By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack open a season-long six-game homestand tonight at the XL Center when they welcome the Charlotte Checkers for the first time this season.
The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on AHLTV and Mixlr.
Tale of The Tape:
This is the first of eight meetings between the Wolf Pack and Checkers this season. It is also the first of four meetings between the foes at the XL Center in Hartford. They’ll meet back in Connecticut on February 28th, March 27th, and April 14th. The Pack will visit North Carolina on March 12th and 13th, and April 6th and 7th.
The Checkers took five of eight meetings a season ago, including three of four at the XL Center. Overall, the Checkers posted a record of 5-2-1-0 head-to-head, while the Wolf Pack went 3-2-1-2. Hartford’s lone victory on home ice against the Checkers came on October 29th by a final score of 3-2 in overtime.
The Checkers then won visits on November 12th (6-5, shootout), November 16th (3-2, shootout), and March 5th (6-3).
That March 6th meeting was the last head-to-head matchup between the foes and featured a stunning comeback from the visitors. The Wolf Pack led 3-1 after two periods of play, but the Checkers stormed back to score five goals in the third period. Matt Kiersted’s goal 9:19 into the third period, Charlotte’s third goal of the frame, proved to be the game-winner.
Five of the eight meetings between these foes during the 2022-23 season were one-goal affairs, with four of those games needing overtime or a shootout to determine a winner.
Wolf Pack Outlook:
The Wolf Pack completed a two-game weekend sweep of the Cleveland Monsters on Saturday night, winning 3-2 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
Matt Rempe opened the scoring 7:30 in, tipping a shot from Cristiano DiGiacinto for his sixth goal of the season. 59 seconds later, Blake Hillman fired home his second goal of the season from the slot to make it 2-0. Brendan Gaunce tapped in a powerplay goal at 14:23 for the Monsters; then Jake Christiansen fired home his tenth goal of the season at 7:48 of the second period to draw the game even.
For the second straight night, however, the Wolf Pack found a late goal to pull ahead for good. This time, Rempe buried his second goal of the night at 14:14 to push the Pack ahead for good.
The goal was Rempe’s third career game-winning tally, marking his second career multi-goal game—Rempe’s prior multi-goal outing against the Checkers in Charlotte on January 10th, 2023.
Alex Belzile and Brett Berard are tied for the team lead with 12 goals each. Belzile leads the team in points with 33 (12 g, 21 a), while Mac Hollowell leads assists with 29.
Checkers Outlook:
The Checkers suffered their fifth straight defeat on Sunday, dropping a 6-1 decision to the Providence Bruins. Justin Brazeau put the Bruins ahead just 1:28 into the second period, scoring his 15th goal of the season. Trevor Kunter scored shorthanded at 8:09 to put the Bruins up 2-0.
The goal was Kuntar’s first shorthanded and game-winning tally in the AHL.
Wilmer Skoog recorded Charlotte’s only goal, potting his fifth season marker at 17:41 of the second period.
The B’s added four insurance markers in the third period, as Anthony Richard, Alec Regula, and Ian Mitchell all tallied their first afternoon goals. Brazeau also scored in the third period, adding his second-afternoon tally.
Defenseman Lucas Carlsson, who will represent the club at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic, leads the team in goals with 12 and points with 28 (12 g, 16 a). Rasmus Asplund, meanwhile, leads the way in assists with 17.
Game Information:
The Wolf Pack’s play-by-play voice, Alex Thomas, will host ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’, which will air live on AHLTV and Mixlr at 6:45 p.m.
The Wolf Pack continue their homestand with a pair of games this weekend at the XL Center! On Friday night, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins come to town for a 7:00 p.m. puck drop. Be sure to join us for $2 beers and $2 hot dogs until the end of the first intermission.
On Saturday night, the Springfield Thunderbirds fly into Hartford for another 7:00 p.m. puck drop. It’s Women in Sports Night, presented by Nissan, while the first 1,500 fans ages 12 and under will receive a Wolf Pack youth replica jersey.
Tickets for both games are available at hartfordwolfpack.com.
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ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since its inception in 1997. It is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers’ newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.
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