#DannyO’Regan

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK LOSE SEASON FINALE TO SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS

By: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings SPRINGFIELD, MA - Joel Hofer's 35-save effort at the MassMutual Center led the Springfield Thunderbirds to a 1-0 shutout win over the Hartford Wolf Pack, ending the team's eight-game winning streak. The shutout was the fourth in 12 games for the T-Birds against the Pack this season. The loss by the Wolf Pack locks them into fifth place in the Atlantic Division and guarantees the Wolf Pack will play on the road. Who they will play is still to be determined. If Springfield loses their final game against the Providence Bruins at Amica Pavilion on Sunday, the Pack will play the T-Birds in the Best-of-Three series. The Charlotte Checkers' 5-4 overtime win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and a Springfield win could make for a more difficult first-round opponent for Hartford. Should the Pack face the Checkers, Charlotte would host Hartford for all three games because of the travel issues at the Bojangles Coliseum. Hofer has been kryptonite for the Wolf Pack. As a result, the Jonny Brodzinski-less Wolf Pack saw their ability to score goals and generate offense take a serious hit, but undoubtedly not due to a lack of effort. THIRD PERIOD The Wolf Pack threw eleven shots at Hofer in the third period but were held off the scoreboard. At 2:14, Bobby Trivigno took a Springfield turnover and tried to jam it past Hofer, but he covered the short side post. A little over a minute later, Will Bitten had a net-front chance that Dylan Garand gobbled up. Then at 4:56, Matt Peca, the QU grad, was stopped, followed by a solid net front play that led to Edström's bid for his second goal in as many games at 6:39 was rejected. Peca had a golden chance at 9:45 with a rebound of a Steve Santini shot that came right to his stick, but he hit the net with the left side wide-open. Thirty seconds later, Tanner Fritz was stopped by a Hofer glove save. Seconds later, Lauri Pajuniemi saw Hofer make a blocker save. Then Hugh McGing tried to get Springfield a two-goal cushion from the slot, but Garand turned that aside. At 18:07, Wyatt Kalynuk's left point drive was repelled by Hofer, with Anton Blidh battling Tyler Tucker on his doorstep. Cullye, then Carpenter had a backhander on the left-wing side hit the side of the net. Drew Callin in the defensive zone clipped Tim Gettinger up high, but no call was made. Tucker intercepted a Carpenter feed before Hofer made a blocker save to deny Zac Jones as the Pack went with the extra attacker. SECOND PERIOD The second period was a playoff-like defensive struggle. The first shot for the Pack came at 3:15 as Pajuniemi got in position for a shot with Fritz coming down the left wing. However, he was stopped by Hofer with Blidh in front battling with ex-Pack Hunter Skinner. The team's defense limited Springfield to one shot by Matt Highmore. At 15:16, Adam Clendening fired a shot from the right point with Trivigno in front, battling the much bigger Tucker. Brandon Scanlin made an excellent recovery to avoid a Greg Printz breakaway. Then Mathias Laferriere made one of the few second-period Thunderbird shots at 18:05. Springfield's best opportunity showed up on the state sheet as Highmore was right in front and chipped the puck that went over Garand and hit the crossbar. Garland kept it out as he was able to sweep it away. FIRST PERIOD The first period was an intense skating affair, with each goalie making crucial saves, but Springfield came away with the only goal. What has become a rarity in the last month, Adam Gaudette turned a Fritz neutral zone turnover into a breakaway on the left wing. He took a pass from Scott Perunovich and went forehand-to-backhand on Garand before depositing his 27th goal of the season at 17:29. As he's done all season, the Winnipeg-born Hofer frustrated the Wolf Pack. Pajuniemi had solid scoring chances in the first. There was a one-timer at 7:01, Will Cullye at 7:55, and Pajuniemi again at 8:30 on a one-timer on the left wing. At 9:18, Clendening had a chance off a nice behind-the-back pass from Lockwood. Elson missed an open net, and Hofer's right pad stopped Trivigno at the back door. Dyland Garand had a solid period stopping Bitten and McGing in the first three minutes. LINES: Cullye-Carpenter-Elson Henriksson-Lockwood- Trivigno Fritz-Pajuniemi- Adam Sýkora Gettinger- Adam Edström-Blidh Jones-Emberson Hillman-Scanlin Clendening-Kalynuk Garand Boyko #40 SCRATCHES: Matt Rempe (healthy) Louie Roehl #4 (healthy) Brett Berard #27 (healthy) Bryce McConnell-Barker #8 (healthy) Easton Brodzinski #23 (healthy) Matt Lohin #18 (healthy) Matt Robertson (upper body, out for the first round of the playoffs) Patrick Khordorenko (season-ending shoulder surgery). C.J. Smith (hip area surgery done for the season) NOTES Despite being recalled on paper, Ryan Lohin never showed up in Hartford. Instead, he opted to go home. Years of injuries and being on recall earlier, where it netter him two games, might indicate that Lohin is considering hanging them up. Lohin not being in Hartford is what necessitated Jonny Brodzinski's brother Easton being recalled from Jacksonville yesterday. The Checkers had a three-goal third period and an OT winner by ex-Pack Anthony Bitetto to finish their season. The brand-new Calgary Wranglers clinched the AHL overall title with 104 points. In addition, 51 wins make them the first team since the 1992-'93 Binghamton Rangers to have a 50-plus win season. The defending Calder Cup champs, soon to be the independent Chicago Wolves, won 4-1. They had a four-goal first period against the Grand Rapids Griffins and were aided by a goal and assist by ex-Pack Malte Stromwall. The only Griffins goal was by ex-Pack Danny O'Regan. SOMMER CALLS IT A CAREER San Diego's head coach Roy Sommer, the all-time winningest coach in AHL history, announced his retirement before the Gulls at the last game of the season. One of his best traits, Sommer was one of the first true born and bred California players in the mid-1970s,  a generation before it was regular to see California on a player's address. Sommer started his hockey journey in the late 1970s (1978-79) as a member of the Pacific Hockey League (PHL) Spokane (WA) Flyers, playing against the legendary Bill "Goldie" Goldthorpe. At next year's AHL All-Star game at the Tech CU Center in San Jose, he should be inducted into the  AHL Hall of Fame for the Oakland, CA native. He teamed up with ex-Ranger-New England/Hartford Whaler Nick Fotiu as a coaching tandem with the Kentucky Thoroughbreds. NIGEL DAWES RETIRES The King is dead - metaphorically speaking. Ex-Pack Nigel Dawes, 38, has ended his playing career in Germany. 'The King' reference refers to a caustic and off-handed remark about his appearance as a guest on Wolf Pack radio broadcast years ago. He remarked in New York, you get a watch for being a guest, but in Hartford, you get Burger King coupons. He spent most of his career with Kazakhstan in the KHL, even in several international tournaments like the World Championships and Olympics representing them. With the outbreak of the water in Ukraine, he played the last two years in the German DEL with Adler Mannheim. Out with old Pack, in with new Pack. With Dawes retiring, reports in Germany state after a year off of not playing, John Gilmour may be close to signing with Adler for next season. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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CANTLON: DAY PLACED ON UNCONDITIONAL WAIVERS

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - In an expected move, the New York Rangers have placed defenseman Sean Day on unconditional waivers Saturday with the purpose of terminating the last year of his entry-level contract ($725K-NHL/$70K-AHL). The 22-year-old defender was selected 81st overall in the third round of the 2016 NHL draft, which was the Rangers’ first pick that year. His brief Wolf Pack career totals were just 62 games with four goals and 18 total points with 21 PIM and glaring minus-24. In Maine, with the Rangers' ECHL Affiliates, The Mariners, in 55 contests, Day had nine goals and 35 points with 33 PIM and was a plus-16. While playing in Maine, for about two months, Day was on the top defensive pairing with Brandon Crawley before Crawley’s recall. Day is famous for having been granted exceptional status in the OHL back in 2013 to play at age 15. At the time, he was only the fourth player ever to receive that status. Three other players have been granted that status since. This year’s OHL Rookie-Of-The-Year, Shane Wright (Kingston Frontenacs), and Connor Bedard, who will start his first major junior season in the fall with the Regina Pats, are two of them. Bedard, the number one overall in pick in April’s WHL Bantam Draft, is the first WHL player to be granted that status. Others who've been given that status include, John Tavares (2005), Aaron Eklad (2011), Connor McDavid (2012), and Joe Veleno (2015), who was the first QMJHL player to be given the early status. Day simply never developed into the player the Rangers expected and with 19 signed organizational depth at defense, the move clears a roster spot for the organization to use whenever the AHL season starts again. Day’s highwater mark in Hartford was toward the end of the 2018-2019 season. The Wolf Pack had already been virtually eliminated from playoff contention tallying just 13 points in 23 games, and Day ran the powerplay after John Gilmour was recalled to the Rangers. He struggled mightily to build off that moderate success this season, and despite his size and excellent skating skills, it was his decision-making away from the puck that left him vulnerable defensively too many times. Day registered just three points through 16 games. He suffered through his share of defensive lapses and turnovers led to his demotion in December demotion to Maine in favor of Yegor Rykov, who was coming off an early training camp injury in Traverse City, MI at the Prospects Tourney. Rykov's (pronounced Ree-kov) star waned considerably at the end of the season as well. He was a healthy scratch in nine of the last ten games prior to the season being suspended and ultimately canceled. Rykov has one year left on his entry-level deal. He could be on the move as well when all is said and done. The Rangers have six defensemen with Jacob Trouba, Marc Staal, Brendan Smith, Tony D’Angelo, Adam Fox, and Ryan Lindgren. ON the blueline, the Wolf Pack has eleven including Vincent LoVerde, and Mason Geersten, who are both under contract on AHL deals for this upcoming season. Libor Hajek and upcoming RFA, Darren Raddysh, are among them. Group 6 free-agent, Nick Ebert is already exploring European options in Sweden in the Swedish Hockey League and Russia with the KHL. Nils Lundqkvist is another defenseman expected to come over from Sweden (Lulea HF) after having a solid SHL season and WJC tournament, but with COVID-19 issues he may have to spend another year in Sweden. Defenseman Matt Robertson (Edmonton Oil Kings-WHL), and Tarmo Reunanen (Lukko Rauma Finland-FEL), have played off the first year of their three-year entry-level deals and should be in camp along with K’Andre Miller, who signed his ELC several days before the suspension of the season. Swedish goalie prospect, and a second-round pick in 2018, and not under currently under contract, Olof Lindbom is also weighing offers from Swedish and Finnish teams for next season. The Wolf Pack has two other Group 6 free agents in Vinni Lettieri and Danny O’Regan. They also have two UFA’s in team captain and forward, Steven Fogarty, and Matt Beleskey, both of whom have their contracts expire in June. It's a possibility that O’Regan would be the only one in that quartet back next season. The Rangers have three UFA’s, Jesper Fast, Greg McKegg, and former Wolf Pack/CT Whale, and Sound Tiger, Micheal Haley. Fast would be the obvious choice to be signed by the Rangers. Read the full article

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CANTLON'S CORNER: WOLF PACK 2020-21 SEASON

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - With the 2019-20 AHL and Hartford Wolf Pack season officially canceled, talk changes from what could have been, to what awaits at the next training camp that should start at some point in the final months of 2020. For the New York Rangers, their off-season decisions are many and plentiful. The NHL's proposed salary cap which was projected to be between $84 and $88 million two weeks before the pandemic outbreak is out the window as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Roster decisions will now be even harder for every team's management to handle once that actual number is decided upon. The Rangers have an excess of defensemen as they did last year. There are 19 defensemen in the system and only 12 can dress between the AHL and NHL. Some are heading elsewhere. In New York, Jacob Trouba, Marc Staal, Ryan Lindgren, Brendan Smith, Adam Fox and Tony D’Angelo have the top spots. Staal and Smith each have one year remaining before they reach UFA status. D’Angelo is now an RFA coming off a solid potentially shortened season. Lindgren will be an RFA after next season. In Hartford, there's Libor Hajek, Yegor Rykov, and Sean Day, who are all entering the last year of their entry-level deals. Hajek is at a crossroads. After making the Rangers out of camp last year, he missed 20 games with an injury was supposed to be in Hartford on injury rehab, but never made it back to Broadway. Day started the year in Hartford, then was sent to the team's ECHL affiliates, the Maine Mariners for the remainder of the season in favor of Rykov, who was a upcoming player. Rykov’s stock fell precipitously at the end of the year. He was a healthy scratch in nine of the last 10 games including the last game the Pack played on March 11th against the Providence Bruins. The team elected to play a freshly signed rookie, Zach Guitarri, from Brown University (ECACHL) instead. Rykov could be dealt this summer if the right offer comes along. Rykov was unhappy about how things were progressing with the knock-on him, according to several sources, was his skating. It's not out of the question that Hajek could also potentially be involved in a package deal. Darren Raddysh and Brandon Crawley are both RFA’s this summer. Both Vincent LoVerde and Mason Geersten were already locked up when they signed one-year AHL deals a short time ago. Raddysh played well on both sides of the puck, as did Loverde. They were the number one shutdown tandem for two months. He would appear to have earned himself another one-year deal. After a good training camp, Crawley spent the majority of the season in Maine. LoVerde was very well-respected in the locker room as well as with the coaches. In fact, he played with every defenseman the Wolf Pack had on their roster this season. Geersten proved to be worth his weight in gold and earned a contract coming in as a non-roster invitee. He was the best body-checker on the team and a true heavyweight who took care of the "physical" business and was another solid veteran signee that stabilized the locker room. Both players earned deals with Geersten seeming to deserve a one-way, NHL money deal. The Rangers signed K’Andre Miller to a three-year, entry-level deal just before the season was suspended. Tarmo Reunanen, who was signed last year but played in Finland, enters year two of his three-year deal. In the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), Nils Lundkvist is coming off a strong year and at the WJC. There's also the aforementioned Guitarri. The problem for Reunanen and Lundkvist coming to North America is that in Europe, COVID-19 hit very hard and the question is where or not they will be able to come across the Big Pond because of possible visa issues. Earlier this week, the EU (European Union) discussed an immunity visa that could be issued and there is a whole panoply of security and civil liberties issues that could potentially follow that. It's a total unknown and it's highly possible both could stay in Europe for another year. Defenseman Matt Robertson, from Edmonton (WHL), will likely be signed to a standard three-year, entry-level deal very soon. Among the defenseman only Nick Ebert is the only UFA-Group 6 free agent. It's not likely that Ebert will be re-signed. He could end up elsewhere in the AHL or Europe. In the forward category, there are significant players who are Group 6 UFA’s. the Pack's leading scorer, Vinni Lettieri, and Danny O’Regan. Team captain, Steven Fogarty, is a UFA. Despite possessing a cannon of a slapshot, Lettieri could sign elsewhere. His stock fell in the Rangers' eye over the last year-and-a-half. O’Regan, an old friend of Rangers head coach David Quinn from their BU days, was highly regarded by the Wolf Pack coaching staff. He will likely get a one-or-two year AHL deal in the neighborhood of $300,000K. Then there's Fogarty. He was a solid captain who played through illness and injury. Near the end of the season, he wasn’t putting up with some of the lethargic play that crept back into the lineup and called out his teammates. He could receive another one year, one-way NHL deal, but he will likely test the market. He will get offers and will likely head elsewhere. There are four RFA’s on the roster. They are Boo Nieves, Ryan Gropp, Dawson Leedahl, and Gabriel Fontaine. Gropp, a former second-round pick, after being assigned to ain't took a three-week sabbatical early in the season. He returned to Maine and worked his way back up to the Pack lineup. He played well, but didn’t produce enough points, He could be departing as well. Leedahl spent most of the season in Maine and likely will not be back. Coming off of season-ending, left shoulder surgery, Fontaine will likely get a one-year AHL deal. Nieves is a tough call. He played very well, tallying 12 points in 10 games before suffering from severe migraines. He played just one game the remainder of the year. He was a last-minute scratch in what was to be his second consecutive game. Nieves is a tantalizing talent, but the Rangers pigeonholed him as a defensive center, which didn’t work. He's now 27 and on a one-way, one-year, $700K NHL deal. It isn't likely he will be offered another deal. A really solid player and person, he will likely migrate elsewhere. Entering, the last year of their deals, are the most improved player last season in Tim Gettinger, as well as Ty Ronning, Patrick Newell, Nick Jones, and the wildest of wild cards, a former first-round pick, Lias Andersson. Andersson's unexpected departure back to Sweden on November 18th, not surprisingly, earned him organizational scorn, however, some are said to be still willing to give him another chance. Andersson wasn’t a malcontent but made a rash, impulsive, and immature decision that put him in a box. Inside sources indicate he had a bit of an emotional breakdown two weeks before bolting. The self-imposed stress of having to live up to his being the number seven overall draft pick and producing very little results weighed heavily on him. Unless a larger trade deal is constructed that he's a part of, or he has some huge reversal in his behavior, he'll likely spend the final year of his original deal skating on the bigger surfaces in Sweden. The other first-round pick returning for year two is Vitali Kravtsov, who had a difficult first-year. He went back to Russia after just five games, came back, and showed only glimpses of his skill that made him a seventh overall draft selection as well. He was too inconsistent and did not get enough puck time and his willingness to take a hit to get the puck or to take a shot. Nick Jones, a free agent signee did everything he was asked to do and did a lot of good things on both sides of the faceoff circle. He helped set players up and was very strong on the PK. A looming minus-14 needs to be improved upon. Jones’ Achilles Heel was being unable to finish on his scoring chances. He was reminiscent of a young Jed Ortmeyer. He has likely earned a one-year, two-way AHL deal. Ryan Dmowski and Shawn McBride were the heart of the fourth line. The team relied on them before play was suspended. Both were both on AHL deals and looks like they've earned another one-year, AHL deal. Numbers plus analytics will ultimately determine if they do get offers. Returnee Jake Elmer has two years remaining on his deal. He spent more time in Maine than in Hartford. There's a batch of new signees for the Pack. The 6’7, Austin Rueschhoff, as well as Patrick Khodorenko, Patrick Whelan, Michael O’Leary, and Justin Richards will be in what should be a very competitive training camp whenever that camp actually opens though is anyone's guess. The only UFA on the Pack roster is veteran, Matt Beleskey. He and his $825K NHL cap hit and overall $1.9 million are over. He will end up either with an AHL veteran's deal somewhere else or will take a deal to play in Europe. At the start of the season, the Rangers' not even inviting Beleskey to their NHL training camp was one of the very few questionable moves. He would still be a locker room bonus and gave it his all for the team. Late in the season, he was involved in the line brawl in Springfield in the second to last game of the year that earned him a three-game suspension. Late in the year, the departure of Ville Meskanen was obviously the other "questionable" decision by the team's management. The Wolf Pack could have used him, especially when the team hit the skids during a five game losing streak and a 2-7-1 mark in their final 10 games. Meskanen could have easily made a difference in the team's slide rather than having to rely on signing guys, like Connor Bleackly, to PTO’s and ATO’s to fill in the gaps. Goaltending is a major hot button issue for the Rangers. There are presently seven in the organization. A bit of a soap opera will play out until the situation with future Hall-of-Famer, Henrik Lundquist, is resolved. He is entering the last year of his $8.5 million per year deal. Alexander Georgiev becomes an RFA, and Igor Shesterkin enters year two of his two-year deal. An option for the Rangers is to buy-out Lundqvist. Trading Georgiev is another option. Meanwhile, in Hartford, Adam Huska (UCONN) is in his second year. J.F. Berube is there and is a UFA. Tyler Wall was just signed out of UMASS-Lowell (HE) and makes for a very congested organizational goalie crease area. Toss in the drafted, but unsigned, Olof Lindbom, who is coming off an injury sustained while playing with Mora IK (Sweden-Allsvenskan), and his hopes for a bounce back season in Sweden in the SHL possibly with Farjestad BK, where he played one game with last year. He is also WJC eligible. Lots to ponder about the 24th edition of the Wolf Pack coming out of this pandemic. Stay safe. Read the full article

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CANTLON: PACK UPENDED BY BRUINS

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - Paul Carey and Jason Zrobil each had a goal and an assist to pace the red-hot Providence Bruins to their 11th straight regulation win and 12th overall in a 3-1 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack before an announced crowd of 2,594. The Bruins' win vaulted them over the idle Hershey Bears, into first place in the AHL Atlantic Division with a record of 38-18-3-3 (82 points). The Wolf Pack, a team being reassembled over the last two days, dropped it's fifth-in-a-row and fell to fourth place in the AHL Atlantic Division at 31-20-6-5 (73 points). The Charlotte Checkers' 3-2 OT win over the Cleveland Monsters put them percentage points ahead of Hartford for third place. The Wolf Pack are seven points ahead of the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins. It put them eight ahead of the Springfield Thunderbirds, who they play again Friday at the Mass Mutual Center. When it rains it pours. Pack head coach, Kris Knoblauch, saw his worst come true. Reeling and with three key players suspended and two injured, an injury to New York Rangers' forward, Filip Chytil, set the stage for the recall of Pack captain, Steven Fogarty, to an emergency recall on Wednesday morning. Chytil was injured in Tuesday night’s win in Dallas against the Stars. He was forced to assemble a team that was part-AHL, and part-collegiate. They were held to just one shot in the third period, for just the sixth time in franchise history. The Pack has equaled that dubious total. Facing a Providence team was already a daunting task. “Providence is the hottest team in the league. To go in shorthanded wasn’t ideal, but our veterans put in the efforts, and our new guys showed some promise. There’s room to grow, but definitely a good start for them. We had a good effort from the new guys, a good first step. We're gonna have to build on that to play in the American Hockey League,” remarked Knoblauch. For the players, it wasn’t easy. They need to absorb a number of changes in such a short period of time, “It’s a good group of guys, but it was like a brand new team. We'll get some more time under our belt. We'll figure it out,” Danny O’Regan said. The line of O’Regan-Vitali Kravtsov-Ryan Gropp was what the Wolf Pack needed to do well in this game and did so scoring the Wolf Pack's only goal of the night. O'Regan's hard work getting the puck from Gropp at the blue and spotted Kravtsov wide-open in front of the net, who deftly redirected the puck just under the crossbar at 3:52 for just his second goal in 15 games. “It was started with a good pinch by Ebert, and we get a lot more chances when our D is mobile like that. It was a very nice finish by those two (Gropp and Kravtsov),” noted O’Regan. That was the extent of the offense. There were a few sustained shifts, but clearly the chemistry wasn’t there and that’s to be expected. The Bruins are high in the standings because of their precision passing and shooting are a potent combo. Carey fed the puck to Jason Zrobil at the center point of the blue line. He waited until Randy Fitzgerald got a screen on J.F. Berube and drilled his first season past the Pack netminder to restore a 2-1 Bruins lead at 10:35. The Bruins added another goal to make it a 3-1 lead from yet another break. Zach Senyshyn was below the goal line and saw Carey coming in through the back-door. He redirected the pass off the leg of Wolf Pack defenseman Darren Raddysh. It went between Berube’s legs as he squeezed the pads, but not tight enough as the puck went over the goal line at 17:52. The first goal was a bit of a fluke as Carey took the puck off the left-wing boards, near the blue line, off a shot from ex-Pack, Steven Kamper, on a right-wing shot in close that missed the net. Carey sent the shot toward the net that was deflected off the stick of the Pack’s Brandon Crawley and sailed up and over Berube's blocker at 15:34. This will not be the last time these two teams will meet this season. “We’ve had success against them in the past. We just have to get some chemistry going and get back to doing what we were doing when we were winning,” O’Regan said. LINES: O’Regan-Gropp-Kravtsov Dmowski-McBride-Ronning Jones-Chase-Newell Patrick Khodorenko-Michael O’ Leary-Connor Bleackley LoVerde-Ebert Hajek-Raddysh Zach Giutarri-Crawley SCRATCHES: Tim Gettinger - Upper-body - Day-To-Day Boo Nieves - Upper-body - Day-To-Day Yegor Rykov - (Healthy) Steven Fogarty - (Emergency recall) Vinni Lettieri - (Suspended) Mason Geersten - (Suspended) Matt Beleskey - (Suspended) Gabriel Fontaine - Shoulder Surgery - Season-Ending NOTES: The Pack has some major scoring slumps and now just five goals in their last five games. O’Regan has one goal in ten games, Kravtsov has one goal in 14.  Gropp has just one in ten games while Fogarty has just one in 14. The only Providence overtime win was against Bridgeport 2-1 on February 9th. Their last regulation loss was 3-1 on January 31st to the Binghamton Devils. This was the first of the three-game suspension from Sunday’s first-period melee for Lettieri, Geersten, and Beleskey. News on Nieves and Gettinger is not good. Neither will be in the lineup this weekend as of today. Khodorenko wore jersey #43, O’Leary, #23, and Giutarri, #4 The New York Post Larry Brooks reports the Rangers are closing to signing defenseman K’Andre Miller from the University Wisconsin (Big 10) to an entry-level deal. He had 18 points in 36 games on a Badger team that finished 14-20-2. He also was captain for the US WJC Team back in December-January. Ohio State ended the Badgers season in the opening round of the Big 10 playoffs with a two-game sweep of the best of three series ending a major sub-par season for the Tony Granato coached team. A big shout-out and offer for prayers to Chief-Of-Off-Ice officials, Dave Cunningham, who is recovering well in Hartford Hospital after suffering a stroke on Saturday at the XL Center after the game. Read the full article

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COLLINS: P-BRUINS DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM PACK IN 3-1 WIN

Providence Bruins 3, Hartford Wolf Pack 1 BY: Micah Collins, Hartford Wolf Pack Hartford, CT, March 8, 2020 – Paul Carey scored twice, and Jakub Zboril had a goal and an assist, Wednesday night at the XL Center, as the Providence Bruins extended a winning streak to 12 games with a 3-1 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack. Vitali Kravtsov scored the only goal for the Wolf Pack, who fell to 31-20-6-5 (73 pts.) on the season.  Providence improved to 38-18-3-3 for 82 points and moved past idle Hershey and into first place in the Atlantic Division. The Wolf Pack, who were missing regulars, Vinni Lettieri, Matt Beleskey, and Mason Geertsen due to AHL suspensions, Boo Nieves and Tim Gettinger due to injury and captain Steven Fogarty to recall to the parent New York Rangers, outshot the Bruins 20-15 in the first two periods but were held to one shot on goal in the third. “Providence is the hottest team in the league, to go in shorthanded wasn’t ideal, but our veterans put in the efforts, and our new guys showed some promise,” said Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch.  “There’s room to grow, but definitely a good start for them.” Carey scored first for Providence, netting his twenty-first goal of the year 15:34 into the first period off a point shot that just snuck past J-F Berube (21 saves). Steven Kampfer had the lone assist on the tally, and the goal would give Providence the lead into the first intermission. Just 3:56 into the second, the Wolf Pack tied the game when Kravtsov deflected the puck into the net for his sixth goal of the year. Ryan Gropp and Danny O’Regan had the assists. “That was a great play by Gropp and Vitali,” said O’Regan of the goal, “I think (Nick) Ebert also made a good pinch to make that play possible, and then Vitali had a great finish.” Providence was able to regain the lead with 9:25 left in the middle frame. Zboril scored his third goal of the season, with assists from Peter Cehlarik and Ryan Fitzgerald. The Bruins added to the lead near the end of the period, with Carey tipping in his second goal of the game with 2:08 left. Zach Senyshyn assisted on the goal. Providence protected goaltender Dan Vladar (20 saves) well in a scoreless third period, outshooting the Wolf Pack 9-1. “We’ve had success against them in the past,” O’Regan said of the streaking Bruins.  “We just have to get some chemistry going and get back to doing what we were doing when we were winning.” Knoblauch added, “Some practice will help the guys get more familiar with each other. It was a good game considering the circumstances.” The Wolf Pack’s next game is this Friday night, March 13, a 7:05 visit to Springfield to take on the Thunderbirds.  All of the action can be heard live on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming is available at theahl.com/AHLTV. The next home action for the Wolf Pack is also against Springfield, next Wednesday night, March 18 at 7:00.  That is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and one large popcorn, all for just $40. Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 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 (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Providence Bruins 3 at Hartford Wolf Pack 1 Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - XL Center Providence 1 2 0 - 3 Hartford     0 1 0 - 1 1st Period-1, Providence, Carey 21 (Kampfer), 15:34. Penalties-No Penalties 2nd Period-2, Hartford, Kravtsov 6 (Gropp, O'Regan), 3:56. 3, Providence, Zboril 3 (Cehlarik, Fitzgerald), 10:35. 4, Providence, Carey 22 (Senyshyn, Zboril), 17:52. Penalties-Crawley Hfd (interference), 5:36. 3rd Period- No Scoring.  Penalties-Bleackley Hfd (elbowing), 7:25; Petrovic Pro (high-sticking), 10:08; Gaunce Pro (hooking), 19:15. Shots on Goal-Providence 8-7-9-24. Hartford 10-10-1-21. Power Play Opportunities-Providence 0 / 2; Hartford 0 / 2. Goalies-Providence, Vladar 14-7-1 (21 shots-20 saves). Hartford, Berube 13-17-4 (24 shots-21 saves). A-2,594 Referees-Mitch Dunning (43), Dan Kelly (45). Linesmen-Kyle Richetelle (47), Robert St. Lawrence (10). Read the full article

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CANTLON: BRUINS EDGE PACK TAKE SECOND PLACE BATTLE

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - An early third-period penalty led to a Providence Bruins powerplay goal that allowed them to edge out the Hartford Wolf Pack, 3-2, in a very hard-fought contest Sunday afternoon at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack record slips to 31-16-6-5 (73 points) and the team sits in third place in the Atlantic Division. Providence meanwhile sees its record improve to 34-18-3-3 (74 points). They take-over second-place from Hartford. The Baby bruins have now won eight straight games. The Charlotte Checkers are in fourth place and trail the Wolf Pack by five points. Early in the third period, a bad neutral zone tripping penalty by Pack captain, Steve Fogarty, led to the goal that would allow Providence to regain the lead they would not relinquish. The Bruins' puck possession skills that had been on display all game paid dividends on the man-advantage in just 17 seconds. Jack Studnicka sent the puck over to Peter Cehlarik. He fired a shot that was saved by J.F. Berube, but he was unable to corral the loose puck and Brendan Gaunce was right there to smack it into the net at 2:40. For Gaunce, it was his 17th goal of the season. The Wolf Pack made a strong effort to tie the game, especially in the final two minutes. With Berube pulled for an extra attacker, the Pack would come their closest to scoring. Vitali Kravtsov rang a shot off the inside of the right post with 1:15 remaining. Vinni Lettieri took a short side slapper that was stopped by Max Lagace (21 saves) and Fogarty saw his bid denied as well. “That’s what's happened in our games with Providence this year. Something happens late in the game or a period. They scored a goal from the corner in one game, I believe with 30 seconds left. They don’t always go in your favor. We had everything in our favor in trying to tie the game up, but we missed. We had three really great scoring chances, six on five. It was three-in-three. The guys coulda quit. It's hard playing three-in-three against a very good team and down 2-0. We did everything to try to get it to overtime,” said Knoblauch, doing his best to hide the impact of the tough loss. The Wolf Pack finally got some open ice and time with the puck and picked up their first goal midway through the second period. On a Bruins dump in, Libor Hajek commandeered the puck and started moving up the ice on the left-wing side. Hajek passed it over to Lettieri, who side-stepped getting nailed at the blue line and moved into center ice. Lettieri put a pass back to Hajek as he sailed down the left-wing. Nobody was going to catch him as he ripped his first of the season going top shelf to the far side at 11:56. “Libor did a great job to get the puck up the ice and gave us a real jump when we needed it,” remarked Knoblauch. Another jumpstart was Nick Ebert, not the heavyweight pugilist, getting into a scrap with a much bigger Brendan Woods, who is a lefty. Ebert got the Pack going. “We got that first goal and Nicky dropped the gloves really got us going and we got another late in the period. We battled hard the rest of the period,” said Tim Gettinger The Wolf Pack evened things up at two on a set of smart passes. A backhand dump in from Ebert behind the Bruins net that left the puck a little between Bruins goalie Max Lagace and defenseman Nick Zboril, who both arrived at the puck at the same time. Zboril eventually took possession and rimmed it up the left-wing boards, but just jumping on for his shift was Jeff LoVerde, who got the puck and sent it to Patrick Newell along the right-wing boards. Newell made a quick play from off the right-wing half-wall put the shot toward the net. The puck found Gettinger's red-hot stick as he got to the front of the net and scored his third goal in two games and 15th of the season off a perfect deflection at 14:05. “He (LoVerde) made a great play to Patty, luckily I was able to put in,” Gettinger said while downplaying his own contribution. The Bruins came into the game having won seven-in-a-row. In the first period, they showed why as they scored their first two goals of the game. The first goal was scored shorthanded by the Bruins with surgical precision at 11:41. Danny O’Regan lost the puck on his rush attempt ice. The puck went back to the Bruins left defenseman, Jason Zboril, who passed it over to his partner Josiah Didier who nailed a diagonal pass from the defensive zone to the Wolf Pack blue line to Trent Frederic. The Bruins second-leading scorer then hit a speeding Oskar Steen racing down the right-wing with a perfect pass that he redirected in full flight for his seventh of the season. The second goal was again a lightning strike by the Bruins using handy stick work. This time an outlet pass meant for Fogarty never arrived. Cameron Hughes intercepted a pass and then on a dime quickly curled to the net and fed Jack Studnicks who put in his 22nd of the season at 11:32. “We weren’t playing our best. They were taking it to us. They got pucks deep. We weren’t moving our feet and in the second and third we finally got our feet moving and we starting getting chances. We just didn’t have enough (at the end),” said Gettinger. It sets up a very critical three-in-three next weekend with two home games against the Hershey Bears. LINES: O’Regan-Kravtsov-Fogarty Jones-Newell-Gropp Beleskey-Lettieri-Gettinger McBride-Dmowski-Ronning Hajek-Raddysh LoVerde-Geersten Ebert-Rykov SCRATCHES: Boo Nieves - Upper-body - Injury day-to-day. Brandon Crawley - Healthy Greg Chase - Healthy Gabriel Fontaine - Shoulder Surgery - Season-Ending NOTES: J.F. Berube has 23 saves on the game for Hartford. Lettieri had six shots and Kravtsov had four to pace the Wolf Pack. D-men Didier and ex-Pack, Steven Kampfer, with four shots each paced the Bruins' shots. Matt Beleskey had the second scrap of the game with a much bigger Alex Petrovic early in the third. One lineup change was Jake Elmer, who was sent back to the team's ECHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners. The Wolf Pack recalled Greg Chase, who's the nephew of former Hartford Whaler, Kelly Chase. He was scratched as was Elmer since he was recalled. Among the six Bruins scratches was Wiley Sherman (Greenwich/Hotchkiss Prep). Wolf Pack Fan Jerseys Of The Game: Wolf Pack #10 Brian Gibbons (Charlotte), CT Whale, Michael Haley (Rangers) and CT Whale #86 Wojtech Wolski (SC Bern Switzerland LNA). Very classy gesture by the entire Bruins team to go shake hands with linesman Mike Baker and Derek Wahl, who were working their last AHL games as a linesman. We were alerted they had received a curiously worded e-mail “Pick your last game,“ earlier in the week as notice their contracts would not be renewed for next season. Read the full article

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CANTLON: PACK BEGIN TO MARCH TOWARD THE POSTSEASON

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings CROMWELL, CT - The trade deadline has come and gone. The roster of the Hartford Wolf Pack is intact and now the next goal for the New York Rangers' AHL affiliates is making the Calder Cup playoffs. “We have 21 games left before the playoffs. 12 of them are on the road. We still have our work cut out for us,” remarked Pack Head Coach, Kris Knoblauch. The lineup he has, with few exceptions, will be the one the team will have when they head into the playoffs for the first time in five years. “This is our group. We have had a few changes, but will have some more, maybe later on, but this group will have,”  Knoblauch said stoically. “Our goal is always to have Hartford Wolf Pack players play for the Rangers whether it was Phil (Di Giuseppe), Lindy (Ryan Lindgren), Igor (Shesterkin) or (Filip) Chytil that’s our job here. Make the best environment for them to play in. One of the reasons (for the development success) is the veterans brought in here such as Danny O’Regan, Phil Di Guiseppe, Mason (Geersten), and Vincent LoVerde. Can’t say enough how well he has played. They all have made their mark with this team." Knoblauch loves to talk about O’Regan. “He’s not a loud guy, but a quiet, effective leader. He works very well with a player like Patrick Newell. On the ice or just hanging out together. He’s a natural person to gravitate toward. There is an extra step when he is paired with Danny.” The Pack begins a second three-games-in-three-days with two on the road. They visit Binghamton to play the Devils on Friday, then travel to Bridgeport on Saturday against the Sound Tigers, and then Sunday afternoon they'll have a crucial meeting with the Providence Bruins at 3 PM at the XL Center. From the good news department comes word that centerman, Boo Nieves, is close to returning to the lineup. He was in practice for a third straight day sporting a green jersey, not the non-contact yellow he'd been wearing lately. “Right now, he is day-to-day, (but) questionable for the weekend. He looks fantastic. Our best player the last three practices. We're very eager to get him back. However, it has to remain day-to-day until he gets (medical) clearance.” For team captain, Steven Fogarty, he can jokingly celebrate that he was not traded at the deadline. Fogarty staying breaks the "Captain Trade Jinx" which saw the team's captain being traded the last five consecutive years. “I wasn’t too worried about it,” Fogarty said with a laugh. Now, with all the distractions behind them, for the team, the march to the postseason is everything. “We put ourselves in a good spot. We like who we have, so it’s a matter of doing what we have been doing and clean up the things we need to.” The strong finish on Sunday in the solid effort in the 4-1 win over Bridgeport is what they want to carry into the start of the weekend in Binghamton. “Two points is all we got out of it last week. We didn’t play well Friday. We did well, but not enough on Saturday. We want to help ourselves down the road. We're still in a battle.“ Fogarty has been just as effective in getting offense while the team is shorthanded as he has been while playing five-on-five. There is an art form to playing shorthanded. He has a very quick stick, but a player needs to know when to be careful and when to use it. “You gotta know when the right time to jump on it to make the play is. I got a long stick and it helps sometimes. You can get too deep trying to fish one on a play and use your body more sometimes. So, we’ve got important meaningful games in the last ten. It's something we haven’t had in the last few years looking forward to it.” His linemates have changed throughout the year, which happens, but nothing tends to change, “You start to hunker down a bit, get all four lines going. That’s gonna be important to us.” Playing for something after several miserable years is certainly something Fogarty relishes. “The last few years certainly didn’t end the way anyone wanted. Playing for something this year is something we've worked for all year." The chase for the Calder Cup is fully under way and picks up in earnest this weekend. NOTES: On the Rangers "paper" assignments of Julien Gauthier and Brett Howden for the postseason, Knoblauch steered clear of that one. “That’s way off in the future. I don’t have control of those decisions. Till the playoffs are here, and those players are sent here, I can’t really think that far ahead. We'll have some bodies here and we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.” No decision has been made, publicly anyway, on the weekend's goaltending rotation between Adam Huska and J.F. Berube. Congrats to Fogarty who's heading to the Hall of Fame….the BC (British Columbia) Hall of Fame. The 2011-12 BCHL Penticton Vees team is among inductees. The team went 54-4-2 and won the BCHL Fred Page Cup, the regional Junior A Doyle Cup, and the national Junior A RBC Cup. “That was a special team. I haven’t been back there since. Several of us will be going with the ceremony in the summer. I'm very much looking forward to it. That was a special year and I'm very honored that our team was selected.” With 81 points, Fogarty was the sixth-leading scorer on the team. His teammates included current Sound Tiger, and former Quinnipiac University Bobcat, Travis St. Denis. The other player of local note was one of St. Denis’s collegiate teammates at QU, goalie Michael Garteig, who's now playing in Finland. “It's been something playing him (St. Denis) the last four years,” Fogarty said. Fogarty explained how he wound up in Penticton, BC, saying, “I knew a couple of guys I played with who were going up there to play. Why would anyone go there to play? Usually, kids from Minnesota. You're off to the USHL and then college. The USHL draft didn’t go as planned. Notre Dame wanted me to go there, get a little seasoning. It looked like a good opportunity. So, I went for a visit and fell in love with the place. Penticton is one of the most beautiful spots in Canada, just gorgeous. It was first-class. They treated us very well. Fans were out every night, cheering us and made it great every night. It was one of the best years of my life. We won 42 games in a row. We had everyone following us around like TSN. It was a wild, fun time.” They almost lost everything. “We lost our first two games in the RBC Cup (National Junior A Championships) and we're down in the third. We're almost eliminated. We tied it and won in overtime. We won the rest of the games. It wasn’t so easy. It wasn’t what looks it on paper, but we had our moments.” Interestingly, current Wolf Pack, Ryan Gropp, played his first two Junior A games that same year with Penticton where he notched a goal. The BCHL announced it's reducing its schedule starting next season from 58 to 54 games, plus they're starting later in September. The league will go now to two nine-team conferences based on BC geography for teams on the mainland and Inland locations. In Montreal, not only was Pack radio voice, Bob Crawford, in the Bell Centre. For the second time, Lindgren got to be on the same ice with his brother Charles, but this time in the NHL. The two met earlier in the season in Hartford with both brothers still playing in the American League. Charles was in goal for the Laval Rocket. The two brothers got their pictures taken at center ice before the game. Gauthier, a Montreal native from the east end of the city in Pointe-aux-Trembles, had plenty of family and friends in attendance. He was interviewed by his uncle Denis Gauthier, a former NHL defenseman, who is now an analyst on RDS (the French language sports station). It was also the 30th anniversary of the last NHL hat trick by Canadiens' legend, Guy Lafluer. The "Hattie" wasn't tallied for the Habs. It came while Lafleur played with the Rangers against the LA Kings. A few more names have been added to the Wolf Pack Calder Cup championship reunion that will take place on Friday, April 10th. Daniel Goneau and Jason Dawe will also be on the ice. 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CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK WEEKLY: February 24-March 1, 2020

BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT - The Wolf Pack (30-14-6-5, 71 pts.) finished the week one point out of first place in the Atlantic Division, after a 4-1 win at Bridgeport Sunday, in the last of three games on the weekend.  J-F Berube made 17 saves to bank his first Wolf Pack win in that game, and Tim Gettinger (first pro SHG) and Nick Jones had a goal and an assist apiece.  The Wolf Pack began the weekend with a 4-1 defeat in Springfield on Friday night and then battled back from 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 deficits at home against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday night, to earn a standings point in a 4-3 overtime loss.  Vinni Lettieri and Vitali Kravtsov had a goal and an assist each in that game. For the latest AHL standings, click here. This week: It’s another full three-game slate for the Wolf Pack this weekend.  The team heads to Binghamton on Friday night for a 7:05 battle with the Devils and then returns to Bridgeport on Saturday night to rematch with the Sound Tigers at 7:00.  The Wolf Pack is then back home on Sunday, hosting the Providence Bruins at 3:00. Friday, February 28 at the Binghamton Devils (New Jersey) at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena, 7:05 PM This is the last of four meetings on the year between the Wolf Pack and the Devils, and Hartford has swept the first three, including a 4-3 overtime win October 19 in the Wolf Pack’s only previous visit to Binghamton. The Devils started their season 9-17-4-0 in their first 30 games, but since Christmas, they have gone 18-7-0-0 in 25 contests, to climb to within three points of a playoff spot in the North Division, at 27-24-4-0 for 58 points. Binghamton rookie goaltender Gilles Senn is 7-1-0 in his last eight appearances, with a 1.74 goals-against average, a 94.2% save percentage and one shutout over that span. Broadcast – live online at https://www.iheart.com/live/fox-sports-1430-3544/.  Video streaming at ahllive.com. Saturday, February 29 at the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) at Webster Bank Arena, 7:00 PM This is the Wolf Pack’s second visit to Bridgeport in less than a week and the fourth time of the season.  After Sunday’s 4-1 road win over the Sound Tigers, the Wolf Pack are 6-1-0-0 in the season series, 2-1-0-0 on the road. Josh Ho-Sang had Bridgeport’s only goal in Sunday’s Wolf Pack-Sound Tigers tilt, his third in 16 games on the season and the Sound Tigers’ fourth power-play goal in their last two games. Sunday’s loss to the Wolf Pack dropped the Sound Tigers to 0-3-0-1 in their last four games and to below .500 at home, 11-12-2-2. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV. Sunday, March 1 vs. the Providence Bruins (Boston) at the XL Center, 3:00 PM This is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and a large popcorn, all for just $40. The Wolf Pack will celebrate their mascot Sonar’s birthday at this game, with a number of the lovable wolf’s mascot friends in attendance. Fans are encouraged to bring their skates to this game, for a free post-game twirl on the XL Center ice. The Bruins come into this week on a 5-0-1-0 run, and 11-3-2-1 in their last 17 games, and trail the Wolf Pack by three points in the Atlantic Division playoff race. Veteran Bruin forward Brendan Gaunce (16-15-31 in 45 GP) has goals in four of Providence’s last five games (5-2-7) and points in six straight (5-3-8). The Wolf Pack have won their last five head-to-head battles with the Bruins and are 6-0-0-1 on the season against Providence, 3-0-0-0 at home. Tickets for this game, and all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games, are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV. 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, February 25, 7:00-8:30 PM, Buffalo Wild Wings, 1267 Silas Deane Hwy., Wethersfield, CT The Wolf Pack are throwing a Rangers “watch party” at Buffalo Wild Wings, and Wolf Pack players Danny O’Regan, Darren Raddysh, Vincent LoVerde, Adam Huska, Libor Hajek, and Ryan Dmowski are scheduled to be on hand, along with the Wolf Pack’s iconic mascot, Sonar, to watch the Rangers’ game against the Islanders.  Fans can get autographs and take pictures and will be automatically entered to win prizes just by showing up. Saturday, February 29, 10:30 AM, Crystal Lake, 144 Prout Hill Rd., Middletown, CT Sonar cheers on those “freezin’ for a reason” in the annual Special Olympics Connecticut “Penguin Plunge”. Recent Transactions: Joey Keane – recalled from the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers, and traded to Carolina, February 18. Jean-Francois Berube – loaned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers, after being acquired in a trade from Philadelphia, February 19. Tom McCollum – traded by the Wolf Pack to Lehigh Valley on February 20. Lewis Zerter-Gossage – recalled by the Wolf Pack from Maine (ECHL), and traded to Lehigh Valley, February 20. Pack Tracks: Saturday, March 7, when the Wolf Pack host the Hershey Bears at 7:00, is Military Appreciation Night at the XL Center.  The Wolf Pack will be paying tribute to all veterans and active-duty military for their service to our country, and the first 2,000 fans will take home a free Wolf Pack reversible drink koozie, courtesy of CT-DOT. Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday and Wednesday home games feature the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and a large popcorn, all for just $40.  After this Sunday, the next Hat Trick Pack game is Wednesday, March 11, a 7:00 battle with the Providence Bruins. In partnership with the Hartford Chamber of Commerce, the Wolf Pack is offering “Suit to Sweater Wednesdays”, to wash away the mid-week work blues.  Any fan showing a company ID at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket office can purchase Blue-Level tickets to Wolf Pack Wednesday home games for only $15 each (limit two tickets per ID).  The Wolf Pack’s next Wednesday home date is March 11, when the Providence Bruins invade the XL Center for a 7:00 game. Once again this season, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas, at every Friday Wolf Pack home game, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest.  The Wolf Pack’s next Friday-night home outing is March 6, when they entertain the Hershey Bears in a 7:15 PM game. Wolf Pack home game tickets can be purchased at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 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 (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. TRACK THE PACK ONLINE AT HARTFORDWOLFPACK.COM Read the full article

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GRUNDY: (FRI) PACK TRIPLE UP ROCKET

Hartford Wolf Pack 3, Laval Rocket 1 BY: Bryce Grundy, Hartford Wolf Pack Hartford, CT, February 12, 2020 – The Hartford Wolf Pack rebounded from a Wednesday-night home loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in commanding fashion Friday night, beating the Laval Rocket 3-1 at the XL Center. Goaltender Tom McCollum got his first win in a Wolf Pack uniform with a 20-save performance, in his first home-ice action in six Wolf Pack appearances. “He did well for us,” Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch said of McCollum. “His passing skills alleviate a lot of pressure. Making saves is really important, but not letting them establish a forecheck, I know our defense appreciate that.” “I felt really good tonight,” said McCollum. “I think a lot of it really boils down to a total team effort. The guys in front of me did a really good job, they were blocking a lot of shots and giving me clean lanes to see pucks. Our forwards were doing a good job to create backpressure, which helped our defense.” A struggling Laval team, which was 1-4-2-1 in its previous eight games was no match for a dominant Wolf Pack team that is now 21-2-0-2 on home ice. “The fans bring a lot of good energy,” said Wolf Pack forward Danny O’Regan. “Especially on the weekends. It’s fun to play in front of a crowd when they’re excited about it. We just have that confidence; we know we’re a good team at home. I think confidence is the key.” Hartford’s early and often attack gave a quick 2-0 lead in the first period. O’Regan put on a stellar display of stickhandling right in front of Rocket netminder Cayden Primeau for a 1-0 Wolf Pack lead at the 5:28 mark. Vitali Kravtsov and Vincent LoVerde assisted on the goal. “Danny has been very important to us throughout the year, and that was maybe his best game,” said Knoblauch. “I thought he won a lot of key faceoffs, the majority of his shifts were against their top line, which is pretty dangerous.  So not only was he providing offense, he did a lot of defensive responsibilities. I thought his game was really good.” Team leading scorer Vinni Lettieri followed with a goal of his own shortly thereafter, at 8:55. Lettieri collected his own rebound at the top of the circle, skated into open ice toward the point and sniped one through traffic. Nick Ebert and Matt Beleskey had the assists. “The first period, I don’t think we could’ve played any better. I thought we did an outstanding job,” mentioned Knoblauch. “I thought it was a pretty good effort here with everybody.” Laval was next on the board after a scoreless second period. Riley Barber buried a rebound in the slot midway through the third period to cut the deficit in half. This was not enough for Laval, however, as Tim Gettinger put away an empty-net goal in the final minute of the game, securing the two points for Hartford. The Wolf Pack are back in action Saturday night, traveling to Allentown, PA to take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.  Faceoff is 7:05.  The Wolf Pack’s next home game is next Saturday, February 22, when they host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:00.  That is “Hartford Hockey Heritage Night”, as the Wolf Pack celebrates over 40 years of Hartford hockey history.  The first 2,00 fans into the game that night will receive a free 2020 Wolf Pack Sonar bobblehead, presented by Xfinity. Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 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 (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Laval Rocket 1 at Hartford Wolf Pack 3 Friday, February 14, 2020 - XL Center Laval       0 0 1 - 1 Hartford 2 0 1 - 3 1st Period-1, Hartford, O'Regan 10 (Kravtsov, LoVerde), 5:28. 2, Hartford, Lettieri 22 (Ebert, Beleskey), 8:55. Penalties-No Penalties 2nd Period- No Scoring.  Penalties-Newell Hfd (delay of game - faceoff violation (batting puck with hand)), 7:53; Kravtsov Hfd (tripping), 16:30; Olofsson Lav (tripping), 19:32. 3rd Period-3, Laval, Barber 13 (Varone, Olofsson), 10:14. 4, Hartford, Gettinger 12 (Fogarty), 19:45 (EN). Penalties-Lettieri Hfd (slashing), 4:42. Shots on Goal-Laval 7-7-7-21. Hartford 10-10-6-26. Power Play Opportunities-Laval 0 / 3; Hartford 0 / 1. Goalies-Laval, Primeau 12-9-3 (25 shots-23 saves). Hartford, McCollum 1-2-2 (21 shots-20 saves). A-4,089 Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Peter Schlittenhardt (12). Linesmen-Jonathan Deschamps (84), Glen Cooke (6). Read the full article

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CANTLON: (WED) PACK KNOCK OFF SPRINGFIELD IN HISTORIC WIN

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - The Hartford Wolf Pack got two goals each from Patrick Newell and Vinni Lettieri and outlasted the Springfield Thunderbirds, 7-4, for the team's 27th win of the season and the 500th in franchise history. The game featured five lead changes and 64 shots. The game-winner came as a result of hard work and a little bit of luck as Newell easily deposited his sixth of the season and second of the game into an open net. While on a shift change, Newell found himself on the receiving of a Nick Jones pass from the left-wing circle “I got a fortunate change on that second one. I was (lucky) to be on the ice with (Jones). The puck was just sitting there for me, and I was able to put in,” Newell, in a laconic, low-key, So-Cal speaking style said of the goal that gave him his first professional multiple-goal game. The first place Wolf Pack has a record of 27-11-4-5 (63 points) and pulled ahead of the idle Hershey Bears by two points. The team continues its red-hot home record of 20-1-0-2. They have won 12 straight. The team's record when leading after two periods remains unblemished at 19-0-1-2. “We didn’t talk about too much before the game actually. Just a couple of items. We're much better on those (than Saturday) in Springfield. Our D corps played so very well and our scoring did so well. It's because of our D corps.” The Wolf Pack had 11 different players pick up points. “We do so much better when we have four lines contributing like they did tonight. Everybody had a hand in it tonight. We just gotta keep it rolling into the weekend,” remarked Tim Gettinger, one of the 11 previously mentioned. In the third period, the Pack was able to pull away on a right-wing rush by Vitali Kravtsov, who put a smooth pass beyond the reach of two Springfield d-men, Tommy Cross and Brady Keeper. Lettieri with a wide-open net didn’t miss and tallied his second of the night and 21st of the season. Jones had another quite effective night and made himself the fourth Wolf Pack player to have multiple points in the game with an empty netter with 17.4 seconds left.  Adam Huska earned his first pro point with an assist to close out the Thunderbirds at 7-4. “We rely on him for his defensive play a lot, winning key faceoffs, penalty kill work. It’s really nice to see guys like that get rewarded. They deserve it because they’re playing the right way. Jones played an excellent game tonight,” said Pack head coach, Kris Knoblauch. Huska (26 saves) was not perfect, but in the third period, he made terrific saves that kept Springfield from tying the game. “Credit to Huska in the third period. We needed him, and he stood strong making big saves and playing the puck strongly.” Knoblauch said. In the second period, the Thunderbirds head coach, Geordie Kinnear, switched goalies bringing in Philippe Desrosiers for Ryan Bednard. The two teams managed just five shots in the list 7:40 missing the net several times as well. Springfield managed to tie the game at three. Daniel Audette collected his second goal of the night taking a short pass from Jack Rodewald. He moved in the slot put the puck through Gettinger's legs and under his stick. Audette collected the puck and lifted a backhander and deposited it on the top shelf at 10:42. At 12:13 the Pack answered back to restore the lead at 4-3. After missing the net seconds earlier, Steven Fogarty didn’t miss the second time. Fogarty got a perfect short pass from Kravtsov and got inside position on the Thunderbirds' Rodrigo Abols and lifted his 12th goal of the season with the backhand past Desrosiers. The goal and the captain scoring it was big for the Wolf Pack. “Fogarty is a big part of why we have success. He pushes everyone to do well and leads by example,” Lettieri said in speaking of the team captain. Ethan Prow got the puck off the right-wing boards on a cross-ice pass on a break-in as the Thunderbirds Jonathan Ang took Libor Hajek out, leaving a wide-open lane. Prow’s shot cleanly beat Huska to the far side for his sixth goal matching his jersey number. The Wolf Pack struck first in this game. Danny O’Regan won a faceoff from Springfield’s Alexei Saarela and Newell, his new, old linemate, picked up the puck and circled around the linesman using him as a pick then fired off wing a high-shot. The puck hit Bednard in the arm and went over the goal line for Newell's fourth goal of the season at 2:35. “I was happy for Newy he played well and didn’t surprise us that’s what we expect of him. He and Danny have a thing together back in November and December when we had them together so we reunited them and they played well together. Ski’s (Matt Beleskey) complimented them well. O’Regan's veteran value was shown on that play before it started. “Not only is Danny a good faceoff guy, but he's a good coach. Before they went out on the ice, Danny told Newell what they were doing and they got the goal. Maybe we'll have Danny call up more plays,” Knoblauch jokingly said of his “new” would-be assistant coach. The Thunderbirds tied the game at one converting an offensive zone turnover into a scoring play. Fogarty had a left-wing shot stopped and Lettieri retrieved the loose puck. Fogarty cut to the middle and Lettieri’s pass went the other way. Tommy Cross (Simsbury/Westminster Prep) got the puck put a quick pass on Saarela's stick, the former Rangers draft pick came across the Wolf Pack blue line at full speed. Saarela made a nice move on Vincent LoVerde at the blue line and had two wingers open on the left side. He hit Danielle Audette, the son of former NHL’er Donald Audette with a perfect cross-ice pass. Audette wasted little time putting his 11th of the season into the back of the net at 10:05. The Wolf Pack answered back 2:42 later. Gettinger got to a loose puck and snapped a hard wrister from 35 feet out that cleanly went between Bednard's left arm to regain the lead at 2-1. Springfield answered back in kind to tie the game at two. Henrik Bogstrom won a one-on-one battle along the right-wing boards and shuffled the puck to Matt Mangene at the right point. He sent a shot that kept rising and eluded Huska at 13:01. It was Mangene’s first of the season. The Wolf Pack came back yet again as Lettieri pocketed his 20th of the season at 16:27 to make it 3-2. Jeff Taylor at the left point took Joey Keane’s pass put a short pass on Lettieri's stick blade as he cut to the middle the lane was blocked. Lettieri curled back into the left-wing circle and then with Fogarty at the net he used Springfield defenseman Thomas Schmetisch as a screen and fired the shot that Bednard never saw beating him short-side. Lettieri’s goal made it 23 straight seasons the Wolf Pack have had at least one 20 goal scorer. “Taylor had the patience of a kindergarten teacher waiting to find me,” joked Lettieri with a wry smile. “He made a great pass.” Now it's on to Charlotte for a pair of weekend games. Gettinger, with his hoody shading his eyes, set the tone for the weekend as the team seeks redemption for a lost weekend in December with two tough losses. “We're going down determined on Friday, we know what happened last time down there. We have some unfinished business." LINES: Fogarty-Kravtsov-Lettieri O’Regan-Newell-Beleskey Jones-Gropp-Gettinger McBride-Dmowski-Zerter-Gossage Hajek-Raddysh Keane-Geersten Taylor-LoVerde SCRATCHES: Nick Ebert (Lower-body, still day-to-day) Boo Nieves (Flu, day-to-day) Yegor Rykov (Healthy) Ty Ronning (Healthy) Gabriel Fontaine (Shoulder-surgery, Season-ending) NOTES: During an ice cleaning timeout, Jared Doyon of Meriden who handles a lot of game night operation duties, including as a fill-in PA announcer, slipped and fell on the ice. He suffered a concussion but seemed to be OK giving the thumbs-up sign to the crowd while being wheeled off on a stretcher. 1,807 was the announced attendance, though it appeared to be quite smaller based upon observation. It was the 24th worst-attended crowd in Wolf Pack history. 28 of the 39 times the crowd has been under 2,000 for Wolf Pack games have come on Wednesday nights. Next Wolf Pack home next Wednesday against the Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins. Lias Andersson was scoreless in his debut with HV71 (Sweden-SHL). Ex-Pack, Akim Aliu, has a goal and an assist for HC Litvinov (Czech Republic-CEL) in four games. Logan Roe (Kent Prep) of the Florida Everblades (ECHL) was named ECHL Player of the Month. He was loaned to the Syracuse Crunch (AHL) and signed a PTO deal. Ex-Pack goalie, Brandon Halverson, was suspended and taken off the roster of the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL). This season he was a weekend emergency recall backup for Providence and had a poor two-game recall to the Tucson Roadrunners (AHL) posting two losses and a 7.90 GAA. The Sound Tigers lose forward, Kieffer Bellows, to recall but get back defenseman, Sebastien Aho. Ex-Sound Tiger goalie, Kevin Poulin, was released from his PTO deal with the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL). Ulf Samuelsson, a former Whaler great, Rangers player, and assistant coach, as well as a Wolf Pack assistant coach and Avon Old Farms assistant, has taken the head coaching job with Leksands IF (Sweden-SHL). His eldest son, Philip, and ex-Pack, Marek Hrivik, are currently playing there. He coached Philip when he was Charlotte’s head coach. The team is in dead last place in the SHL with an 11-24-3 record. He started his pro career with the team (1981-1984) and was granted permission by Seattle, and long-time friend, and another Whaler great, Seattle GM, Ron Francis. In addition, he is still being paid by the Blackhawks and had to seek permission from them as well. Samuelsson was just named a pro scout for expansion NHL Seattle team just a few months ago. Jordan Samuel-Thomas (Quinnipiac University/Canterbury Prep/Hartford Jr. Wolf Pack/West Hartford) leaves Worcester (ECHL) where he had 29 points in 33 games and was a minus-21 for Heilbronner (Germany DEL-2) for the remainder of the year. Ex-Pack, Kale Kerbashian, goes from HK Nitra (Slovakia-SLEL) to Lausitzer (Germany DEL-2) for the rest of the season. Two ex-Packers switched places. Casey Wellman has left SC Rapperswil-Jona (Switzerland-LNA) and signs with SC Bern (Switzerland-LNA) for the rest of the season. Tom Pyatt has taken his spot with Rapperswil after leaving Skellftea AIK (Sweden-SHL). Ex-Pack, Malte Stromwall, had 19 goals in 44 games, the highest-scoring Swede that was selected to the KHL All-Star Game. He's representing HK Sochi, but due to his illness, he was unable to play in the game. Stromwell is a prime example of how some Europeans are unable to make the adjustment to the North American game/rinks, but that still thrives playing in Europe. In ex-Pack news here is an article on Marek Mazanec. Read it HERE. Wonder what former goalie Mackenzie Skapski is doing showing off his hockey den. Read about it HERE. Wolf Pack fan jersey of the night: #3 that was worn by both Terry Virtue and later, Pat Aufiero, who wore it for 35 games after Virtue left to return to Worcester. #25 Mathieu Dandenault who played his last 19 pro games in Hartford. The all-time classic #20 P.J. Stock. Of the four, only two are still involved in hockey. Stock is an assistant coach for Lac-St. Louis Warriors, a local girls program in Quebec. Virtue is the head coach for Shrewsbury High Colonials, a Massachusetts Division I MIAA public school program. One of his two assistants is former UCONN Husky (last two Division III teams and first two AHA teams), Marc Busenburg. He played for Springfield and Worcester in the AHL in his pro career. Read the full article

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CRAWFORD: PACK DROP ANOTHER TO CHECKERS

Charlotte Checkers 4, Hartford Wolf Pack 3 (OT) BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack Charlotte, NC, February 8, 2020 – Janne Kuokkanen’s goal at 1:27 of overtime gave the Charlotte Checkers a 4-3 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack Saturday night at Bojangles’ Coliseum, in the second of back-to-back games between the two teams in Charlotte. The Wolf Pack, who fell 6-0 to the Checkers on Friday night, gained a standings point for the first time in 14 all-time visits to Charlotte (0-13-1-0), helped by a goal and an assist from Patrick Newell and 29 saves by Tom McCollum.  Chase Priskie had a goal and an assist for the Checkers. The game-winning goal came after the Wolf Pack’s Vinni Lettieri had the puck stripped away from behind by Chase Priskie in the Hartford zone.  Priskie sent a pass to Kuokkanen at the right side of the slot, and he ripped a shot past the stick-side arm of McCollum. After a scoreless first period, in which the Wolf Pack outshot Charlotte 11-7, Hartford defenseman Yegor Rykov opened the scoring at 2:26 of the second frame.  Danny O’Regan handed the puck to Newell in the right-wing circle, and he fed a pass to Rykov at the left side of the slot, and he snapped a shot past Checker goaltender Anton Forsberg (26 saves) on the short side. Morgan Geekie equalized at 7:59 after Roland McKeown broke up a Wolf Pack clearing attempt at the right point.  He found Geekie alone in front of the Hartford goal, and he put a shot past McCollum on the stick side. The Wolf Pack regained the lead only 17 seconds later, at 8:16, on Newell’s third goal in three games.  Matt Beleskey bumped a Darren Raddysh pass down the right side, and Newell got by Checker defenseman Gustav Forsling and jammed the puck underneath Forsberg’s pads. That lead lasted until the 17:35 mark when Priskie lifted Charlotte back into a tie.  Terry Broadhurst carried into the Wolf Pack zone and played the puck to Priskie on the right-wing side.  His hard shot beat McCollum to the long side. The Checkers then went ahead for the first time in the game 3:47 into the third.  After Derek Sheppard poked the puck away from the Wolf Pack’s Ty Ronning, Terry Broadhurst pushed it to Steven Lorentz at the left side of the slot, and he fired a shot past McCollum high on the stick side. The Wolf Pack responded at 8:53, with Joey Keane’s eighth goal of the season.  After a shot by Nick Jones went wide, Ryan Gropp worked the puck out of the right-wing corner to Keane at the point, and his long wrist shot found its way through a crowd and past Forsberg. The Wolf Pack’s next action is on home ice this Wednesday night, February 12, a 7:00 game vs. the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  That is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and one large popcorn, all for just $40. Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 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 (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Hartford Wolf Pack 3 at Charlotte Checkers 4 (OT) Saturday, February 8, 2020 - Bojangles' Coliseum Hartford  0 2 1 0 - 3 Charlotte 0 2 1 1 - 4 1st Period- No Scoring.  Penalties-Fogarty Hfd (hooking), 19:36. 2nd Period-1, Hartford, Rykov 2 (Newell, O'Regan), 2:26 (PP). 2, Charlotte, Geekie 17 (McKeown), 7:59. 3, Hartford, Newell 6 (Beleskey, Raddysh), 8:16. 4, Charlotte, Priskie 6 (Broadhurst, Smallman), 17:35. Penalties-Geertsen Hfd (fighting), 1:26; McCormick Cha (slashing, fighting), 1:26; LoVerde Hfd (hooking), 9:52; Hajek Hfd (roughing), 12:06; Bishop Cha (roughing, roughing, game misconduct - abuse of officials), 12:06; Beleskey Hfd (interference), 13:28; Geertsen Hfd (interference), 17:54. 3rd Period-5, Charlotte, Lorentz 16 (Broadhurst, Sheppard), 3:47. 6, Hartford, Keane 8 (Gropp, Gettinger), 8:53. Penalties-Hajek Hfd (hooking), 14:31. OT Period-7, Charlotte, Kuokkanen 11 (Priskie, Luostarinen), 1:27. Penalties-No Penalties Shots on Goal-Hartford 12-8-8-1-29. Charlotte 7-11-12-3-33. Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 1 / 2; Charlotte 0 / 5. Goalies-Hartford, McCollum 0-2-2 (33 shots-29 saves). Charlotte, Forsberg 13-8-2 (29 shots-26 saves). A-7,930 Referees-Dan Kelly (45), Jonathon Sitarski (23). Linesmen-Julien Fournier (56), Ben Shiley (21). Read the full article

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COLLINS: (FRI) PACK TAKE THE THUNDER OUT OF SPRINGFIELD

Hartford Wolf Pack 6, Springfield Thunderbirds 3  BY: Micah Collins, Hartford Wolf Pack Hartford, CT, January 31, 2020 – The Hartford Wolf Pack came back from their All-Star break in style Friday night at the XL Center, beating the Springfield Thunderbirds 6-3, led in part by Ryan Dmowski’s two-goal night. The victory was the Wolf Pack’s 11th straight on home ice, tying a franchise record set in the 2004-05 season. The game was the first of three straight between the two teams.  Joey Keane had a goal and two assists for the Wolf Pack, and Vinni Lettieri added a goal and an assist. The Wolf Pack got on the board first when Dmowski scored his first goal of the season with 10:35 remaining in the opening period.  Keane and Mason Geertsen assisted on the goal. “It felt good to get my confidence back and put the puck in the net, it’s been too long for me,” Dmowski said. “I was just a lucky recipient on the first goal. It came right in front, and I was lucky to be the one there.” Not long after, Hartford would make it 2-0 when Lettieri fired a slap shot over the glove of Philippe Desrosiers (25 Saves) with 8:13 left in the period. Keane and Vitali Kravtsov assisted on the goal. “It’s insane what Lettieri and Keane can do with their hands and the way they think the game,” noted Dmowski of his All-Star teammates. “It’s definitely been impressive to watch.” Springfield would cut the lead to 2-1 just 1:37 later, at 13:24, when Dryden Hunt scored his ninth goal of the year during a Thunderbirds power play. Aleksi Heponiemi and Ethan Prow assisted on the tally. The second period appeared as though it would be scoreless until Thomas Schemitsch scored his fourth of the year off a shot that snuck through Adam Huska’s (26 saves) pads with just 3:37 left in the middle frame. The Wolf Pack regained the lead just 3:35 into the final period when Phil Di Giuseppe put the puck into a wide-open net after a beautiful cross-ice pass from Kravtsov. The goal was Di Giuseppe’s 14th of the year, and Kravtsov’s assist was his second of the night. The Wolf Pack would continue to put on the pressure until Dmowski scored his second goal of the night to put Hartford up 4-2 with 7:41 remaining.  Lettieri assisted on the goal. “Dmowski and his line have been really good for us lately in setting up key plays,” said Wolf Pack head coach Kris Knoblauch. “Unfortunately they couldn’t get much ice time in the second because we kept getting trapped in our zone, but they were ready when called upon.” Just 1:22 later, at 13:41, Keane snuck a puck just past the goal line to further pad the lead. Danny O’Regan had the lone assist. Springfield was able to close the gap soon after when Rodrigo Abols scored his third goal of the game with 3:51 left in the final frame to pull his team within two goals of the Wolf Pack, with Jonathan Ang and Jack Rodewald assisting on the goal. Springfield would then pull the goalie, but it would prove in vain with Matt Beleskey making a diving play to score on the empty net with 43.9 seconds left. The Wolf Pack and Thunderbirds clash again Saturday night in Springfield, with faceoff at 7:05.  All of the action can be heard live on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com.  Video streaming is available at theahl.com/AHLTV. The Wolf Pack’s next home game is also against Springfield, this Wednesday night, February 5.  Faceoff is 7:00, and that is another chance to take advantage of the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Hat Trick Pack”.  The Hat Trick Pack includes two tickets, two sodas, and one large popcorn, all for just $40. Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (860) 722-9425.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 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 (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Springfield Thunderbirds 3 at Hartford Wolf Pack 6 Friday, January 31, 2020 - XL Center Springfield 1 1 1 - 3 Hartford     2 0 4 - 6 1st Period-1, Hartford, Dmowski 1 (Keane, Geertsen), 9:25. 2, Hartford, Lettieri 19 (Keane, Kravtsov), 11:47. 3, Springfield, Hunt 9 (Heponiemi, Prow), 13:24 (PP). Penalties-Audette Spr (hooking), 5:47; Hajek Hfd (holding), 12:24. 2nd Period-4, Springfield, Schemitsch 4 (Audette, Rodewald), 16:23. Penalties-Hajek Hfd (holding), 3:42; Geertsen Hfd (delay of game), 7:03. 3rd Period-5, Hartford, Di Giuseppe 14 (Kravtsov, Hajek), 3:35. 6, Hartford, Dmowski 2 (Lettieri), 12:19. 7, Hartford, Keane 7 (O'Regan), 13:41. 8, Springfield, Abols 3 (Ang, Rodewald), 16:09. 9, Hartford, Beleskey 14 19:16 (EN). Penalties-Lettieri Hfd (tripping), 13:59. Shots on Goal-Springfield 8-9-9-26. Hartford 9-10-12-31. Power Play Opportunities-Springfield 1 / 4; Hartford 0 / 1. Goalies-Springfield, Desrosiers 12-7-1 (30 shots-25 saves). Hartford, Huska 9-5-5 (26 shots-23 saves). A-4,824 Referees-Jeremy Tufts (78), Brett Roeland (59). Linesmen-Nick Briganti (58), Paul Simeon (66). Read the full article

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CRAWFORD: BEARS CATCH PACK NAPPING IN OT WIN IN HERSHEYTOWN

Hershey Bears 5, Hartford Wolf Pack 4 (OT) BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack Hershey, PA, January 18, 2020 – Hershey Bears defenseman Tyler Lewington, who had not scored a goal in 25 previous games on the season, scored twice, including the game-winner 58 seconds into overtime, Saturday night at Giant Center, in a 5-4 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack. The last of four straight road games for the Wolf Pack was a back-and-forth affair, with Hershey scoring early in the first period, the Wolf Pack coming back with three straight goals, only to see the Bears get the next three. Yegor Rykov scored his first career North American pro goal for the Wolf Pack and added an assist, and Steven Fogarty also had a goal and an assist.  Garrett Pilon had a goal and an assist for Hershey, and Liam O’Brien had two assists. The winning goal came after Lewington played the puck from just inside the Wolf Pack blue line to Axel Jonsson-Fjallby at the top of the left circle.  Lewington broke down the right side, and Jonsson-Fjallby hit him with a perfect return pass.  Lewington’s shot got by Wolf Pack goaltender Adam Huska (26 saves) on the stick side. The Bears jumped on top only 2:02 into the game, on a goal by Beck Malenstyn.  After the Wolf Pack’s Mason Geertsen partially fanned on a pass at the Hershey blue line, Kody Clark carried the puck into the Wolf Pack zone on left wing and dropped it off to Malenstyn, who fired a shot past the catching glove of Huska. Rykov equalized for the Wolf Pack at 10:18.  A Tim Gettinger shot went wide right of the Hershey net, but Boo Nieves picked up the carom in the right-wing corner.  He fed a centering pass to the slot, and Rykov, crashing down from his left point position, one-timed the puck past Hershey netminder Pheonix Copley (18 saves) high on the stick side. Fogarty gave Hartford its first lead of the game at 14:17 after the Wolf Pack survived some strong Hershey pressure.  Malenstyn passed the puck from deep in his own end, and Danny O’Regan intercepted near the blue line.  He threw the puck at the net, and Fogarty deflected it past Copley’s right skate. The Wolf Pack upped the lead to two at 16:44, on Matt Beleskey’s 11th goal of the season.  Shawn McBride sent the puck to Joey Keane at the middle of the blue line, and he stickhandled to the right-wing wall.  Keane snapped the puck from the half boards, and Beleskey tipped it into the top corner over Copley’s catching glove. The Bears had another strong start in the second period, though, cutting the margin to 3-2 only 30 seconds in.  A Libor Hajek pass up the boards in the Wolf Pack zone was cut off by Pilon, and he poked the puck to O’Brien in the left circle.  He returned it to Pilon at the bottom of the circle, and his quick release beat Huska on the short side. Shane Gersich lifted Hershey into a tie at 16:51, burying a shot into the top corner on Huska’s glove side.  Gersich started the play, dropping the puck to Erik Burgdoerfer at the right point.  He carried down the boards and all the way around the net, before sending a pass back to Gersich on the left side of the slot. The Bears moved back into the lead at 7:27 of the third period, as Lewington scored his first goal of the season.  Pilon sent a pass from high in the slot to Lewington at the right point, and he moved down almost to the bottom of the circle, before putting a shot underneath Huska’s left arm and into the net. The Wolf Pack got that goal right back only 1:36 later, at 9:03, on Vitali Kravtsov’s second goal in the last three games.  Fogarty carried the puck into the Hershey end and handed off to Kravtsov on left-wing, and his shot went through a screen and beat Copley high to the glove side. The Wolf Pack returns home to the XL Center for their next action, this Friday, January 24 vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, with faceoff at 7:15.  That is “Pucks and Paws Night”, and all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest. Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 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 (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info. To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Hartford Wolf Pack 4 at Hershey Bears 5 (OT) Saturday, January 18, 2020 - Giant Center Hartford 3 0 1 0 - 4 Hershey  1 2 1 1 - 5 1st Period-1, Hershey, Malenstyn 6 (Clark), 2:02. 2, Hartford, Rykov 1 (Nieves, Gettinger), 10:18. 3, Hartford, Fogarty 10 (O'Regan), 14:17. 4, Hartford, Beleskey 11 (Keane, McBride), 16:44. Penalties-No Penalties 2nd Period-5, Hershey, Pilon 10 (O'Brien), 0:30. 6, Hershey, Gersich 5 (Burgdoerfer, Nardella), 16:51. Penalties-Kravtsov Hfd (hooking), 6:00; Burgdoerfer Her (hooking), 8:35. 3rd Period-7, Hershey, Lewington 1 (Pilon, O'Brien), 7:27. 8, Hartford, Kravtsov 4 (Fogarty, Rykov), 9:03. Penalties-No Penalties OT Period-9, Hershey, Lewington 2 (Jonsson-Fjallby, Djoos), 0:58. Penalties-No Penalties Shots on Goal-Hartford 9-8-5-0-22. Hershey 10-14-6-1-31. Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 1; Hershey 0 / 1. Goalies-Hartford, Huska 8-5-5 (31 shots-26 saves). Hershey, Copley 11-6-4 (22 shots-18 saves). A-8,310 Referees-Corey Syvret (42), Anthony Tapper (9). Linesmen-Colin Gates (3), Bob Goodman (90). Read the full article

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CRAWFORD: (WED) PACK LOSE IN OT IN UTICA

Utica Comets 6, Hartford Wolf Pack 5 (OT) BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack Utica, NY, January 15, 2020 – The Hartford Wolf Pack stormed back from a 5-0 first-period deficit Wednesday night at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium, only to fall 6-5 in overtime to the Utica Comets, in the first of a pair of games between the two teams this week in Utica. Lukas Jasek won the game for the Comets with 36 seconds left in OT after Vinni Lettieri’s second goal of the game had capped the Wolf Pack comeback with 14.8 seconds remaining in regulation, and goaltender Tom McCollum on the bench for an extra attacker. On the winner, the Comets’ Brogan Rafferty stickhandled towards the goal line on the right side, before flipping a shot at the net.  The bid handcuffed McCollum, who had the puck go off the top of his right pad and drop behind him.  Jasek then knocked it into the net from the goal crease. That was the only goal allowed by McCollum on the 15 shots he faced in relief of starter Adam Huska. Lettieri, the Wolf Pack’s leading scorer, forced overtime with a one-timer from the slot, his 17th goal of the season, after Patrick Newell hooked the puck out of a scrum in the right-wing corner. Simply getting the game to overtime was a major accomplishment for the Wolf Pack, after the Comets swamped them with five goals in the first period, three of them by Justin Bailey. Utica opened the scoring on a power play only 1:42 in after Darren Raddysh was called for hooking at 1:19. Nikolay Goldobin played the puck from the top of the left circle to Rafferty at the center point, and he sent a snapshot towards the net that Bailey deflected past Huska. Bailey clicked again exactly three minutes later, as he ended up with a breakaway after a shot by Yegor Rykov from the slot in the Utica end hit a Comet defender, and Wolf Pack blueliner Nick Ebert lost his footing high in the slot while going after the loose puck.  Bailey moved in alone on Huska and beat him with a deke to the forehand. Goldobin then upped the lead to 3-0 at 9:03. A pass attempt by Rykov out of his own end was intercepted in center ice by Reid Boucher, who broke into the Wolf Pack end on a 2-on-1 with Goldobin.  Boucher held the puck on the left side until Rykov slid down on to the ice, and the passed it around him to Goldobin, who put a backhander high into the net behind Huska. Bailey completed his hat trick with another Utica power-play goal at 15:14, with Joey Keane off for hooking.  Goldobin fed the puck out of the left-wing corner to Rafferty at the point.  He unloaded a slap shot, and Bailey’s re-direction eluded Huska. Rafferty scored a shorthanded goal at 18:18 to make it a 5-0 Comet advantage after Guillaume Brisebois had been sent off for tripping at 17:28.  Rafferty got past Keane in the slot in the Wolf Pack zone with a move to the inside, and then put a forehand shot over Huska’s catching glove. The Wolf Pack changed goaltenders to start the second period, replacing Huska (eight saves) with McCollum, and he would face only one shot in the period, as the second was almost a mirror image of the first. The Wolf Pack started to turn the momentum almost immediately, as Vitali Kravtsov got Hartford on the board only ten seconds after the opening puck-drop of the second period.  Steven Fogarty carried the puck into the Comet zone on the left side and dropped it to Kravtsov, and he fired a snapshot that hit the underside of Utica goaltender Michael DiPietro’s catching glove and went into the net. The Wolf Pack then cut the margin all the way down to two goals, with a pair of strikes in a span of 26 seconds. Lettieri shaved the lead to 5-2 at 6:24, with his first of the game, exchanging the puck with Boo Nieves.  Lettieri sent Nieves over the Comet blue line with a backhanded pass, and Nieves spun at the right side of the net, before sending a pass back across the middle to Lettieri.  DiPietro (34 saves) had no chance on Lettieri’s quick shot from the left side of the slot. Then, at 6:50, Raddysh made it a 5-3 game.  Newell knocked the puck loose in the right-wing corner of the Utica end, and it went off of a Comet stick to Nieves in the slot.  His hard drive was denied by DiPietro, but the rebound went right to Raddysh in the left circle, and he fired it over the sprawling netminder and high into the cage. Shots on goal were 16-1 in favor of the Wolf Pack in the middle frame, and the Wolf Pack continued the comeback only 2:25 into the third period, as Danny O’Regan made it a one-goal game with his ninth goal of the season. Vincent LoVerde worked the puck down the left-wing wall to Fogarty along the end boards, and he sent a pass to O’Regan at the left side of the goalmouth.  He fired a quick shot past DiPietro’s glove side. The Wolf Pack and Comets will tangle again Friday night at the Adirondack Bank Center, with faceoff at 7:00.  The next home game for the Wolf Pack is next Friday, January 24 vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, with faceoff at 7:15.  That is “Pucks and Paws Night” at the XL Center, and all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest. Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 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 (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Hartford Wolf Pack 5 at Utica Comets 6 (OT) Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - Adirondack Bank Center Hartford 0 3 2 0 - 5 Utica       5 0 0 1 - 6 1st Period-1, Utica, Bailey 17 (Rafferty, Goldobin), 1:42 (PP). 2, Utica, Bailey 18 (Brisebois), 4:42. 3, Utica, Goldobin 13 (Boucher), 9:03. 4, Utica, Bailey 19 (Lind, Rafferty), 15:15 (PP). 5, Utica, Rafferty 6 (Juolevi), 18:18 (SH). Penalties-Raddysh Hfd (hooking), 1:19; Stevens Uti (hooking), 5:41; Brisebois Uti (high-sticking), 7:01; Fogarty Hfd (slashing), 10:52; Keane Hfd (hooking), 14:07; Brisebois Uti (tripping), 17:28. 2nd Period-6, Hartford, Kravtsov 3 (Fogarty, LoVerde), 0:10. 7, Hartford, Lettieri 16 (Nieves), 6:24. 8, Hartford, Raddysh 5 (Nieves), 6:50. Penalties-Stevens Uti (hooking), 1:26. 3rd Period-9, Hartford, O'Regan 9 (Fogarty, LoVerde), 2:25. 10, Hartford, Lettieri 17 (Gropp, Jones), 19:45. Penalties-Geertsen Hfd (slashing), 11:11. OT Period-11, Utica, Jasek 10 (Rafferty, Boucher), 4:24. Penalties-No Penalties Shots on Goal-Hartford 9-16-11-3-39. Utica 13-1-10-4-28. Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 4; Utica 2 / 4. Goalies-Hartford, Huska 8-4-4 (13 shots-8 saves); McCollum 0-1-1 (15 shots-14 saves). Utica, DiPietro 11-5-1 (39 shots-34 saves). A-3,935 Referees-Corey Syvret (42), Reid Anderson (49). Linesmen-Matt Brady (86), Adam Wood (23). Read the full article

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CRAWFORD: (SAT) PACK SHUTOUT IN CHOCOLATE TOWN

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3, Hartford Wolf Pack 0 BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack Wilkes-Barre, PA, January 11, 2020 – The Hartford Wolf Pack were shut out for the first time on the season Saturday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza, in a 3-0 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins that ended a season-high six-game Hartford win streak. Casey DeSmith made 25 saves in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton net for his third whitewash of the season, and Kevin Roy scored the only goal the Penguins would need with 1:48 left in the second period.  The last two Wilkes-Barre/Scranton goals were empty-netters, by David Warsofsky and Anthony Angello. Tom McCollum made his first appearance in the Wolf Pack net and stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced. Roy’s late-second-period winner came after Danny O’Regan attempted to pass the puck from deep in his own zone to Mason Geertsen.  The feed went off of Geertsen’s stick to Roy at the right side of the slot, and he slid to his right before snapping a shot that got by the stick side of McCollum. The Wolf Pack had a 12-9 shots advantage in the third period, after being outshot by a combined margin of 18-13 in the first 40 minutes, but could never solve DeSmith.  McCollum was pulled for an extra attacker with 1:33 left, but Warsofsky hit the vacated net at 18:57 after Yegor Rykov made a cross-ice pass out of his own zone and Warsofsky intercepted near the center-line. The Wolf Pack lifted McCollum a second time, with 40 seconds left, and again the Penguins foiled the strategy.  A Mason Geertsen shot from high in the slot was blocked, and Angello picked up the carom.  He moved through center ice on the left side and snapped the puck into the net from just outside the Wolf Pack blue line. The Wolf Pack’s next action is this Wednesday night, January 15, when they continue a stretch of four straight road games with a 7:00 contest in Utica against the Comets.  The next home game for the Wolf Pack is Friday, January 24 vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, with faceoff at 7:15.  That is “Pucks and Paws Night” at the XL Center, and all Friday-night Wolf Pack home games feature $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest. Tickets for all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 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 (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com. Hartford Wolf Pack 0 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3 Saturday, January 11, 2020 - Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza Hartford                         0 0 0 - 0 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 0 1 2 - 3 1st Period- No Scoring.  Penalties-Lettieri Hfd (tripping), 1:31. 2nd Period-1, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Roy 5 (Miletic, Berger), 18:12. Penalties-Abt Wbs (hooking), 14:10. 3rd Period-2, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Warsofsky 4   18:57 (EN). 3, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Angello 15   19:47 (EN). Penalties-Lettieri Hfd (tripping), 4:44. Shots on Goal-Hartford 8-5-12-25. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 9-9-9-27. Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 1; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 0 / 2. Goalies-Hartford, McCollum 0-1-0 (25 shots-24 saves). Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, DeSmith 11-10-2 (25 shots-25 saves). A-7,353 Referees-Conor O'Donnell (41), Ted Anstett (77). Linesmen-J.P. Waleski (14), Luke Murray (92). Read the full article

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CANTLON: WOLF PACK UPEND UTICA, 3-1

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings HARTFORD, CT - In what could have been a preview of a possible playoff game, the Hartford Wolf Pack continued their home ice winning ways beating the Utica Comets 3-1 in a spirited, well-played contest between two of this season's most-improved AHL teams. “Both games this weekend were like playoff games. Last night in Providence, a big divisional game, usually there can be a let down the next game. There wasn’t tonight," said Pack head coach, Kris Knoblauch. "The first period tonight was probably our best period of the year and our goaltender (Adam Huska) played so well when they had a big push in the second period.” The Wolf Pack record improves to 21-8-2-5 (49 points). They move four points ahead of the second place, Hershey Bears, who were 2-1 winners over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Wolf Pack will visit Hershey on Wednesday. “Both teams played well. We both wanted the points and we got it,” Huska, who picked up his sixth win of the season, said. The third period, like the two that proceeded it, was a back-and-forth affair as each team sought an important goal. For Hartford, they were looking to add some cushion, while for the Comets, the goal was to tie the game. The Pack used a five-minute major power play to their advantage and got their cushion goal. However, a four-on-four situation developed during the major and the Wolf Pack used the open space to their advantage as well. A great passing sequence began with Darren Raddysh making a superb outlet pass to Matt Beleskey. The former Boston Bruin then put a perfect tape-to-tape pass to Phil Di Giuseppe who split then Utica defense like the Red Sea and deposited his 11th of the season into the net at 11:25. “I was actually yelling at Raddzy to pass it to me,” Di Giuseppe said. He was ribbing his teammates with mock surprise about his “poor” passing skills. “It was a pretty bad pass to Beleskey, who luckily got a bouncer from the whole length of the ice.” As he continued to laugh with Raddysh nattily-attired in a fisherman’s knit cap and bow-tie waiting for him to finish in the locker room. The whole advantage came out of a wild sequence of events. The shift before, behind the play, Di Giuseppe made an outlet pass. After releasing the puck, Di Giuseppe got steamrolled by the Comets' Vincent Arseneau and then left in a heap at the Pack blue line on the right wing. Pack defenseman Mason Geersten was in the neighborhood and wasted little time in challenging him. The two had a spirited bout that Geersten got the better of. In the meantime, while the action went on behind him, Danny O’Regan still sought out the cushion goal and was initially stopped by a sensational Michael DiPietro (37 saves) at 9:21. The play is emblematic of how this group of players have become a team. “We really understand each other on-and-off the ice. We all know our jobs on the team, and it's always fun in the locker room,” remarked Huska. The Comets tested the Wolf Pack in the second period. “We were flying in the first, and they woke up in the second and they started pushing us, but our defense played well,” said Huska (26 saves). Huska had little work in the first period but got plenty after as the Comets flew all around him. They out-shot the Pack 16-14. Huska stopped 15 of Utica’s attempts. Wacey Hamilton, Reid Boucher and Dylan Bljus were all denied by Huska on excellent opportunities. “They were pushing from the side and coming right to the front of the net. My defense helped out on the rebounds, It's all a goalie can ask for,” said Huska. The Wolf Pack had their chances to get the third goal. Geersten left point drive was stopped, Tim Gettinger at 8:30 was open, but the full effect of his chance was stopped because of slash called on Guillaume Brisebois. Nick Jones and Patrick Newell were stopped on a two-on-one. and Vinni Lettieri and defenseman, Nick Ebert, had solid chances. DiPietro kept them out of the net for Utica. The Comets finally were able to get one past Huska. It came off a rebound from a hard shot by Kole Lind. Huska stopped a shot with his right arm, but it came right back to the wrong guy, Boucher, who quickly put it past the Pack netminder at 16:04. It was his 21st goal to narrow the Wolf Pack lead to 2-1. The Wolf Pack grabbed the first lead on a seemingly simple play. Boo Nieves won the initial offensive zone draw and the Wolf Pack maintained possession of the biscuit. Raddysh came up the left-wing boards and sent a short pass to Nieves who curled to the top of the left wing face-off circle. He saw two Wolf Pack players converging in the slot and launched a shot toward the net. “Those were two solid plays on that goal. Boo made a real nice move, and Vinni, great skill to finish on that play,” said Knoblauch Lettieri made a mid-chest (legal) re-direct with his stick that DiPietro had zero chance on at 4:08. For Lettieri, it was his 13th goal of the season and second in two games. The Wolf Pack would extend their lead to 2-0. O’Regan was behind the net and found Vincent LoVerde coming off the left point into the face-off circle. The right-handed shooter wired a perfect wrist shot to the short-side high over DiPietro’s right shoulder at 7:41. Two small plays made this goal happen. First Raddysh, who was at the right point, kept the puck in. He fed Di Giuseppe who perfectly reversed along the right wing boards. He went around the back the net and up the left wing boards and gave it O’Regan. “I was just able to squeeze some space and get it to Danny and he made the pass and Vinny made a great shot there and this is something we could build on in the game,” remarked Di Giuseppe. LINES: Nieves - Gettinger - Lettieri O’Regan - Kravtsov - Di Giuseppe Jones - Beleskey - Gropp Zerter-Gossage - Newell - McBride Raddysh - LoVerde Keane - Geersten Rykov - Ebert SCRATCHES: Ryan Dmowski (Healthy) Jeff Taylor (Healthy) Lias Andersson (Suspension) Gabriel Fontaine (Season-ending shoulder surgery) NOTES: The three A’s were worn by LoVerde, Nieves and Beleskey. Lettieri registered his first goal in six games against Providence the night before. His last one came on December 17th in Charlotte against the Checkers. It was his first multi-point effort in eleven games and ironically that was against Providence on December 8th. Two AHL All-Star selections will come from Hartford. Rookie Joey Keane made the the starting lineup. Goalie Igor Shesterkin, who is playing in his first year as a goalie in North America, is also heading to the All Star Game Classic in Ontario, CA at the end of the month. Shesterkin joins Wolf Pack history as the third first-year goalie to earn the honor. The others were Kazakhstan native, Vitali Yeremeyev, in 2000-01 in his one only year in Hartford. He is now a goalie coach with Dynamo Moscow (Russia - KHL). The other is Robb Stauber, who in 1997-98, the Pack’s first season, who was recently selected to be an Honorary Captain at the All-Star Classic in Ontario, CA. The two parent clubs met late last night as Vancouver beat the Rangers 2-1 scoring a goal in the first minute of the game and the last minute of the game. The Rangers finished 1-3 on their Canadian road trip. Steven Fogarty’s ice time during his four games in New York have been 3:25 in Toronto, 8:46 in Edmonton, 5:40 in Calgary, and 3:16 in Vancouver. He has just one shot on goal and one hit in those four games. Boucher saw his league best 16-game point scoring streak end last night at home in a 3-2 loss to Springfield. Boucher is now tied for the AHL scoring lead with Drake Batherson of Belleville, each has 41 points. Boucher’s 21 goals are second. Gerald Mayhew of Iowa has 23. The WJC medal games tomorrow are a Scandinavian final battle for Bronze between Sweden and Finland. Then another chapter in the Gold medal game between Canada and Russia. Former Utica Comet, Cole Cassels, the son of former Hartford Whaler, Andrew Cassels, was released by Belleville earlier in the week signs an AHL deal with Wilkes Barre/Scranton for the rest of the year. WOLF PACK FAN JERSEY OF THE NIGHT: A #39 Dan Cloutier and a real blast from the past. #34 Mike Martin, who played just the first year of the Wolf Pack. A #44, Whalers Dave Babych jersey and two QMJHL jerseys. #8 Samuel Thibault of the Baie-Comeau Drakkar who's now with Norfolk (ECHL) and the very classy unique red and gold of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan jersey. #55 of Guillaume Brisebois who plays for Utica. A third jersey of the Maine Mariners, the Wolf Pack Double AA affiliate, a gorgeous powder blue Maine Blueberries #27 of captain Zach Tolkinen, the ex-QU Bobcat who played nine games in Hartford last year. Read the full article