#WyattKalynuk

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK TAKE 2-0 LEAD ON PROVIDENCE BRUINS

ADAM CLENDENING BLASTS HOME WINNER AS HARTFORD WOLF PACK EDGE PROVIDENCE BRUINS 2-1, TAKE 2-0 SERIES LEAD By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack turned in another terrific effort on Saturday night, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead in their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals matchup with the Providence Bruins. Hartford struck twice in the middle stanza to a take a lead they never lost in an eventual 2-1 decision. Adam Clendening blasted home his first goal of the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs 9:43 into the second period, giving Hartford a 2-0 lead. Wyatt Kalynuk slipped a pass from the right-wing point to his defense partner, who was stationed at the top of the offensive zone on the blue line. Clendening stepped into a shot that boomed by Brandon Bussi for the eventual game-winning tally. For the second night in a row, the Wolf Pack and Bruins played a scoreless opening 20 minutes. This time, however, it was the Bruins who outshot the Wolf Pack. After managing just 14 shots over 60 minutes on Friday night, the Bruins fired 12 shots on goal in the opening stanza on this night. Dylan Garand, however, was up to the task and stopped all 12 shots. Also for the second night in a row, the Wolf Pack would open the scoring in the middle stanza. Former Bruin Anton Blidh pounced on a rebound for his first goal of the series at 6:17, breaking the ice. Tim Gettinger fired a shot from the right-wing point that Bussi denied, but Blidh was able to locate the rebound and stuff it home for his second goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Just over three minutes later, Clendening’s rocket from the point made it 2-0 Hartford. That would prove to be enough offense on this night. The Bruins would strike for the first time in this series at 13:14, answering back thanks to Luke Toporowski’s first career Calder Cup Playoff goal. Joona Koppanen won a board battle along the right-wing side and sent a centering pass to Toporowski. Toporowski took the pass and fired a shot from a high-danger area to make it a 2-1 game. That would be the only offense that Garand would surrender on this night, however, as the rookie goaltender slammed the door shut from there. Garand made nine saves in the third period, including a few in the final minutes with the Bruins pressing with the extra attacker. His 29 saves were the most in a game in his brief playoff career, in which he is now 4-0. The Wolf Pack, thanks to this victory, now hold a 2-0 series lead over the Bruins. They are now one game away from advancing to the Atlantic Division Final. The Pack return to the XL Center for Game Three of the best-of-five series on Wednesday, May 3rd. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. To get tickets, visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and play at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK WIN EIGHTH STRAIGHT TO CLOSE REGULAR SEASON

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack hosted their final regular season home game on Friday night as they welcomed the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to the XL Center. Louis Domingue sent a raucous crowd of 6,226 fans home happy, stopping all 28 Penguins shots as the Wolf Pack earned their eighth straight victory with a 4-0 win over the Penguins. Tim Gettinger gave the Wolf Pack a lead they would not lose just under 16 minutes into the opening stanza. A high-sticking call to Josh Maniscalco initiated the Wolf Pack's second powerplay opportunity. Lauri Pajuniemi took a feed from Adam Clendening in the left circle and shot toward the Penguins' net. The puck grazed off the leg of Gettinger and past Joel Blomqvist, putting Hartford in the lead for good. The goal was Gettinger's first game-winning tally of the campaign. The goal was Gettinger's 62nd career goal, putting him tenth all-time on the Wolf Pack's goal-scoring list. Turner Elson stretched the lead to two about six and a half minutes into the second period. Ryan Carpenter freed the puck from a scrum along the back wall and sent a centering pass to Elson. Elson promptly blasted a shot by the blocker of Blomqvist to double the Hartford lead. The goal was Elson's 40th point of the campaign, becoming the fifth member of the Wolf Pack to hit that mark. Elson struck again just over four and a half minutes into the final stanza. Elson positioned himself in the slot and deflected a centering feed from Will Cuylle into the Penguins' net to put the Wolf Pack up by three. It was Elson's second straight game lighting the lamp twice. Elson has recorded six points (4 g, 2 a) in his last three games. The assist on the goal was Cuylle's 20th of his rookie campaign. Adam Edström capped off the scoring at 13:24 of the third period. Gettinger snapped a pass to Edström at center ice, and the rookie forward took the puck into the Penguins' zone. Edström made a spectacular move to get by Maniscalco, skated to the slot, and beat Blomqvist by the blocker for his first goal in the American Hockey League. The Penguins challenged Domingue after Wyatt Kalynuk was called for roughing at 16:59 of the third period. Still, the veteran netminder prevented the Penguins from getting on the board, and the Wolf Pack earned their eighth straight victory. The shutout was Domingue's fourth overall on the season and was his ninth consecutive victory dating back to March 15th. The Wolf Pack wrap up the regular season tomorrow as they hit the road to take on the Springfield Thunderbirds in the final installment of the 'I-91 Rivalry' for the 2022-23 season. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. The Wolf Pack will begin the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs next week. Hartford's First Round opponent and game dates and times are still to be determined. For Calder Cup Playoff tickets and seeding information, please visit  www.hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team's inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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SPRINGFIELD THUNDERBIRDS RALLY TO 4-2 WIN OVER HARTFORD WOLF PACK 

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack continued their chase toward the Calder Cup Playoffs on Friday night, welcoming the Springfield Thunderbirds to town for the first of three meetings between the two teams at the XL Center this month. The Wolf Pack took a 2-0 lead into the third period, but a four-goal performance from Springfield delivered a stunning 4-2 decision for the T-Birds. Martin Frk potted the eventual game-winner for the Thunderbirds, their third straight goal in the four-goal stretch. Wyatt Kalynuk was sent to the penalty box at 13:14 of the third period, giving Springfield a late powerplay opportunity. Frk took a shot from the slot, but his shot went high. Matthew Peca sent the puck back to Scott Perunovich, who fed Frk near the top of the offensive zone. Frk blasted a one-timer that found the back of the Hartford net, giving Springfield their first lead of the game at 14:39, one they would not give up. In the opening stanza, Anton Blidh quickly snapped the Wolf Pack’s skid of six scoreless periods against the Thunderbirds. Lauri Pajuniemi had a breakaway opportunity, but Vadim Zherenko made a kick save to prevent the icebreaker. Blidh collected the rebound and went bar down over Zherenko, putting the Pack on top just over the four-and-a-half-minute mark. Blidh’s goal was his third since joining the Wolf Pack on March 3rd. Will Cuylle stretched the lead to two just over a minute later. Ty Emberson took a shot from the blue line into a chaotic scramble in front of the net. The puck was tipped by Jake Leschyshyn and finally by Cuylle before finding its way into the Springfield net. The tally was Cuylle’s 21st goal, and 37th point of the campaign, both good for the team lead. Leschyshyn’s helper on the goal was his seventh point in eight games with the Wolf Pack this season. Leschyshyn has tallied two goals and five assists since being assigned to Hartford by the New York Rangers on February 26th. The netminders kept the second period scoreless. Zherenko stopped eleven Wolf Pack shots, while Dylan Garand denied twelve Thunderbirds bids. Garand made an impressive save at 6:41, denying Mikhail Abramov on a wraparound opportunity to keep the Thunderbirds off the board and send the game into the final period with the Wolf Pack leading by two. However, the Pack’s lead would soon be erased as Will Bitten drew the Thunderbirds even with a pair of goals in a five-minute stretch in the final stanza. Bitten put Springfield on the board at 6:21 when he backhanded an Abramov pass over the glove of Garand. Bitten scored again at 11:41, drawing the teams even. Hugh McGing stripped the puck from Matthew Robertson behind the Hartford net and fed Bitten, who walked to the right side and slid the puck under Garand’s glove. Frk lit the lamp at 14:39 of the final period, putting the game out of reach for good. Bitten would cap off a hat trick, scoring on the empty Hartford net at 18:47. The Wolf Pack hit the road for a pivotal installment of the ‘Battle of Connecticut' against the Bridgeport Islanders tomorrow. The puck drop is set for 7:00 pm. The Pack return to the XL Center on Friday, March 24th, for a rematch with the Thunderbirds. Join us for Pucks ‘N Paws and College Night! The puck drop is set for 7:00 pm. To get tickets, visit  hartfordwolfpack.com. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article