Game Preview
Oct 28, 2017Game day info:
Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Puck Drop: Saturday, Oct. 28 at 7:05 p.m.
Game Preview:
This is the second game of six on the year between the Wolf Pack and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, and Hartford’s first of three trips to Allentown. In the year’s first meeting between the two clubs, October 8 at the XL Center, the Wolf Pack prevailed 2-1 in a shootout. The Wolf Pack won three of their four visits to the PPL Center last season, and posted a 4-4-0-0 overall record in the season series.
A division rival, the Phantoms currently sit in second place in the North Division with a 7-1-0-1 record with 32 goals for and 23 against. The hockey club has played to only two losses, which came at the hands of the Wilkes-Barre Scanton Penguins and the Wolf Pack in a shootout.
Last Time Out:
Last night, the Wolf Pack played to a 5-1 loss to the Sound Tigers in Hartford. Two first period goals started the offensive onslaught for the Sound Tigers, as Hartford’s lone goal was scored by Filip Chytil. The goal marked Chytil’s second with the Wolf Pack.
Thus far, the Pack are 3-4-0-1 on the season, which places them at fifth in the Atlantic Division, still one spot ahead of the Sound Tigers. The Providence Bruins currently lead the division with a 6-1-0-0 record, while the Checkers and Phantoms fall close behind in the tight race. Though Hartford sits in fifth place with seven points, the division-leading Bruins only have a five-point advantage, with 12.
Players to Watch:
#72 Filip Chytil
In five games played, Filip Chytil has scored two goals and notched three assists for a total of five points. The rookie center seems to be becoming more and more comfortable with the Wolf Pack, as he is averaging one point per game, thus far. Chytil is the youngest player in the AHL and was drafted by the Rangers in the first round of the NHL draft this summer.
# 18 Danick Martel
Danick Martel has a team-leading 12 points in nine games for the Phantoms, with nine goals and three assists. The left wing tallied back-to-back 20 goal seasons the past two years, but is poised to surely beat that mark if he keeps this pace up throughout the season. A Canada native, Martel signed a three-year, two-way entry level contract with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015.
Coming Up Next:
The Wolf pack have another away game tomorrow against the Hershey Bears. Then, the Pack will be back at the XL Center next Saturday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. for a Country Night game against the Bruins and on Sunday for a 5 p.m. faceoff against the Springfield Thunderbirds. For tickets and information, visit the Hartford Wolf Pack ticketing site or call 866-762-6451.