By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack open their fourth and final three-in-three set of the season tonight as they welcome the Springfield Thunderbirds to town for the latest installment of the ‘I-91 Rivalry’.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on both AHLTV and Mixlr.
Tale of The Tape:
This is the tenth of twelve meetings between the Wolf Pack and the Thunderbirds this season. The sides will meet Saturday night at the XL Center at 6:00 p.m. to wrap up a back-to-back set. The season series concludes on April 15th at the MassMutual Center.
The Thunderbirds have won three in a row in the season series, recently taking a 4-2 decision in stunning fashion on March 17th in Hartford. Anton Blidh and Will Cuylle scored just 4:32 and 5:55 into the game to put the Wolf Pack ahead 2-0. That score would be through forty minutes, as Hartford largely controlled the game. The Thunderbirds managed only five shots in the third period but made them count.
Will Bitten scored at 6:21 and 11:41 of the frame, potting each of the club’s first two shots to tie the affair. Martin Frk blasted a point shot that was tipped by Matthew Highmore for the eventual game-winner on the powerplay at 14:39, while Bitten completed his hat trick into an empty net.
The Wolf Pack are just 1-2-0-1 at home against the Thunderbirds this season and 2-5-0-2 against the club overall. The Thunderbirds, meanwhile, have points in eight of the first nine meetings with a record of 7-1-0-1.
Wolf Pack Outlook:
In their last outing, the Wolf Pack scored a massive 3-2 victory on Saturday night against the Bridgeport Islanders. Cole Bardreau scored just 58 seconds in for the Isles, burying the night’s first shot. However, the Pack settled things down and used a three-goal outburst in the second period to nab two points.
Jonny Brodzinski tied the game 29 seconds into the second period on a powerplay, then Ryan Carpenter put Hartford ahead at 7:54 following a turnover in the Bridgeport zone. Brodzinski tacked on his second goal of the night at 17:06, converting on a partial breakaway. Ruslan Iskhakov got the Isles within one at 1:58 of the third, but the Hartford penalty kill would go three-for-three in the period, and Louis Domingue made ten saves to secure the win.
On Tuesday, the Wolf Pack signed forward Brett Berard to an amateur tryout (ATO) for the remainder of the season. Berard also inked a three-year, entry-level deal with the parent New York Rangers (NHL) that starts with the 2023-24 season. He will wear #27.
Cuylle leads the Wolf Pack in both points with 37 (21 g, 16 a) and goals with 21.
Thunderbirds Outlook:
The Thunderbirds dropped their second straight game on Sunday, 3-2, in a shootout to the Providence Bruins in Rhode Island. The loss completed a 1-1-0-1 weekend for the club, who was swept in a home-and-home by the B’s.
Adam Gaudette opened the scoring 7:10 into the second period, giving the club a lead they took into the final frame. Joona Koppanen struck at 10:02 and 17:21, however, putting the Bruins in the driver’s seat. Mathias Laferriere tied the game with a powerplay goal at 19:00, securing a big point for the T-Birds. However, overtime solved nothing, and the sides went to a shootout, where Koppanen completed his afternoon with the dagger in the third round. Vadim Zherenko made 53 saves in the shootout loss for the T-Birds.
Zherenko is 6-0-2 in his last eight starts for the club.
Frk leads the T-Birds in both points with 56 (27 g, 29 a) and goals with 27. His 27 goals are tied for fifth most in the entire AHL, two off the league lead.
Game Information:
Play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, Alex Thomas, will have ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting live at 6:45 p.m. on both AHLTV and Mixlr.
The Pack is back at the XL Center tomorrow night, March 25th, when the Thunderbirds return to town for the final time this season. The puck drop is set for 6:00 p.m. Tickets are available at hartfordwolfpack.com.
Related
Related posts
Top picks
ROAD WARRIORS LOST TO RABBITS; SWAMP RABBTS IMPRESSIVE IN DEFEAT
SOLAR BEARS TAKE SERIES LEAD WITH OVERTIME WIN Orlando puts Greenville on the brink despite Colton Young’s 3-point night, Bobby Russell’s pair of goals By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits ORLANDO, Fla. – Despite a high-scoring affair, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits fell to the Orlando…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
GARAND AND WOLF PACK ELIMINATE CHECKERS IN 3
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack CHARLOTTE, NC – Dylan Garand made a playoff career-high 39 saves on Sunday afternoon to help the Hartford Wolf Pack complete their First Round series victory over the Charlotte Checkers. The Wolf Pack used a five-on-five, powerplay, and shorthanded…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
GARAND AND WOLF PACK ELIMINATE CHECKERS IN 3
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack CHARLOTTE, NC – Dylan Garand made a playoff career-high 39 saves on Sunday afternoon to help the Hartford Wolf Pack complete their First Round series victory over the Charlotte Checkers. The Wolf Pack used a five-on-five, powerplay, and shorthanded…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
ANDREW LORD NAMED ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR
Fourth-year bench boss becomes first in both franchise and Greenville hockey history to receive recognition By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The ECHL announced today that Andrew Lord, Head Coach/General Manager of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, a proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los…