Game Preview
Jan 15, 2018Game Day Info:
Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Springfield Thunderbirds
Puck Drop: Monday, Jan. 15 at 1:05 p.m.
Game Preview:
This game marks the ninth meeting of the season between the Wolf Pack and Thunderbirds, and the Wolf Pack are 3-4-0-1 in the season series thus far, 1-2-0-1 in four previous visits to Springfield.
In the Wolf Pack and Springfield’s last encounter, December 30 at the XL Center, Thunderbird defenseman Josh Brown scored his first goal of the season with 4.9 seconds remaining in the third period, to lift Springfield to a 5-4 win. Springfield sits in seventh place in the Atlantic Division with a 17-21-1-1 record and a 0.450 win percentage.
Last Time Out:
On Saturday night, the Wolf Pack played to a 4-2 loss to the Belleville Senators in an away matchup. Scott Kosmachuk and Filip Chytil scored, while Alexandar Georgiev made 24 saves.
Thus far, the Pack are 15-19-3-3 on the season with a .450 win percentage, which places them eighth in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division with 36 points from 40 games played. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins currently lead the division, while the Providence Bruins and Lehigh Valley Phantoms fall close behind in the tight race.
Players to Watch:
#17 Scott Kosmachuk
New to the Wolf Pack this season, Kosmachuk has provided the Wolf Pack nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 39 games. Kosmachuk scored one of two Wolf Pack goals on Saturday night against the Belleville Senators. The right wing is playing in his fourth season of pro hockey, as he spent his first three years with the Winnipeg Jets organization. With the Manitoba Moose, the Toronto native scored 11 goals and registered 17 assists in the 2016-17 season.
#18 Curtis Valk
Curtis Valk is in his first season with the Springfield Thunderbirds after spending the previous three with the Utica Comets. The center has nine goals and 21 assists for a team-leading 30 points in 37 games. Valk made his NHL debut on Nov. 14 of 2017 with the Florida Panthers, where he recorded no points in the one game.
Coming Up Next:
The Pack will be back home at the XL Center January 19 and 21 for matchups against the Utica Comets and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. For tickets and information, visit the Hartford Wolf Pack ticketing site or call 866-762-6451.