By Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON, PA – The Hartford Wolf Pack saw Alex Nylander lead Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with a goal and an assist, leading the Penguins to a 4-1 win before 3,164 at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza on Wednesday.

The game’s first goal came off Jesse Puljujärvi’s stick. At 1:05, he came down the right wing while being challenged by Pack d-man Matt Robertson after Radim Zahorna launched a shot. The puck hit Pack starter Louie Domingue’s arm and went into the net. It was not a good goal and one he would want back.

The Penguins kept the heat on after potting their first tally and would double their advantage with Nylander scoring what would prove to be the game-winner.

Peter Abbadonato one-timed a pass to the left-wing side through the box. Nobody was there to intercept the puck or to check Alex Nylander, the son of the former Hartford Whaler and New York Ranger, Michael Nylander. Mac Hollowell confronted Nylander but went for a fake, allowing him to move to the center, where he wired in his 13th goal of the season past Domingue at 3:42, and it was 2-0.

Already down a pair, the Pack would see the deficit grow again at 10:44 in the second period.

Marc Johnstone won the draw cleanly from Ryder Korczak, the only natural center the Pack were playing with on the day, and it went back to defenseman Ty Smith.

Smith moved it quickly over at the left point to one-time Yale University Bulldog Jack St. Ivany. Matt Rempe was bearing down on him, and St. Ivany uncorked a howitzer that sailed past Domingue for his second tally of the year. The Pack trailed by three.

The Pack would score their only goal of the contest at 7:48 of the third period while on the power play. Hollowell made a cross-ice pass to Brennan Othmann, who was open in the right-wing circle. Othmann, in turn, buried his tenth of the campaign past an otherwise brilliant netminder, Joel Blomqvist, extending his point-scoring streak to three games.

Blomqvist stopped 27 of 28 in the contest, while Domingue was 27 of 31 in the evening.

The Wolf Pack had a golden chance to get closer when Artem Anisimov had a breakaway attempt and went backhand-to-forehand but Blomquist flexed his right pad to stop him.

A few minutes later, the Penguins expanded their lead to 4-0.

Alex Belzile was in the left-wing corner. His pass attempt to find Blake Hillman instead found Jesse Puljujärvi, and Sam Poulin took off down the other way on an odd-man rush the other way.

Belzile hustled back to close the gap, but it wasn’t enough, as Puljujärvi sent a pass over to Poulin.

Blake Hillman, who also had hustled back, got a piece of the puck. Despite the bouncing puck, Poulin was able to chip it over an aggressive Domingue, who had come out of his net to challenge the play and got caught. The game’s final goal was scored at 13:01.

This weekend, the Pack will continue their travels in Cleveland with a two-game set against ex-Pack Alex Whalen (Quinnipiac University).

GAME SHEET

LINES:

Karl Henriksson-Brennan Othmann-Brett Berard
Adam Sýkora-Alex Belzile-Anton Blidh
Turner Elson-Artem Anisimov-Matt Rempe
Ryder Korczak-Bobby Trivigno-Cristiano DiGiacinto

Mac Hollowell-Matt Robertson
Connor Mackey-Brandon Scanlin
Blake Hillman-Nikolas Brouillard

Louie Domingue
Dylan Garand

SCRATCHES:

Ben Harpur (upper body, indefinite)
Riley Nash (lower body, day-to-day)
Zach Berzolla (lower body, week-to-week)
Matej Pekar (lower body, week-to-week)
Adam Edström (upper body, week-to-week),
Bryan Yoon (healthy)

NOTES:

In the first periods of this season series, the Wolf Pack have been outscored 7-0.

The Pack scrambled to put their lineup together after the late afternoon recall of Jake Leschyshyn playing with 12 forwards.

Adam Erne (North Branford) cleared waivers from the Edmonton Oilers and was reassigned to the Bakersfield Condors.

Nick DeSimone (CT Oilers) was placed on waivers by the Calgary Flames.

Kris Knoblauch’s Oilers will play the Blackhawks in Chicago to attempt to beat the record for consecutive wins in team history. Knoblauch has top guns Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaital, but they are getting lots of secondary scoring.

D Adam Karashik (Ridgefield/ UCONN/AOF) was sent to the Reading Royals (ECHL) on a conditioning assignment. Ex-Pack emergency goalie Parker Gahagen was recalled. The recall came about because the Flyers summoned Cal Peterson after Carter Hart and four other pros from the 2018 Canadian WJC stand accused of sexual assault. They need to turn themselves in to the Canadian authorities in London, Ontario.

Patrick Harper (New Canaan/AOF) was released by the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) with just 16 points in 31 games.

Stefano Pietrantonio, via Quebec (Kent School/Yale Jr. Bulldogs), will commit to Dartmouth College (ECACHL) for 2025-26.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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The post WOLF PACK MET PENS FOR MIDWEEK SHOWDOWN first appeared on Howlings.

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack continues to prepare for their upcoming road trip against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins or the Cleveland Monsters. They are practicing minus Riley Nash and Matej Pekar. Neither will make the trip as both are being evaluated for lower body injuries and timetables for their return.

In their absence, Cristiano Di Giacinto was recalled and practiced on Monday.

Rangers are shopping the market for forwards with their eyes on possible short-term or long-term options.

In the short term, there is undrafted, 25-year-old free agent Maxim (Max) Tsyplakov in Russia right now. He is having a career season so far and is the third leading KHL scorer with 29 goals and 41 points with Spartak Moscow.

Whether he could come over or not, given the war situation with Russia and Ukraine and the NHL, is sketchy at best.

Scouring the waiver wire is always possible; making a trade and using Zac Jones, who has not played much as an asset in such a move for a necessary forward, is also an option.

In a long-term option, draftee Gabe Perreault. He would not be available until whenever Boston College’s (HE) season ends. He would then have to decide to turn pro. Perreault displayed his strong skating and finishing touch in BC’s 6-2 win over Merrimack. Perreault wouldn’t be an option until April should the Eagles go to the national championship. The Eagles #2 meet rival BU #1 in the Beanpot opener. If these rankings hold up, this will be the first time ever.

The Pack’s Matt Robertson returned from his weekend with the Rangers in California. He didn’t play but collected his NHL salary. His bank account certainly was pleased with the trip.

Defenseman Bryan Yoon, who performed so well in his absence this past weekend, is still around, which will force interim head coach Steve Smith to make some difficult decisions.

Goalie Alex Lyon, a former Yale Bulldog, was a very sound technical netminder on the New Haven campus and never got a complete shot in Philly. He wound up in Carolina and then in Florida, which had even more problems, but Lyon stuck it out and made it work.

In Carolina, with Chicago (AHL) as its farm team two years ago, he played despite his coach Ryan Warsofsky being threatened with being fired if he played Lyon over prospect Pyotr Kochetkov that year in the Wolves Calder Cup run. He defied them, and they won in seven games and copping a title in Springfield.

Lyon let the management know how he felt with a double-fingered universal hello sign at center ice in the team championship photo – you couldn’t miss it. The AHL noticed it, too, and issued him a one-game suspension.

Following through on their threat, Carolina fired Warsofsky, now an assistant coach with the San Jose Sharks.

Lyon then migrated to Florida last season, and a late-season run with Sergei Bobrovsky stumbling then, and Spencer Knight (Darien/AOF) unexpectedly had to enter the NHL Player Assistance program.

Last year, Lyon was summoned from Charlotte and went on a late-season tear that allowed the Panthers to become the last team to make the NHL playoffs in the last week of the season. The Panthers had a magical ride to the Stanley Cup Final, upending last year’s NHL best team, the Boston Bruins, along the way, and his play made it happen.

This year, he was signed to tutor young prodigy Sebastien Cossa.

A funny thing happened along the way; he played well enough in training camp to stay in Detroit.

Lyon has been one of the reasons they are playing above their pay grade and just might make the NHL playoffs. He helped them recently beat a good Tampa Bay team. When the chips are down, the house money is on Alex Lyon.

Teams have discounted certain players, like current Wolf Pack goalie coach Jeff Malcom.

Every scout said he wasn’t technically sound despite leading Yale to an improbable Division I NCAA title over ten years ago.

When asked, a scout at the time lamented Malcolm’s lack of technical skills. No analytics were needed; could he stop the puck?

The trade deadline is six weeks away, a few NHL teams need a goalie. If they can wrangle Lyon away from Detroit in a deal, they should.

The Edmonton Oilers, under Kris Knoblauch, have reached unseen heights in team history with a three-goal third, breaking a 1-1 tie with a pesky Columbus Blue Jackets team in Edmonton for their 14th win in a row, 4-1.

PLAYER MOVEMENT

Returned from the NHL Brogan Rafferty (Quinnipiac University) from Detroit to Grand Rapids, Ken Appleby by the Islanders to Bridgeport,

Ex-Pack Josh Wesley Colorado to Utah (ECHL),

Florida recalled Mackie Samoskevitch (Sandy Hook) from Charlotte.

Alexandre Fortin, the nephew of former Whaler Jean-Sébastien Giguère, goes from Orlando (ECHL) to HKM Zvolen (Slovakia-SLEL) for the rest of the year. He was in training camp with the Springfield Thunderbirds.

Phil Kemp (Yale University) is sent back to Bakersfield by Edmonton.

D Adam Karashik (Ridgefield/ UCONN/AOF)is sent to Reading (ECHL) on a conditioning assignment, and ex-Pack emergency goalie Parker Gahagen is recalled.

Daniel “Diamond Hands” Amesbury had 1,007 PM in 128 Jr A games in the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL). After eight years away from hockey, Amesbury went to the Danbury Hat Tricks (FPHL). After just 46 career games, he amassed 423 PIMs in Danbury and was tossed out of the FPHL for two blind side hits, one of which caused a seizure, in the last month. With a long history of fighters, the Ft. Wayne Komets (ECHL) have naturally signed him.

To date, he has 1,171 PIMs in just 182 lower minor pro games in three leagues, for a 6.43 per-game average.

Some of those names in Ft. Wayne history include Steve “The Animal” Fletcher, Kevin “Killer” Kaminski, Robin Bawa, Chris McRae, former New Haven Nighthawk Kevin McDonald, Andy Bezeau, ex-Pack/Springfield Falcon Sean Gagnon, and Cody Sol.

He has a link to ex-Pack greats Derek Armstrong and Brad Smyth. He played half a season in the last season of the new Central Hockey League in Denver, where Armstrong and Smyth were a coaching tandem with the Cutthroats.

The ECHL announced an expansion team for Bloomington, Illinois, next season, along with the recently named Lake Tahoe Knight Monsters at Blue Event Center.

Coaching staff, NHL/AHL affiliation, and unveiling of the team-styled jerseys to come shortly.

The ECHL is now inching closer to having a compatible number of teams equal to the NHL and AHL. The preferred model is 32-NHL, 32-AHL, and 32-ECHL.

The two new teams next year will bring the total to 30. Hallett Sports & Entertainment will own the team, which already owns the ECHL Indy Fuel.

The last professional team was the Bloomington Thunder, which played in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) in 2014.

The city has seen the United Hockey League, the new IHL, and the Central Hockey League call it home in the past.

The last team was at the American Junior A level, with the Central Illinois Flying Aces of the United States Hockey League (USHL).

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack recalled winger Tim Doherty, who they acquired from the Chicago Wolves two months back for the purpose of terminating his contract. Doherty’s cousins are the outstanding Hughes boys Jack, Luke, and Quinn.

Curiously, forward Blade Jenkins was released a day after signing a contract with the Wolf Pack.

Righthanded shooting defenseman Bryan Yoon was loaned to the Wolf Pack from the ECHL Utah Grizzlies. Yoon played for five years at Colorado College (NCHC). For three seasons, one of his teammates was Zach Berzolla, who’s presently injured and last year’s team captain. He also played with Rangers draftee Noah Laba.

Ex-Pack Mason Geersten, now of the AHL Henderson Silver Knights, was suspended for the second time this year by the league, this time for three games.

Ex-CT Whale Jonathan Marchessault scored the first goal in a 5-1 win over the Rangers.

John Hayden (Yale University) was recalled by the Seattle Krackken from the Coachella Valley Firebirds and played at MSG because Matty Beniers was out.

KNBLAUCH LEADS OTHER NEWS

Ex-Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch’s Edmonton Oilers have won 12 straight and won 4-2, overcoming an initial 2-0 Seattle Krakken lead as he bested his head coach in Philly, now in Seattle, Dave Hakstol.

Yaniv Perets broke the Quinnipiac University goalie curse, playing for the Carolina Hurricanes against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Then, on Monday, he was a backup against the LA Kings. Four previous QU goalies HAVE dressed, but only as backups.

Ex-Sound Tiger Kieffer Bellows signs a contract extension with the Toronto Marlies.

As former first-round pick (10th overall) of the Vancouver Canucks, Cody Hodgson, 33, who was diagnosed with malignant hyperthermia, returns after eight years to the last team he played for, the Milwaukee Admirals, on a Professional Try-Out (PTO) deal.

EX-PACK COACHING

The US National Development Program (USNDPT) has four ex-Packs coaching. Two are U-18 assistant coaches, Ryan Bourque and Matt Gilroy. Bourque was quietly hired in the offseason after spending two years as an assistant with the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL). The U-17 head coach is ex-Pack/Sound Tiger Greg Moore. Chad Kolarik, the ex-CT Whale, is his assistant.

After two years with the West Kelowna Warriors, Michael Salandra (Brunswick School) commits to the defending national champions, Quinnipiac University (ECACHL), for next year.

Lucas Prud’-homme commits for the 2026-37 season skated with St. Andrews College.

Yale gets a future commitment (two years) from Finn De St. Hubert, from Wayzata, MN.

Anthony Biakabutuka of Salisbury School commits to Holy Cross (AHA) in nearby Worcester, MA, for 2025-26.

PLAYER MOVEMENT

The Calgary Flames sent Yan Kuznetsov (UCONN-HE) to the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) and sent Jarrod Gourley (UCONN-HE) to the Rapid City Rush (ECHL).

Ex-Wolf Pack/Springfield Falcon Luke Adam departs from HC Banska Bystrica (Slovakia-SLEL) and heads to a destination unknown.

Ex-CT Whale Mike Pelech signs an extension with Glasgow (Scotland-EIHL).

Ex-Pack/Sound Tiger Chris Langkow, the younger cousin of former Springfield Falcons Scott Langkow, is said to be leaving HKM  Zvolen (Slovakia-SLEL) to HK Banska Bystrica (Slovakia-SLEL), taking Adam’s lineup spot.

OVERSEAS

Over in the European Champions League, Lukko Rauma (Finland-FEL) beat HC Genieve-Servette (Switzerland-LNA). There are ex-Pack on Lukko, including defenseman Tarmo Reunanan (left point) and Gabriel Fontaine (left-wing circle), who had shots on the first two shifts to get them started. Former Ranger Josh Jooris, the son of ex-Springfield Falcon Mark Jooris, paced HC Geneve-Servette.

Reunanen is a finalist for CHL Player of the Year.

Lukko goaltender ex-Sound Tiger Christopher Gibson had a strong start, but the Swiss emerged victorious 4-2.

In the second game, Skellefteå AIK, with head coach Simon Robertsson, the son of former Wolf Pack Bert Robertsson (SC Rapperswill-Jona (Switzerland-LNA), knocked off HC Vitkovice (Czechia).

Ex-Pack’s Lauri Pajuniemi is rumored to maybe leaving Malmö IF (Sweden-SHL), as is Ahti Oksanen IK Oskarshamn (Sweden-SHL) for Lausanne HC (Switzerland-LNA) for next season.

TERRY RYAN, JR

After two years of retirement from senior hockey, Terry Ryan Jr., 47, laced them up for Newfie’s own Newfoundland (St. John’s) Growlers (ECHL) last week for one night only, on his birthday of all dates. The team has been ravaged by illness, and it was the last game before the ECHL All-Star break. Ryan was a one-time NHL first-round pick of Montreal in the mid-1990s. He got the call after visiting a few Newfoundland pubs and quickly agreed. His daughter Penny got to see him play, and his post-game comments have gone viral and touched many corners of the hockey world all across Canada and the US.

It wasn’t a publicity stunt; he was genuinely needed. Ryan, fresh, pure, and funny, known for his humor and irreverence, said this week on Monday afternoon Montreal radio show Melnick in the Afternoon on TSN 690, “I will always be grateful for this moment.”

His comments in Ryan’s podcasts are just plain laugh-out-loud funny and give you a primary peek behind the closed doors of minor league hockey.

He had no points and no shots but did earn a major for fighting in a 6-2 loss to Adirondack, another former AHL city.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf  Pack sent goaltender Olof Lindbom and winger Cristiano DiGiacinto back to their ECHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones. At the same time, the parent New York Rangers recalled defenseman Matt Robertson after three years in the Connecticut capital.

In other news, the Springfield Thunderbirds now have an interim head coach in Daniel Tkaczuk, who was with the Pack for two games. Their previous head coach, Drew Bannister, was promoted to the St Louis Blues as the interim head coach, replacing the terminated Craig Berube.

The Laval Rocket, who the Pack played twice last weekend, lost winger Emil Henimen to recall to their parent Montreal Canadiens.

Joe Snively, who attended Yale University, was recalled from the first-place Hershey Bears by their parent Washington Capitals.

Ryan Smith commits to Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) next year from the Tri-City Storm (USHL).

The schedule has been released for the fourth annual Connecticut Classic, which will be played for the first time at the XL Center.

The defending national champion, the Quinnipiac University Bobcats, will skate against their conference and local rival, Yale University, at 3:30 PM on January 26th in the first of the two semi-final games to kick off the tournament. At 7:30 PM or an hour after the completion of the Quinnipiac and Yale game, UCONN will take on Sacred Heart University in the other semi-final. The championship game will be played on the 27th at 7:00 PM.

UCONN sophomore Matt Wood, the Nashville Predator’s first pick (15th overall) for 2022, was selected to Canada’s WJC team at their camp in Oakville, Ontario. He is the first Husky to play for Team Canada. He’ll play in Gothenburg, Sweden, in the tourney, which runs December 26th through January 5th. Ryan Tverberg (Toronto-AHL) attended camp two years ago but was one of the last cuts. He is the sixth Husky to play for a WJC team.

The American squad won’t be named until Sunday. On the ice are two Rangers draftees, Drew Fortescue and Gabe Perreault, two of a possible seven BC Eagles (HE) in camp in Plymouth, Michigan. Off the ice, Travis Culhane, the son of former Hartford Whaler Jim Culhane of Denver University (NCHC), will be the team’s video coach.

Ex-Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch has affected the Edmonton Oilers, as the team has won eight in a row.

The Washington Capitals (also the NBA Wizards), both owned by Ted Leonis, announced they are leaving the DC Capitol area to head across the Potomac River to a new $2B sports and entertainment district arena being built in Alexandria, Virginia. The Potomac Yard Area has a target of a 2028 opening date. It is doubtful it will affect their relationship with Hershey.

The AHL’s Chicago Wolves have lost their head coach, Bob Nardella, to a ten-game suspension for his use of an anti-gay slur against a league on-ice official. This kind of abusive language deserves serious consequences, but more consequences than some of the violence that occurs on the ice. How does that make any sense?

NHL expansion: Despite over-expansion that has created a diluted talent pool, it’s expected the NHL money grab will happen in the next two years unless there’s a serious national economic downturn.

Our long-time source handicaps the playing field.

“Nothing is likely or set in stone, especially with no formal expansion format in place, but one thing I’m sure of though, it’s going to be higher (in costs) than Seattle.

“The leading cities as likely landing spots are shockingly Atlanta, giving it a go for a third crack at it, and amazingly Salt Lake City. The big caveat is that neither have new buildings that have been built or are on the front burner.

“Houston, the league loves the market, but (Houston) Rockets owner Tilman Joseph Fertitta doesn’t want to own the team, but rent a team, and that NHL President Gary Bettman is greatly opposed to that idea, but if they could get an owner in Eastern Texas that would make the league would make them happiest.

“Quebec, who have been at the altar since the Vegas expansion cycle. The building has a fan base, but the Canadian dollar, the French language, and the Montreal Canadiens stand in the way.

“Hartford is NOT in the discussion. The lack of a new building or any chance of a new building, zero regional sports network and the combo of the NHL/Boston Bruins are a huge hurdle to overcome.”

The Calgary Wranglers recalled former UCONN Husky Jarrod Gouley from the Rapid City Rush (ECHL).

Ex-Pack Sean Day was recalled by the Syracuse Crunch from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Bridgeport Islanders reassigned Reece Newkirk to the ECHL’s Worcester Railers.

Ex-BRidgeport Sound Tiger Parker Wotherspoon was recalled from the AHL Providence Bruins by the parent Boston Bruins.

The Detroit Red Wings recalled Austin Czarnik from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

After five points in his first five games with JYP Jyväskylä (Finland-FEL), ex-Pack C.J. Smith is rewarded with an extension for next year.

Konsta Kapanen, the son of ex-Hartford Whaler Sami Kapanen, is loaned from KalPa Kuopio (Finland-FEL) to Tappara for the rest of the year. He is also WJC eligible. His cousin Oliver Kapanen is not.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

HARTFORD, CT – The New York Rangers reassigned goaltender Olof Lindbom to the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) from the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) for the second time this year.

Lindbom, 23, has appeared in eight games with the Cyclones this season, posting a 5-3-0 record, a save percentage of .890, and a 3.24 goals-against-average. Last season, Lindbom was a member of the Rangers’ then-ECHL affiliates, the Jacksonville Icemen, and over 28 games had a 17-10-1 record with a 3.01 GAA and a .890 save percentage.

Lindbom has a career record of 22-13-1.

He has made one start with the Wolf Pack this season, making 17 saves in a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Providence Bruins on November 11th. He also lost to Syracuse last season, surrendering two goals and posting a 3.51 GAA and a .818 save percentage.

Lindbom was the Rangers’ second-round draft pick (39th overall) in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

PAUL MARA 

In other Wolf Pack news, the Rangers have added an Assistant Coach to interim Head Coach Steve Smith’s staff, signing former NHL defenseman and three-year Ranger Paul Mara. According to the New York Post, he will take charge of the Wolf Pack defense. The change comes in the wake of Kris Knoblauch being elevated to head coach in the NHL, taking over the top job with the Edmonton Oilers.

Mara, 44, was once the seventh overall selection of the 1997 draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Mara joined the Rangers’ coaching staff on August 25th, 2023, as a Player Development Assistant Coach. He will continue to serve the organization in that role while adding to his workload with the Wolf Pack as part of the coaching staff, including fellow assistant coach Jamie Tardif, skills coach Colin Downey, and goalie coach Jeff Malcolm.

The 6’4, 44-year-old was the head coach for the Boston Pride of the National Premier Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) and the PHF for five seasons, winning the Isobel Cup with back-to-back championships in 2021 and 2022.

Mara was an assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2018 Winter Olympics with their head coach, former Wolf Pack, and New Haven Nighthawk Robb Stauber’s staff. That team won the gold medal. It was Team USA’s second gold medal. The first was in 1998 at the Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.

Before coaching, Mara played in 734 career NHL games throughout 12 seasons with the Montréal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks, Rangers, Boston Bruins, Phoenix Coyotes, and Tampa Bay Lightning. He scored 253 career points, amassing 64 goals and 189 assists.

In addition, Mara dressed in 36 career AHL games with the Houston Aeros during the 2012-13 season, tallying 11 points, a goal, and ten assists.

Mara is one of the few tri-state players to play for the Rangers, born in Ridgewood, NJ.

HARTFORD WOLF PACK

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By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

SPRINGFIELD, MA – The Hartford Wolf Pack used another huge third period, scoring three times, including a go-ahead breakaway goal by Matt Rempe to a 4-2 over the Springfield Thunderbirds for their third straight at the MassMutual Center Friday night.

The third period started with a tied score at one each but played out as a see-saw affair before Rempe’s game-winner at 12:12.

Springfield’s rookie rearguard Leo Loof blew a tire at center ice and fell. Nikolas Brouillard got to the puck and sent a lead pass to Rempe, who zoomed into the open ice on a breakaway, went forehand-to-backhand, and flipped the puck into the net past Springfield netminder Malcolm Subban.

Defensively reliable Adam Edström closed out the scoring. Riley Nash got the puck at center ice from Brandon Scanlin and was patient as Edström pulled ahead of his check and got him the puck. With 48.6 seconds remaining, Edström fired his seventh goal on the season into the open net, securing the road win.

The win gave the Pack their third win against the T-Birds, equalling what they had all last season with their I-91 rivals.

The Pack penalty kill was riding a red-hot 19-for-19 success streak until Springfield ended it at 10:29 of the third period after Joe Duszak came in the back door from off the right wing from a Hugh McGing pass for his second tally of the season to tie the score at two.

The Pack broke a 1-1 tie at 1:19 of the third period when Brett Berard was Johnny-on-the-spot on the right wing side to take advantage of a rebound from a Jonny Brodzinski point shot that went over Subban’s glove, came off the backboards, and right to his stick. Berard earned his fourth campaign goal, with helpers going to Brodzinski and Mac Hollowell.

Brodzinski’s assist set him atop the AHL scoring race, surpassing Springfield’s Adam Gaudette.

SECOND PERIOD

In the second period, Louis Domingue kept up his strong play in the net to keep the game close. The Thunderbirds’ second power play saw Domingue make a blocker save on Zachary Bolduc and Matt Peca (Quinnipiac University) in the dead red zone ten feet out.

Six minutes later, the Wolf Pack power play struck.

Brodzinski was up at the left point. He sent it down low to Alex Belzile in the lower-wing zone below the goal line. Belizle found Riley Nash, got position on Calle Rosén, and tapped in his sixth goal of the year.

On another power play for Springfield, Domingue was again called on to make a big save as he stopped Dylan Coghlan twice, the second one just as the man advantage ended.

He made a season-high 39 saves en route to the game’s second star.

The game’s opening frame went scoreless as both goalies were sharp and equal to the task.

The best scoring chance for either roster came as Brodzinski rang a puck off the crossbar at 1:42 on an early power play.

Team defense played a huge part in the scoreless first.

The Pack hosts the Belleville Senators in the only meeting between the two teams at the XL Center on Saturday at 7:30 pm.

GAME SHEET

LINES:

Karl Henriksson – Anton Blidh – Adam Sýkora
Alex Belzile – Riley Nash – Brennan Othmann
Adam Edström – Jonny Brodzinski – Brett Berard
Matt Rempe – Ryder Korczak – Bobby Trivigno

Nikolas Brouillard – Zach Berzolla
Brandon Scanlin – Grant Gabriele
Matt Robertson – Mac Hollowell

Louie Domingue
Dylan Garand

SCRATCHES:

D Ben Harpur (upper body, Indefinitely)
F Jake Leschyshyn (upper body, week-to-week)
F Turner Elson (healthy)
D Matt Cairns (healthy)
D Blake Hillman (healthy)
F Drew Worrad (not in residence)

NOTES:

Harpur’s injury is now upgraded as indefinite, a major Rangers concession.

Springfield’s loss snapped a two-game winning streak. Matt Peca (Quinnipiac) scored two in their last game against the Bridgeport Islanders.

Springfield was fielding three Carolina Hurricanes prospects to start the night.

Louie Domingue’s 1.67 GAA puts him second in the AHL.

Ex-Pack Zach Jordan was recalled by the Rockford IceHogs to the AHL from the ECHL’s Indy Fuel.

The New York Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 3-1 on Friday afternoon as Mika Zibanejad scored twice. Chris Kreider had another tally, but it was waived off after an official review when it was shown that Zibanejad was offside.

Former Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch, now with the Edmonton Oilers, shut out the Washington Capitals 5-0. It was the first time in team history that the Oilers shut out the Caps.

Chase Harwell (Southbury), who last played with Como (Italy Division-2) last year, signs with the Danbury Hat Tricks (FPHL).

Matej Teply, of Stamford, a graduate of the Selects Academy at South Kent Prep (CTPREP) program and currently playing with the NJ Jr. Titans (NAHL), has committed to the University of Vermont Catamounts (HE) for the 2024-25 season. He was also a Chicago Steel (USHL) 2023 Draftee.

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The post WOLF PACK STRIP THUNDER FROM THE BIRDS first appeared on Howlings.

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack collected three out of a possible six points during their second three-in-three weekend of the season. The club now gets set for a three-in-four stretch that will feature the ‘School Day Game’ on Wednesday and a home-and-home with the Syracuse Crunch on Friday and Saturday.

Friday, November 10^th, 2023, @ Bridgeport Islanders (3-0 W): The Pack concluded their season-long, five-game road trip on Friday night with a 3-0 victory in Round 1 of the ‘Battle of Connecticut’. Anton Blidh scored the game-winning goal 12:25 into the tilt, jamming home a rebound for his second goal of the season. Riley Nash would complete the scoring with goals at 5:50 and 12:16 of the second period.

Dylan Garand recorded his first shutout of the season, making 37 saves to improve to 4-1-1.

The win gives the Wolf Pack four consecutive victories in Bridgeport and six straight wins in the head-to-head series.

Saturday, November 11^th, 2023, Vs. Providence Bruins (2-0 L): Olof Lindbom made 17 saves in his first career AHL start, but the Wolf Pack offense couldn’t get untracked in their first shutout defeat of the season.

Curtis Hall led the way with two points (1 g, 1 a) for the Bruins, including the game-winning goal just 2:57 into the game. Dan Renouf had the other goal for Providence at 8:34 of the third period.

The Wolf Pack surrendered a season-low 19 shots in the defeat while firing a single-period high of 19 shots in the final frame.

Sunday, November 12^th, 2023, @ Providence Bruins (3-2 OTL): Brandon Scanlin and Jonny Brodzinski both lit the lamp in the third period as the Pack erased a pair of deficits to earn a point in the weekend finale. Brodzinski’s tally came at 17:49 with the net empty, giving Hartford their second goal with the extra attacker this season.

The Bruins would earn the extra point 1:42 into overtime, however, as Jesper Boqvist sped in and beat Garand over his right shoulder for his third goal of the season.

The loss snapped a six-game winning streak for the Wolf Pack at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence.

Quick Hits:

• On Sunday, the Edmonton Oilers (NHL) named Kris Knoblauch head coach. Knoblauch has spent parts of five seasons as the Wolf Pack’s bench boss, amassing a record of 119-90-18-14 in 241 games.
• As a result, Steve Smith was named Wolf Pack interim head coach on Sunday. He served in that capacity during the club’s 3-2 overtime loss in Providence. Jamie Tardif remains behind the bench in his role as assistant coach.
• Smith played 804 games in the NHL as a defenseman with the Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Calgary Flames. He scored 375 points (72 g, 303 a) and won the Stanley Cup with the Oilers in 1987, 1988, and 1990.
• Smith has spent ample time behind the bench in his career. He previously was an assistant coach with the Flames (1997-98), Oilers (2010-14), Carolina Hurricanes (2014-18), and Buffalo Sabres (2018-21). He spent the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons as an assistant coach in Hartford under Knoblauch.
• Forward Brett Berard is tied for eighth in the American Hockey League in rookie scoring with nine points (2 g, 7 a) through 12 games.
• Goaltender Louis Domingue made 25 saves in his debut with the New York Rangers on November 9^th in a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild. Domingue was assigned to the Wolf Pack on Monday afternoon.
• Defenseman Connor Mackey was also assigned to Hartford on Monday afternoon.
• Goaltender Olof Lindbom was reassigned by the Rangers from the Wolf Pack to the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) on Monday.
• The Wolf Pack’s penalty kill went 9-for-11 over the weekend and sits 14^th in the league with an 84.3% success rate.

ABOUT OVG360:

OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources, and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and public safety, and more.

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 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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The post HARTFORD WOLF PACK WEEKEND RECAP: NOVEMBER 13TH, 2023 first appeared on Howlings.

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

Hartford, CT – Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin shocked the team’s roster when he informed them that head coach Kris Knoblauch had left to assume the head coaching position with the Edmonton Oilers.

After the team had a dreadful start, the Oilers relieved Jay Woodcroft of his duties.

Knoblauch going to Edmonton reunites him with Connor McDavid, who he coached for three years with the Erie Otters (OHL) in 2012-2014.

Joining Knoblauch with Edmonton as his assistant is Oilers legend and one-time Hartford Whaler (20 games) Paul Coffey.

When Keith McCambridge was relieved, Knoblauch joined the Rangers organization on July 29, 2019. He was the second choice after Steve Spott turned it down when conditions did not suit him. The Edmonton job is Knoblauch’s first as an NHL head coach.

This is not Knoblauch’s first NHL experience. He was an assistant with Dave Hakstol and Ian Laperrière with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and former New Haven Nighthawk Kjell Samuelsson.

As the seventh head coach in Wolf Pack history, Knoblauch coached 241 games and compiled a record of 119-90-18-14. He had just one playoff appearance, which came last spring.

KNOBLAUCH REPLACEMENT

New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury and Martin named Steve Smith as interim head coach. Jamie Tardif remains, as does goalie coach Jeff Malcolm, who was on the Wolf Pack bench Sunday.

Knoblauch, a Prince Albert, SK native, had his share of trials in Hart City.

He was recalled twice to coach the  Rangers because of COVID protocols, first stepping in for David Quinn and then later, Gerard Gallant.

In his first year in Hartford, he avoided the ignominy of going from first to fourth when the pandemic ended the season.

One factor could have been the recall of the unofficial AHL MVP that year, Igor Shesterkin.

He handled the 25-game pandemic season and its three-team division as the best anybody could. The team lost the first seven games, and Knoblauch then threw the COVID playbook out the window, but they got hot and played Providence for the Atlantic Division title.

The 2021-22 season saw the team go from first to nearly last in the division, finishing the final two months with a dreadful 8-20-8 record.

Last year, successful deadline trades helped him end an eight-year playoff drought.

Recently, he’s had to compete with losing two goalies, defensemen and forwards. It left him with a depleted defense corps and even being forced to sign a Division II club hockey goalie as an emergency backup.

As a professional, Knoblauch speaks gently and politely, minus any unsavory language, and in expository sentences. He remains calm and relaxed and maintains an unflustered demeanor – most of the time – despite what must have been trying circumstances.

Knoblauch snapped in his first year in Laval when the referees were caught looking at the scoreboard to decide a call in OT.

A second time, after he benched Vitali Kravtsov after a lackadaisical first period of his first game.

The third was when Lias Andersson exited to Sweden without telling him after returning from two bad games in Charlotte.

“(Knoblauch) felt betrayed by (Andersson). When he left us, he was gone. We thought he was recalled by the Rangers. I thought he was kidding,” a former player said.

In Knoblauch’s first head coaching position, he inherits a challenging situation but is undoubtedly helped by having a roster containing two of the best players in the NHL.

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The post KNOBLAUCH LEAVES WOLF PACK FOR EDMONTON JOB first appeared on Howlings.

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack

HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury and Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has named Steve Smith as interim Head Coach of the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack.

Smith, 60, is in his third season with the Wolf Pack. He was named an Assistant Coach with the club on August 24^th, 2021, and spent the last two seasons in that role under Head Coach Kris Knoblauch. Smith spent two games as the Wolf Pack’s interim Head Coach during the 2021-22 season, while Knoblauch was with the Rangers due to COVID-19 protocols.

Before joining the Wolf Pack, Smith served as an Assistant Coach with the NHL’s Calgary Flames (1997-98), Edmonton Oilers (2010-14), Carolina Hurricanes (2014-18), and Buffalo Sabres (2018-21).

Smith enjoyed an 804-game NHL career, playing with the Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, and Flames. He scored 375 points (72 g, 303 a) in his career and won the Stanley Cup three times as a member of the Oilers (1987, 1988, 1990).

Earlier today, the Oilers announced that Wolf Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch has been named the team’s new head coach.

Knoblauch was named the seventh head coach in Wolf Pack history on July 29^th, 2019. He posted a record of 119-90-18-14 in 241 games as the Wolf Pack’s Head Coach.

About OVG360: OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources, and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and safety, and more.

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 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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The post KNOBLAUCH NAMED OILERS HC, SMITH TAKES OVER PACK first appeared on Howlings.

HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack extended their record to 4-0-0-0 while earning the franchise’s 1,000th win in a 5-1 victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms before 5,292 Saturday night at the XL Center.

The win made it four straight to open the season for the Wolf Pack, the first time they’ve achieved that since Jason LaBarbera was the team’s MVP in 2004.

“We got off to an incredible start in the first 25 minutes. We got ahead and were able to play our game and put them away. Their goalie made some good saves, and we couldn’t finish off our plays. The fact we didn’t finish those allowed them to get back in the game and make it a one-goal game going into the third,” Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch said after the game.

The third period saw the Pack’s Alex Belizle open in the left-wing circle and hit the post 31 seconds in.

The Pack finally got the elusive third goal as Adam Edström used his size, strength, and speed to protect the puck before feeding Brandon Scanlin at the right point.

Scanlin sent a shot through some traffic that Jake Leschyshyn intercepted in front. He then turned around and passed it quickly to the incoming Nik Brouillard, who came down from the left point. With the open highway to the net, Brousillard avenged the power play goal that the Phantoms scored on his penalty.

For Brousillard, it was his first of the season at 6:53 while the two teams played four-on-four.

“Nik has played very well for us this weekend. A great start; (we) played well in these two games (this weekend) and created a lot of offense. He moves very well and composed with the puck. Forwards like to play with defensemen who play like that because you’re gonna get the puck. I was very happy with how he played. It’s good when defenseman extend their play and contribute offensively and be aggressive, but we have balanced our decision-making smartly, “remarked Knoblauch.

Then, after not being critically tested to that point, starting netminder Dylan Garand made consecutive pad saves of Eliot Desnoyers and Helge Grans.

“Dylan wasn’t tested very much the first 25 or 30 minutes of the game. In the second half of the game, Dylan came up big. Even in the second period, we spent the majority of the time in their zone, whether power play or five-on-five play,” Knoblach said. “Even though we didn’t create as much (as they had in the first), we didn’t realize they created some big chances. When we looked at the tape after the second, Dylan made the saves (and in the third). “

The Phantoms had to open up their play and take chances to get themselves back into the game. At 10:33, the Pack took advantage of that and made it 4-1 as Bobby Trivigno cut in laterally and elevated the puck over a prone goaltender, Cal Petersen, who made the first move.

Ben Harpur made the play possible with a solid backhander that cleared off the boards in the Wolf Pack Pack zone. Then rookie Ryder Korczak earned his first professional point with a small center ice tip of the pass off the boards that sent Trivigno on his way.

“Bobby didn’t get to play much in the second (period) with all the power play time, and we have our PK units. We rotate guys in and out to play in certain situations who are very capable of playing both, Tonight, to play in these types of games, he put it all together in the third and came up big for us. It was not just that big goal for us, he had some key blocked shots in the first period and drew a couple of penalties, and he’s hard to defend against. We’re happy with him so far,” remarked Knoblauch.

Jonny Brodzinski followed, taking a wing-to-wing pass from Belzile on the right side and beating Petersen stick side high from 20 feet out on the left wing at 15:55. The Pack captain earned his second point of the evening, securing a 5-1 lead.

“We’ve been very pleased by Alex’s play. He played in Laval and Montreal with the Canadians. We’re very fortunate to have him here in the American (Hockey) League.”

Knoblach said having depth on his bench in this early part of the season is an important factor.

“Depth in the National (Hockey) League and in the American (Hockey) League because of Friday-Saturday and sometimes Friday-Saturday-Sunday, you play so many back-to-back games. We’re very happy with the guys. They played in the first period, and there wasn’t any power play time. We were just rolling four lines. We like the flow and the depth we have developed here.”

The second frame was scoreless until late in the period, with the five-on-five play coming only in spurts, with both teams taking penalties.

The Pack managed two shots in nine seconds from Mac Hollowell and Matt Robertson early in the period that Petersen stopped.

The Phantoms scored the first goal of the season by a Pack opponent at the XL when Nikolas Brouillard was hit with a questionable interference minor on a hit to Tanner Lacynski. Brouillard skated away, shaking his head. Ryder Korczak earned himself a ten-minute misconduct for his extended verbal commentary to the referees.

Lacynski came in on a break-in shortly after that and was stopped by Garand, who came out to challenge him. Olle Lycksell corralled the big rebound and beat Garand to the short side to narrow the Pack lead to 2-1 at 18:58.

In the first, the Wolf Pack broke out with a 2-0 lead after a solid period of play.

At 5:59, the red-hot Brett Berard, who was stopped earlier in his shift, was in the right-wing circle and evaded Adam Ginning’s weak stick check before snapping a wrist shot over Cal Petersen’s shoulder, tallying his second goal in as many nights. It was the Pack’s fifth shot of the night as they held the Phantoms shotless.

“I saw they were coming late for their line change; I had a lot of open ice. (Nik Brouillard) made a really good pass. I was going lower and lower as (Petersen) was coming out on me. I just was lucky it went in. It’s always the way I’ve played,” Berard said. “Can’t score if you don’t get pucks on the net. Whenever there is open ice for me or a lane, I always try to shoot. It’s always good to get pucks to the net. I’ve been lucky things have worked in my favor. “

The Pack grabbed a 2-0 lead when Jonny Brodzinski was at the left point on a power play. He took a soft pass from Mac Hollowell and put a shot on Peterson. The rebound went right to Alex Belizle at the left side of the net, and he promptly deposited his second of the young season into the wide-open left side of the net at 16:45.

The Wolf Pack requested that the off-ice officials change the primary assist from Hollowell to Nash, who either tipped it or glanced off his skate and went to Belzile.

LINES:

Jake Leschyshyn – Anton Blidh – Adam Sýkora
Brennan Othmann – Riley Nash – Brett Berard
Alex Belzile – Adam Edström – Jonny Brodzinski
Matt Rempe – Ryder Korczak – Bobby Trivigno

Mac Hollowell – Connor Mackey
Ben Harpur – Nikolas Brouillard
Brandon Scanlin – Matt Robertson

Dylan Garand
Louie Domingue

SCRATCHES:

Blake Hillman
Karl Henriksson

NOTES:

The Phantoms, amid a three-in-three weekend, scored the last five goals in a 5-2 win in Springfield over the Thunderbirds on Friday night.

One player with CT connections in Lehigh’s lineup was Adam Karaschik (Ridgefield/Avon Old Farms/UCONN).

Update on Friday Night’s fan Disturbance – At the end of Friday night’s game, it turned out that a handful of kids in section 204 were tossing hot dogs, and “adults” were throwing the rally towels and chuck-a-pucks before the Hartford Police Department dispersed and eject the unruly fans.

UCONN broke a three-game losing streak by beating the Union College Garnet Chargers (ECACHL), as they are now known, 5-0. They split the non-conference weekend series on the road as Tristan Fraser scored twice.

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The post HARTFORD WOLF PACK DOWN PHANTOMS 5-1 FOR FRANCHISE 1000TH WIN first appeared on Howlings.