Hartford continues their five-game road trip this weekend as they travel to Pennsylvania to face the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Hershey Bears. The question entering the weekend is how the Pack will compete against divisional foes.

In-Depth Analysis: Offensive, Defensive Slumps, Adversity

Hartford registered four goals while giving up 13. The Pack was shutout 4-0 last Friday against the Rochester Americans. The season was going great, then suddenly, struggles arise.

The first real stinker of the season was last Wednesday against Syracuse. The story from the game was Hartford’s inability to bury their chances from the first period, which haunted them in the second and third periods as Syracuse outplayed the group, and the Pack’s offense disappeared. After ten shots on goal in the first, the Pack had one shot on goal in the second, then six in the third. If the Pack was able to bury and maintain offensive pressure, then this would be a different story. Hartford was due for a rough game, and they were unable to climb back from a 3-0 deficit.

The next game had another lousy showing. The offense was missing in front of Igor Shesterkin. The defense had a rough night as well, having a hard time competing against the Rochester Americans. In the end, the Pack got spanked 4-0 and was beaten in all aspects of the game.

The offense once again had nobody to step up. Vinni Lettieri, Steven Fogarty, Danny O’Regan, and other veterans were quiet offensively. When that happens, the defense cannot do much except defend. The defense could not keep up with the talented Rochester roster. Igor Shesterkin could not bail out the team if no one was stepping up. Frustration had to arise.

Last Saturday was a rematch against the Syracuse Crunch. The Pack fought hard, but their mistakes once again cost them the two points. Syracuse scored on a penalty shot and twice on the power play. That is three goals against which may not have happened if the Pack played smarter. The first two periods were competitive until the third where the Pack gave in. The frustration from the group became apparent with the penalties taken in the contest. The offense had some life, but the overall game quality was not the greatest.

The Wolf Pack are facing adversity right now. How they handle it will become apparent this weekend. After a great start to the season, you would expect the team to go through slumps. This is a slump, and now is the time to see how the team reacts after being beaten in regulation three games.

Despite losing three, this could be beneficial long term for the group by facing adversity now instead of down the road. We do not want the Pack to look like Tampa Bay in the playoffs where the season was smooth, then have adversity in the playoffs and be unable to figure out what to do. That is my two cents for the week.

Wolf Pack Coaching Lose David Cunniff

In an unexpected, head-turning move, David Cunniff left the organization to become the head coach and general manager for the Worcester Railers (Islanders ECHL affiliate).

David Cunniff was hired in August by the Rangers organization for additional oversight of the prospects in Hartford. Cunniff had 17 seasons under his belt in the AHL. This was the perfect fit for Hartford. Then to suddenly have him leave raises questions.

Now, Hartford’s bench has Kris Knoblauch as the head coach and Gord Murphy as the associate head coach. The Pack had two coaches on the bench last season. We’ll have to see if the Rangers organization looks for Cunniff’s replacement now or at a later time. This is definitely a loss for the Pack.

Standings Update

Hartford is now tied for fourth in the league and first in the Atlantic Division entering the week. The Pack’s record is now 11-4-0-5 in 20 games played. The competition is not far behind in the division as Providence is two points behind Hartford, while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Springfield are three points behind.

The leeway Hartford built early on helps. After losing three straight, the Pack is still top in the division. The cushion is now gone, and if Hartford wants to maintain as the top dogs, they must win this weekend.

By the end of the week, Hartford could fall to the middle of the pack if they drop two in regulation while other teams leapfrog the group.

One-Timers

• Steven Fogarty has points in three of the last four games. He recorded two goals and two assists.
• Tim Gettinger returns to Hartford after his brief stint with the Rangers. Before the call-up, Gettinger had been played better, registering three points his last four outings.
• Matt Beleskey snapped his five-game drought with a goal on Saturday against Syracuse.
• Lias Andersson has two goals in three games thus far with Hartford.

Roster Moves

• Earlier in the week, the Rangers brought Lias Andersson and Tim Gettinger to Hartford.
• Cristoval “Boo” Nieves earned a call up to New York as the prospect has worked on his faceoff skills and defensive aspect of the game.
• Shawn McBride was called up to Hartford from Maine. He had four assists in 15 games.

Fontaine Done for the Season

As reported by Howlings, Gabriel Fontaine will miss the remainder of the season. The prospect is going to have shoulder surgery, which will be season-ending.

The forward’s entry-level deal expires this summer. What will happen next is unknown. Fontaine will be unable to prove himself this season, which is unfortunate.

Joey Keane Feature

Check out this great article on Joey Keane here.

AHL on the Beat: Wolf Pack Players Buying What Coaches are Selling

Check out Bob Crawford’s article on the Wolf Pack’s hot start of the season here.

Goals, Saves of the Week

Here is a look at Lias Andersson’s 2nd goal of the season on Saturday.

Check out this beauty of a save from Igor Shesterkin on Wednesday.

Here is Lias Andersson’s 1st goal of the year in Hartford.

Upcoming Games

Saturday, November 30th vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia) at 7:05 pm, PPL Center

• This is the first 1st of six meetings against the Phantoms. Hartford went 3-2-0-1 last season against Lehigh Valley.
• The Phantoms enter the week 5th in the Atlantic Division with a record of 8-6-1-4 for 21 points.
• Forward Greg Carey leads the Phantoms in points with 14 (7G, 7A).
• Listen – Lehigh Valley Phantoms Radio. Watch – AHLTV.
  • NOTE: Hartford does not broadcast away games unless noted otherwise.

Sunday, December 1st vs. Hershey Bears (Washington) at 5 pm, Giant Center

• This is the second of six meetings against Hershey. Hartford won the first game 2-1 on 11/8.
• The Bears enter the week 6th place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 8-8-2-2 for 20 points.
• Forward Mike Sgarbossa leads the Bears in points with 16 (7G, 9A).
• Listen – Fox Sports 1460 Harrisburg. Watch – AHLTV.
  • NOTE: Hartford does not broadcast away games unless noted otherwise.

Looking back at last week for the Hartford Wolf Pack, let’s just say it was not pretty. The Pack have struggled after starting the season on a good note. What’s happening was unexpected, considering the roster coming into the 2018-19 season. However, a majority of these guys are young and will see highs and lows. How low? That will remain to be seen. Hartford resumes play over the weekend as they continue a five-game road trip before returning to home. Entering the weekend, the Wolf Pack recorded a record of 4-6-1 for 9 points. That sits the group tied for fifth place in the Atlantic Division, and the Pack is hoping to snap a four game losing streak.

Not So Hot Veteran Goaltending

In an area that was expected to give the Pack a fighting chance in every game, that omen was broken last week. Dustin Tokarski has not been himself since last Wednesday’s game against his former team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The well known goalie gave up four goals in five shots in the opening 4:36 of the first period. Marek Mazanec played the remainder of the game, giving up three goals on 28 shots.

Saturday and Sunday proved more of the same in the crease. Mazanec was unable to make saves to keep the Pack in the game despite a back and forth contest. Marek Mazanec stopped 25 of 30 shots on Saturday night against Bridgeport. Dustin Tokarski played on Sunday, stopping 33 of 38 shots.

The goaltending has to improve. The duo was off to a good start, bailing out the club as the Pack coughed up the puck frequently and had excessive turnovers. Last week was not a good week. However, this is a team game and you cannot only fault the goalies. The defense also needs to be addressed. Let’s hope both goalies can regain their confidence and are able to carry the team with good leadership and experience.

Defense? That’s Missing

The defense had tremendous struggles last weekend. One game was winnable, but the other two were blowouts. That is unacceptable. The Rangers are rebuilding and the prospects have to prove their value for the big club. How can you prove yourself if the defensive core is struggling and not producing? This makes the Rangers wonder what’s going on, considering that it is a rebuilding year. The Wolf Pack must be better than New York, not the opposite. Development is key. I understand the young troops are learning, however, not learning from mistakes that cost goals and losing three games in a row is concerning. The defensive group needs to step up as a whole. They’re struggling and must figure that out.

Last week, Hartford gave up 18 goals in three games. How much did the Wolf Pack score? Just nine.

Head Coach Keith McCambridge had made a few changes to the lineup regarding healthy scratches. He has also mixed up the lines in hopes for better chemistry.

It’s still early in the season to sound the alarm. I want the team to fix their issues and continue to compete in the fierce Atlantic Division. The weekend will be difficult for the group as well. They will have to play at full capacity.

Pack Tracks

• Lias Andersson’s point streak was snapped on Wednesday night. Prior to last Wednesday, the forward registered points in two straight contests.
• Shawn O’Donnell was the lone bright spot last weekend. The gritty veteran registered two goals on Wednesday followed by a goal on Saturday. He was impressive in his limited minutes on the third and fourth lines.
• The +/- has wide range for the club. Shawn O’Donnell and Gabriel Fontaine leads with a +6, while  Bobby Butler, John Gilmour, and Peter Holland are-9. Between the two ranges, it seems almost evenly spread out.
• Tim Gettinger recorded a goal and one assist for two points last weekend.
• Everyone appears healthy. So far this season, there has been minor injuries for the group.

Upcoming Games

The Pack started their road trip last Sunday in Springfield. This weekend features a trip to the Keystone State for the first three games in three nights weekend.

Friday, November 2nd vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh), 7:05pm at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

• The first meeting with the dominate Penguins in the American Hockey League. This begins a six game season series.
• Last season, Hartford went 3-1-1-1 against the Penguins. In the prior season, the club was swept in the season series.
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton enters the week going 5-2-0-1 for 11 points. The Penguins are 3rd in the Atlantic Division.
• Garrett Wilson leads the Penguins in points with seven. American Hockey League rookie Sam Miletic is second at six points.

Saturday, November 3rd vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh), 7:05pm at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

• The Pack finish back to back games against the Penguins on the road. This is unusual in the league with the scheduling. The Pack has back to back games on the road again with the same team (Lehigh Valley) later on in the season.
• Hartford is 2-4 on the road while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is 2-2.

Sunday, November 4th vs Hershey Bears (Washington), 5:00pm, Giant Center

• The meeting kicks off another six game season series. The Pack went 2-4 last season, despite facing a struggling Bears team.
• Hershey’s record is identical to Hartford’s, going 4-6-0-1. Both clubs enter the week tied in points of nine.
• The Bears won two straight when they finished last weekend.
• Liam O’Brien leads the Bears in points with seven.

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.

Moments ago, the Rangers announced the next round of roster cuts as the team gets ready for the 2018-2019 season.

Of the four players under contract trying to make the club, Gilmour was the only one, you could argue, that had a legitimate shot at making the roster after last season’s audition at the end of the season. But with Brady Skjei and veterans Marc Staal, Fredrik Claesson, and Brendan Smith all looking to crack the opening night lineup, Gilmour is best served playing top minutes down in Hartford.

Drew Melanson and Olympian Bobby Butler were released from their corresponding tryout opportunities and are also heading to Hartford.

Moments ago, the Rangers announced their roster for the 2018 Traverse City Prospect Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan.

The roster for this year’s tournament includes a few notable names, including Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil, who finished last season with the Blueshirts. Brett Howden, Libor Hajek, and Ryan Lindgren, who were all acquired at last year’s deadline are also on the roster. 2018 draft picks Joey Keane and Nico Gross are also attending this year’s festivities. Sean Day, Brandon Crawley, Dawson Leedahl, Chris Nell, Ty Ronning, Tim Gettinger, and Gabriel Fontaine, along with Lias Andersson are returning to Traverse City from last year’s squad.

The final name of note on the roster is that of Jeremy Brodeur, son of former Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur, who is with the club on a PTO.

The tournament starts on September 7th and concludes on the 11th.

For the full press release, click here.

Here are the latest rumblings around Rangerstown.

Leo Komarov

After reports came out yesterday that the Rangers and free-agent Leo Komarov were close to an agreement, Rangers insider Rick Carpiniello says that may not be true.

As I noted yesterday, Komarov would be a nice piece to add into the Rangers room of youngsters. But based on Carpiniello’s report, it would appear that Rangers GM Jeff Gorton isn’t leaping out of his chair to sign the veteran forward.

James Van Riemsdyk

The New Jersey native is coming off of a 36 goal season with the Maple Leafs, and there have been rumors that link JVR and his childhood team.

Van Riemsdyk is 29-years-old and could be a great piece for the future of the Rangers. He is a guy that can play in the corners and isn’t afraid to set himself in front of the net for a greasy goal. Having a guy like this who has been around the NHL for close to ten years could go a long way with the baby Blueshirts.

Ryan Reaves

The role of the “enforcer” may have gone the way of the dodo bird, but that doesn’t mean that a team shouldn’t have a “tough guy.” And according to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, Jeff Gorton is interested in one such player.

Reaves is a grinder, the kind of player that you stick on a fourth line and will score an occasional goal or two. If the report is true, there is not a whole lot of downside to bringing in this kind of player. If he performs better than expected, you have yourself a steal in free agency. If he plays worse than expected, he can become a healthy scratch and you won’t be wasting your money on someone sitting in the press box.

One other point here is the Rangers have this kind of player already in their organization. Matt Beleskey, who the Rangers acquired in the deal for Rick Nash, plays a similar type of game to Reaves. Beleskey is under contract for the next two seasons at $1.9 million per year; a reasonable salary for a bottom-six forward. Beleskey has shown that he can produce offensively, putting up seasons of 32 points and 37 points in 2014-15 and 2015-16, respectively. With Beleskey being in the organization for the next couple of seasons, the Rangers might as well give him a look for this role before spending money outside the organization.

NYRPDC Day 4

The Rangers held their second scrimmage of the prospect’s camp and it was not short on highlights.

Before we get to the goals, and there were 12 of them in regulation, check out this fantastic save by Adam Huska on Morgan Barron’s penalty shot.

After his delicious deke on Wednesday, Gabriel Fontaine scored with a quick backhand-forehand snipe on a penalty shot.

Brett Howden scored a pair of goals in this scrimmage, showing his offensive prowess that had him score 75 points this year for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL.

Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil also got in on the action. Andersson found a loose puck in the slot and wired it past Adam Huska. Chytil got himself an assist, sliding a pass over to K’Andre Miller on a 2v1. Miller stepped into it and sent a rocket into the back of the net.

Miller’s fellow first-rounder Vitali Kravtsov got himself an assist as well, sending a cross-crease pass to fifth-round pick Lauri Pajuniemi for a nice goal.

But the goal of the day, and probably the goal of the camp, came from 2016 seventh-round pick Ty Ronning.

“It was getting late in the rounds and I thought it would be cool, wearing the Rangers jersey. Malik did it a long time ago. I said why not?,” Ronning said. “I just kind of stuck with my guns, did a fake and kind of put it between my legs and it went in. It was cool.” – NYRangers.com

Here are the latest rumblings around Rangerstown.

Michael Grabner

According to reports from Craig Custance of The Athletic, Michael Grabner has reached out to the Rangers, but the two sides have not communicated. The veteran Austrian winger who flourished in 135 games on Broadway, has garnered a lot of interest around the league after scoring 27 goals in each of the last two seasons. The Rangers would be wise to bring Grabner back; a guy who would be a good mentor to the young guns around him that can keep up in a fast-paced NHL.

Justin Faulk

An interesting name that has lurked around the rumor mill in the last few months has been Carolina Hurricanes All-Star defenseman, Justin Faulk. The 26-year-old captain has roughly $5 million owed to him in each of the next two seasons, but depending on the price, he would absolutely be worth it. And as Scott Burnside reported yesterday in The Athletic, it would appear that the Hurricanes have their eyes on Jeff Gorton and the Rangers.

NYRPDC Day Three

The Rangers held their first scrimmage of prospect camp yesterday and there was a lot of action in the competitive game that went to a shootout. Ville Meskanen scored a pair of goals, and Libor Hajek and Filip Chytil also added markers. The 4-4 deadlock was won in the shootout by Gabriel Fontaine, who pulled off what’s been dubbed “The Kucherov” as he fooled the goaltender as the puck slid between his legs. While the deke was nice, Vince Pedrie decided to chirp his fellow Rangers prospect.

After the scrimmage, the prospects got a tour of Madison Square Garden led by Rangers legend Brian Leetch. Following the tour of their new home, the prospects were taken to the 9/11 Memorial Museum where K’Andre Miller laid flowers on the memorial fountains.

Following what had to be an emotional trip to the 9/11 Museum, the young Blueshirts got a boat tour of New York City.

The 21-year-old prospect completed his first full season in the professional ranks, skating in 68 games with Hartford and tallying 18 points (9G, 9A). From what I have witnessed, the prospect has potential to become a good player for the Rangers down the road. His development is off to a good start as not everyone’s first year in the American Hockey League goes easy.

As Gabriel Fontaine entered training camp, he impressed Chris Drury and Keith McCambridge with his assets and what he is able to provide for Hartford.  The forward had a great training camp and was eventually given a bigger role as the season progressed.

One strong aspect of the prospect’s game is his high Hockey IQ. He is able to read plays well and adapt efficiently. He knows how to play the boards and what to do in high-pressure situations. In addition to his intelligence, the forward is great on the penalty kill. He is able to defuse huge moments in the game where the penalty kill is at a critical point in the games.

Another asset I noticed is his discipline. The forward had one penalty throughout the season. He is able to compete and play smart. He knows where his stick is at all times and will not give opponents any opportunities to go on the man-advantage. Instead, Gabriel Fontaine will give Hartford power play opportunities with his speed and quickness, throwing off opponents.

The prospect still has learning to do, however, he is on a solid track for the Rangers. To me, Gabriel Fontaine is an upgraded version of Ryan Bourque, where both players bring quality to the defensive aspect of the game, can contribute offensively, and play with heart. Gabriel Fontaine has the edge since his potential ceiling is higher and he is able to have a strong and well-rounded two-way game. We know offensively that he could be lethal, as we saw when he put up seasons of 45 points and 52 points with Rouyn-Noranda Huskies in the QMJHL before joining Hartford. The difference is that the competition is harder. That should not worry the prospect, as he should take the tougher situations in stride. He could produce a good amount of points for Hartford down the road as he improves his overall game.

Gabriel Fontaine is exciting to watch form a fan’s perspective. You will notice him in games when it comes to the penalty kills or in the defensive end. Another bonus is that he is a center.  He could have a more expanded role next season with Hartford. The prospect will look good in the Rangers uniform in the future if/when he earns a call up or a roster spot. The only question is when Rangers fans will be able to fully enjoy his playing style and what he brings to the table.

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.

This week, the Wolf Pack began a four-game road trip.  The journey began on Wednesday night in Bridgeport against the Sound Tigers with the Pack earning a 2-1 shootout win.  Off to a good start, Hartford is attempting to find their groove after sliding down the standings.  The road trip has Hartford playing four games in six days.  Entering the weekend, Hartford has gained a few additional key players that will turn the club around.  Filip Chytil returns to action on Wednesday night against the Sound Tigers.  Vinni Lettieri also played his first game back on Wednesday.  Hartford is seventh in the Atlantic Division with a record of 15-17-3-3 for 36 points.

Roster Moves

In an unusual move, Vinni Lettieri is assigned to Hartford after a brief stint with the Rangers.  The move helps Hartford.  I expect him to be back with New York eventually, possibly as soon as this bi-week is over for the Rangers.  However, that depends on Alain Vigneault but the only reason he was assigned down in the first place was to get some games and playing time in before returning to the big club.  The forward has been the most consistent player in Hartford and was rewarded with a call-up to Broadway when Chris Kreider went down with an injury.

Filip Chytil joins Hartford after the 2018 World Junior Championships. He returned last weekend and although he’s been a bit quiet offensively since his return, he will get back in the grove and dominate offensively in time. Chris Langkow was released earlier in the week.  The ECHL forward joined Hartford on a professional tryout agreement.  Hartford needed another forward when they were depleted.  Chris Langkow played in five games, recording one goal and one assist for two points. Caleb Herbert was also released from his professional tryout agreement and rejoined the Wolf Pack’s ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

One Timers

• Peter Holland has goals in two straight games. From the looks of things, he’s getting hot and he could very well be in for a lengthy point streak. You can check out a recent article about him here by John Altavilla of the Hartford Courant.
• Anthony DeAngelo is a streaky defensive player.  Since his point streak of six games, the prospect is quieter.  Defensively his game is still strong and is improving.
• Ryan Gropp continues to work hard.  Despite not being dominant on the score sheet, the young forward is quietly progressing.  He gets goals in bunches and is useful in the shootout.  There is plenty to like about his game.  He plays hard and makes nifty passes.  In addition, he keeps his defense simple and is able to adapt to any situation.  In 31 games, the forward has 8 goals and 3 assists for 11 points.  Measuring a prospect’s growth is not just about the points they notch.  There is more to look at.
• Gabriel Fontaine is another young prospect that is developing quietly.  In 35 games he’s notched 6 goals, 4 assists for 10 points.  Similar to Ryan Gropp, Gabriel Fontaine has a good two-way game.  He keeps his play simple and scores in bunches.  Both forwards are growing and both have potential to become big name players on the Wolf Pack down the road.
• Dan Catenacci returns to the lineup from injury.  Prior to playing on Wednesday, his last action was against Providence on December 8th.  He is a good depth center to have.  In addition, Dan Catenacci plays with grit and is not afraid to get in the dirty areas.
• Marek Mazanec stole the show against Bridgeport.  He stops 46 of 47 shots in the game.  He also stops all three Bridgeport shooters in the shootout.  He is a great pickup.  Well done by Chris Drury and the Rangers.

Upcoming Games

Friday, January 12th vs Laval Rocket (Montreal) at 7:30 pm,  Place Bell

• Peter Holland returns to Place Bell since his trade.  The Wolf Pack will also see ex-Ranger Adam Cracknell in a Rocket uniform. They are fifth in the North Division with a record of 15-17-5-2, similar to Hartford.  This is the final meeting between both clubs as Hartford plays them twice.  Last time out, the Wolf Pack lost in overtime at the XL Center on November 12th in the first meeting with Laval.

Saturday, January 13th vs Belleville Senators (Ottawa) at 7:00 pm, Yardmen Arena

• The second and final meeting of the season against the Senators.  Hartford lost the first game in the season series at home 5-1 on October 20th.  Belleville is sixth in the North Division with a record of 15-20-0-3.  The club is 4-6 in the last ten games.

Monday, January 15th vs Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at 1:05 pm, Mass Mutual Center

• The last game of the road trip for Hartford.  Springfield is 5-4-0-1 in the last ten games.  They are below Hartford in the Atlantic Division for eighth.  This is the ninth meeting with Springfield out of twelve games.  The Thunderbirds have lost the last three of four games as well.