THE HART BEAT – VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1
THE HART BEAT – VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack opened the 2026-27 season with two divisional wins in Pennsylvania last weekend. Now, the Wolf Pack are set to open the home portion of their 30th-anniversary season.
The Week That Was:
Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026 – at Lehigh Valley Phantoms (5-2 W): The Wolf Pack opened the season with a 5-2 victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Allentown.
Jacob Gaucher opened the scoring at 5:32, shoveling a backhander by Gabriel Carriere on the power play. Taylor Raddysh tied it at 11:34, ripping home his first goal from the slot.
Gaucher’s second of the game restored the home lead 1:39 into the middle stanza, but it would be the last puck to beat Carriere on this night.
Juuso Pärssinen evened the affair 2-2 at 10:05, striking on the power play from the right-wing circle.
The Pack exploded for three goals in the final frame, spoiling the party in Allentown. Lucas Vanroboys broke the tie at 5:03, blasting a shot from the left-wing circle home.
Cole Beaudoin’s first pro goal at 8:23 took away the Wolf Pack’s insurance policy, and Vincent Iorio hit the empty net at 18:07 to seal the win.
Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026 – at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (3-2 W): For the second straight game, the Wolf Pack fell behind in the first period.
Jake Livanavage scored his first goal of the season just 89 seconds in, beating Callum Tung from distance.
But for the second straight night, the Wolf Pack battled back and found a way to take two points on the road.
Marc Del Gaizo blasted a power-play strike from the blueline at 1:14 of the second period to tie it 1-1. 13:30 later, Raddysh scored his second in as many games on a pretty feed from Beaudoin, giving the Wolf Pack a lead they never lost.
Nathan Aspinall rocketed home his first professional goal at 17:23 of the third period, beating Taylor Gauthier from the bottom of the right-wing circle on the power play to make it 3-1.
Avery Hayes scored at 18:46 to draw the Penguins within one, but it was too little, too late.
The Week Ahead:
Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at Providence Bruins (7:05 p.m.) – The Wolf Pack end their three-game road trip Friday night as they visit the Bruins for the first of 12 meetings this season.
The Bruins won eight of ten meetings during the 2025-26 season, posting an 8-2-0-0 record. The Wolf Pack got points in four of those meetings, going 2-6-1-1 head-to-head against the Bruins.
The sides will meet again in Hartford on Oct. 23.
Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, Vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (6:00 p.m.) – The second of six meetings this season between the Wolf Pack and Penguins takes place Saturday night in the annual home opener at PeoplesBank Arena.
The Wolf Pack were 1-2-0-0 against the Penguins at home last season, and 2-4-0-0 overall. This season, however, the Wolf Pack drew first blood with Sunday’s 3-2 victory in Wilkes-Barre.
Fans attending Saturday night’s game are encouraged to wear white for the Wolf Pack’s ‘White Out Game’! Thanks to Pepsi, the lower bowl will be covered in white T-shirts with the Pack’s 30th anniversary logo to help kick off the season!
Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, Vs. Laval Rocket (3:00 p.m.) – The first of four meetings this season between the Wolf Pack and Rocket will take place on Sunday at PeoplesBank Arena. The sides will conclude their season series with three January matchups.
The Rocket swept two games against the Wolf Pack last season, winning both in regulation. Overall, the Wolf Pack have won just three of the last ten meetings with the Rocket, going 3-6-1-0.
Where to Watch and Listen:
All three Wolf Pack games will be available this weekend on FloHockey via AHLTV.
Brett Chaves of the Providence Bruins will call Friday night on AHLTV on FloHockey, with puck drop at 7:05 p.m.
Alex Thomas is back on the mic Saturday night, with ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting at 5:40 p.m. on AHLTV on FloHockey and Mixlr before the 6:00 p.m. puck drop.
Sean Dufresne will have the call of the action on Sunday, with ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting at 2:45 p.m.
Quick Hits:
- The Wolf Pack are 2-0-0-0 for the first time since the 2023-24 season. That is also the last time the Wolf Pack qualified for the Calder Cup Playoffs.
- F Cole Beaudoin led the Wolf Pack in scoring during opening weekend, notching five points (1 g, 4 a) in two games.
- The parent New York Rangers recalled Beaudoin on Tuesday, and he made his NHL debut that night against the New York Islanders. The Rangers won that game 5-2.
- Former Wolf Pack G Dylan Garand recorded his first NHL shutout on Oct. 2 against the Detroit Red Wings. He made 22 saves in the 2-0 victory.
- Callum Tung’s 38 saves on Sunday against the Penguins marked a career high.
- Former Wolf Pack G Igor Shesterkin became the first Rangers goaltender to score a goal in a game on Oct. 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden.
- This marks the fourth time in the last six seasons that the Wolf Pack have hosted the Penguins in the club’s home opener.
Join the Wolf Pack for the 2026-27 season, become a member today! For more information, click here.
ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers and play at PeoplesBank Arena. The Wolf Pack has developed numerous current New York Rangers, including Igor Shesterkin, Will Cuylle, and Gabe Perreault. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
