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Wolf Pack Weekly, April 20-26

Apr 20, 2015

The Wolf Pack wrapped up the regular season by winning two out of three games this past weekend, finishing the year 43-24-5-4 for 95 points, and capturing the Northeast Division title and the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff draw.  On Friday night the Wolf Pack squeaked past the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3-2, helped by a goal and an assist from Oscar Lindberg and 30 saves by Yann Danis.  Saturday night the Wolf Pack had a season-high six-game winning streak snapped in a 4-2 loss at Albany, but a Syracuse Crunch home loss to Bridgeport clinched the division crown for the Pack.  Chris Bourque scored his pro career-high 29th goal of the season, and added an assist, in Saturday’s game, and Lindberg scored his 28th of the season.  The regular-season finale for the Wolf Pack was Sunday in Bridgeport, and goals by Chris Mueller and Ryan Potulny 11 seconds apart late in the second period, and 27 saves by Jeff Malcolm, were good enough for a 2-1 win over the Sound Tigers. The Wolf Pack won seven of their final eight regular-season games, and went 13-3-0-1 in the last 17, and Bourque finished fifth in the AHL in points, and tied for fifth in goals, with 29-37-66 in 73 games.

 

For the latest AHL standings, click here.

 

Full Speed Ahead:  “Full Speed Ahead” will be the official Wolf Pack playoff slogan.  This comes from the ship U.S.S Hartford, which served as Admiral David Farragut’s flagship during the Civil War. During the battle of Mobile Bay, while on the deck of the Hartford, Farragut famously said, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”.

The Wolf Pack 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs are presented by Amtrak.

As the third-place finishers in the AHL’ Eastern Conference, the Wolf Pack will open up their first-round playoff series against the sixth-seeded Providence Bruins at home, beginning Wednesday at the XL Center (7:00). Game Two will also be in Hartford Saturday, another 7:00 PM start. The series will shift to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Providence for Game Three Sunday (7:05). Game Four, if necessary, will be played Tuesday, April 28 (7:05) in Providence, with the series shifting back to the XL Center, if needed, for a decisive Game Five Friday, May 1 (7:00).

Game One                            Wed., Apr. 22     XL Center                                  7:00

Game Two                            Sat., Apr. 25       XL Center                                  7:00

Game Three                          Sun., Apr. 26      Dunkin’ Donuts Center               7:05

Game Four (if necessary)      Tue., Apr. 28       Dunkin’ Donuts Center               7:05

Game Five (if necessary)       Fri., May 1          XL Center                                  7:00

Wolf Pack playoff tickets are available at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. 

Wednesday, April 22, Game One vs. Providence at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

  • Every fan at this Wolf Pack playoff opener receives a Wolf Pack souvenir cup (while supplies last), and the cups can be used to purchase sodas for $3 each throughout the game.

  • As was the case at regular-season Wednesday home games, fans can take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack” for this game.  The Family Value Pack features two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for only $35.

  • The Bruins finished the regular season 41-26-7-2 for 91 points, nailing down the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 5-1 home win Sunday over the regular season-champion Manchester Monarchs.  That victory stopped a three-game Bruin losing streak.

  • The Wolf Pack won the last three games of their regular-season series with Providence, after losing the first meeting, and shut the Bruins out in both of their XL Center clashes, winning 1-0 on January 21 and 5-0 on March 27.  Justin Vaive (3-0-3) and Tyler Brown (2-1-3) shared the Wolf Pack scoring lead in the series, and former Connecticut Whale defenseman Steve Eminger led the Bruins, with 1-2-3.

  • Alexander Khokhlachev was Providence’s leading regular-season scorer, with 15-28-43 in 61 games, and goaltender Jeremy Smith went 22-11-5, with a 2.05 goals-against average, a 93.3% save percentage and three shutouts, in 39 games.  Those numbers were good for third in the AHL in save percentage and fourth in GAA.

  • The P-Bruins received forwards David Pastrnak and Ryan Spooner back from the parent Boston Bruins after the conclusion of Boston’s season.  Pastrnak played 46 NHL games with the Bruins, notching 10-17-27, and had 11-17-28 in 25 games with Providence.  Spooner had 8-10-18 in 29 games with Boston and 8-18-26 in 25 AHL contests.

  • This is the fifth all-time playoff meeting between the Wolf Pack and Providence, and the Bruins have won three of the previous four.  The last playoff series between the two teams was in the first round in 2007, and Providence won that matchup in seven games.

  • Tickets for this game are available at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.

  • Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on Fox Sports Radio 1410, on-line at www.foxsportsradio1410.com and on iHeartRadio.  Video streaming at www.ahllive.com.

Saturday, April 25, Game Two vs. Providence at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

  • Every fan attending Game Two receives a Wolf Pack souvenir cup (while supplies last), and the cups can be used to purchase sodas for $3 each throughout the game.

  • The Wolf Pack won their last seven home games of the regular season, and had the third-best home record in the AHL, at 24-8-4-2.  The Bruins were 16-14-7-1 on the road during the regular year.

  • The Wolf Pack are 38-33 in 71 all-time home postseason games.

Sunday, April 26, Game Three at Providence (Dunkin’ Donuts Center), 7:05 p.m.

  • The Wolf Pack were 19-16-1-2 in regular-season road action, and Providence tied for the third-most regular-season home wins in the AHL, with a home slate of 25-12-0-1.  The Pack split two visits to the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in the regular season, dropping a 4-1 decision November 21 and winning 4-1 on April 12.

  • The Wolf Pack are 26-33 in 59 all-time postseason road games.

  • Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on Fox Sports Radio 1410, on-line at www.foxsportsradio1410.com and on iHeartRadio.  Video streaming at www.ahllive.com.

 

Wolf Pack Community Appearances:  The Wolf Pack have the following appearances scheduled this week.  For further information on these, or any other Wolf Pack community initiatives, contact Wolf Pack community relations manager Frank Berrian, at (860) 541-4728:

  • Tuesday, April 21, 6:00 PM, Rita’s Italian Ice, 1134 New Britain Ave., West Hartford, CT:  Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s lovable mascot, will be serving Italian ice at a “Celebrity Scoop” event to benefit West Hartford special education.

  • Saturday, April 25, 8:30 AM, Kennedy Road Soccer Complex, Manchester, CT:  Sonar enjoys kicking the soccer ball around with youngsters at the Manchester Soccer Club Spring Jamboree.

  • Saturday, April 25, 9:30 AM, Rentschler Field, 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT:  Sonar helps kick off the National MS Society Walk at Rentschler Field.

  • Saturday, April 25, 12:30 PM, Wheeler Regional Family YMCA, 149 Farmington Ave., Plainville, CT:  Sonar promotes healthy living at “Healthy Kids Day”.

  • Sunday, April 26, 9:30 AM, Rentschler Field, 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT:  Sonar cheers on the start of the March of Dimes’ “March for Babies”.

  • Sunday, April 26, 11:00 AM, Berlin Fair Grounds, 410 Beckley Rd., Berlin, CT:  Sonar meets and greets show-goers and participants at the Summer Knights Car Club car show.

 

Recent Transactions:  None

 

Practice:  All Wolf Pack practices at Champions Skating Center in Cromwell are open to the public.  Schedule is subject to change.

Tue., April 21                 10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center     

Wed., April 22               10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game vs. Providence)

Thurs., April 23              10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center

Fri., April 24                  10:30 – 11:30 AM, Champions Skating Center

Sat., April 25                 10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game vs. Providence)

Sun., April 26                Game at Providence

Mon., April 27               Practice in Providence

 

Pack Tracks:  Tickets for the Wolf Pack’s first two home games of the 2015 Calder Cup playoffs are on sale now at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Kids 12 and under can purchase tickets for only $12 in all sections except Black-level seating. Seniors can receive a $3 discount in all sections except Black-level seating. Current and former members of the military can receive a $3 discount in Blue and Yellow-level seating.   

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

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