The Wolf Pack (33-32-6-5, 77 pts.) had their second straight 2-1-0-0 week this past week, climbing to within five points of the Eastern Conference’s last playoff spot. After a 5-3 loss Wednesday at home to division-leading Worcester, the Wolf Pack scored a critical 5-2 victory over Lowell at the XL Center Friday, and then handed Springfield a 6-1 defeat Saturday night on the road. Leading offensive performers for the Pack on the week, with four points each, were Dale Weise (3-1-4), Kris Newbury (0-4-4) and Corey Potter (0-4-4).This week:
The AHL regular season concludes this week, and the Wolf Pack wrap it up with a busy schedule of four games in five days. First is a home-and-home series with the Worcester Sharks, Wednesday night at the XL Center (7:00 PM faceoff) and Friday evening in Worcester (7:05). Then the Wolf Pack play their last regular-season home game of the season Saturday night vs. Springfield (7:00), on “Fan Appreciation Night”, and bring down the curtain on the regular year, and the GEICO Connecticut Cup series, with a visit to Bridgeport for a 3:00 game on Sunday.
Wednesday, April 7 vs. Worcester at the XL Center, 7:00 PM
* 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.
* Worcester has won the last two games between themselves and the Wolf Pack, after the Pack captured the first four games of the season series. The Wolf Pack are 2-1-0-0 at home against the Sharks on the year, after Wednesday’s 5-3 Worcester victory at the XL Center.
* The Atlantic Division-leading Sharks’ advantage over second-place Portland is down to one point, after Worcester suffered a regulation loss and an overtime defeat in its last two games. The Sharks have an even 100 points on the season, with a record of 47-23-3-3.
* The Sharks were well-represented among the AHL season award-winners announced last week, with defenseman Danny Groulx (11-51-62 in 76 GP) earning First-Team All-Star honors and goaltender Alex Stalock (37-18-2, 2.64, 90.8, 3 SHO) and forward Logan Couture (20-33-53 in 42 GP) being named to the league’s All-Rookie team.
* 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, April 9 at Worcester (DCU Center), 7:05 PM
* The Wolf Pack have won two of their previous three visits this year to the DCU Center, where they are 11-4-0-1 in 15 all-time meetings with the Sharks.
* The Sharks return home for this game after seven straight on the road. Worcester has won five straight on home ice.
* 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, April 10 vs. Springfield at the XL Center, 7:00 PM
* The Wolf Pack’s last regular-season home game, this is “Fan Appreciation Night” at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack players will be wearing specialty jerseys that night, and the jerseys will be given away to lucky fans after the game. Also at Fan Appreciation Night, the Wolf Pack will honor former Pack coach John Paddock for his recent induction into the AHL Hall of Fame.
* The Wolf Pack and the CT Lottery are presenting a special ticket offer for this game. Fans redeeming a non-winning CT Lottery draw ticket at the XL Center box office when purchasing a Red-Level ticket to this game will receive another Red-Level ticket free of charge. This offer is valid only for adults 18 years of age or older, only on the day of the game, and for a maximum of two tickets.
* 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.
* After Saturday’s 6-1 victory in Springfield, the Wolf Pack are 5-2-2-0 on the year against the Falcons, 2-1-1-0 at the XL Center.
* After going 0-4-1-1 in their last six games, the Falcons are 24-38-11-4 for 63 points, last overall in the AHL.
* Springfield’s leading scorer, Charles Linglet (19-55-74 in 75 GP), was named a Second-Team AHL All-Star last week, prior to playing his first two career NHL games with parent-club Edmonton.
* 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, April 11 at Bridgeport (Bridgeport’s Arena at Harbor Yard), 3:00 PM
* The Wolf Pack’s regular-season finale could be a showdown for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot, as the Sound Tigers (36-31-4-6, 82 pts.) currently occupy that position and stand five points ahead of the Pack entering the week.
* This game will also decide the winner of the 2009-10 GEICO Connecticut Cup, as the Wolf Pack (4-3-0-2, 10 pts.) have one less standings point than Bridgeport (5-3-1-0, 11 pts.) through the first nine games of the season series. The Pack are 1-1-0-2 in four previous visits to Bridgeport this year.
* Sound Tiger point and goal-scoring leader Greg Mauldin, who has 24-27-51 in 74 games, is also the Sound Tigers’ leading point-getter in the season series against the Wolf Pack, with 2-6-8 in nine 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:
Devin DiDiomete – reassigned by the New York Rangers to the Wolf Pack from Charlotte (ECHL) March 31
Chris McKelvie – signed to an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement by the Wolf Pack March 31
Cameron Talbot – signed to an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement by the Wolf Pack March 31
Corey Locke – returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers April 4
Dale Weise – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers April 4
PACK TRACKS:
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.
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 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.
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