PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACK CONCLUDE ROAD SCHEDULE IN BRIDGEPORT
Apr 12, 2025BRIDGEPORT, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack play their final road game of the 2024-25 season this evening at Total Mortgage Arena against the rival Bridgeport Islanders.
The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on AHLTV on FloHockey and Mixlr.
Tale of The Tape:
This is the ninth of ten meetings this season between the Wolf Pack and the Islanders. The sides will conclude their season series next Friday night at the XL Center.
The Wolf Pack took the most recent meeting between the teams, hanging on for a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night in Bridgeport.
Jaroslav Chmelař broke the ice 8:04 into the game, driving down the right-wing side before putting a shot off the crossbar that hit the back of Tristan Lennox and rolled into the net. Joey Larson tied the game at 8:54, notching his first career professional goal after winning a battle in the slot.
Dylan Roobroeck struck twice in the middle frame, giving the Wolf Pack the lead for good. Roobroeck made it a 2-1 game at 15:34, taking a pass from Nathan Sucese and beating Lennox with a quick shot from the slot. His second goal came at 19:50, when a shot from Alex Belzile hit the end boards, bounced off of Roobroeck, and into the net.
Larson struck 1:54 into the third period on the power play to make it a 3-2 game, but Talyn Boyko made seven saves in the third period to preserve the victory.
The Wolf Pack are 6-2-0-0 in the season series, while the Islanders have collected points in four of the eight meetings, going 2-4-2-0.
The Wolf Pack are 3-1-0-0 at Total Mortgage Arena this season.
Wolf Pack Outlook:
The Wolf Pack dropped a 6-2 decision on home ice to the Providence Bruins last night. The loss was the club’s fifth in their last six games (1-3-2-0).
Matt Poitras opened the scoring 4:49 into the hockey game with a backhander in front. The goal was the first of four points (2 g, 2 a) on the night for him. Poitras also scored at 3:59 of the third period when he deflected a point shot from Frederic Brunet on the power play.
Dans Ločmelis scored his first career professional goal 8:53 into the second period, making it 2-0. He received a centering pass from Poitras and ripped a shot by Dylan Garand. The goal was Ločmelis’ second of four points (1 g, 3 a) on the night.
Tyler Pitlick scored the eventual game-winning goal at 11:23 of the third period. Pitlick was left alone in the slot and beat Garand by the glove to make it 3-0 at the time.
In addition to Poitras’ goal in the third period, Oliver Wahlstrom and John Farinacci also scored for the Bruins. Farinacci’s goal came at 19:09 and was into an empty net.
Anton Blidh scored the Wolf Pack’s first goal at 3:18, tipping home a Jackson Dorrington shot. The assist for Dorrington was his first career professional point. Adam Sýkora also struck in the frame for Hartford.
Blidh, Roobroeck and Belzile are tied for the team lead in goals with 18 each. Belzile leads the club in points with 55 (18 g, 37 a).
Islanders Outlook:
The Islanders have not played since Wednesday’s loss to the Wolf Pack. They will host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins tomorrow in their final home game of the season.
The Islanders are just 4-26-1-3 at home this season. They will finish with the fewest home wins by a team in a single season in AHL history.
The Islanders are just 2-8-0-0 in their last ten games and have lost each of their last three entering action tonight.
Larson, an undrafted free agent out of Michigan State University, has three points (2 g, 1 a) in just two games since joining the Islanders.
Thanks to an assist on Wednesday against the Wolf Pack, Chris Terry is now the all-time points leader in Islanders history with 204 points.
Brian Pinho leads the club in goals with 24, while Terry’s 65 points (19 g, 46 a) lead the club in that category.
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 6:45 p.m. on both AHLTV on FloHockey and Mixlr.
The Pack is back at the XL Center on Wednesday, Apr. 16, when the Charlotte Checkers come to town!
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.