Wolf Pack Weekly, March 21-27
Mar 21, 2016The Wolf Pack (35-27-2-0, 72 pts., .563 pts. percentage) put together a second straight perfect, three-game weekend, rising to a season-best eight games above .500 and into a tie for an Atlantic Division playoff spot. Nicklas Jensen captured a CCM/AHL Player of the Week nod with seven points (4-3-7) in the three games, and struck for the Wolf Pack’s first regular-season hat trick in over three years in Friday’s 4-3 home overtime win over Portland. Jensen’s third goal of the game was the OT winner. The Wolf Pack pulled out a 4-3 shootout win over the Springfield Falcons Saturday night at the XL Center, tying the game at three on Chad Nehring’s second goal of the game with 54.1 seconds left in regulation. Then in a rematch with the Falcons Sunday in Springfield, Jeff Malcolm rang up a 25-save shutout and Jensen had a goal and an assist, as the Wolf Pack blanked their cross-border rivals, 3-0.
For the latest AHL standings, click here.
This week: The Wolf Pack have the Providence Bruins coming to the XL Center for the final “Winning Wednesday” of the season, a 7:00 PM faceoff, and the Pack and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers conclude their battle of Connecticut on Friday night in Hartford, with faceoff at 7:15. Then, the Wolf Pack travel to Allentown, PA for a 7:05 PM battle with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Saturday, starting a stretch in which the Pack plays seven of its last ten regular-season games on the road.
Wednesday, March 23 vs. the Providence Bruins (Boston) at the XL Center, 7:00 PM
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This is the 2015-16 season’s last “Winning Wednesday”. If the Wolf Pack win, fans can show their Winning Wednesday ticket at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center and receive a free ticket to the next Wolf Pack home game, which is this Friday, March 25 vs. Bridgeport (some restrictions apply).
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The Bruins are six points ahead of the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division playoff race, with a record of 33-19-9-3 (78 pts., .609). Providence has won three straight and is 7-1-1-1 in its last ten games.
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AHL goal-scoring leader Frank Vatrano continues on a goal-per-game pace. The P-Bruins rookie scored in both of Providence’s wins this past weekend, a 5-4 triumph at league-leading Toronto Saturday and a 4-1 victory Sunday in Rochester, and has 33-16-49 in only 33 games on the season.
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This is the finale of an eight-game season series between the Wolf Pack and Providence, and the last of four Bruin visits to the XL Center. The Wolf Pack have taken the last three meetings and five of the seven overall, with three of those victories coming in overtime and one in a shootout. The Pack has swept all three of the previous encounters in Hartford.
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Tickets for this and all remaining 2015-16 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger have been reduced to $10 this season, and all tickets will have a $2 day-of-game increase.
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Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on News Radio 1410 WPOP, on-line at newsradio1410.iheart.com and on iHeartRadio. Video streaming at www.ahllive.com.
Friday, March 25 vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) at the XL Center, 7:15 PM
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At this and every Friday-night home game this season, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period.
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7:15 PM is the new faceoff time for all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games this year.
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This is the last of ten meetings on the year between the Wolf Pack and their Nutmeg State rivals the Sound Tigers, and Bridgeport’s last of five trips to Hartford. The Pack are 3-6-0-0 thus far in the season series, and have lost their last two home games against the Sound Tigers after winning the first pair.
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Bridgeport comes into the week 36-23-3-3, for 78 points and a .600 points percentage, six points ahead of the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division standings. The Sound Tigers are riding a five-game winning streak and have lost just once in regulation in their last nine (7-1-0-1).
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Sound Tiger forward Connor Jones, a former Quinnipiac University Bobcat, had a goal and an assist in Bridgeport’s 4-2, come-from-behind win at home over Albany Sunday, for his first multiple-point game of the season.
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Tickets for this and all remaining 2015-16 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger have been reduced to $10 this season, and all tickets will have a $2 day-of-game increase.
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Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on News Radio 1410 WPOP, on-line at newsradio1410.iheart.com and on iHeartRadio. Video streaming at www.ahllive.com.
Saturday, March 26 at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia) at the PPL Center, 7:05 PM
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This is the last of six Atlantic Division battles on the year between the Wolf Pack and Phantoms. The Pack have held sway in four of the first five, and have won 14 of their last 15 clashes with the Phantoms, including both of their previous visits to Allentown this season.
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Phantom goaltender Jason LaBarbera spent most of the first five seasons of his 16-year pro career with the Wolf Pack, from 2000-01 through 2004-05, and is the franchise’s all-time career leader in games-played by a netminder (182), wins (91), goals-against average (2.11) and shutouts (21).
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Lehigh Valley finished this past week ten points out of a playoff spot, at 27-31-4-3 (61 pts., .469), seventh in the Atlantic Division. The Phantoms are 0-5-2-0 in their last seven games.
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Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on News Radio 1410 WPOP, on-line at newsradio1410.iheart.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:
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Wednesday, March 23, 2:00 PM, Captain Nathan Hale School, 1776 Main St., Coventry, CT: Sonar, the Wolf Pack’s lovable mascot, congratulates the youngsters of Nathan Hale School for completing the Wolf Pack’s “Read to the Rink” program, presented by ProHealth Physicians and Healthy Me.
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 22 10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center
Wed., March 23 10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (game vs. Providence)
Thurs., March 24 10:30 – 11:30 AM, XL Center
Fri., March 25 10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (game vs. Bridgeport)
Sat., March 26 Game at Lehigh Valley
Sun., March 27 No practice
Mon., March 28 10:30 – 11:30 AM, Champions Skating Center
Pack Tracks: On Friday home-game nights throughout the season, fans can take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s wildly popular Friday-night food and beverage discount. That means $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period. After this Friday, the last Friday home date of the regular season is April 1, when the Hershey Bears invade the XL Center (7:15 PM faceoff).
Saturday, April 9 vs. the Springfield Falcons is the Wolf Pack’s last regular-season home game, and it’s “Fan Appreciation Night”. The Wolf Pack will salute all of the great fans who have supported the team throughout the season, with numerous exciting prize giveaways. Faceoff that night is 7:00 PM.
Tickets for all remaining 2015-16 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. Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger have been reduced to $10 this season, and all tickets will have a $2 day-of-game increase.
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.