The Wolf Pack (4-8-2-1, 11 pts.) snapped a franchise-record nine-game winless streak (0-7-2-0) with a 7-1 pounding of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Sunday in GEICO Connecticut Cup action at the XL Center. Prior to that seven-goal explosion, the Pack had been held to a total of 10 goals during the nine-game drought, which included a 4-1 home loss to Manchester Wednesday, a 3-2 defeat in Manchester Friday and a 4-1 road loss in Bridgeport on Saturday, in the first half of a home-and-home with the Sound Tigers. Mats Zuccarello led the way for the Wolf Pack in Sunday’s rout, with the club’s first hat trick of the season and an assist, and totaled 4-2-6 in the week’s four games, and linemate Tim Kennedy chipped in three assists Sunday and had five total helpers in his three games on the week.
This week:
It’s a light week for the Wolf Pack this week, with two home games before the squad plays five straight on the road. The Pack plays its first game against a Western Conference opponent Tuesday night, when the Toronto Marlies invade the XL Center for a 7:00 game, and then the last home game for the Wolf Pack before the team is officially re-branded the Connecticut Whale is Saturday night at 7:00, with the Springfield Falcons in town.
Tuesday, November 9 vs. Toronto at the XL Center, 7:00 PM
· This is the first game of the season for the Wolf Pack against a Western Conference opponent. The Pack logged a 1-1-1-1 record in four contests vs. the Western Conference last season.
· The Marlies make their one-and-only regular season visit of the year to the XL Center for this game, which is the first of two on the year between the two clubs. The Wolf Pack gained three out of a possible four points in a two-game season series last year, winning 6-1 in Hartford and dropping a 3-2 overtime decision in Toronto.
· This is the seventh all-time meeting between the Wolf Pack and Marlies. The Pack are 3-2-0-1 previously against Toronto, and have won two of the three all-time matchups in Hartford.
· Head Coach Greg Gilbert’s Marlies are in the midst of a stretch of 10 straight road games, and are currently bringing up the rear in the North Division with a 4-6-0-2 record for 10 points, after a wild, 7-6 shootout loss at Oklahoma City Sunday.
· Toronto’s leading scorer, Nazem Kadri, the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft by the parent Maple Leafs, is tied for third in the AHL in rookie points, with 5-6-11 in 12 games.
· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.CTwhale.com and www.wtic.com.
Saturday, November 13 vs. Springfield at the XL Center, 7:00 PM
· This night will be a celebration of Wolf Pack history, it being the final home game before the franchise is officially re-branded the Connecticut Whale Saturday, November 27.
· The “Hartford Distributors/Bud Light All-time Wolf Pack Team”, which was chosen by a fan vote that ended Sunday, will be announced at this game. Also, the first 3,000 fans into the game will receive a free Wolf Pack commemorative poster.
· The Wolf Pack are 0-1-1-0 in this year’s I-91 season series with the Falcons, including a 2-1 overtime loss October 29 in the only previous meeting at the XL Center, after going 6-2-2-0 in 10 games against Springfield last season.
· Springfield is unbeaten in regulation in its last four games (3-0-0-1) and stands in third place in the Atlantic Division, with a record of 7-4-0-1 for 15 points.
· Former Wolf Pack goaltender David LeNeveu stopped a total of 63 out of 66 Pack shots in the Falcons’ two victories over the Wolf Pack.
· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.CTwhale.com and www.wtic.com.
Sunday, November 14 – “Wolf Pack Bowl-a-Thon” – AMF Silver Lanes, East Hartford, 11:00 AM
The Wolf Pack players will be bowling for Special Olympics Connecticut at AMF Silver Lanes in East Hartford, in the annual “Wolf Pack Bowl-a-Thon”. The Pack players will be bowling alongside teams of four bowlers, who have collected pledges to benefit Special Olympics Connecticut Eastern Region. A minimum pledge level of $200 is required for a team to enter, and the top fund-raising teams will win prizes, including the use of luxury suites at Wolf Pack home games. Registration for the Bowl-a-Thon is available on-line at www.soct.org. For further information, call (877) 660-6667. There will be two sessions of bowling, the first starting at 11:00 AM and the second at 2:00 PM. AMF Silver Lanes is located at 748 Silver Lane in East Hartford.
Recent Transactions:
Dov Grumet-Morris – released from Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement by the Wolf Pack November 4.
Evgeny Grachev – returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers November 8.
Pack Tracks:
Individual tickets for Wolf Pack/Whale home games are on sale now at the XL Center ticket office and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be charged by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.CTwhale.com. Tickets start at $7 each at the XL Center ticket office on game day.
For information on Wolf Pack/Whale ticket packages, group sales and VIP packages, call (860) 728-3366
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/Connecticut Whale is operated by Whalers Sports and Entertainment, a Hartford-based sports marketing and event firm founded by Howard Baldwin. 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/WHALE AT WWW.CTWHALE.COM
