Game Preview
Mar 16, 2018Game Day Info:
Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Puck Drop: Friday, March 16 at 7:15 p.m.
Game Preview:
The Wolf Pack have swept all four of their previous meetings with the Phantoms, who have not been to Hartford since the Wolf Pack’s second game of the season, October 8. The Wolf Pack won that contest, 2-1 in a shootout.
Lehigh Valley has a league second-best 87 points, at 40-16-3-4, and only two regulation losses in its last 16 games (13-2-0-1). Phantoms forward Phil Varone had 1-4-5 in the team’s three games last weekend, and leads the AHL in points with 19-43-62, six points ahead of the next-highest scorer.
Last Time Out:
The Wolf Pack played the Charlotte Checkers last Saturday in a 7-3 road loss. Scott Kosmachuk, Matt Beleskey and Cole Schneider scored, while Jeff Jakaitis made 18 saves on 23 shots.
Thus far, the Pack are 26-29-5-3 on the season with a .476 win percentage, which places them seventh in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division with 60 points from 63 games played. The Pack sit behind the sixth place Springfield Thunderbirds, who have collected 61 points from 62 games played for a 0.492 win percentage. Following the first place Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins, Providence Bruins and Checkers currently hold the remaining playoff positions.
Players to Watch:
#10 Cole Schneider
In 63 games played, Cole Schneider has scored 14 goals and notched 24 assists for a team-leading 38 points. The left wing is in his first season with the Wolf Pack, but he is no stranger to Connecticut, as he played collegiately for UConn. Schneider led the Rochester Americans last season in points (63), assists (39) and +/- (+9), and tied for fourth on team in PIM (45.)
#26 Phil Varone
Phil Varone has 19 goals and 43 assists for a league-leading 62 points this season. The Ontario native is in his first season with the Phantoms, as he played 65 games for the Binghamton Senators last season, where he produced 51 points. Varone is an AHL veteran with 443 games under his belt with 101 goals and 246 assists for 347 points. Varone was drafted in the 5th round of the 2009 NHL Draft at 147th overall by the San Jose Sharks.
Coming Up Next:
The Pack will be back home at the XL Center this Sunday at 5 p.m. to face the Rochester Americans on Kids Run the Show Day. For tickets and information, visit the Hartford Wolf Pack ticketing site or call 866-762-6451.