BY: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack will look to break out of a slump that has seen the team drop six of its last seven games in regulation time on Saturday night when they welcome the Hershey Bears to town for a key Atlantic Division matchup. This is the second half of a back-to-back for the Pack and the third game of a four-game homestand.
The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
Tale of The Tape:
This is the sixth and final meeting of the 2021-22 regular season series between the Wolf Pack and the Bears and the second of two meetings this month between the sides.
The Wolf Pack skated to a 3-1 victory over the Bears at the XL Center in the last meeting on March 5th. With a powerplay goal, Matt Lorito opened the scoring 12:15 into the second period. The Bears tied the contest just 55 seconds into the third period on an Aliaksei Protas goal, his fourth of the campaign. Tanner Fritz would break the tie 4:11 into the third period, giving the Wolf Pack a lead they would not lose when he banked the puck into the net off a Hershey defender. Austin Rueschhoff tacked on an insurance marker on the powerplay 7:19 into the third period, his 13th of the campaign, to cement the win.
The Wolf Pack have taken four of the first five meetings between the divisional foes, including both meetings in Hartford. The Wolf Pack are 4-1-0-0 against the Bears during the 2021-22 campaign.
As things currently stand, the Wolf Pack and Bears would meet in a best-of-three, first-round Calder Cup Playoffs matchup.
Wolf Pack Outlook:
The Wolf Pack dropped their second straight contest on Friday night, falling 3-2 to the Springfield Thunderbirds. Patrick Khodorenko and Lauri Pajuniemi both scored for the Pack, but Dakota Joshua’s powerplay goal at 15:09 of the third period proved to be the difference. Sam Anas scored twice for the T-Birds in the victory. For Pajuniemi, it was his first game back after missing the last four contests. He now has two goals in his previous three appearances.
The Wolf Pack have lost six of their last seven games in regulation time. The club’s lone victory was a 5-2 decision last Saturday night against the Belleville Senators.
Anthony Greco leads the Pack in scoring with 45 points (14 g, 31 a). Ty Ronning leads active Wolf Pack skaters in goals with 15. On Thursday, the Pack released forward Aaron Luchuk from his professional tryout (PTO). Defenseman Brandon Scanlin, signed by the parent New York Rangers (NHL) to a two-year, entry-level contract last weekend, made his professional debut last night. He collected an assist in the loss.
Bears Outlook:
Last night, the Bears dropped a 2-0 decision against the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, dropping their record to 30-24-5-3 on the campaign. Tyler Lewington broke a scoreless tie at 6:26 of the third period, while Matt Filipe tacked on an empty netter at 19:33 to cement the victory. Zach Fucale made 16 saves on 17 shots in defeat. The Bears outshot the Bruins by a 28-18 margin.
Mike Vecchione leads active Bears skaters in points with 37 (12 g, 25 a) on the season. Garrett Pilon is second among active skaters with 33 points (15 g, 18 a). Forwards Joe Snively (38 points) and Axel Jonsson-Fjallby (34 points) are currently with the parent Washington Capitals (NHL).
The Bears currently have won 2,999 games in franchise history. A victory tonight will make them the first team in AHL history with 3,000 victories.
Game Information:
WATCH: AHLTV
LISTEN: https://mixlr.com/hfd-wolf-pack/
Join us tonight at the XL Center as we host Guns ‘N Hoses night! For more information on the event, please visit www.ctheroescup.com. The first 1,500 fans into the building this evening will also receive a hand-drawn poster courtesy of Carvel. The Pack will close out their four-game homestand on Monday night when the Utica Comets come to town. Puck drop for tonight’s contest and Monday night’s tilt is set for 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are available at hartfordwolfpack.com.
Related
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
PREGAME: WOLF PACK HOPE TO BUILD ON WIN OVER B’S
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins meet tonight for Game 2 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinal series at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., and coverage…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
PREGAME: WOLF PACK HOPE TO BUILD ON WIN OVER B’S
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins meet tonight for Game 2 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinal series at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., and coverage…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
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…
Stay connected with ours socials