Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Dylan Roobroeck heats up; losing skid ends
The Hartford Wolf Pack snapped their seven-game losing streak (0-3-4-0) Tuesday morning, when they defeated the Springfield Thunderbirds 3-2 in overtime. Captain Casey Fitzgerald scored the OT winner and added an assist. Brett Berard and Justin Dowling each had two points (one goal, one assist) in the much-needed win.
Despite their recent struggles, the Wolf Pack are tied for sixth-place (4-7-4-0, 12 points) with the Bridgeport Islanders for the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.
The Wolf Pack’s offense received a welcome boost when the New York Rangers assigned Gabe Perreault to Hartford on Sunday. He reunited with Dowling and Jaroslav Chmelař on the top line, after picking up his first NHL point (assist) in three games with the Rangers. Perreault still leads Hartford with 10 points, and is tied for the team lead with five goals.
Scott Morrow was called up to New York on Sunday, when Perreault was reassigned to the minors. The 23-year-old defenseman made his Rangers debut in a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, after he recorded two points (one goal, one assist) in 11 games with Hartford. Morrow is on New York’s three-game road trip out west, but was a healthy scratch Tuesday when Will Borgen returned to the lineup for a 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Veteran goalie Spencer Martin signed a two-year contract with the Rangers last week, and will mentor Dylan Garand and also provide depth. The 30-year old appeared in 14 games with CSKA Moscow this season, posting a 5-6-0 record, 2.69 goals-against average, and .905 save percentage.
Hartford Wolf Pack News-n-Notes
Dylan Roobroeck heating up
Second-year forward Dylan Roobroeck is heating up. After a slow start, Roobroeck, a sixth round pick (No. 178) in the 2023 NHL Draft by the Rangers, has seven points (five goals, two assists) in his past 10 games. He is tied for the team lead in goals (five) with Perreault and Trey Fix Wolansky, after leading Hartford with 20 last season. The 21-year-old has eight points (five goals, three assists) and is tied for fourth on the team in scoring, with Berard.
The 6-foot-7 forward’s production is welcome at a time when Hartford is struggling to score (34 goals, tied for 24th out of 32 AHL teams). Hartford coach Grant Potulny put Roobroeck on the second line with Anton Blidh and Brennan Othmann, and also on the second power-play unit (with Othmann, Fix-Wolansky, Bryce McConnell-Barker, and Connor Mackey), where he’s scored three power-play goals.
Roobroeck had 34 points (20 goals, 14 assists) in 2024-25, and is on pace to surpass those numbers.
Penalty kill woes are back
Originally a bright spot for Hartford, the penalty kill was best in the AHL on Nov. 7, operating at 89.5 percent (34-for-38). Now, Hartford’s penalty kill dropped to 21st in the league (79.7 percent; 51-for-64). The Wolf Pack conceded 11 goals down a player in the past eight games.
A lack of discipline and continued parade to the penalty box is reminiscent of last season, when the Wolf Pack failed to reach the Calder Cup Playoffs. Hartford’s been short-handed 64 times (third most in AHL) through 15 games. And that’s costing them late in games again. Hartford’s been outscored 15-8 in the third period this season, with eight of those goals against scored with the Wolf Pack on the PK.
Sloppy play could cost Grant Potulny his job
In addition to taking too many penalties and a struggling penalty kill, the Wolf Packlook like an uninspired team far too often this season. Sloppy, dispirited play is a hallmark this season, and Potulny stated that there’s been signs of “quitting” by the Wolf Pack players.
The New York Post reported that Potulny was ushered into a postgame meeting with Hartford general manager Ryan Martin recently. So, it’s clear that the Rangers are none too happy with their AHL affiliate, and, perhaps, with the coach.
Hartford’s losing streak was paved with costly mistakes. On Nov 1 against Lehigh Valley, Garand fumbled the puck in overtime and the Phantoms scored into an empty net. Then on Nov. 7 against Laval, the Rocket converted a key power-play goal as Hartford was out-shot 17-8 in the third. On Nov. 8 against Belleville, Hartford lost the game with five seconds left by allowing a short-handed goal.
The Wolf Pack didn’t quit Tuesday. They trailed 2-0 after two periods, and were considerably outplayed in that span. But they scored twice in the third period, and sealed their first win in weeks on Fitzgerald’s clutch goal.
Perhaps Hartford can carry some positive momentum into this weekend.
- Defenseman Blake Hillman sustained an upper-body injury and is week to week
- Goaltender Dylan Garand is week to week with an upper-body injury
Upcoming Games
All games can be viewed on AHLTV and heard on Mixlr.
Friday, November 21 vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh) at 7:00pm, PeoplesBank Arena
- This is the third of six meetings in the season series. Hartford is 0-2-0-0 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 12-3-1-0 for 25 points. They are first in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. The Penguins are tied for first overall in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles.
- Sam Poulin leads the Penguins with 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) and is tied for ninth in the league. Next is Tristan Broz with 13 points (eight goals, five assists).
- Two of their top four scorers, Danton Heinen (14 points) and Ville Koivunen (11 points), were recalled by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Saturday, November 22 vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Flyers) at 6:00pm, PeoplesBank Arena
- This is the third of six meetings in the season series. Hartford is 0-0-2-0 against Lehigh Valley.
- Lehigh Valley is 9-4-1-1 for 20 points. They are third in the Atlantic Division and tied for fourth (with the Rochester Americans) in the Eastern Conference.
- Alex Bump leads the Phantoms with 13 points (four goals, nine assists). Next in scoring is Anthony Richard with 12 points (four goals, eight assists).
