Game Preview
Mar 28, 2018Game Day Info:
Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Springfield Thunderbirds
Puck Drop: Wednesday, March 28 at 7 p.m.
Game Preview:
This is the last of five straight road games for the Thunderbirds, who have lost the first four games of the stretch and enter the week six points behind the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division standings, at 28-33-5-1 for 62 points and a .463 points percentage. This is the second-to-last of a dozen games on the season between the Wolf Pack and their most familiar rivals, and the Wolf Pack have gone 3-5-1-1 in the season series thus far. The teams have split four previous XL Center meetings.
Springfield leading point-scorer Curtis Valk, who hit the 50-point mark with assists on both Thunderbird goals in a 4-2 loss at Rochester Saturday night, has 5-9-14 in the ten games between the Wolf Pack and Springfield this year.
Last Time Out:
The Wolf Pack are coming off a 4-2 win against the Hershey Bears on Sunday at the Giant Center. Ryan Lindgren tallied an assist and netted the game-winning goal, while John Albert, Vinni Lettieri and Adam Tambellini additionally scored.
Thus far, the Pack are 30-30-5-3 on the season with a .500 win percentage, placing them sixth in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division with 68 points from 68 games played. The Pack sit behind the fifth place Bridgeport Sound Tigers, who have collected 72 points from 66 games played for a 0.545 win percentage. Following the first place Lehigh Valley Phantoms, who have clinched a playoff spot, the Wilkes/Barre Scranton Penguins, Providence Bruins and Charlotte Checkers hold the remaining playoff positions.
Players to Watch:
#10 Cole Schneider
In 68 games played, Cole Schneider has scored 15 goals and notched 30 assists for a team-leading 45 points. Schneider has produced 12 points in his last nine games. 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 the team in PIM (45).
#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 17 goals and 33 assists for a team-leading 50 points in 64 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 this Friday and Saturday to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Bridgeport Sound Tigers, respectively. On Friday, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers, presented by Dave and Buster’s. On Saturday, the first 1,000 fans 12-years-old and under will receive a youth Wolf Pack jersey, presented by KeyBank. For tickets and information, visit the Hartford Wolf Pack ticketing site or call 866-762-6451.