Game Preview
Mar 24, 2018Game Day Info:
Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Hershey Bears
Puck Drop: Saturday, March 24 at 3 p.m.
Game Preview:
Today’s game is the first in a home-and-home set for the Hershey Bears and Wolf Pack this weekend. The Pack have lost three of their previous four meetings with the divisional-rival Bears on the season and are 0-2-0-0 at home vs. Hershey. The Bears enter the week three points behind the sixth-place Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division standings, with a record of 27-30-4-5 for 63 points and a .477 points percentage.
Last Time Out:
The Wolf Pack played to a 6-4 win against the Rochester Americans last Saturday. Chris Bigras, Dan Catenacci, Hubert Labrie, Brenden Kotyk and Vinni Lettieri (2) all scored, while Marek Mazanec made 22 saves in net.
Thus far, the Pack are 29-29-5-3 on the season with a .500 win percentage, which places them sixth in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division with 66 points from 66 games played. The Pack sit behind the fifth place Bridgeport Sound Tigers, who have collected 70 points from 65 games played for a 0.538 win percentage. Following the first place Lehigh Valley Phantoms, who have clinched a playoff spot, the Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins, Providence Bruins and Checkers currently hold the remaining playoff positions.
Players to Watch:
#28 Lias Andersson
Lias Andersson has five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 23 games with the Wolf Pack. The forward skated in 22 games with Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) this season, registering seven goals and seven assists for 14 points. He also helped Sweden win a silver medal at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, as he recorded seven points (six goals, one assist) in seven games during the tournament. Andersson was drafted in the 1st round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, where he was selected seventh overall.
#17 Chris Bourque
Chris Bourque leads the Bears with 48 points in 57 games played, with 13 goals and 35 assists. The left wing is a former member of the Hartford Wolf Pack, where he had a 66-point season in the 2014-15 AHL season. He is the AHL’s active leading scorer and was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the second round of the 2004 NHL Draft.
Coming Up Next:
The Pack will be back home at the XL Center next Friday and Saturday to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Bridgeport Sound Tigers, respectively. For tickets and information, visit the Hartford Wolf Pack ticketing site or call 866-762-6451.