Hartford Wolf Pack weekly: Alex Belzile, Bo Groulx step up after Brett Berard recalled by Rangers
The Hartford Wolf Pack is mired in a four-gamer losing skid (0-3-1-0) after a pair of losses Thanksgiving week. The AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers lost 5-4 in overtime to Lehigh Valley and 4-1 to Springfield.
Hartford’s struggles continue, especially defensively in the first quarter of the season. The Wolf Pack allowed four or more goals in 12 of 19 contests, and in five straight games. They look to reset in December to maintain playoff positioning in the tightly contested Atlantic Division. The Wolf Pack are 8-8-2-1 (.500) and sixth in the Atlantic, holding the final playoff spot in the division. Four points separate Hartford from second-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
Related: Brett Berard sidelined for Rangers with upper-body injury
Hartford Wolf Pack latest
Cooling off at home
The Wolf Pack consistently found ways to win at the XL Center when they began the season 8-1-0-0 on home ice. That was the second best home record in the league at the time. In Hartford’s current four-game losing streak, they dropped three straight games at XL Center (0-2-1-0) and now have the league’s fifth best home record (8-3-1-0).
Of the 12 home games to date, seven were decided by one goal, including five in overtime. So, that’s walking a fine line trying to maintain a positive mark at home. If the Wolf Pack cannot continue their magic at the XL Center, especially in a critical month featuring six home games, they could find themselves digging out a hole to start the New Year.
Road struggles
The Wolf Pack are the only team in the league to not win on the road (0-5-1-1). The seven road games are the fewest in the league, which doesn’t bode well for when the schedule evens out and Hartford spends more time on the road.
December will be an opportunity for the Wolf Pack to get a road win and find confidence with five opportunities. Either that, or they continue to struggle away from XL Center and face a massive issue come the New Year.
Relying solely on a stellar home record is not sustainable since the Wolf Pack will be road heavy in January with nine road contests. The Wolf Pack’s defensive issues are glaring on the road where they’re outscored 27-12 and allowed four or more goals in five games. Furthermore, the power play’s two goals on the road were from the first game of the season on Oct. 12, before Brennan Othmann was injured. The Wolf Pack are 2-for-26 and on a 0-for-24 run which puts them last in the league in away games (7.7 percent). The penalty kill is also last in the league, operating at 64 percent having allowed nine goals while short-handed (fifth highest in league) in 25 calls against them (third fewest in league).
Alex Belzile, Benoit-Oliver Groulx heat up
Bo Groulx — photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack
After Hartford’s leading scorer Brett Berard was recalled by the Rangers, veterans Alex Belzile and Bo Groulx stepped up their production. Combined, the forwards contributed two goals and seven assists in three games since Berard landed on Broadway. In fact, each of Hartford’s six goals had a contribution from either Belzile or Groulx. The Wolf Pack’s 54 goals puts them 20th in the league for production. While they lack firepower without Berard, Othmann, and Riley Nash (hasn’t played this season due to injury) Belzile and Groulx are filling the big voids.
Belzile has five assists in the three games. Consistent this season with production, he’s notched four goals and 12 assists for a team-leading 16 points in 16 games. The forward was held out without a point in five games, but has been on the scoresheet in seven of the past 10 games. His best performance was Nov. 19, when he had a hat-trick and a shootout goal in a win against Charlotte
Signed by the Rangers in the off-season, Groulx is finding consistency in his game. In the first six games of the season, Groulx recorded eight points (four goals, four assists). Then he was held off the score sheet in six of eight games, posting two points (one goal, one assist). In his past five games, Groulx has five points (three goals, two assists). The timing of his consistent production is ideal following Berard’s departure. This is the kind of veteran play the Rangers expected from Groulx when they signed him this summer after he played all of last season with the Anaheim Ducks.
Upcoming Games
All games can be watched on AHLTV and listened on Mixlr.
Wednesday, December 4th vs Bridgeport Islanders (New York) at 7pm, Total Mortgage Arena
- This is the fourth of 10 meetings in the season series. Hartford is 1-2-0-0 against Bridgeport. The Islanders won the past two meetings.
- Entering the week, Bridgeport is 5-12-1-2 for 13 points. They are eighth in the Atlantic Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders lost two straight and are 3-6-0-1 in their past 10 outings
- Brian Pinho leads the Islanders with 17 points (11 goals, six assists). He has two goals against Hartford. Chris Terry is second with 15 points (one goal, 14 assists) and has three assists against Hartford.
Friday, December 6th vs Rockford Ice Hogs (Blackhawks) at 7pm, XL Center
- This is the first of two meetings in the season series. Hartford and Rockford last met in the 2022-23 season, when the Wolf Pack were swept in two games (0-2-0-0).
- Entering the week, Rockford is 7-9-2-0 for 16 points. They are fourth in the Central Division and 12th in the Western Conference. The Ice Hogs are 2-1-2-0 in their past five games. They have points in two straight (1-0-1-0).
- Frank Nazar leads the Ice Hogs with 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists). He is tied for eighth in the AHL scoring race. Colton Dach is second on Rockford with 15 points (seven goals, eight assists).
Saturday, December 7th vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh) at 6pm, XL Center
- This is the second of six games in the season series. Hartford dropped the first meeting on Nov. 2 by a score of 2-1.
- Entering the week, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 11-4-1-0 for 23 points. They are second in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference. The Penguins won three straight and are 7-2-1-0 in their past 10 games.
- Emil Bemstrom leads the Penguins in scoring with 18 points (six goals, 12 assists), which is 18th in the league. Ville Koivunen is second on the Penguins with 14 points (four goals, 10 assists).
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