Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Adam Sýkora finds offensive spark
The Hartford Wolf Pack dropped two of three games last week, and remain on the outside looking in at a playoff spot in the American Hockey League.
The AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers lost 7-4 to the Springfield Thunderbirds on Friday, before rebounding with a 5-1 victory over the Providence Bruins 24 hours later. However, Hartford was unable to carry over that momentum and lost 5-1 to the Bridgeport Islanders 5-1 on Sunday.
The eighth-place Wolf Pack (12-17-4-1, 29 points) are three-points out of the final postseason berth in the Atlantic Division. Despite losing nine of their past 13 games (4-8-0-1), they remain in the playoff hunt, and can make up ground with three games this coming week.
They’ll need to do so without key forward Brennan Othmann, who had six points (four goals, two assists) in six games before the Rangers recalled him Sunday. The 23-year-old played well and nearly scored his first NHL goal Monday in a 4-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken. Now once, but twice, Othmann wired shots off the post.
Hartford Wolf Pack News-n-Notes
Adam Sykora — photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack
Adam Sýkora finds offensive spark
Third-year pro Adam Sýkora has four points (one goal, three assists) in his past three games, and led the way against Providence on Saturday with one goal and two assists. That goal was his first in seven games and seventh this season, tied for fourth most on the Wolf Pack. A reliable two-way player, Sýkora also leads the team with two short-handed goals.
The 21-year-old forward generated more chances recently, averaging 2.20 shots over his past 10 games, up from his season average of 1.61.
Sýkora has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) this season, tied for sixth on Hartford in scoring with Brendan Brisson and Dylan Roobroeck. However, despite garnering consideration, Sykora failed to make Slovakia’s roster for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
Brandon Scanlin regains form after injury absence
After missing the first two months of the season rehabbing from an injury, Brandon Scanlin is back and making an impact on the Wolf Pack blue line. The 26-yea-old undrafted defenseman is on a four-game point streak (one goal, three assists), and has five points (one goal, four assists) in 12 games since returning. He’s two assists away from tying last season’s total of six in 66 games.
Scanlin returned healthy on Dec. 10, and should be a pivotal defenseman for Hartford over the remainder of the season. He was a solid regular on the blue line the previous three seasons for Hartford, and even received a one-game NHL call-up with the Rangers in March of 2024.
Justin Dowling returns with a bang
Returning from a two-game stint with the Rangers (zero points, minus-one) that included his debut in the 2026 Winter Classic, Justin Dowling recorded three points (one goal, two assists) to snap his three-game AHL scoring drought on Saturday. The steady 35-year-old veteran is tied for the team lead in points (19), and is second with 13 assists.
Primarily anchored on the Wolf Pack’s first line at center, his experience benefits young prospects, most recently Brett Berard and Jaroslav Chmelař, on the wing. Upon Dowling’s return, that threesome produced three power-play points on Saturday (one goal, two assists. And Dowling also provided a big lift on the penalty kill, setting up a short-handed goal for Sýkora, and then scoring a pretty shorty himself.
Dowling continues to pay significant dividends for the Wolf Pack with his leadership and production, since the Rangers signed him to a two-year contract this past summer.
Upcoming Games
All games can be viewed on AHLTV and heard on Mixlr.
Wednesday, January 14 vs Hershey Bears (Capitals) at 7:00pm, Giant Center
- This is the first of four meetings in the season series. Hartford was 2-1-1-0 against Hershey in 2024-25.
- Hershey is 17-14-2-0 (36 points), fifth in the Atlantic Division and 10th in the Eastern Conference.
- Ilya Protas (14 goals, 12 assists) and Andrew Cristall (five goals, 21 assists) are tied for Hershey lead in scoring with 26 points apiece.
Friday, January 16 vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh) at 7:05pm, Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza
- This is the fifth of six meetings in the season series. Hartford is 1-3-0-0 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 23-10-1-2 (49 points), second in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference.
- Tristan Broz leads the Penguins with 24 points (11 goals, 13 assists). Next is Valtteri Puustinen with 21 points (six goals, 15 assists).
Saturday, January 17 vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh) at 6:05pm
- This is the sixth and final meeting in the season series.
- The Wolf Pack are 6-8-1-1 on the road.
