#TannerFritz

[mitchbeck]

HARTFORD WOLF PACK REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack announced two home dates for their three-game pre-season action. Both contests will be held on the Hartford Campus of Trinity College at the Koeppel Community Center. The arena serves as the Wolf Pack's off-site training facility for practice sessions for a second straight season. The first of the two games will be on Wednesday, October 4th, in the first of many meetings with the Pack's I-91 rivals, the Springfield Thunderbirds. The puck drop will be at 7:00 p.m. Then, game two will be the backside of a home-and-home with the Bridgeport Islanders, who will play under new head coach Rick Kowalsky, who has ex-Pack Pascal Rheaume as one of his assistants. That game will be on Saturday, October 7th, at 1:00 p.m. Sandwiched between those two games, early in the afternoon on Thursday, October 5th, will be the front end of the home-and-home with the Islanders in Bridgeport, which will be closed to the public. OTHER NEWS Bridgeport officially announced what Howlings first reported: a new one-year AHL deal with now-ex-Pack Tanner Fritz. He returns to "Park City," where he spent the first six years of his career. Fritz played collegiately at Ohio State when the Buckeyes were in the CCHA before moving to the Big 10. Over 20 years ago, the New Haven Ravens Double-A baseball team disbanded. Their announcer from 1994-1995, Matt Devlin, is now part of the voice of the NBA Toronto Raptors. The hockey connection? Devlin's two sons will play Ivy League Division-I hockey this year. Ian Devlin, 21, went undrafted after playing with the Coquitlam Express (BCHL) in 2021-22. He's joining the Princeton Tigers (ECACHL). Luke Devlin, 19, is a 2021 sixth-round Pittsburgh Penguins draft choice. He played with the West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL) last season and will be skating in Ithaca, NY, for his freshmen season. The youngest Devlin will lace them up with the Cornell University Big Red (ECACHL). Speaking of Cornell, the school's top star from the last century, NHL Hall of Famer, and legendary Montreal Canadien, Ken Dryden will see his grandson, Hunter Dryden, skating for a prep school in the Nutmeg State this year. Hunter is a Fairfield, CT, resident who played for the CT Jr. Rangers U-15 program. This winter, he will play at the defending New England small school champion Taft School (Watertown). He will try to fill the big skates of the now-departed Detroit Red Wing draft pick and Yale University-bound (next year) Rudy Guimond. Guimond will skate for the Cedar Rapids Roughriders in the USHL. They helped develop another Taft player a generation ago, Max Pacioretty. EVEN MORE NEWS Former UCONN Husky (HE) Joe Masonius heads overseas to play with HC Csiikszereda (Hungary-MOL) this year. Two more AHL'ers head to Europe. Bobby Lynch leaves the Rockford IceHogs to play for Torpedo Novgorod (Russia-KHL). Goalie Anthon Khudobdin also leaves Rockford but heads to the Sokol Krasnoyarsk (Russia-KHL). Hockey agents ignore the concept of "no business with Russia" because of the war in Ukraine. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[tylerparsons]

What urls do you have?

just a bunch of young guys pretty much, think prospects and that

darrenraddysh

simonloof

vitaltyabramov

alexforms

coalenorris

austenkeating

arturkayumov

alexeimelnichuk

christiankyrou

daylongroulx

tagbertuzzi

brandoncoe

philiptomasino

romandurny

daltonduhart

chaseblackmun

kylekeyser

tannerfritz

troytimpano

chadyetman

carsonedwardson

owenheadrick

jordankooy

nathandunkley

taylormakar

haydenfowler

keeganstevenson

colecoskey

maxgolod

aaronluchuk

sammiletic

ericflorchuk

rossjohnston

caderobinson

kennyhuether

masonmcdonald

maximmamin

austincarroll

alexandargeorgiev

brandonfortunato

antonlundell

[mitchbeck]

HARTFORD WOLF PACK LOOK TO SPLIT WITH HERSHEY BEARS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HERSHEY, PA – The Hartford Wolf Pack will look to earn a split on the road tonight as they visit the Hershey Bears for Game Two of the 2023 Atlantic Division Finals at the Giant Center in Hershey. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on both AHLTV and Mixlr. Tale of The Tape: The Wolf Pack and Bears met six times during the 2022-23 regular season, with the Bears taking four of the six meetings. Hershey posted a record of 4-2-0-0, while the Wolf Pack managed points in three games, going 2-3-0-1. The Wolf Pack posted a 1-2-0-0 record at the Giant Center, with their lone victory coming on November 20th by a final score of 4-2. The Bears won each of the final three meetings between the sides in the regular season. Hershey took a 2-1 regulation decision on November 25th, and a 1-0 shootout verdict on November 26th. Both of those games were in Hartford. They also claimed a 2-1 victory in Hershey on February 11th. The Bears extended their winning streak against Hartford to four games with a 3-2 overtime decision in Game One of this playoff series. The Wolf Pack opened the scoring with a powerplay goal 6:55 into the game, as Lauri Pajuniemi chipped home a rebound for his fourth goal of the postseason. Just 2:33 into the second period, Jonny Brodzinski fired his first goal of the playoffs by Hunter Shepard. Brodzinski was set up for a one-timer in the left-wing circle by Tanner Fritz, who collected his team-leading seventh assist. The goal was Hartford’s second powerplay tally of the night. They went 2-for-4 in the contest. The Bears responded just 2:52 into the third period, however, as Logan Day scored a powerplay goal of his own. Day blasted a shot from the point that evaded the glove of Dylan Garand and gave the Bears the push they needed. Late in the frame, with Shepard making his way to the bench, Jake Massie sent a shot toward the goal from the blue line. The puck clipped Connor McMichael and beat Garand at 17:51 to tie the affair and send it to overtime. Hershey made quick work in the extra session, the first for both teams in these playoffs. Henrik Borgstrom sniped a puck from the right-wing circle just 4:41 in, potting his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal in his Playoff debut. Wolf Pack Outlook: Last night’s overtime result was Hartford’s first trip to sudden death during the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs. It was the club’s first trip to playoff overtime since May 13th, 2015, against the Bears in Hershey. On that night, Chris Mueller scored a shorthanded goal to stun the crowd and give the Wolf Pack a 5-4 victory. The Wolf Pack’s powerplay converted on just two of 21 opportunities in six games against the Bears during the regular season. Through two rounds of the Calder Cup Playoffs, Hartford was 2-for-16 on the powerplay. In Game One, the Wolf Pack went 2-for-4, with both powerplay units finding the back of the net. With an assist on Pajuniemi’s powerplay goal at 6:55 of the first period, Tim Gettinger became the first Wolf Pack player this postseason to score points at five-on-five on the powerplay (1 a), and the penalty kill (1 g, 1 a). Gettinger (2 g, 6 a) and Fritz (1 g, 7 a) lead the Wolf Pack in points with eight each through seven Calder Cup Playoff games. Pajuniemi leads the team in goals with four through seven games. He has scored at least one goal in all three series thus far. Bears Outlook: The Bears completed their second consecutive multi-goal comeback on Thursday night. In Game Four of their Atlantic Division Semifinals series, the Bears trailed 2-0 after one period of play but rattled off six unanswered goals to win the game 6-2 and the series 3-1. Day’s powerplay goal 2:52 into the third period was the second goal of his Calder Cup Playoff career and his first goal as a member of the Bears. Day appeared in 36 games with the Bears in his first season with the club, collecting 12 assists in the regular season. His other Calder Cup Playoff goal came as a member of the Bakersfield Condors in 2019. Sam Anas leads the Bears in points with seven (2 g, 5 a) through five games. McMichael and Aliaksei Protas lead the Bears in goals with three each. Game Information: WATCH: AHLTV LISTEN: Mixlr Play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, Alex Thomas, will have ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting live at 6:45 p.m. on both AHLTV and Mixlr. The series shifts back to Hartford for Game Three on Wednesday, May 17th, at 7:00 p.m. For playoff ticket information, please visit 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 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. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

PRE-GAME REPORT: HARTFORD WOLF PACK AIM FOR REBOUND IN GAME FOUR VS. PROVIDENCE BRUINS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack will look to bounce back following their first loss of the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs tonight when they host the Providence Bruins in Game Four of their Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack lead the series 2-1. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on both AHLTV and Mixlr. Tale of The Tape: The Wolf Pack and Bruins met ten times during the 2022-23 season, with Hartford winning the series 6-4. Both teams collected points in seven of the ten meetings, with the Wolf Pack going 6-3-1-0 and the Bruins posting a record of 4-3-3-0. However, the Wolf Pack won each of the final three regular season meetings and extended the winning streak to five games after victories in Games One and Two. In Game Three, however, the Bruins found their way back into the win column with a 6-3 decision that kept their season alive. Justin Brazeau jammed a rebound 15:54 into the game on the powerplay, giving the Bruins a lead they would never lose. Oskar Steen made it 2-0 with just .2 seconds left in the stanza, tipping a shot home for his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal. Luke Toporowski made it 3-0 14:03 into the second period, snapping home his second goal of the playoffs. Zac Jones got Hartford on the board at 19:35 with a four-on-three powerplay goal, while Tim Gettinger struck 2:18 into the third period with a shorthanded marker to make it a 3-2 game. Jack Ahcan buried a breakaway goal at 5:58, however, restoring the two-goal lead. It would also stand as the game-winner. Lauri Pajuniemi tipped home a goal at 13:34, but the Bruins cemented the win with empty-net goals from Brazeau and Vinni Lettieri in the final 92 seconds. The series now stands at 2-1 in favor of Hartford. The Wolf Pack will advance to the Atlantic Division Finals with a victory tonight. Wolf Pack Outlook: The Wolf Pack had their four-game winning streak in the Calder Cup Playoffs and five-game winning streak against the Bruins broken on Wednesday night. The loss also snapped a six-game winning streak for the club at the XL Center. Gettinger's shorthanded marker on Wednesday night was the 20th shorthanded goal in Wolf Pack playoff history. He is the 14th player to record a shorthanded goal in the playoffs in club history. Anton Blidh finished the night with one assist and a +1 rating. His playoff +/- of +10 leads the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs and is tied for sixth in Wolf Pack history for all-time playoff +/-. Ty Emberson is also a +10 during the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs, tied with Blidh for the league lead and sixth all-time in club history. Tanner Fritz leads the club in playoff scoring with seven points (1 g, 6 a) through five games. Pajuniemi, meanwhile, paces the club in goals with three. Bruins Outlook: The Atlantic Division champion Bruins snapped a six-game losing streak in the Calder Cup Playoffs on Wednesday night. It was the club's first playoff win since a 4-2 victory on April 21st, 2019, against the Charlotte Checkers. Ahcan's game-winning goal on Wednesday night was the first goal of his Calder Cup Playoff career. Four of the five Bruins to score goals during the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs scored their first career playoff goals. In addition to, Ahcan, Brazeau, Toporowski, and Steen have all scored their first goals in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Brazeau leads the Bruins in scoring with three points (2 g, 1 a) through three games. He and Toporowski are tied for the team lead in goals with two during these playoffs. Game Information: WATCH: AHLTV LISTEN: Mixlr Play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, Alex Thomas, will have 'Wolf Pack Pregame' starting live at 6:45 p.m. on both AHLTV and Mixlr. Should the Wolf Pack win tonight, the club will advance to the Atlantic Division Final. A Bruins victory, however, will force a Game Five. Game Five, if necessary, will occur at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Sunday, May 7th, at 7:05 p.m. For playoff ticket information, please visit 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 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. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

GAME 3, HARTFORD WOLF PACK LOSE TO PROVIDENCE BRUINS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – After taking the first two games of the Atlantic Division Semifinals on the road, the Hartford Wolf Pack returned to the XL Center on Wednesday night, eyeing a sweep of the Providence Bruins. The Pack challenged Providence late, but the Bruins stifled the comeback attempt, forcing Game Four with a 6-3 decision. Jack Achan potted his first career playoff goal about six minutes into the final stanza. Achan intercepted a pass in the neutral zone, sped towards the Hartford net on a breakaway opportunity, and ripped a wrist shot under the glove of Dylan Garand and into the Hartford net. The goal made the score 4-2 at the time and stood as the eventual game-winning tally. Providence broke the ice just under the 16-minute mark of the first period. With Libor Hájek in the penalty box for tripping, a scrum for a loose puck ensued in front of the Hartford net. Garand denied Connor Carrick's initial attempt, but Justin Brazeau collected the rebound and slid the puck through the five-hole, giving Providence a lead they would not give up. The goal was Brazeau's first career Calder Cup Playoff goal. Oskar Steen stretched the lead to two just before the final buzzer of the opening stanza. John Beecher won a battle along the wall and found Fabian Lysell in the right-wing circle. Lysell fed the puck to Josiah Didier at the blue line, and the Providence captain stepped into a shot that was redirected into the net by Steen. The shot beat the buzzer by .2 seconds and put the Bruins up by two, heading into the second period. Providence gained their biggest lead of the night just over 14 minutes into the second period. Zac Jones was sent to the box for tripping, setting up the second Bruins powerplay of the night. In the waning seconds of the man advantage, Luke Toporowski managed to sneak behind the Wolf Pack defense and flip a shot that beat Garand on the short side, giving the Bruins a three-goal lead. Jones finally put the Wolf Pack on the board at 19:35 of the middle stanza. Penalties to Steen, Joona Koppanen, and Adam Clendening initiated a four-on-three powerplay for Hartford. Jake Leschyshyn won a faceoff in the Providence zone, and Jones corralled the puck. Jones blasted a one-timer that Brandon Bussi never saw, cutting the lead to two heading into the final stanza. Hartford stayed hot to begin the third period. With Clendening still in the box serving a five-minute major for interference, Hájek rimmed the puck around the boards to clear it. Anton Blidh won a footrace for the puck and blasted a shot that Bussi denied with the blocker. Tim Gettinger tipped the puck toward the goal, and Blidh attempted to jam it home but was again denied. Finally, the rebound bounced to Gettinger, who stepped into a blast that beat the Providence netminder to bring the Wolf Pack within one. The goal was Gettinger's second career playoff marker. Achan converted on the breakaway at 5:58, putting the game out of reach for good. The Wolf Pack drew back within one at 13:34, as Lauri Pajuniemi tipped a pass from Tanner Fritz over Bussi for his team-leading third goal of the playoffs. Pajuniemi was again set up with a glorious opportunity, but Bussi flashed the leather to keep the Bruins ahead by a goal late in regulation time. The Bruins would then get a pair of empty net goals from Brazeau and Vinni Lettieri to cement the victory. Game Four of the Atlantic Division Semifinals between the Wolf Pack and the Bruins is now set for this Friday, May 5th, at the XL Center. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. To get tickets, visit 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 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. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

PRE-GAME REPORT: HARTFORD WOLF PACK TAKE FIRST SHOT AT CLOSING SERIES WITH PROVIDENCE BRUINS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack return to the XL Center in downtown Hartford for their second home game of the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs. The club will look to close out the Providence Bruins tonight and sweep their Atlantic Division Semifinals series. Hartford will advance to the Atlantic Division Final with a victory. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on both AHLTV and Mixlr. Tale of The Tape: The Wolf Pack and Bruins met ten times during the 2022-23 season, with Hartford winning the series 6-4. Both teams collected points in seven of the ten meetings, with the Wolf Pack going 6-3-1-0 and the Bruins posting a record of 4-3-3-0. However, the Wolf Pack won each of the final three regular season meetings and have since extended the winning streak to five games after victories in Games One and Two. In Game Two, Anton Blidh opened the scoring 6:17 into the second period, jumping on a rebound and firing the puck by Brandon Bussi. Moments later, at 9:43, Adam Clendening blasted a shot from the point through traffic and by Bussi for his first goal of the playoffs. The goal would stand as the game-winner. Luke Toporowski got the Bruins on the board with his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal at 13:14, but it would be the only offense for the Bruins. Dylan Garand made eight saves in the third period to cement the 2-1 victory, giving Hartford a 2-0 stranglehold on the series. Garand made 29 stops in the victory and improved to 4-0 in his brief Calder Cup Playoff career. Hartford won four of the five meetings between the Wolf Pack and Bruins at the XL Center this season, going 4-1-0-0. The Bruins were 1-3-1-0 in their five visits, collecting points in just two of the games. This is the sixth playoff series between the Wolf Pack and the Bruins and the first since 2015. The Bruins knocked the Wolf Pack out of the Calder Cup Playoffs in 1999, 2001, and 2007, while Hartford returned the favor in 2000 and 2015. The Wolf Pack won the 2015 Atlantic Division Quarterfinals series 3-2 over the Bruins. Wolf Pack Outlook: The Wolf Pack made it four straight victories to open the Calder Cup Playoffs and five in a row overall against the Bruins on Saturday night. Clendening's goal was his second career Calder Cup Playoff game-winning goal, and his first since April 21st, 2018, as a member of the Rockford IceHogs. Tim Gettinger recorded two assists in the victory, his first career multi-assist game in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Through four games during the postseason, the Wolf Pack have outscored opponents 12-1 at five-on-five. They recorded each of the first 12 five-on-five goals during their postseason trip. The club's +13 goal differential (16 GF, 3 GA) is the best of any team in the Calder Cup Playoffs entering action on Wednesday night. Blidh's +9 rating ranks him number one in the Calder Cup Playoffs in +/-. Each of the top five in +/- in the Calder Cup Playoffs plays for Hartford. Ty Emberson is second at +8, while Tanner Fritz (+7), Blake Hillman (+7), and Lauri Pajuniemi (+7) are all tied for third. Garand, meanwhile, leads the playoffs in both save percentage (.966) and goals against average (.75). Fritz leads the club in scoring six points (1 g, 5 a) through four games. Blidh, Emberson, Hillman, Pajuniemi, and Bobby Trivigno are all tied for the team lead in goals with two each. Bruins Outlook: The Atlantic Division champion Bruins enter tonight with their backs against the wall. The Bruins will try to avoid the same fate as last year when they were swept 2-0 in the Atlantic Division First Round by the Bridgeport Islanders. The Bruins have lost six consecutive playoff games, dating back to a 4-2 victory on April 21st, 2019, against the Charlotte Checkers. Toporowski leads the Bruins in goals through two games with one, while Justin Brazeau and Joona Koppanen are tied with him in points with one each. Brazeau's assist on Toporowski's goal on Saturday night was the first point in his Calder Cup Playoff career. Bussi, despite two losses, has a .950 save percentage and 1.53 goals against average through his first two appearances in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Game Information: WATCH: AHLTV LISTEN: Mixlr Play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, Alex Thomas, will have 'Wolf Pack Pregame' starting live at 6:45 p.m. on both AHLTV and Mixlr. Should the Wolf Pack win tonight, the club will advance to the Atlantic Division Final and await the Hershey Bears Vs. winner. Charlotte Checkers matchup. A Bruins victory, however, will force a Game Four. Game Four will occur at the XL Center on Friday, May 5th, at 7:00 p.m. For playoff ticket information, please visit 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 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. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

HARTFORD WOLF PACK SWEEP FIRST ROUND OVER SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – For the first time since 2015, playoff hockey returned to the XL Center, as the Hartford Wolf Pack hosted the rival Springfield Thunderbirds in Game Two of the First Round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Seven players scored as the Pack routed Springfield 7-1, completing the sweep and advancing to the Atlantic Division Semifinals series. Wyatt Kalynuk potted the eventual game-winner for the Wolf Pack 10:48 into the game. Anton Blidh forced a turnover behind the Springfield net and found Tanner Fritz in the left-wing circle. Fritz quickly snapped the puck to Kalynuk at the blue line, setting up the chance. Kalynuk stepped into a shot and blasted a howitzer through traffic that Joel Hofer never saw. The goal was Kalynuk's first as a member of the Wolf Pack, his first career playoff goal, and his first game-winning goal. Additionally, the assists by Fritz and Blidh were the second points of eventual three-point nights for the duo. Fritz tallied six points (1 g, 5 a) in the two-game series, the most for either team. Fritz's first point was the icebreaker 8:03 into the first period. Blidh entered the offensive zone and sent a pass to Lauri Pajuniemi in the slot. Pajuniemi found Fritz powering towards the goal, and the veteran forward beat Hofer by the glove to give the Wolf Pack a lead they would not lose. The tally was Fritz's first career playoff goal. Kalynuk potted the eventual game-winner at 10:48, but the Wolf Pack were far from done. Ty Emberson tallied his second goal in as many games just over two minutes later. Fritz held the puck just beyond the left circle and fired a cross-ice pass to an open Emberson. Emberson walked in before ripping a wrist shot through the five-hole of Hofer to put the Pack up by three. The Thunderbirds got on the board in the final minute of the opening stanza. Kalynuk was sent to the box for hooking, initiating the game's first powerplay. Nikita Alexandrov attempted to jam the puck into the Hartford net, but Dylan Garand denied the attempt. Instead, the puck bounced to Will Bitten, who fired a shot that deflected off the pad of Garand and into the net, putting the Thunderbirds on the board. Unfortunately, the goal would be the only blemish on Garand's record, as the rookie netminder denied 19 of the 20 Thunderbird's shots. Hartford continued to pour it on in the middle stanza. Brady Lyle was sent to the box for tripping at 2:18, giving the Wolf Pack their first and only powerplay opportunity of the night. Turner Elson powered into the offensive zone and found Bobby Trivigno in the slot. Trivigno promptly lit the lamp with a shot by the glove of Hofer to extend the Hartford lead back to three. The tally was Trivigno's first playoff goal. Blake Hillman followed up, scoring his second goal in as many games at 6:30 of the second period. An extended sequence in the Springfield zone ended with Zac Jones corralling the puck along the left wall. Jones snapped a pass to a wide-open Hillman, who walked in and uncorked a shot from the right circle that Hofer could not stop. Hillman, who did not have a goal during the regular season, has scored in both of Hartford's playoff contests. The Wolf Pack tacked on a pair of empty-net goals in the final stanza. Blidh put Hartford up by five at 13:34. The Wolf Pack were forced to play four-on-six hockey, with Jones in the box for delay of game and the extra attacker on in favor of Hofer. Blake Hillman controlled the puck along the back wall and rimmed it around the boards to clear. A footrace for the loose puck ensued between Blidh and Scott Perunovich. Blidh tripped, got back up, and redirected the puck into the empty net. The goal was Blidh's third point of the night. It was the first time Hartford hit the empty net while short-handed this season. Tim Gettinger capped off the scoring with another empty net goal at 15:02. It was the first playoff goal and point for Gettinger, the longest-tenured member of the Wolf Pack who has played 237 games in Hartford. Five minutes later, Hartford completed the sweep and advanced to the Atlantic Division Semifinals. The Wolf Pack will face the Providence Bruins in the Atlantic Division Semifinals of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The series begins at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence on Friday, April 28th. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. The Pack return to the XL Center for Game Three of the best-of-five series on Wednesday, May 3rd. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. To get tickets, visit hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. 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. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

HARTFORD WOLF PACK SMOKE SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS IN CALDER CUP PLAYOFF GAME 1

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack SPRINGFIELD, MA – The Hartford Wolf Pack played their first Calder Cup Playoff game since 2015 on Wednesday night, traveling to Springfield to take on the rival Thunderbirds. Defenseman Ty Emberson and forward Tanner Fritz both scored three points, pacing the Hartford offense in a 6-1 Game One victory over the Thunderbirds. Zac Jones potted his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal 6:02 into the middle stanza, fresh out of the penalty box. Freed from an interference minor, Jones took a pass from Will Lockwood and sprinted into the Thunderbirds' zone on a breakaway. Jones went backhand to forehand, dekeing Joel Hofer out of the net and stuffing home the eventual game-winning goal. Emberson also picked up an assist on the tally, his second point in a three-point outing. Hartford opened the scoring just 3:37 into the game, as Lauri Pajuniemi fired home his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal. Tanner Fritz sent a pass across the ice to Pajuniemi in the right-wing circle, where the second-year forward collected the puck. Pajuniemi quickly fired a shot that beat Hofer, giving the Pack a lead they never lost. Jones extended the lead 6:02 into the second period and sprung in on a breakaway after being freed from the penalty box. Just over two minutes later, at 8:37, Pajuniemi was whistled for a hooking minor, giving the Thunderbirds another powerplay opportunity. Once again, the Wolf Pack got a kill, and they got a breakaway immediately after. Anton Blidh fired a pass to Pajuniemi, who burst in on a breakaway and lasered a shot by Hofer to make it 3-0 at 10:43. Hartford didn’t stop there, making it 4-0 in the final ten seconds of the stanza. Bobby Trivigno corralled a loose puck behind the Springfield net and sent a backdoor pass to Blake Hillman. Hillman sent a shot to the net that trickled across the goal line despite a terrific effort from Hofer. The goal was Hillman’s first career Calder Cup Playoff goal and first goal as a member of the Wolf Pack. The Wolf Pack made it 5-0 3:42 into the final frame, as Will Cuylle sent a centering pass to Ryan Carpenter in the slot. Carpenter rifled a shot that cleanly beat Hofer, essentially putting the game away. The Thunderbirds finally broke Dylan Garand’s shutout bid at 11:44, as Adam Gaudette blasted a one-timer home on the fourth powerplay of the night for the home side. The powerplay goal snapped a streak of 29 successful kills for the Wolf Pack, dating back to March 26th. With the Thunderbirds pressing to add on some offense late, Emberson fired a full ice shot into the empty net at 18:38 to cement the victory and give him his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal. Garand made 24 saves in the victory, his first career Calder Cup Playoff victory in his playoff debut. Fritz ended the night with three assists, while Emberson also scored three points (1 g, 2 a). The Pack is back at the XL Center for Calder Cup Playoff hockey for the first time since 2015 this Friday night for Game Two against the Thunderbirds. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. For Calder Cup Playoff tickets, please visit  hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. 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 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. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

HARTFORD WOLF PACK REGULAR SEASON FINALE PREVIEW

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack open the final weekend of regular season play tonight at the XL Center as they welcome the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to town for their home finale. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on both AHLTV and Mixlr. Tale of The Tape: This is the sixth and final meeting between the Wolf Pack and the Penguins during the 2022-23 season. It is also the third and final meeting between the clubs at the XL Center and marks the second year in a row in which the Wolf Pack wrap up their home schedule against the Pens. The Wolf Pack have won each of the last two games against the Penguins, most recently taking a 5-1 decision on March 26th in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Zac Jones opened the scoring just 16 seconds into the contest, scoring Hartford’s fastest goal to start a game on the road this season. Will Lockwood potted the eventual game-winner on a two-on-one with Ryan Carpenter at 6:25 of the period, while Jonny Brodzinski blasted home a one-timer on the powerplay at 13:33 to allow the Wolf Pack to pull away. Anton Blidh tacked on an insurance marker 10:27 into the second period, while Turner Elson polished off the scoring with an empty net goal at 19:24 of the third. Jonathan Gruden scored the only goal for the Penguins, coming 10:31 into the third period on the powerplay. The Wolf Pack have points in all five games against the Penguins this season and six consecutive meetings dating back to the 2021-22 campaign. Hartford is 3-0-1-1 head-to-head this season, while the Penguins have a record of 2-3-0-0. The sides split the previous two meetings at the XL Center, with the Penguins taking a 4-3 shootout decision on October 22nd and the Wolf Pack an 8-2 decision on February 4th. Wolf Pack Outlook: The Wolf Pack won their seventh straight game on Saturday night, clinching a playoff berth in a 5-3 triumph over the Providence Bruins in Rhode Island. Elson opened the scoring 2:42 in, taking a pass from Jones at the backdoor and burying it. The Bruins would take a 2-1 at 10:54 after goals from Josiah Didier and Luke Toporowski, but Elson would jam home his second of the night at 16:46 to even the affair 2-2. Carpenter put Hartford back in the lead at 6:03 of the second period, firing home a rebound for his 21st goal of the season. Libor Hájek tacked on the insurance, and eventual game-winner, at 2:21 of the third, blasting home a shot from the left-wing circle. After Didier’s second goal of the night, Tanner Fritz hit the empty net at 19:34 to cement the victory and snap Hartford’s playoff drought of seven seasons. Hartford’s current seven-game winning streak is their first since a seven-game winning streak during the 2020-21 season. The franchise’s longest winning streak is nine games. That occurred during the 2004-05 season. Brodzinski leads the Wolf Pack in points with 48 (21 g, 27 a) in 46 games. Will Cuylle, meanwhile, leads the team in goals with 25. Penguins Outlook: The Penguins suffered a 4-0 setback at the hands of the Laval Rocket on Monday night in Quebec. Rafaël Harvey-Pinard opened the scoring 2:36 into the game, scoring a powerplay goal that would stand as the eventual game-winner. Jesse Ylönen tacked on a powerplay goal of his own 7:22 into the third period, while Gabriel Bourque and Danick Martel both scored late. Cayden Primeau made 41 saves for the shutout victory. Valtteri Puustinen leads the Penguins in scoring with 56 points (23 g, 33 a) through 70 games. His 23 goals lead active Penguins in scoring. Alex Nylander, currently on recall with the parent Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), leads the club in goals overall with 25 on the campaign. Game Information:  WATCH: AHLTV LISTEN: Mixlr Play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, Alex Thomas, will have ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting live at 6:45 p.m. on both AHLTV and Mixlr. The Wolf Pack wrap up the 2022-23 regular season tomorrow night when they visit the Springfield Thunderbirds for the final installment of the ‘I-91 Rivalry’ this season. The Wolf Pack will begin the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs next week. Hartford’s First Round opponent and game dates and times are still to be determined. For Calder Cup Playoff tickets and seeding information, please visit  hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. 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. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

HARTFORD WOLF PACK WIN SIXTH STRAIGHT

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack  HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack welcomed the Bridgeport Islanders to town for a crucial finale in the ‘Battle of Connecticut’ for the 2022-23 season. Six Wolf Pack players lit the lamp as the team cruised to a 6-2 win over their in-state rivals and lowered their magic number to four. Karl Henriksson potted the eventual game-winner for Hartford 10:41 into the opening stanza. Adam Clendening attempted a shot from the top of the Bridgeport zone, but the puck went off the stick of Chris Terry. Clendening kept control of the puck and attempted a centering pass that was also denied. Finally, Clendening found Henriksson stationed in the slot and snapped a pass. The rookie forward promptly blasted a one-timer by the glove of Jakub Skarek and into the net. The goal made the score 3-1 at the time and stood as Henriksson’s second game-winning tally in the campaign. Clendening broke the ice just under a minute and a half into the game. Tanner Fritz held the puck along the right wall and snapped a pass to Clendening at the top of the Bridgeport zone. Clendening unleashed a one-timer that found the back of the Bridgeport net, giving the Wolf Pack a lead they would not lose. The goal was Clendening’s first as a member of the Wolf Pack. Fritz’s assist was his first of an eventual three-point night. Additionally, the assist was Fritz’s 40th point of the season, becoming the fourth member of the Wolf Pack to reach 40 points in the campaign. Will Lockwood stretched the lead to two just over a minute later. Turner Elson attempted a backhand shot in front of the net that Skarek denied. A scramble for the rebound commenced, and Lockwood finally won it, lighting the lamp with a backhand shot under the blocker of the Bridgeport netminder. The goal extended Lockwood’s point streak to four games. Lockwood has tallied three goals and three assists in that span. The Islanders cut the lead in half just over nine minutes into the period. William Dufour skated to the top of the Hartford zone and fed a pass to Vincent Sevigny. Sevigny blasted a shot from the blue line that found its way through traffic and into the Hartford net, getting Bridgeport on the board at 9:02 of the first period. Henriksson found the twine at 10:41, putting the game out of reach for good, but the Wolf Pack were far from done. Ryan Carpenter became the third member of the Wolf Pack to hit the 20-goal mark, scoring on the powerplay just over two and a half minutes into the middle stanza. Jonny Brodzinski fired a howitzer from the blue line toward the Bridgeport net. Carpenter deflected the blast past Skarek, pushing the Wolf Pack lead to three. The score was Carpenter’s 11th goal and Brodzinski’s 15th point against the Islanders on the season. Anton Blidh gave Hartford their biggest lead of the night 8:37 into the final stanza. Lauri Pajuniemi found Blidh powering into the Bridgeport zone and snapped a cross-ice pass. Blidh corralled it and flipped a beautiful backhand shot over Skarek to stretch the lead to four. The goal was Blidh’s seventh since joining the Wolf Pack and his 13th on the season overall. Blidh’s goal also stretched his point streak to four games. Blidh has totaled three goals and two assists in that span. In 14 games with Hartford, Blidh has recorded ten points (7 g, 3 a). Kyle MacLean cut the Wolf Pack lead back to three, converting a two-on-one rush for his tenth goal of the season at 9:58 of the third period. However, the Wolf Pack would soon reinstate the four-goal lead, this time for good, as Will Cuylle scored his team-leading 25th goal of the year about a minute and a half later. Cuylle’s marker was assisted by Brodzinski, who recorded his 16th point against Bridgeport on the campaign, and Jake Leschyshyn, who extended his point streak to five games. Cuylle’s goal capped off the scoring, and the Wolf Pack earned a 6-2 victory to cut their magic number in half to four. The Wolf Pack hit the road for a matchup with the Providence Bruins tomorrow, April 8th. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. Then, the Wolf Pack returns to the XL Center for the final regular season home game on Friday, April 14th, hosting the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Join us for Fan Appreciation Night featuring special guest Johnny Damon! The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. To get tickets, visit hartfordwolfpack.com. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

HARTFORD WOLF PACK ROLL TO 5-1 WIN OVER THE LEHIGH VALLEY PHANTOMS

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings ALLENTOWN, PA - Dylan Garand's strong effort in net and offense from Ryan Carpenter and Will Lockwood, each with a goal and an assist, paced the Hartford Wolf Pack to a 5-1 road victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The third period was decisive for the Pack as their counter-attack led them to score three times and pull from the Phantoms. They have won four in a row, gone 7-3-1-0 in their last 11 are five points ahead of idle Bridgeport, but they have two games in hand and have gotten themselves to within one point of the fifth-place Phantoms. Lehigh Valley plays Bridgeport tomorrow afternoon. The Wolf Pack are off until Wednesday when the Toronto Marlies, coached by Pack captain/ex-Sound Tiger/ex-Springfield Falcon Greg Moore, comes to town. They host the Islanders next Friday on Calder Cup championship celebration night at the XL Center. The playoff sprint is on. The Wolf Pack of late has shown a late-game resilience that's been absent for a part of the season. Garand started it with four solid saves on Jackson Cates, Olle Lycksell, Elliott Desnoyers, and Tyson Foerster, keeping the Phantoms from tying it. They got the two-goal lead they sought as Tim Gettinger stripped Phantoms forward Bobby Brink of the puck, pushed the puck ahead, and Tanner Fritz motored his way down on the right wing and nailed one off the back bar in the net at 7:52 for his 11th and a 3-1 lead. The Pack didn't stop there as captain Jonny Brodzinski was on fire, scoring his 19th as his pass was too far for Jake Leschysyn. Brodzinski used his speed and smarts to get to the loose puck following the play. Then at the left side of the net put in his 19th, making it 4-1. Brodzinski, clearly a Player of the Week candidate, has 19 goals and 18 assists in 26 games since being reassigned by the Rangers. The icing on the cake came as Carpenter helped force a neutral zone turnover, then headed right to the Phantoms' zone. Lockwood made an intelligent outlet pass off the boards at center ice that set him free and Carpenter made no mistake with a shot over Nolan Maier's glove and under the crossbar for a hefty 5-1 lead that stayed there. There was no third-period collapse. In the last four periods at the PPL Center, the Wolf Pack have outscored the Phantoms 10-1, and in their previous four games have outscored their opponents  19-3. Who is this team? In the second period, pushback came Garand, who did his best stopping 11 of 12 shots in various ways, and just one eluded him all evening. In the two-game total, the Pack goalies faced 70 shots, and only one went in. Emil Andrae, a defenseman for the Phantoms, cruised in the Wolf Pack zone unchecked. Andare, a second pick by the Flyers three years ago, spent the year in Sweden, took the drop pass from Tyson Forester, and in just his third game with Phantoms, fired a perfect bar down shot for his first-ever AHL goal at 7:30 to cut the lead to just one goal. The Pack had early offense when Will Cullye hit the post at 2:02 off a pass from the left-wing wall from Brodzinski. Garand was sharp, stopping Ronnie Attard, Elliott Desnoyers, and Max Willam in one burst of shots at the net. Then with 4:56 left, Brodzinski, on the right wing, tried to set up Jake Leschyshyn. Nearly a minute later, Andrae almost tied the game on virtually the same play but hit the crossbar this time. Then with 59 seconds remaining in the period saw ex-Pack Alex Kile got around Adam Clendening and tested Garand down low, but the door remained closed with his paddle down on the ice. The Wolf Pack had a strong road game to start the hockey game. The Pack struck gold first. Anton Blidh fired a perfect outlet pass and found Lauri Pajuniemi open behind the defense. Then screaming in Nolan Maier, bear him on the breakaway for his 19th at 2:18. The Pack kept the foot on the gas pedal depressed and took advantage of a poor icing call by the officials that infuriated Phantoms coach Ian Laperriere and Carpenter won the ensuing offensive zone faceoff and alerted Gettinger on the forecheck got there first. His pass hit some skates and bounced to Carpenter in the left-wing circle, zipped a high shot that  Lockwood deflected perfectly over Maier's shoulder for a 2-0 lead at 5:38. Carpenter has nine points in the last nine games in this latest Pack surge. Then Brandon Scanlin threw an excellent hard, legal in the neutral zone on Max Willam, crushing him into the right-wing boards, and sadly, customarily, he had to battle ex-Pack Alex Kile. Still, the Pack was firing on all cylinders as he got into his second fight in as many games. They got help in the net as Garand made nine saves, including a big save, and then Elliott Desnoyers and Garrett Wilson were denied. The Pack got a four-minute powerplay on a high stick-on Wyatt Kalynuk by Jordie Bellerive. Zac Jones got plenty of ice with eight minutes of the 20 were on the man advantage. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

HARTFORD WOLF PACK FACE CRUCIAL TEST

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack  ALLENTOWN, PA – The Hartford Wolf Pack finish their weekend back-to-back tonight when they visit the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for the final time this season. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., and coverage is available on both AHLTV and Mixlr. In addition, tonight's game will also air on NHL Network. Tale of The Tape: This is the season's fourth and final meeting between the Wolf Pack and Phantoms. It is also the second and final meeting between the foes at the PPL Center in Allentown. The sides last met on February 19th in Allentown, with the Wolf Pack scoring a wild 6-4 comeback victory. Trailing 3-1 entering the third period, Will Cuylle scored on the powerplay at 7:16 of the third to draw Hartford within one. However, over two minutes later, Garrett Wilson completed the hat trick to restore the two-goal Phantoms lead. From there, Hartford would take the game over. Gustav Rydahl completed a hat trick of his own, scoring his second goal of the night at 12:50 and then his third at 15:32 to tie the game. Libor Hájek broke the tie at 18:00, blasting a shot through a scrum in front of the Phantoms' goal. Turner Elson would hit the empty net at 19:25 to cement the victory. The Wolf Pack has taken two of the first three meetings from the Phantoms. They also claimed a 3-2 victory at the XL Center on December 7th. The Phantoms' lone win in the series came in Hartford on February 10th by a final score of 5-2. Wolf Pack Outlook: The Wolf Pack won their third straight game on Friday night, snapping the Providence Bruins' eight-game winning streak with a dominant 5-0 decision. Ryan Carpenter tipped a Zac Jones shot home for the eventual game-winning goal 17:43 into the game on the powerplay. Anton Blidh then buried a centering pass from Tanner Fritz at 19:57, extending the lead to 2-0. Blidh scored two points (1 g, 1 a) against his former team, while the assist gave Fritz a career-high 29 on the season. After a scoreless middle stanza, Hartford struck three times in the third to pull away. Will Lockwood scored his 15th goal of the season 3:20 into the final frame, as his shot hit the stick of Dan Renouf and snuck through the five-hole of Kyle Keyser. Fritz tipped home a centering pass to make it 4-0 at 5:09, while Jake Leschyshyn went bar down at 9:00 to finish the scoring. Louis Domingue made 25 saves for his third shutout of the season. It was his sixth consecutive victory and 19th overall on the season. The win pushed Hartford three points ahead of the Bridgeport Islanders for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. Brodzinski leads the Wolf Pack in points with 45 (20 g, 25 a) in 42 games. Cuylle, meanwhile, leads the team in goals with 24. Phantoms Outlook: The Phantoms opened their three-in-three weekend with a comeback victory on Friday night, knocking off the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4-2 at the PPL Center. Ty Smith broke a 1-1 tie at 13:27 of the second period, giving the Penguins a 2-1 lead through forty minutes. However, the Phantoms would score three unanswered in the third to pull away for two points. Jordy Bellerive tied the game at 6:37, potting his seventh goal of the season. Bobby Brink then netted the eventual game-winner at 10:37, his ninth of the season. Finally, Brink polished off the victory with his second goal of the contest into an empty net at 18:41. Tyson Foerster, who scored in last night's win, leads the Phantoms in scoring with 41 points (20 g, 21 a) in 59 games. Elliot Desnoyers, meanwhile, leads the Phantoms in goals with 21 on the season. Game Information: WATCH: AHLTV LISTEN: Mixlr Play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, Alex Thomas, will have 'Wolf Pack Pregame' starting live at 6:50 p.m. on both AHLTV and Mixlr. The Pack is back at the XL Center on Wednesday night when the Wolf Pack hosts the Toronto Marlies for the only time this season. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. Tickets are available at hartfordwolfpack.com. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

HARTFORD WOLF PACK CRUSH WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack WILKES-BARRE, PA – The Hartford Wolf Pack wrapped up their final three-in-three set of the season with a strong performance on Sunday afternoon, cruising to a 5-1 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to earn four of a possible six points on the weekend. Will Lockwood continued a career year on Sunday, potting his 14th goal of the season 6:25 into the contest. Entering the zone on a two-on-one with Ryan Carpenter, Lockwood took a pass and went to his backhand before lifting a shot over Dustin Tokarski to give the Wolf Pack a 2-0 lead. The goal was Lockwood's second with the club and would stand as the game-winner. For the second meeting in a row with the Penguins, the Wolf Pack would score in the game's opening minute to take a lead they never lost. Zac Jones collected a puck in the neutral zone and danced into the Penguins' end, weaving his way to the top of the left-wing circle before snapping a shot toward the goal. The shot beat Tokarski by the glove, giving the Wolf Pack the lead 16 seconds into the game. Lockwood would then extend the Hartford lead to 2-0 at the 6:25 mark, scoring on the two-on-one rush with Carpenter. However, Hartford's dominant period ended with a third goal at 13:33, this time on the powerplay. Tanner Fritz held the puck on the right wing wall, setting things up on Hartford's third powerplay of the night. The veteran forward sent a perfect pass across the ice to Jonny Brodzinski, who fired a quick shot from the left-wing circle that beat Tokarski for the captain's 18th goal of the season. Anton Blidh made it a 4-0 game 10:27 into the middle frame, taking a loose puck behind the Penguins' goal, making his way to the front of the net, and snapping a backhand shot over the shoulder of Tokarski. The shot rang the crossbar and landed in the back of the net for Blidh's tenth goal of the season. The Penguins did get a powerplay goal at 10:31 of the third period, as Jonathan Gruden beat Louis Domingue for his 15th goal of the season. However, it wouldn't be enough in the end, as Turner Elson fired the dagger into an empty net at 19:24 for his 13th goal of the campaign. Domingue made 27 saves for his second victory in as many outings in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season against his former club. The Pack return to the XL Center on Wednesday, March 29th, hosting the Bridgeport Islanders in the penultimate installment of the 'Battle of Connecticut' this season. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. To get tickets, visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com. 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 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. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

HARTFORD WOLF PACK TAKES ON BRIDGEPORT ISLANDERS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack BRIDGEPORT, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack hit the road intending to shake off a tough loss on Friday night. Tonight, the Wolf Pack make the trek south to battle their Connecticut rivals, the Bridgeport Islanders. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on both AHLTV and Mixlr.  Tale of The Tape: This season, this is the tenth of twelve meetings between the Wolf Pack and the Islanders. It is the final meeting of the season at Total Mortgage Arena. The sides wrap their season series up with two games at the XL Center on March 29th and April 7th. On Wednesday night, the Wolf Pack snapped a two-game home losing streak against the Islanders with a 7-5 comeback victory at the XL Center. The Islanders jumped out to a 3-1 lead on goals from Ruslan Iskhakov, Kyle MacLean, and Andy Andreoff, finding twine on their first three shots of the night. Will Cuylle had Hartford's lone goal in that span, then Lauri Pajuniemi gave the home team life with a goal at 14:39. Jonny Brodzinski tied the game at 1:26 of the second period, scoring from a sharp angle. William Dufour put the Isles back on top at 7:33, making it a 4-3 game with his shot from the point. That score would be after two periods, but the Wolf Pack would not be deterred. Ryan Carpenter tied the affair 99 seconds into the final frame, then Tim Gettinger put the Pack ahead at 6:15. Brodzinski blasted home his second goal of the night at 12:59, making it 6-4. Tanner Fritz hit the empty net at 17:08 before Collin Adams scored at 19:10 to make things slightly tighter. The Wolf Pack are 4-5-0-0 against the Islanders this season and 2-3-0-0 at Total Mortgage Arena. However, Hartford has won their last two trips to Bridgeport, outscoring the Islanders 16-3 in the process. They took a 9-0 decision in their previous visit on March 4th and won 7-3 on December 27th. Wolf Pack Outlook: The Wolf Pack lost in regulation for the second time all season when leading after two periods of play on Friday night, falling 4-2 to the Springfield Thunderbirds. Anton Blidh and Will Cuylle scored in the game's opening minutes, with Blidh lighting the lamp at 4:32 and Cuylle at 5:55. Hartford would take that lead to both the first and second intermissions before hitting a speed bump in the final frame. Will Bitten scored twice, at 6:21 and 11:41, to tie the game 2-2. Martin Frk then gave the Thunderbirds the lead for good at 14:39, blasting a shot home on the club's third powerplay. Bitten completed the hat trick at 18:47, hitting the empty net. It was Hartford's second loss in three games in regulation at home when leading by two or more goals after two periods of play. Cuylle leads the Wolf Pack in scoring with 37 points (21 g, 16 a) on the campaign. In addition, his 21 goals pace the club in that category. Islanders Outlook: The Islanders bounced back convincingly last night, handing the Syracuse Crunch a 5-2 result at Total Mortgage Arena. Trevor Carrick scored 3:04 into the game, lighting the lamp on the powerplay to put the Crunch ahead 1-0 after one. The Isles exploded for three goals in the second period, taking a lead they'd hold for the rest of the night. Andreoff scored twice, hitting twine at 10:05 to tie the game and again at 18:09 to pot the eventual winner. Adams also scored in the period, nabbing his second goal in as many games at 13:56. Chris Terry tacked on an insurance marker at 5:24 before Rudolfs Balcers scored Syracuse's second powerplay goal of the night at 17:01. Any drama would be neutralized when Andreoff completed the hat trick with an empty net goal at 17:29. Terry leads the Islanders in scoring with 60 points (19 g, 41 a) in 55 games this season. Andreoff, meanwhile, leads the club in goals with 29. He's one of two Islanders to hit the 20-goal mark this season, as the rookie Dufour has 20 on the campaign. Game Information: WATCH: AHLTV LISTEN: Mixlr Play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, Alex Thomas, will have 'Wolf Pack Pregame' starting live at 6:45 p.m. on both AHLTV and Mixlr. The Pack is back at the XL Center next Friday, March 24th, when the Springfield Thunderbirds return to town. Join us for $2 beers and $1 hot dogs until the end of the first intermission. Tickets are available at hartfordwolfpack.com. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

[mitchbeck]

SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS VISIT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack continue a massive week of Atlantic Division tilts tonight when they welcome the rival Springfield Thunderbirds to the XL Center. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on both AHLTV and Mixlr.  Tale of The Tape: This is the ninth of twelve meetings between the Wolf Pack and the Thunderbirds this season. The sides will meet again a week from tonight on March 24th right back at the XL Center. That will open a back-to-back set, as the rivals will faceoff on March 25th, also in Hartford. The season series wraps up on April 15th at the MassMutual Center. The Thunderbirds have won two in a row in the season series, recently taking a 4-0 decision on March 8th. Mathias Laferriere opened the scoring 16:30 into the game, pouncing on a rebound for a powerplay goal. The goal would be enough on that night, as it stood as the game-winner. Matthew Peca tacked on insurance with a shorthanded goal 55 seconds in the middle stanza, while Matthew Highmore and Martin Frk both lit the lamp in the third period. Joel Hofer collected his second consecutive shutout against the Wolf Pack, making 31 saves. The Wolf Pack are just 2-4-0-2 against the T-Birds this season. Springfield has won two of three meetings in Hartford, including a 2-1 shootout decision on December 31st. Hartford’s lone win at home this season was a 2-1 shootout decision on November 9th.  Wolf Pack Outlook: The Wolf Pack snapped their four-game losing streak with a comeback victory over the Bridgeport Islanders on Wednesday night, 7-5. Trailing 4-3 after two periods, the Wolf Pack scored four unanswered goals in the third to take a lead they never lost. Ryan Carpenter tied the affair 1:39 into the third period, while Tim Gettinger put Hartford ahead at 6:15. Jonny Brodzinski blasted home the eventual game-winner at 12:59, then Tanner Fritz hit an empty net at 17:08. Brodzinski (2 g, 1 a), Will Cuylle (1 g, 2 a), and Will Lockwood (3 a) all recorded three points in the win. Cuylle’s goal was his 20th of the season, while Lockwood’s three assists gave him his first multi-point game with the club. Ty Emberson also registered two helpers. The victory gave the Wolf Pack 61 points on the season, moving them within a point of the Islanders for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. Cuylle leads the Wolf Pack in scoring with 36 points (20 g, 16 a) on the campaign. His 20 goals pace the club in that category.   Thunderbirds Outlook: The Thunderbirds rattled off their third consecutive victory on Saturday night, defeating the Laval Rocket 5-2. Frk and John Parker-Jones traded first period goals at 6:36 and 16:47, respectively, setting up a 1-1 tie heading into the final 20 minutes. That’s when Austin Osmanski played hero, lighting the lamp for the first time this season 3:59 into the final stanza to give the T-Birds a lead they would not lose. Frk extended the lead at 4:31, potting his second of the night and the eventual game-winner, while Hugh McGing also found twine. Frk completed the hat trick at 17:04, sinking a shot into the empty net. The Thunderbirds sit fourth in the Atlantic Division with 68 points on the season, seven points ahead of the Wolf Pack for a playoff spot. Frk leads the Thunderbirds in scoring with 53 points (26 g, 27 a) on the season. His 26 goals are the most among Thunderbirds skaters. Game Information:  WATCH: AHLTV LISTEN: Mixlr Play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, Alex Thomas, will have ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting live at 6:45 p.m. on both AHLTV and Mixlr. The Wolf Pack return to action tomorrow night when they visit the Bridgeport Islanders for round ten of the ‘Battle of Connecticut’. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage of this crucial tilt will be available on AHLTV and Mixlr. The Pack is back at the XL Center next Friday, March 24th, when the Thunderbirds return to town. Join us for $2 beers and $1 hot dogs until the end of the first intermission. Tickets are available at hartfordwolfpack.com. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article