CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK WEEKLY: Jan 8-15, 2018
BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Wolf Pack (14-17-3-3, 34 pts., .459) started a three-game weekend with a 3-2 win at Eastern Conference-leading Providence this past Friday night, but then suffered back-to-back home losses, Saturday night vs. Syracuse, 3-2, and Sunday against Utica, 5-1. Defenseman John Gilmour, who will represent the Wolf Pack in the 2018 AHL All-Star Classic later in the month in Utica, had the game-winning goal in Friday’s game and assisted on a Joe Whitney power-play goal Saturday.
For the latest AHL standings, click here.
This week:
The Wolf Pack reached the halfway point of their 2017-18 campaign this week, with a busy schedule of four road games in six days. First, it’s a trip down to Bridgeport on Wednesday night, for a 7:00 PM game vs. the in-state rival Sound Tigers. Then, the Wolf Pack head to Canada for their first-ever visits to two first-year AHL markets, traveling to Laval to take on the Rocket Friday night (7:30) and to Belleville on Saturday night, for a 7:00 date with the Senators. On Monday, the Wolf Pack take on the Springfield Thunderbirds in a Martin Luther King Day holiday matinee in Springfield, with faceoff at 1:05.
Wednesday, January 10 at the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) at Webster Bank Arena, 7:00 PM
- This is the seventh matchup of the year between the Wolf Pack and their Nutmeg State rivals. Hartford is 1-4-1-0 in their previous action vs. Bridgeport, 1-2-0-0 in three road games.
- The Sound Tigers, who have at least a standings point in five of their last six games (3-1-2-0) but have won only three of their last 13 (3-6-3-1), come into the week three points ahead of the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division standings, at 16-13-4-1 for 37 points and a .544 points percentage.
- Defenseman Kyle Burroughs scored Bridgeport’s only goal in their last game, a 6-1 loss at Toronto on Saturday, giving him a three-game point-scoring streak (1-2-3).
- Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on News Radio 1410 WPOP, online at iheart.com and on iHeartRadio. Video streaming at ahllive.com
Friday, January 12 at the Laval Rocket (Montreal) at Place Bell, 7:30 PM
- This is the Wolf Pack’s inaugural visit to Place Bell, where the first-year Rocket is 7-9-2-1 in 19 games on the season.
- This game completes a two-game season series between the Wolf Pack and the Rocket, who took the first meeting between the two clubs, 3-2 in overtime, November 12 at the XL Center.
- Rocket points leader Chris Terry (18-22-40 in 35 GP) is tied for the AHL point-scoring lead and is only one off the league lead in goals. He has at least a point in 11 of Laval’s last 12 games (6-12-18).
- The Rocket comes into this week tied in standings points with fourth-place Utica in the North Division, with a record of 15-16-5-2 for 37 points and a .487 points percentage.
- Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on News Radio 1410 WPOP, online at iheart.com and on iHeartRadio. Video streaming at ahllive.com.
Saturday, January 13 at the Belleville Senators (Ottawa) at Yardmen Arena, 7:00 PM
- Belleville is another new frontier for the Wolf Pack, who fell to the Senators 5-1 October 20 in Hartford in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
- The Senators currently sit in sixth place in the North Division, three points ahead of Binghamton, at 14-20-0-3 for 31 points and a .419 points percentage. Head Coach Kurt Kleinendorst’s club has lost eight of its last 11 games.
- Winger Max McCormick leads the Belleville club in points, with 5-13-18 in 35 GP, and Gabriel Gagne is the Senators’ top goal-scorer, with 12-3-15 in 36 GP.
- Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on News Radio 1410 WPOP, online at iheart.com and on iHeartRadio. Video streaming at ahllive.com.
Monday, January 15 at the Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at the MassMutual Center, 1:05 PM
- The Thunderbirds finished last week at 14-21-1-1, with 30 points and a .405 points percentage, four points behind the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division standings. Springfield has lost three of its last four, after a 3-0-0-1 streak.
- This game marks the ninth meeting of the season between the Wolf Pack and Thunderbirds, and the Wolf Pack are 3-4-0-1 in the season series thus far, 1-2-0-1 in four previous visits to Springfield.
- In the Wolf Pack and Springfield’s last encounter, December 30 at the XL Center, Thunderbird defenseman Josh Brown scored his first goal of the season with 4.9 seconds remaining in the third period, to lift Springfield to a 5-4 win.
- Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on News Radio 1410 WPOP, online at iheart.com and on iHeartRadio. Video streaming at ahllive.com.
Recent Transactions:
Filip Chytil – reassigned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers from the Czech National Junior Team January 6.
Vinni Lettieri – returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers January 7.
Caleb Herbert – released by the Wolf Pack from a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement January 8.
Chris Langkow – released by the Wolf Pack from a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement January 8.
Pack Tracks:
Friday, January 26, when the Wolf Pack host the Charlotte Checkers in a 7:15 PM game, the first 2,000 fans will receive a free Wolf Pack winter hat, presented by Aetna.
Once again this season, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers at every Friday Wolf Pack home game, through the start of the second period, presented by Dave & Buster’s. The Wolf Pack’s next Friday-night date is January 19, when they host the Utica Comets at 7:15 PM.
Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday and Wednesday home games will feature the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack”. The Family Value Pack includes two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for just $40. The next Family Value Pack game is Sunday, January 21, when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins visit for a 5:00 PM tilt.
Every Wolf Pack Wednesday home game is a “Winning Wednesday”. If the Wolf Pack win at home on a Wednesday, fans can show their Winning Wednesday ticket at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center and receive a free ticket to the next Wolf Pack home game (some restrictions apply). The next Wolf Pack Wednesday home outing is February 7, the “Sonar’s Edu-Skate” school-day morning game vs. Bridgeport at 11:00 AM.
Wolf Pack home game tickets can be purchased at the XL Center ticket office, online at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger are just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $2 day-of-game increase.
To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.
TRACK THE PACK ON-LINE AT HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM
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