Wolf Pack Weekly, March 16-22
Mar 16, 2015The Wolf Pack (33-21-5-3, 74 pts.) swept three road games this past weekend, leapfrogging two teams and moving into a tie for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Pack snapped an 0-5-1-0 drought Friday with their franchise-record tenth overtime victory of the season, a 2-1 decision over Springfield, with Conor Allen scoring his first career overtime goal for the winner. On Saturday night at Binghamton, Ryan Haggerty had his first multiple-goal game as a pro with two tallies, and Oscar Lindberg scored the game-winner, in a 4-3 Wolf Pack win. The Pack finished the weekend in Wilkes-Barre against a Penguin club that had won seven out of eight and was 16-2-1-1 in its previous 20 games, and Hartford turned in a dominating performance. The Wolf Pack won 5-2 and outshot Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 40-13, which matched a Wolf Pack team record for fewest shots-against in a game. Allen had another big game, with the game-winning goal and an assist, and team scoring leader Chris Bourque lit the lamp twice.
For the latest AHL standings, click here.
This week: The Wolf Pack have another three-game weekend on tap, starting with a home game Friday night at 7:00 PM against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The Pack then hit the road again for a pair of Northeast Division games, visiting Springfield Saturday night at 7:00 and heading to Albany for a 3:00 contest Sunday.
Friday, March 20 vs. the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the XL Center, 7:00 PM
- At this and all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers at the XL Center, through the start of the second period.
- Also at Friday-night home games this year, “Hawk’s Nest” is featured in the XL Center’s Comcast Coliseum Club, with Bob “Hawk” Crawford, the play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, conducting a Wolf Pack-themed interview from 6:00-6:20 PM. Injured Wolf Pack goaltender Cedrick Desjardins is scheduled to be the guest, and questions and comments will be welcomed from the patrons enjoying the Comcast Coliseum Club’s wide array of dining and beverage options. The Comcast Coliseum Club restaurant and bar area is open two hours prior to every Wolf Pack home game, to everyone holding a ticket to the game.
- This is the finale of a four-game season series between the Wolf Pack and Phantoms. The Wolf Pack have swept the first three, and have won the last nine meetings between the two clubs, going back to last season. In Lehigh Valley’s only previous visit to the XL Center this year, the Wolf Pack pulled out a 2-1 overtime win December 20.
- The Phantoms come into the week winners of three straight and are 29-24-6-1 on the year for 65 points. That puts them in a tie for 11th in the Eastern Conference, eight points out of a playoff spot and nine points behind the Wolf Pack.
- Defenseman Adam Comrie has scored in both of the Phantoms’ last two games, and three of the last four (3-3-6).
- For this and all Wolf Pack home games, tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger and 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, March 21 at the Springfield Falcons (MassMutual Center), 7:00 PM
- The Falcons eked out a 1-0 shootout win at Albany on Sunday, snapping a five-game losing streak (0-4-1-0) and improving their record to 33-23-7-0 for 73 points. That kept Springfield one point behind the Wolf Pack for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, and second place in the Northeast Division.
- This is the eighth clash of the season between the Wolf Pack and their most familiar rivals the Falcons, and the Pack have won the last five, after shootout losses at home in the first two. All three of Hartford’s previous visits to Springfield have gone to overtime, and the Wolf Pack have taken all three.
- Goaltender Scott Munroe (6-8-1, 2.51 GAA, 91.5% save percentage), who stopped 30 shots in Springfield’s 2-1 overtime loss to the Wolf Pack Friday at home, notched his first AHL shutout of the season in Sunday’s shootout win in Albany, making 35 total saves in regulation in overtime and going two-for-two in the shootout.
- 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.
Sunday, March 22 at the Albany Devils (Times Union Center), 3:00 PM
- The Wolf Pack have won five straight in their season series with the Devils, after Albany took the first two meetings. The Wolf Pack are 2-1-0-0 in two previous road games in the series.
- After Sunday’s 1-0 shootout loss at home to Springfield, the Devils’ record stands at 27-24-5-6 for 65 points, tied with Lehigh Valley for 11th in the Eastern Conference, eight points out of the last playoff spot. Albany has at least a point in five of its last six games (3-1-1-1).
- Netminder Scott Wedgewood (9-13-6, 2.79, 90.2), got credit for a shutout in Sunday’s shootout loss vs. Springfield, after stopping all 33 Falcon shots through regulation in overtime. The fourth-year pro went 0-for-2 in the shootout, however.
- 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, March 17, 10:30 AM, Aetna Headquarters, 151 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT: Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s beloved mascot, visits an Aetna employee event.
- Thursday, March 19, 4:30 PM, Star Family Center, 100 Gerber Dr., Vernon, CT: Sonar meets and greets players and families at an ECHO Youth Hockey event.
- Saturday, March 21, 11:00 AM, Downtown Hartford: Sonar joins in the fun and celebration of Hartford’s St. Patrick’s Day parade.
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., March 17 10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center
Wed., March 18 10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center
Thurs., March 19 10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center
Fri., March 20 10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game vs. Lehigh Valley)
Sat., March 21 10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game at Springfield)
Sun., March 22 10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game at Albany)
Mon., March 23 10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center
Pack Tracks: Once again this season, every Friday-night Wolf Pack home game will feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers, through the start of the second period. After this Friday night, the Wolf Pack are right back at the XL Center Friday, March 27, when the Providence Bruins visit for a 7:00 PM game.
The XL Center’s Comcast Coliseum Club will be featuring a new buffet package for all remaining Saturday Wolf Pack games. The menu will include: tender, juicy, endless prime rib, alongside seven premium Saturday-only buffet additions, those being delicious, nonstop peel ‘n eat shrimp, a nightly chef special, fresh vegetables, potatoes, a kids’ entree, salad, fresh fruit, antipasto and dessert, all for only $19.00. The Pack’s next Saturday home game is April 4, a 7:00 battle against the Manchester Monarchs.
Tickets all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.
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.