vs. Bridgeport to December 30 vs. Springfield, including back-to-back wins on December 12 vs. Bridgeport (2-1) and December 18 vs. Toronto (6-1) where he registered a 0.99 goals against average and a .960 save percentage in the two contests.
The Etobicoke, Ontario native was signed by the Rangers as a free agent on July 1, 2006.
Zaba, 26, has posted a 0-0-0 record, with a 3.56 goals against average and an .875 save percentage in one appearance with the Rangers this season. He made his NHL debut in a 6-0 loss at Montreal on January 23, entering the game at 6:18 of the second period and stopping 14 of 16 shots, including nine of 10 in the third. In addition, Zaba has dressed as Henrik Lundqvist’s backup in six games this season. He returns to Hartford where he has posted a 5-8-1 record, along with a 3.03 goals against average and a .905 save percentage in 18 AHL appearances this season. He has posted a 2-4-0 record, with a 2.36 goals against average and a .930 save percentage in his last six games with the Wolf Pack dating back to a 5-4 loss vs. Norfolk on January 27. Last season, Zaba ranked seventh in the AHL in goals against average (2.33), tied for eighth in save percentage (.920) and 12th in wins (25). He also led the league in shootout save percentage with a .930% success rate. Zaba was named AHL Goaltender of the Month for February, and he finished the regular season with a 14-2-0 mark and a 1.84 goals against average, a .937 save percentage and one shutout in his final 16 contests. He made his AHL debut on October 18, 2008, at Toronto.
The Yorkton, Saskatchewan native was signed by the Rangers as a free agent on August 20, 2007.
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