PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACK AIM TO SNAP SKID AGAINST PHANTOMS
Feb 8, 2025ALLENTOWN, PA – The Hartford Wolf Pack look to snap a season-long, seven-game losing streak (0-5-2-0) tonight when they visit the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA.
The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., and coverage is available on AHLTV on FloHockey and Mixlr.
Tale of The Tape:
This is the sixth and final meeting between the Wolf Pack and the Phantoms this season.
The Phantoms hold a slight edge in the head-to-head matchup, having claimed three of the first five meetings. They have posted a record of 3-0-1-1, collecting eight of a possible ten points. The Wolf Pack, meanwhile, are 2-1-1-1 in the season series.
The Phantoms claimed the first regulation decision between the foes on Jan. 11, blanking the Wolf Pack 3-0 at the XL Center.
Garrett Wilson opened the scoring 14:07 into the second period, scoring a shorthanded goal to give the visitors a lead they never lost. Emil Andrae tacked on the insurance marker 8:19 into the third period, potting his second goal of the campaign.
Rhett Gardner cemented the two points at 18:01 when he hit the empty net for his fifth goal of the season. Wilson picked up the lone assist on the tally, giving him two points (1 g, 1 a) in the win.
Parker Gahagen made 26 saves to collect his first career shutout in the AHL.
In addition to their 3-0 shutout win on Jan. 11, the Phantoms edged the Wolf Pack 5-4 in overtime on Nov. 27 in Hartford and 4-3 in the shootout at the PPL Center on Oct. 12. The Wolf Pack, meanwhile, picked up a 4-3 overtime victory at home on Oct. 25 and a 3-2 overtime triumph on the road on Jan. 10.
The road team is 3-0-1-1 so far in the season series. The Wolf Pack are 1-0-0-1 at the PPL Center.
Wolf Pack Outlook:
The Wolf Pack dropped their seventh straight game (0-5-2-0) last night, falling 3-0 to the Charlotte Checkers on home ice.
Justin Sourdif opened the scoring 11:33 into the game, collecting a puck on the right-wing side and maneuvering his way into a dangerous area before beating Louis Domingue. The unassisted goal, Sourdif’s ninth of the season, would prove to be the game-winning tally.
Rasmus Asplund extended the lead to 2-0 54 seconds into the second period, snapping a quick shot by Domingue from the right-wing circle for his 14th goal of the campaign. Will Lockwood struck at 8:05 of the third period, making it 3-0 with his eighth goal of the season.
Cooper Black made 20 saves to collect the third shutout of his rookie season for the Checkers. It was the fifth time this season that the Wolf Pack were shutout. The club’s 20 shots on net were their fewest in a game this season.
The loss was also the club’s seventh straight on home ice. The seven straight regulation home losses are a franchise record.
The Wolf Pack are 0-2-2-0 in their last four games on the road.
Alex Belzile and Bo Groulx are tied for the team lead in goals with 14 each this season. Belzile leads the club in points with 42 (14 g, 28 a).
Phantoms Outlook:
The Phantoms won their second straight game and third in their last four outings last night, defeating the Cleveland Monsters 3-2 in the shootout.
Olle Lycksell broke the ice 11:34 into the game, scoring his 13th goal of the season. 2:30 later, at 14:04, rookie Massimo Rizzo tacked on the insurance marker. His fifth goal of the season came at 14:04 from Samu Tuomaala and Wilson.
After no goals were scored in the second period, the Monsters found themselves with their backs against the wall entering the third period. Roman Ahcan led their comeback bid, scoring twice to earn a point for the visitors.
Ahcan made it a 2-1 game at 5:46, potting his tenth goal of the season. His eleventh goal came at 9:24, set up by veteran Joseph LaBate.
After overtime solved nothing, the sides headed to the shootout. JR Avon opened the scoring in the first round for the Phantoms, while Gahagen made saves on Jordan Dumais and Trey Fix-Wolansky. In the third round, Tuomaala beat Zach Sawchenko to earn the second point for the Phantoms.
Jacob Gaucher, recently assigned by the parent Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), leads the club in goals with 14. Tuomaala, meanwhile, leads the club in points with 30 (10 g, 20 a).
Game Information:
WATCH: AHLTV on FloHockey
LISTEN: Mixlr
Play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack Alex Thomas will have ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting live at 6:50 p.m. on both AHLTV on FloHockey and Mixlr.
The Pack is back at the XL Center on Wednesday, Feb. 12, when the Bridgeport Islanders come to town!
The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are available at www.hartfordwolfpack.com.
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ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.