As Hartford approaches the halfway point of the season, there is still work to be done for the group if they want to play more than just the regular season. After snapping a two-game skid, the group found themselves down but not out. The Pack has work to do if they want to move up in the competitive Atlantic Division. As the group prepares for another important weekend, the roster has undergone some changes.

Hartford enters the week seventh in the Atlantic Division. Despite the low rank, only a few points separate the Pack from third place Springfield. The Wolf Pack are 18-17-2-2 for 40 points.

Standings Update

There are a few changes from last week to this week. Hartford was bumped from sixth to seventh in the division. As the Pack prep for this weekend, the club faces Lehigh Valley, Springfield, and Providence. All three are ahead of Hartford by a few points, so winning these divisional games are pivotal if the group wants to inch up in the standings. Depending on other games over the weekend, the Pack may find themselves higher by next Sunday night once all weekend games are completed.

Hartford’s Captain Traded Away

On Monday evening, the New York Rangers exchanged veteran forward Cole Schneider for forward Connor Brickley. Hartford’s former captain had signed a two-year deal prior to the trade. In his first year in the organization, the veteran performed well offensively (16 goals, 34 assists, 50 points).

This season, the forward notched 13 goals, 12 assists for 25 points in 36 games. Despite a slow start to the season, the veteran found a spark offensively and became noticeable on the scoresheet. Considering the move, he was not doing enough to keep Chris Drury and Keith McCambridge satisfied.

The trade reminds me of last year’s trade with Joe Whitney. Prior to their respective trades, both veterans were struggling on the ice. Both were playing fewer minutes as the season progressed, eventually playing on the third, then onto the fourth line. Cole Schneider found success while Joe Whitney did not. Another difference is that Cole Schneider had a shorter time in Hartford than Joe Whitney. Management expected more from the forward and he did not deliver.

Cole Schneider became the captain of the group this season. The Wolf Pack has traded away their last four captains. As we say in Hartford, the “captain curse” is real.

Regarding my thoughts and analysis on the trade, Cole Schneider was a great addition to the roster. He was a dependable player for the group. He was a known voice in the locker room, attempting to give the group a spark and step up on the bench when needed. The prospects learned from the experienced veteran. Losing the player with the second-most points on a roster is a mind-boggling trade. Connor Brickley is not proven offensively and plays a different style than Cole Schneider.

Looking at the return, Brickley plays with the edge and grit. He is able to play in your face and potentially put up numbers on the scoresheet. In his past, the forward has racked up penalty minutes and is capable of producing. However, his point production has declined. In 39 games with the Milwaukee Admirals, he notched seven goals and four assists for 11 points. A change of scenery is needed for the gritty forward.

The Pack is banking on Brickley playing with an edge and putting up good offensive numbers. If Hartford gets solid production from the forward, plus the rough edge, then the trade worked out well. If the offense does not show up, then Nashville won the trade. The Rangers took a huge gamble for their farm team. Let’s hope this works out. He will debut on Friday against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Ryan Lindgren Growth Leads to Call Up

Also on Monday, defenseman Ryan Lindgren was called up to New York from Hartford. You can read more about the transaction here.

The prospect has played top line minutes with John Gilmour as both gelled on the blue line. Ryan Lindgren provides a style of play that Ranger fans will be excited to see.

A day prior to the prospect’s call up, Hartford’s play by play broadcaster Bob Crawford wrote about the progress on the prized defenseman.

When Ryan Lindgren came to the Wolf Pack out of the University of Minnesota, the Hartford coaching staff knew that the 20-year-old was a strong, gritty blueliner and an effective defender. What has been a nice revelation is how well-rounded Lindgren’s game is.

Bob Crawford

You can read about his progress here.

John Gilmour Excited For All-Star Action

Rangers prospect John Gilmour was interviewed briefly by NBC Connecticut’s Gabrielle Lucivero. In a fun chat with the prospect, John Gilmour talks about how his hard work pays off on where he is at now.

“John Gilmour is a three-year pro and now he’ll be a two-time All-Star. But his introduction to hockey was a little slippery.
“I didn’t like it because I kept falling,” said Gilmour. “I didn’t know how to skate, I mean skating’s frustrating if you don’t know how to skate right?

Hard work paid off. Gilmour said his dad kept him in power skating classes until he remembers a time when he never wanted to leave the ice.”

Gabrielle Lucivero

In his third year in the American Hockey League, the prospect has been selected twice for the All-Star game. This is John Gilmour’s final year in his entry-level contract. I hope to see him return as he has made some huge strides in his young career. You can read more here.

Injury Update Plus Suspension

In last Saturday’s action against Bridgeport, Sound Tigers forward Steve Bernier made an illegal check to the head on Hartford’s Steven Fogarty.

As a result, Steve Bernier received a game misconduct plus a three game suspension as a result from his action.

The American Hockey League today announced that Bridgeport Sound Tigers forward Steve Bernier has been suspended for three (3) games as a consequence of an illegal check to the head of an opponent in a game vs. Hartford on Jan. 12.

Bernier was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 21.1 after being assessed a match penalty. He will miss Bridgeport’s games Tuesday (Jan. 15) at Charlotte, Wednesday (Jan. 16) at Charlotte and Saturday (Jan. 19) vs. Providence.

American Hockey League

Steven Fogarty did not return to the game after the collision. It is unknown how long the forward will be out for Hartford.

As for the rest of the roster, the group is close to healthy. The injury bug has not hit Hartford this season. The flu was going around the locker room, however, it should be stopped soon. Dustin Tokarski was out last weekend due to sickness. He is expected to return for this weekend’s action.

Transactions

• Brandon Halverson was assigned to Maine on Sunday. He played in one contest with Hartford while he was up for the weekend. His call up lasted nearly a week.

One Timers

• The power play ranks 12th in the American Hockey League. Hartford operates at 19.8%. The power play has given up seven goals with the extra man on the ice.
• The penalty kill ranks 12th in the league as well. The short-handed line combinations kill 81.5% of penalties. The group has six short-handed goals.
• Peter Holland leads the team in points with 39. The veteran has points in seven straight, and in eight of the last nine. In those nine games, Peter Holland has notched 16 points (9G, 7A).
• Matt Beleskey has points in three of his last four contests, and in six of the last nine, collecting seven points.
• Tim Gettinger is finding his grove slowly after returning from his concussion. The prospect has points in back to back games.
• After a good start in Hartford, Lias Andersson has cooled off lately with the Pack. I expect the talented prospect to produce more as the season progresses. When he finds his touch, watch out. He is able to put up solid offensive numbers.

Upcoming Games

Hartford will have an important weekend of games, with six points on the line against their divisional rivals.

Friday, January 18th vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia) at 7:15 pm, XL Center

• This is the third of six meetings against the Flyers affiliate. The last meeting was on January 5th in Hartford as the Pack won 3-1. The season series is split with one win for each club.
• The Phantoms are in the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. They are in fourth with 43 points, going 20-15-1-2. Hartford is three points behind Lehigh Valley.
• The Phantoms have lost three straight and six of their last ten outings.
• Hartford won six of their last ten meetings and is one game above .500.
• Lehigh Valley’s defenseman T.J. Brennan leads AHL defenseman in points with 33 (7G, 26A).

Saturday, January 19th vs Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at 7:00 pm, XL Center

• This is the fourth of ten meetings against Hartford’s closest rivals, Springfield. Hartford is 2-1 in the season series. The previous meeting was on January 4th as Hartford won 3-1.
• The Thunderbirds are in third place, going 18-13-5-3 for 44 points. Hartford is behind Springfield by four points.
• The Thunderbirds have lost seven of their last ten games. However, Springfield has won three of their last five games to keep afloat in the standings.

Monday, January 21st vs Providence Bruins (Boston) at 3:05pm, Dunkin’ Donuts Center

• This is the eighth of ten meetings against the Bruins. Hartford is 4-2-1 in the season series. Last time out, Hartford dropped a 6-3 decision to Providence on January 11th. Hartford has been outscored by Providence 11-4 in the last two meetings.
• Providence leapfrogged Hartford after Sunday. The Bruins are in sixth with a record of 18-16-6 for 42 points. Hartford is two points behind.
• Providence is on a four-game point streak (3-0-1), and have won six of their last ten meetings.
• Depending on the weather situation in Connecticut and Rhode Island, the game could be postponed. If it does happen, a new date will be announced by the league at a later date.

The Rangers made two roster moves today, including acquiring Connor Brickley from the Nashville Predators.

Cole Schneider, who is headed to the Milwaukee Admirals, the Predators’ AHL affiliate, never got into a game for the Rangers in his 1.5 years with the organization. Schneider registered 75 points (29G, 46A) in 112 games with the Wolf Pack.

The other transaction the Rangers made was calling up defenseman Ryan Lindgren from the Wolf Pack.

Lindgren was a key piece in the Rick Nash trade at last year’s trade deadline, as the young defenseman was the lone prospect included in the deal.

Lindgren is a big, physical, defensive defenseman that can dish out big hits and is a strong skater. He has good NHL upside, but limited offensive potential and in fantasy hockey holds more value in deeper leagues with multi-cat scoring such as hits and blocks.

Dobber Prospects

The assumption is that Lindgren is being brought up to the big club because the injury to Fredrik Claesson is more severe than initially expected. And as David Quinn has said in the past, he prefers playing his defensemen on their strong sides.

The Wolf Pack enter the final full week of 2018 with three additional games to close out the year. After snapping a five-game losing streak, Hartford has found their way once again as they collected all six points last week. The impressive weekend was a confidence booster for the group and helped the club to climb back up in the standings slowly. The Wolf Pack are .500 with a record of 14-14-1-2 for 31 points, putting the club sixth in the Atlantic Division.

Standings Outlook

The competitive and tight Atlantic Division continues to show how tough it is for Hartford to climb back up once they fall. Despite being in sixth place, the competition is stiff. Only a handful of points separate seventh place Providence from second place Bridgeport. The Wolf Pack are four points behind Springfield and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to tie for the final playoff spot.

The good news is that Hartford faces Springfield multiple times in the next few weeks, along with Bridgeport. The rivalry games prove to be critical this season. A win helps, while a loss puts the club further down in the playoff race. We are nearing the halfway point of the season as the race is just getting started. You cannot count any team out this early on.

Depending on the outcome of other games, Hartford could be in a solid spot if they extend their winning streak entering Thursday’s contest with Bridgeport. Charlotte is the only team out of reach from Hartford, unless the Checkers hit a lengthy losing skid.

The group assembled in Hartford has proven they are capable of winning and playing fantastic. We have seen in past games where the group is firing on all cylinders but we’ve also seen other games where the group falls apart. Consistency is key. I am hoping they can go on a lengthy point streak to help their cause for later on in the season.

Peter Holland Out Two Games; Shenanigans in Rochester

On Wednesday morning, the American Hockey League announced that forward Peter Holland is suspended for two games. He is out on Thursday and Saturday, a home-and-home series with Bridgeport. He will return to the lineup on Sunday against Springfield.

“Hartford Wolf Pack forward Peter Holland has been suspended for two (2) games as a consequence of an illegal check to the head of an opponent in a game at Rochester on Dec. 21.

Holland was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 28.1 (supplementary discipline). He will miss Hartford’s games Thursday (Dec. 27) at Bridgeport and Saturday (Dec. 29) vs. Bridgeport. “

American Hockey League

This was unexpected on my end. Last weekend’s game against Rochester was heated. Peter Holland did not receive a penalty for his checks in either game on Friday or Saturday. However, Rochester forward Yannick Veilleux was suspended two games as well.

“Rochester Americans forward Yannick Veilleux has been suspended for two (2) games as a consequence of his actions in a game vs. Hartford on Dec. 22.

Veilleux was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 28.1 (supplementary discipline). He will miss Rochester’s games tonight (Dec. 26) at Cleveland and Friday (Dec. 28) vs. Toronto.”

American Hockey League

Rochester’s forward nearly caused a full-out brawl after he jumped Rangers prospect, Ryan Lindgren. You can see the sequence of events here, plus seeing head coach Keith McCambridge yelling at Rochester’s coach during the incident. On Friday, Bobby Butler was blindsided by a hit and the scrappy playing continued. Despite playing only a four-game season series, there has been dislike built up on both sides.

Hartford’s Goalies Perform

Dustin Tokarski played on Wednesday against Providence, earning a 3-0 shutout win (29 saves). He helped the group snap a five-game losing streak. Then on Friday, the veteran played a strong game against Rochester, stopping 28 of 30 shots. Dustin Tokarski won six straight when starting for Hartford, bringing his record up to 7-3-1 with a 2.95 GAA and .909 SV%.

Marek Mazanec played on Saturday and helped get Hartford a win, stopping 40 of 41 shots for the victory. Despite not playing in over a month, the veteran goalie held his ground well. Check out a few of his saves from Saturday. The goalie faced 23 shots on net in the first from Rochester.

Marek Mazanec improves his numbers to 5-5-2 for a 3.01 GAA and a .899 SV%. The game on Saturday was one of the best performances I have seen from the veteran goalie.

The Offense Heats Up

• Peter Holland had a three-point night on Saturday against Rochester. He registered two goals plus one assist and leads the team in points with 27.
• Cole Schneider has points in three straight and points in the last 10 of 13 games. In that span, he collected seven goals and seven assists for 14 points.
• Since returning from New York, Steven Fogarty has points in three of his last four games. The forward collected one goal and five assists for six points.
• John Gilmour continues to contribute offensively from the blue line as the prospect has points in the 11 of 16 games (4G, 10A).
• Ville Meskanen continues to add to his points total notching assists in his three of his last four games.
• Vinni Lettieri had back to back multi-point games over the weekend. The prospect has five points in his last two games (2G, 3A).
• Ryan Lindgren has assisted on goals in three of the last four games.

Tim Gettinger Injured From First Pro Fight

On December 19th against Providence, talented Rangers prospect Tim Gettinger had his first fight in the professional ranks. Unfortunately, he did not fare well as he took on Providence’s toughest guy on the roster, Chris Breen. Tim Gettinger left the game after the fight and will be out for an unknown amount of time as he may have a concussion.

Upcoming Games

Thursday, December 27th vs Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) at 7:00pm, Webster Bank Arena

• This is the sixth meeting in the season series against Bridgeport. Hartford is 3-2 against the Sound Tigers.
• Bridgeport won the last contest in regulation, 2-1.
• Bridgeport won their last seven of ten outings, but have dropped two of their last three games.
• Hartford is ten points behind the Sound Tigers.

Saturday, December 29th vs Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) at 7:00 pm, XL Center

• This is the seventh of ten meetings on the season series against Bridgeport.
• In the last home-and-home series, Hartford swept Bridgeport on November 23rd and 24th.

Sunday, December 30th vs Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at 3:00 pm, XL Center

• This is the second of ten meetings against Springfield. The Thunderbirds won the first meeting 6-2 on October 28th.
• Hartford is behind Springfield by four points.
• Springfield has lost their last seven of ten games.

After winning four straight games, the Wolf Pack have hit a bit of a slump. Last week saw the Pack lose all three of their contests in regulation, as the once-surging club has stumbled and will look to break out of their slump this week. As a result, Hartford fell to seventh place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 11-12-1-2 for 25 points. The point percentage also dips below the .500 mark to .481. This week features two games against the impressive Charlotte Checkers.

Standing Updates

Here is a look at the standings entering the week.

Luckily for Hartford, they aren’t the only club on a losing streak, with teams ahead of Hartford dropping a few games as well. The standings have more spread than last week, however, Hartford is not out of the race for any of the top four spots. To tie with the fourth place Lehigh Valley Phantoms, Hartford is separated by five points. This would also tie them with the third place Springfield Thunderbirds who have the same amount of points. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are also in reach as well for the Pack. Any combination of the upper-tier teams losing in regulation, plus points collected by Hartford, will reduce the margins. The standings in the Atlantic Division shifts dramatically weekly. We will see how the standings look after this weekend.

Alexandar Georgiev Continues Playing

The young Rangers prospect has played in three straight games for Hartford.  Unfortunately, he has lost all three starts in net. For the season, Alexandar Georgiev is 2-4 with a 3.71 goals against average and a .884 save percentage while with the Wolf Pack.

Last week, the prospect has stopped 85 of  98 shots. The prospect gave up two goals to Bridgeport, five against Charlotte, and six against Hershey. The prospect came up big periodically in each game, while in other moments he wasn’t equal to the task.  He needs to find his groove again before getting recalled to New York.

Marek Mazanec has not played since November 18th against Rochester. The veteran goalie needs to play as soon as possible since he has not seen any game action in almost a month. Keith McCambridge had a good goalie rotation system until recently with Hartford’s winning then losing streaks. You do not want a goalie to not play for an extended period of time. Marek Mazanec could also get rusty as practice and warmups can only do so much for a goalie.

Defensive Struggles

Hartford’s blue line has struggled as of late. The group has not helped out Alexandar Georgiev in moments when each team is pressuring the club in the defensive zone. There have given up too many odd-man rushes and consistent breakouts from the opposing team. The core also does not do enough to block the passing lanes or make it difficult for the opposing team. They must improve and help the Pack break their losing streak.

Notable Notes

• Rob O’Gara struggled on the blue line on Friday against Charlotte. The veteran found himself a healthy scratch on Saturday against the Hershey Bears.
  
• John Gilmour had his first career tilt with Hershey’s Beck Malenstyn. The Rangers prospect dropped the gloves due to the play. Beck Malenstyn drilled Ryan Lindgren to the boards, aimed towards the head area and was given a five minute major for a check to the head. In addition, he was given five for fighting, plus a game misconduct. Gilmour answered the bell to protect his teammates. Props to John Gilmour stepping up. Ryan Lindgren did not return after the hit.
• Hartford will be on the road for five of their next six games.
• Hartford’s power play is ranked 11th in the American Hockey League.  The power play operates at 20.9%. The penalty kill is ranked 22nd in the league, killing 78.9% of penalties against.
• Hartford has played 26 of 76 games of the season. The season is chugging along with plenty of unknowns.

Transactions

• Cole Schneider and Matt Beleskey were called up to New York last week, but have been returned to the Pack.
• Hartford added Alex Kile and Terrence Wallin from Maine on December 6th.
• Ryan Gropp was assigned to Maine on December 3rd.
  

Rangers Prospects in Maine

The Maine Mariners continue to chug along in their inaugural season in the ECHL. The Mariners are fifth in the North Division with a record of 12-9-0-1 for 25 points. The Rangers’ ECHL squad is looking to climb higher in the standings with the help from Ranger prospects in Maine. Let’s take a look at a few highlights and stats.

Ryan Gropp in three games has two goals and one assist including the game-winning goal last week.

Brandon Halverson is performing well with Maine. He continues to make impressive saves and keeps the Mariners in each contest. The prospect has played in 14 games with a record of 8-5. His goals against average is 2.90 with a .921 save percentage.

Ty Ronning has four goals, two assists for six points in seven contests. 

Sean Day has found his offensive game with three goals, nine assists for 12 points in 14 games with the Mariners.

Upcoming Games

Hartford travels down to Charlotte, North Carolina to take on the Checkers twice.

Thursday, December 13th vs Charlotte Checkers (Carolina) at 7pm, Bojangles’ Coliseum

• This is the third of eight meetings against Charlotte. Hartford is 1-1 in the season series entering the week.
  
• Hartford has never won in Charlotte against the Checkers.
• Charlotte won their last seven of ten games, including a three-game winning streak.
• Hartford is 14 points behind the first place Charlotte Checkers.

Saturday, December 15th vs Charlotte Checkers (Carolina) at 6pm, Bojangles’ Coliseum

• The fourth meeting between each club.
• After Saturday’s game, Hartford will not return to Charlotte until March 23rd and 24th.
• Hartford returns home on December 19th to host the Providence Bruins.
  

Coming off a week that had one game on tap, the Wolf Pack are preparing for the busy week ahead. Despite the constant change on the roster, Hartford continues to find ways to win games. Entering the week, Hartford has won four straight and six of their last ten games. This puts the Pack fifth in the Atlantic Division with a record of 11-9-1-2 for 25 points. A few points separate the second place Bridgeport Sound Tigers to the seventh place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Let’s take a look at the latest happenings.

Roster Moves Galore

Moves Involving the Maine Mariners

• Forward Terrence Wallin was released from his Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO) and assigned to Maine. The forward was brought in for four games when Hartford lost a few players from the call ups from New York. He was a good fourth-line player after he adjusted. He was doing the small aspects of the game simple. I think we will see him up again at some point.

• In another move, prospect forward Ryan Gropp was assigned to Maine as well. The prospect spent a full season with Hartford last season, notching 14 goals and seven assists for 21 points. In his rookie year, he was off to a good start. Fast forward to this season, he is struggling. Keith McCambridge and Chris Drury gave the prospect 19 games to perform. Unfortunately, his time was up.  He recorded two goals and three assists for five points. His defensive game was not entirely noticeable and was usually quiet on the ice. The forward also struggled offensively, generating not many chances. His overall game needs improvement and taking a step back is not always a bad idea. He will get top line minutes along with the other Rangers prospects in Maine. He needs to get comfortable and find himself.

Moves Involving Additions

• Forwards Matt Beleskey and Vinni Lettieri were up in New York and assigned to Hartford. Both players performed well with the Wolf Pack. The length of their stay is unknown as the Rangers are off until Saturday.

• Alexandar Georgiev was sent down and is expected to play a few games. In the past, he was sent down to play a game or two before getting called back up to New York. I expect his assignment to be short-term and eventually be up with New York.

• Defenseman Vince Pedrie joins Hartford after spending a week with Maine. This move was unusual as Hartford had enough defenseman to play. There are no injuries that are known. It’s possible his assignment is for a brief period of time.

Players Going Up

• Goaltender Dustin Tokarski has got the call up to New York. The scenario is interesting as the veteran goalie has performed well in the last four games. He was the hot goalie entering this week for the Pack. Depending on the situation with Alexandar Georgiev, Dustin Tokarski could return soon.

Standings Update

Here is a look at the Atlantic Division.

Hartford’s one game last week allowed other teams in the division to catch up for the number of games played. At the end of last weekend, multiple teams had played at least four to five games less than Hartford. Now, the gap is just one or two games. This is ideal for Hartford because we see a true measurement of where the Pack is in the competitive Atlantic Division.

As you can see, a losing streak potentially could bump you down near the bottom of the standings. A winning streak allows you to stay close with the higher ranked teams. Divisional games are key to win and Hartford has done well in winning those contests.

Keep in mind that Hartford plays Charlotte three times within the next two weeks. The Pack could possibly bring the Charlotte Checkers down in the dog fight for spots two through six. The gap between the two clubs still stands at 10 points.

Streaky Players

Let’s take a look at players who have raised their game as of late to help Hartford in the recent games.

• Peter Holland is becoming noticeable nightly on the score sheet. Currently, the veteran has points in seven straight games. He also has points in nine of the last eleven games (3G, 10A).

• The Cole train is rolling! Captain Cole Schneider has points in six straight games (3G, 4A). He had a slow start to the season, but has found a spark when he was put on the fourth-line. The veteran has responded well since then.

• John Gilmour continues to find his offense. The offensive blue-liner has points in six of the last eight games (3G, 6A).

• Matt Beleskey has found an offensive spark in the last four games, recording two goals and four assists for six points. This earned him a brief call up to New York. He has played a well-rounded game on both ends of the ice and has contributed to plays that resulted in goals. He helps get the dirty goals!

Who’s in Maine?

Currently, there are four Rangers prospects and two players on American Hockey League deals with the Maine Mariners.

Rangers Prospects

• Ryan Gropp
• Ty Ronning
• Sean Day
• Brandon Halverson

AHL Deal With Hartford

• Drew Melanson
• Jason Salvaggio

The Rangers organization has more than usual with their ECHL affiliate. This is due to the competition for spots in New York and Hartford along with the rebuild process that involves an influx of young prospects. Any of these players could be back in Hartford if they perform well enough with Maine.

Upcoming Games

Hartford has three games on tap this week.

Wednesday, December 5th vs Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) at 7pm, Webster Bank Arena

• This is the fifth meeting in the rivalry series against Bridgeport. So far, Hartford is 3-1 in the season series.
• Two weeks ago, Hartford swept a home at home series against Bridgeport with a shootout plus regulation win.
• Bridgeport is five points ahead of Hartford for second place.
• The Sound Tigers have lost three of their last five contests.
• Hartford has collected six out of eight possible points in the season series.

Friday, December 7th vs Charlotte Checkers (Carolina) at 7:15pm, XL Center

• This will be the second out of eight meetings against Charlotte. The first meeting was on December 1st as Hartford won 5-3.
• The Checkers have lost two of their last five games. However, they are 6-3-1 in the last ten games.
• Charlotte is ahead of Hartford by ten points.

Saturday, December 8th vs Hershey Bears at 7pm, Giant Center

• This is the second meeting between both clubs. Hartford lost the first meeting on November 4th in the shootout, 2-1.
• Hershey has lost three of their last five games, and five of their previous ten.
• Hartford face the Bears a total of six times this season.

The Wolf Pack are chugging along as of late. Last week proved to be huge for the club as they collected all six points up for grabs. This brings the group above .500 and into third place in the competitive Atlantic Division. Hartford has swept the home-and-home series against Bridgeport and defeated their other rival, Providence.

Entering this week, the Wolf Pack are 10-9-1-2 for 23 points. In the Eastern Conference, Hartford is ranked fifth. Impressive, right? The club went from losing a stretch of eight of ten games to winning six of their last ten. The boys are buzzing! Let’s take a look at the latest updates.

Vinni Lettieri Dominates After Demotion

Last week was productive for the talented Rangers prospect. Vinni Lettieri was the hero of the week in helping the Wolf Pack collect wins. He has shown strong offensive instincts and is proven to dominate the American Hockey League. This held true since joining the Wolf Pack.

Vinni Lettieri has three goals, two assists in three straight games in Hartford. He also recorded a shootout tally that was the game winner.

Last Wednesday, Vinni Lettieri notched his first goal of the season. This was a beauty, going coast to coast.

On Friday, he recorded both goals for Hartford in regulation. Here’s the first goal of the night.

The second of the night was the tying goal.

Then he ended the night with the game-winning shootout tally.  On Saturday, the forward collected two assists to help in Hartford’s 3-1 victory against Bridgeport.

Gilmour Finds His Touch

John Gilmour has found his game after he stepped up in the Pack’s school day game on November 14th. Since then, he has continued to show up on the points sheet and became the player that Hartford needed him to be. The prospect defenseman is on a two-game point streak (G, 2A). However, he has three goals and five assists in the last seven games for eight points.

The offensive defenseman continues to help build Hartford’s struggling power play with goals such as these.

Peter Holland Also Finds His Touch

In similar timing to John Gilmour, the veteran has found his game and is continuing to deliver, despite a slow start to the season. Holland has points in six straight games (2G, 6A) for eight points.  This puts the veteran forward tops in total points for the club with 19.

Here’s his latest goal from last Saturday’s game.

The Cole Train Chugs

Hartford’s captain Cole Schneider has had a sluggish start to the season. As a result, head coach Keith McCambridge has bumped the forward to the fourth line as of late in an attempt to wake up the forward. As a result, Cole Schneider has become a better player and is earning points in his limited ice time. The captain has notched points in five straight games, compiling two goals and four assists.

As many remembered last year, Joe Whitney was the captain for Hartford last season. He did not produce and was also bumped to the fourth line. As a result, he was traded to Hershey. This is not the case with Cole Schneider as he has proven that he wants to play better and stick with the group. He should be bumped up depending on the thinking of Keith McCambridge.

The hard work pays off. The captain has to help contribute regardless of which players he is with. This was the case when he got the assist on the whole fourth line crashing the net and causing ruckus afterward.

Dustin Tokarski Improves

The struggling veteran goaltender made strong strides last week. Dustin Tokarski has started three straight games in net and won each start. This improves his record to 4-3-1 with a goals against average of 3.43 and a save percentage of .896. At the beginning of the season, the veteran goalie struggled and had no confidence in net when he gave up multiple goals that could have been stopped.

However, this past week was different.  Dustin Tokarski stopped 87 of the 93 shots he faced. He has made the saves when needed to keep Hartford in the game, especially on Wednesday against Providence and Friday against Bridgeport.

Let’s hope he can keep this up. This is going to be interesting as he has become hot. The competition for who will play each game will be higher. Originally, Marek Mazanec had split even time with Dustin Tokarski. Then Marek Mazanec was the starting goalie. Now with Dustin Tokarski becoming hot, there will be a change once again.

Atlantic Division Standings

Here is the current situation with the standings.

Hartford is in a great position.  However, the issue is the games at hand for the Wolf Pack. The group has played the most games out of any team in the division. Hartford will only play one game this weekend to allow other teams to catch up. By the day of the game on Saturday, Hartford may go down a spot or two depending on the outcomes of other contests.

The Charlotte Checkers are too far ahead in the standings to worry about. The Wolf Pack are ten points behind the Checkers. Unless the Checkers have a downfall, then first place is out of reach currently.

Bridgeport is still in reach for the Pack. Hartford is winning the season series 3-1 and there are six games remaining in the season series. Any combination of Hartford winning and Bridgeport losing would benefit the Pack. Bridgeport is only one game less to Hartford as well.

Springfield is behind Hartford by a point with four games in hand. However, the Thunderbirds are struggling as of late after a dominating start to the AHL season. Springfield has lost six of their last ten games. In addition, Hartford only faced the Thunderbirds once out of the ten-game season series. Points are still on the line against Springfield.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are also a point behind Hartford. The Phantoms are generally a dominant team in the AHL. This season proves to be different. Despite Hartford getting outplayed in the first meeting against Lehigh Valley, the Phantoms since have struggled. The Phantoms has lost the last five of ten games. Lehigh Valley is a team that is normally atop the standings. As similar to Springfield, points are on the line in the season series as the Pack only played them once out of eight meetings.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Providence Bruins, and Hershey Bears are only at a few games at hands against Hartford. Currently, those teams are close to the Pack, but they need other scenarios to happen if they want to compete against the top tier teams of the division. I am not worried about those three at the moment looking at the standings.

Notable Notes

• Dustin Tokarski had the primary assist in the game-winning goal against Providence last Wednesday.
• Hartford has shown their rough edge as of late. The gloves have been dropped in three straight games.
• Matt Beleskey had a good week. He notched two goals on Wednesday followed by one assist on Saturday.

• After the completion of the home game on Saturday against Charlotte, the Pack will be on the road in the next seven of ten meetings.
• A highlight of the away games consists of two meetings with Charlotte that are back to back in the same week. Hartford will see Charlotte a total of four times in December.
• Hartford faces the Rochester Americans in back to back games before Christmas.
• The Pack will face Bridgeport twice at Webster Bank Arena.

Teddy Bear Toss

Last Saturday featured the annual teddy bear toss game for Hartford. Score the first goal and the toys will go flying for Toys for Tots. On Monday during the second intermission of the Rangers game, I found myself on MSG150! I definitely needed help to get over my bear over the glass!

https://twitter.com/LoongIslandGal/status/1067238360257826817

Here is the original video that is longer from the night.

Here is another view…

Ty Ronning Update

Rangers prospect Ty Ronning had himself a night last Saturday with the Maine Mariners. The prospect recorded a hat trick plus two assists for a five-point night against the Manchester Monarchs. That is encouraging to see as he needed a confidence booster.

Roster Moves

• Chris Nell was moved from Maine to Greenville of the ECHL on 11/20.
• Vince Pedrie was assigned to Maine on 11/23.
• Tim Gettinger has been up and down.  Currently, he is with Hartford.

Upcoming Games

There is just one game on tap for this weekend.

Saturday, December 1st vs Charlotte Checkers (Carolina) at 7 pm, XL Center

• The first of eight meetings between the clubs.
• The Checkers are first in the league with wins and points (16 wins, 33 points).
• The Checkers enter the week winning three straight. They have lost four games in regulation and one in overtime.
• This is a test for Hartford. The Pack last season went 2-6 against Charlotte. Both wins were at home while Hartford was swept away, going 0-4.

It’s go time. The regular season for the Wolf Pack begins on Friday night. The club has finalized their roster, which has the potential to make noise in the American Hockey League. I’m excited about this season since the organization has stocked up for the farm and the youth movement has begun in the big club.

Preseason Outcome

Hartford defeated Bridgeport by the final of 2-1. Shawn St. Amant registered both goals for the Pack. Brandon Halverson started in net and stopped 21 of 22 shots.

“I really liked our compete to loose pucks,” Wolf Pack head coach Keith McCambridge said. “We did a good job using our speed in the offensive zone to generate second and third opportunities.”

The Pack looked impressive in the outing as they had multiple chances and good transition. The players were playing with energy and precision from puck drop to the final buzzer and the Pack outshot Bridgeport 43 to 22.

Finalized Roster

The Pack have two goalies, eight defensemen, and 14 forwards.

Goalies: Marek Mazanec, and Dustin Tokarski.

Defense: Chris Bigras, Sean Day, John Gilmour, Libor Hajek, Ryan Lindgren, Rob O’Gara, Brandon Crawley, and Vince Pedrie.

Forwards: Lias Andersson, Bobby Butler, Steven Fogarty, Gabriel Fontaine, Tim Gettinger, Ryan Gropp, Peter Holland, Dawson Leedahl, Michael Lindqvist, Ville Meskanen, Shawn O’Donnell, Ty Ronning, Shawn St. Amant, and Cole Schneider.

Lines will be determined later in the week when they approach Friday’s game.

Who’s Cut?

The following players were sent down to Maine of the ECHL.

Goalies (3): Brandon Halverson, Chris Nell, and Connor LaCouvee

Defenseman (2): Derek Pratt and Scott Savage.

Forwards (6): Drew Melanson, Jason Salvaggio, Riley Bourbonnais, Alex Kile, Mike Marnell, and Brady Vail.

Upcoming Games

Week one of the AHL season features two home games for the Wolf Pack, and the first road game will be in the following week.

Friday, October 5th vs Providence Bruins (Boston) at 7:15 pm, XL Center

• Hartford’s opening night.
• Providence has lost a few powerful players in the off-season from free agency.
• The first of ten games against the Bruins.  There are 20 points on the table in the season series.
• The Pack play Providence three times in October.

Sunday, October 7th vs Laval Rocket (Montreal) at 3:00 pm, XL Center

• Hartford plays Laval twice, one home and one away.
• The Rocket struggled last season. The organization lost ten games to finish the 2017-18 season for 58 points. They had the least amount of points in the league.
• The Pack will finish the season series within a ten-game span. The next outing will be on Wednesday, October 17th in Laval.
• The Pack went 0-1-1 in the season series last year.

Watch and Listen

You can listen to the Pack on the iHeartRadio app on your mobile device. On the desktop, you can listen through here. The Pack is on News Radio 1410 WPOP Hartford.

To watch, there is a cheap way! Follow the action on AHL TV. Hartford’s package to watch every game is $59.99. For home or away games with Hartford, the pricing drops to $39.99. There is also a monthly pass of $19.99 or a daily pass for $6.99.

AHL Rule Changes

There are minor tweaks this season for the AHL. However, the biggest change is when a team takes a penalty. This raises the stakes higher.

76.2 – Apparently a late addition: When a penalty leads to a power play, they will still face off in the defensive end of the penalized team. But now, the team going on the power play will get to pick at which dot they’ll face off, and the defending team won’t get to change after that. (Even if that draw comes to the neutral zone, whether because the team going on the power play iced the puck, or because its defensemen joined a scrum below the dots, the team going on the power play still gets to pick the dot.)

The Pack has to be smart when taking penalties. Otherwise, this could bite them in critical moments in the game. This is being tried in the AHL, and if successful, it could be in the NHL down the road.

Spring is in the air with playoff action in the National Hockey League. For the American Hockey League, the postseason action begins next week. 

This week concludes the 2017-18 season. To me, covering Hartford this season had the ups and downs. I had moments where the team was great, and other moments not so hot. Overall it was fun watching the Wolf Pack compete. I am looking forward to next year with a bigger and better roster as the organization’s future is bright. Let’s wrap this week up.  Expect to see off-season articles soon for Hartford!

Race To Finish Above .500

The prime goal for the Wolf Pack is to go above .500, and they are close to reaching that goal. With two games remaining, Hartford is one win away from finishing as a .500 club, which is where they were for most of the season.

At this point, going above .500 would be ideal for Hartford. From a standings standpoint, Hartford will most likely finish sixth in the Atlantic Division. Bridgeport is in fifth and ahead by seven points. Springfield is in seventh and is behind Hartford by three points, however, Springfield has three games remaining. If the Pack drop any game and Springfield wins at least two of their last three, then the Pack will drop to seventh.

Pack Will Join New ECHL Affiliate

As reported earlier in the season, the Rangers and Swamp Rabbits have cut ties. You can read about it here.

One Timers

• Vinni Lettieri is the leading goal scorer for Hartford. He has 22 goals in 53 games. Cole Schneider is second with 15 goals.
• Cole Schneider leads the team in assists with 34. Scott Kosmachuk is second with 27 assists. In addition, Cole Schneider has the most total points in Hartford with 49. He has 15 goals, 34 assists in 74 games. Scott Kosmachuk is second with 42 points.

Off Ice Business

The future of the XL Center could be possibly known this summer. The building will go on an RFP (request for proposal) this month. Private investors could submit to renovate the 40 plus-year-old facility. Stay tuned for updates throughout the summer.

On another note, the Wolf Pack’s schedule should be out in July from the league.

Upcoming Games

Friday, April 13th vs Binghamton Devils (New Jersey) at 7:15 pm, XL Center

• The first time both clubs are meeting for the season. The season series is two games. Back to back home at home in the last week of the season. The Devils are 5-4-0-1 in the last ten games entering the weekend. Binghamton is 25-37-7-4, and are fifth in the North Division.

Saturday, April 14th vs Binghamton Devils (New Jersey) at 7:05 pm, Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena

• The final game for Hartford. The Pack enter the weekend 8-6-2 against the North division. Binghamton is 13-18-4-2 on home ice and Hartford is 14-17-3-3 on the road.

Hartford enters the weekend with a three-game winning streak, after snapping a three-game losing streak last Friday against Utica. All three victories were in overtime, with Filip Chytil ending the game against Utica and Vince Pedrie on Sunday against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Then, on Wednesday, Cole Schneider notched the game-winning goal against Utica. After multiple roster moves by the organization, the Wolf Pack have found life after their slump. Let’s check out what is happening in Wolf Pack world.

Standings Update

Entering the weekend, Hartford is 18-20-3-3 for 42 points (.477 point percentage), putting the club sixth in the Atlantic Division.

You may think Hartford is in trouble, and they are to a certain extent. However, the fight for the top four spots for post-season action is within range for the club. The Charlotte Checkers hold the fourth and final playoff spot in the division. They have registered 49 points for a .583 point percentage, with Hartford seven points behind the Checkers. The hill is steep, but not impossible to climb. The schedule has great timing for the Wolf Pack to catch up with Charlotte as the Pack will face the Checkers twice this weekend. Hartford could inch four points closer to Charlotte.

Looking at the teams that separate the Wolf Pack and Checkers, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers are ahead of Hartford by six points for fifth. The Sound Tigers have built themselves room for error. If Hartford can go on a lengthy point streak or winning streak, they would be well in the fight for fourth. The third-place Providence Bruins have 52 points. The Phantoms are in second with 55 points but have a lower Points Percentage (.640 PTS%) than the first place Penguins with 54 points and a .675 PTS%.

Injury Updates

Similar to the New York Rangers, Hartford had an injury bug as well, and the Wolf Pack are hoping to regain a few players back in the upcoming weekend. Here are the current players out. Returning players from the injury list include Lias Andersson, Dan DeSalvo, and Steven Fogarty.

• Marek Mazanec – Left the game after falling awkwardly when making a save on Friday. There is no timetable for return. He left with pains on his right leg, putting no weight on it.
• Shawn O’Donnell – Injured in his first game back with Hartford on Friday. Had facial injuries and he should be back shortly.
• Ryan Sproul – He is out after a late injury on Friday. No word on his status.

Transactions

• Lias Andersson was added to the roster on January 15th.
• Shawn O’Donnell was added to the roster January 18th. The Wolf Pack are looking for more grit in the lineup. Shawn O’Donnell was with the team between 2013-2016, as an old face returns for his second run with the club.
• Chris Langkow was added as another center for Hartford. He played in two games over last weekend. Added on the 19th, and released on the 22nd. The forward spent time in Hartford earlier in the season.
• The Rangers called up Anthony DeAngelo and Dan Catenacci on the 19th, though Catenacci was sent back to Hartford on the 25th.
• Brandon Halverson makes his first appearance to Hartford this season through a call up.
• In addition, Sergey Zborovskiy debuted in a Hartford uniform this past weekend too on the blue line.

Remembering an old Friend

Former Whale forward Andrew Carroll suddenly passed away on Monday at the age of 32. Andrew Carroll played in Hartford in the 2009-10 season and the 2012-13 season. In addition, he played in Greenville in the 2009-10 season and the 2013-14 season. Thank you for the memories and rest in peace.

Game Notes From Wednesday

For the first time in franchise history, Hartford has won three straight games in overtime.  Lias Andersson was paired with Gabriel Fontaine and Adam Chapie. The young forward was getting back into the groove. Filip Chytil extends his point streak to three games. In addition, he’s notched points in four of the last five games (2G, 4A). Alexandar Georgiev has won two straight in net as well.

Upcoming Schedule

Friday, January 26th vs Charlotte Checkers (Carolina), 7:15 pm, XL Center

• This will be the second meeting of the season with Charlotte. The last time these teams met was on opening night for Hartford on October 6th. Charlotte grabbed the win in the first meeting with a late goal, 5-4. Since then, Charlotte has been a streaky team, surging periodically. The Checkers have floated around the middle of the standings in the Atlantic Division. Both Charlotte and Hartford enter the weekend winning four of their last ten games.

Saturday, January 27th vs Charlotte Checkers (Carolina), 7:30 pm, XL Center

• The game is “Stick it to Cancer Night”.  Proceeds from the game will benefit the American Cancer Society.
• Charlotte is 11-9 on the road entering the weekend.

Editor’s Note: AHL playoff seeding is done based on points percentage and not by total points.

Two weeks are in the books for the Hartford Wolf Pack in this young season, and they’ve started off strong. Hartford finished last weekend winning both of their games. The club is 3-1, and could just as easily be 4-0 had they not blown the lead on opening night against Charlotte. The team has scored the first tally in each of their games, something their “parent organization” could start doing, and it has led Hartford to trail for just one minute all season. The addition of Filip Chytil has strengthened the club offensively, and he had an immediate impact over the past weekend.

Filip Chytil Impact

Since joining Hartford, Filip Chytil has made his presence known. The forward notched three points (1 goal, 2 assists) in Saturday’s win against Springfield. He was dominant and felt comfortable as he adopted to the Pack’s style of play, as well as his linemates. On Friday, his assist was removed after they replayed the situation.

But in both games, he helped the team out by doing the little things. He looks to generate offense, stays in proper position and tries to force turnovers when needed. As Filip Chytil plays more games with the group, he will become stronger and will start producing more and more points. If the Rangers need a call up, and we all know they do, Filip Chytil could be a strong candidate.

Streaks

1. Captain Joe Whitney had a three game point streak coming into last weekend. He recorded four points in three games, but had his streak snapped against Springfield.
2. Like Whitney, Adam Tambellini had his three game point streak snapped on Saturday. He had goals in three straight outings, including the shootout deciding goal on October 8th against Lehigh Valley.
3. Scott Kosmachuk’s point streak continues. He has points in three of four outings for Hartford, and has been rewarded with top line minutes. He’s generated multiple offensive chances and can move the puck well. Head coach Keith McCambridge was also satisfied with his playing.
   

   “It’s a matter of keeping it simple, not getting fancy. I think myself, personally, I need to say out of the box. We built off last game and we’re going to do it again tomorrow.” – Kosmachuk

   This is a guy with some potential and so far it is looking good. The forward has five assists in four games and plays the “set up guy” in offensive situations. His point streak is currently at two games.  One highlight from last weekend was his three point night on Friday against the tough Toronto Marlies club.  The forward had three assists in the outing.

4. Cristoval “Boo” Nieves and Cole Schneider also have two game point streaks.  Nieves had three points (2 goals, assist) this past weekend, while Schneider had a goal and an assist.
5. Overall, 15 of 19 skaters have recorded at least a point in four games this season.

Chris Nell’s Hot Start

Chris Nell has been the workhorse in net this season. The goalie started in three straight games, winning all three contests, and has played 184:49 minutes in net. In that span, his goals against average is 1.95 with a save percentage of .935, stopping 86 of 92 shots towards him. His strong play in net has rewarded him time in net. He had terrific saves against Lehigh Valley and Toronto, which are both strong American Hockey League clubs. He also performed well against the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday, and head coach Keith McCambridge is riding Chris Nell’s hot streak.

Alexandar Georgiev played one game, and that was the first game of the season on October 6th against Charlotte. He will be anxious to play again and should be practicing hard. He may get a chance to play in the upcoming weekend as there is a three in three coming up.

Upcoming Weekend

Hartford has three games in three days coming up. They are home Friday, then on the road for the remainder of the weekend. This weekend will push the group as they are playing tough opponents:

• Friday, October 20th vs Belleville Senators at 7:15pm, XL Center
  • The Belleville Senators are a gritty team who are not afraid of the rough action, and will wear teams down.  Hartford has to play smart against Belleville as the Senators could get into their opponent’s heads.
• Saturday, October 21st @Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at 7:05pm, Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
  • Despite the slow start for the Penguins, they are the one of the toughest opponents to play. The Penguins have shown shades of dominance against other teams. Hartford has struggled against the Penguins lately, getting swept by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the 2016-17 season series, 0-8. This will be the biggest challenge of the weekend.
  • Sunday, October 22nd @ Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 3pm, Webster Bank Arena
  • This is the first of ten meetings against the in state rivals, who Hartford also struggled against last season. The Sound Tigers are a hard working team that will also stir the pot up if needed. The season series against Bridgeport can get interesting depending on how the rivalry builds up throughout the season.