The group resumes their quest to be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference on Friday. Last weekend, the Wolf Pack snapped a 0-2-2 run to win two straight against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Lehigh Valley Phantoms. The AHL’s annual Playoff Primer will be out in February. Let’s take a look at the latest happenings from Connecticut’s capital city.

Home Cooking Continues

Hartford continues to have the best home record in the league. The Wolf Pack will have a chance to tie a franchise record of 11 straight home wins Friday night against the Springfield Thunderbirds. The group could surpass the record next Wednesday if they win on Friday. The prior record was established from December 17th, 2004 to February 18th, 2005. The group continues to smash franchise records and find ways to rank up from previous rosters.

At the XL Center, Hartford is 18-1-0-2 through 21 home games, collecting 38 of 42 possible points at home. Generating 90% of points at home is quite the accomplishment for the group. Considering we are approaching February, this is truly remarkable. The XL Center is a tough place to play in for opponents. What a difference from this season to last.

The last time Hartford lost at home was on Wednesday, November 20th, against the Syracuse Crunch. The first shootout loss was on October 13th against the Rochester Americans while the other shootout loss was on November 9th against the Belleville Senators.

Weekend Goalie Switching

Igor Shesterkin played in two games over the weekend with Hartford as the Rangers returned the goalie during the NHL’s All-Star weekend. As a result, Adam Huska was assigned to Maine to play for the weekend as well.

Shesterkin played well and helped Hartford collect two wins. He continues to be sharp in net and did not miss a beat despite not playing as much with the Rangers. He continues to be a blessing to watch in person. While playing his two games, the prospect managed to bring his GAA even lower to a 1.90. He continues to have the best stats in the league.

As for Huska, he needed more playing time to fight through his struggles and slumps. The prospect had a good weekend with the Maine Mariners as he stopped 68 shots and pulled out a 43 save performance against the Worcester Railers (Maine won 8-1). Huska established a 1-1 record with a 1.53 GAA and a .958 SV%. I expect the experience and confidence boost will bring his game higher once he returns in net for Hartford.

Standings Update

The Wolf Pack are 25-10-4-5 for 59 points. That ranks the group first in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. The group ranks second in the AHL. However, the Hershey Bears have the same amount of points as the Wolf Pack. Hartford continues to own the tiebreaker entering the week (two fewer games played).

Hershey continues to be on Hartford’s tail, recording a 27-14-2-3 record through 46 games for 59 points. The Bears’ resurgence in the last two to three months continues to power the club.

The Providence Bruins are finding their groove as of late and grabbed sole possession of third in the Atlantic Division. Through 46 games, the Bruins are 25-16-2-3 for 55 points. The Wolf Pack continues to have little room for error to slide in the division since the Bruins are also creeping up on the club.

The Springfield Thunderbirds, Charlotte Checkers, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are in a dogfight for the final playoff spot in the division. The Thunderbirds hold fourth place with a record of 25-19-2 for 52 points. The Checkers are 24-16-3 for 51 points for fifth. The Penguins are 22-16-3-4 for 51 points as well, for sixth. The battle in the standings will continue to increase as the season progresses. Last week the dogfight included Providence as the standings continue to change. We’ll see how everything unfolds after the weekend.

The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are in seventh with a record of 18-21-1-5 for 42 points while the Bridgeport Sound Tigers are in last in the division with a record of 15-28-4-1 for 35 points.

On The Beat: Scouting Vinni Lettieri

Check out the progression of Rangers prospect Vinni Lettieri here, written by my colleague Greg Markiewicz.

Stay tuned for the next post by Greg as he will reflect and talk about the AHL’s All-Star Festivities. Vinni Lettieri and Joey Keane had great moments!

AHL Changes Veteran Rule

Beginning next season, there will be a change to the veteran status in the league.

The rule change is to help younger guys continue to develop at a longer time. It will be interesting to see how NHL clubs build their AHL teams next season with the new changes.

One Timers

• Danny O’Regan collected 29 points through 44 games. The forward has points in six of the last nine games, collecting three goals and five assists.
• Captain Steven Fogarty collected 28 points through 37 games. The forward has points in three of the last five games, collecting two goals and three assists.
• Cristoval “Boo” Nieves continues to be hot offensively for Hartford. Nieves has points in ten of the last thirteen games, collecting three goals and twelve assists. The forward has five games with two or more points during the current run.
• Phil Di Giuseppe continues to be a great veteran in Hartford. Through 41 games, Di Giuseppe has 25 points (13G, 12A). The forward is five points away from tying his career high in the AHL. He has a career high of scoring 13 goals this season, beating his previous record of 12 in the 2016-17 season with Charlotte.
• Darren Raddysh is none points away from tying his career high as well in the AHL. Through 44 games this season, the defenseman has 21 points (6G, 15A).
• Matt Beleskey had a three point performance last Friday against Bridgeport. The veteran has four points in the last three games.

Wolf Pack’s Fourth Line Chugging Along

Ryan Gropp and Shawn McBride in the last couple of weeks are becoming key cogs for depth. Despite being on the fourth line, they are getting the job done.

Ryan Gropp has a quiet but increasing more noticeable game lately. Gropp has found his grove and has a few points on the scoresheet as of late (four points in the last four games). Before he was showing up in the scoresheet, the prospect had great offensive opportunities and has worked to improve his play in the neutral zone. He is doing all the little things right on the ice, which is critical in close games. After a rough start to the season, we can see a progression in his growth. He is working hard, and dividends are paying off. He is being rewarded for staying in Hartford and participating nightly.

Shawn McBride is a reliable center for Hartford, which was a surprising asset for Kris Knoblauch. The forward has gained trust from Hartford’s coaching staff to take huge draws at critical moments in the game. He has earned himself the opportunity to stay in Hartford and participate in contests on a nightly basis. Earlier in the season, he was often in and out of the lineup and was eventually sent down to the ECHL.

McBride continues to be a good depth center for Hartford. The forward has found himself on the scoresheet a few times as well, registering three points over the last four games.

Transactions

• Lewis Zerter-Gossage assigned to Maine on January 23rd. He was called up on January 26th.
• Adam Huska was assigned to Maine on January 23rd. He returned to Hartford on January 26th.
• Francois Brassard signed a professional tryout agreement (PTO) on January 23rd. He was released on January 26th.
• The Rangers lifted Lias Andersson’s suspension on January 27th, and he was officially loaned to HV71 of the SHL.

Upcoming Games

Hartford begins a three-game series with the Springfield Thunderbirds. Two of the games will take place this weekend, while the finale will be on February 5th. The Wolf Pack will be road heavy in the month of February before becoming home heavy in March.

Friday, January 31st vs Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at 7:15 pm, XL Center

• This is the fourth of ten meetings in the season series against Springfield (Hartford leads the series 3-0). The Wolf Pack have outscored Springfield 9-3 thus far in the series.
• As noted earlier, Springfield is 25-19-2 for 52 points. That ranks the group fourth in the Atlantic Division. Springfield has won seven of its last ten outings.
• Rookie Owen Tippett lead the Thunderbirds in scoring. The Panthers prospect registered 19 goals, 21 assists for 40 points in 46 games.
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

Saturday, February 1st vs. Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at 7 pm, Mass Mutual Center

• The fifth of ten meetings in the season series.
• This is the second meeting at the Mass Mutual Center this season between the clubs. Last time in Springfield, the Wolf Pack won 5-2 on December 9th.
• Springfield is 14-9-1 home while Hartford is 7-9-4-3 on the road.
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

There is real promise this season in Hartford. Despite suffering the first loss of the season on Sunday in the shootout, the Pack managed to collect three of the possible four points last weekend. Let’s get down to business on what lays ahead!

Let’s Talk: The First Loss

You have to give the Wolf Pack credit in Sunday’s contest against Rochester. Despite grabbing a 2-0 lead, Rochester fought back and brought the game to overtime and the shootout session. You may ask, why give the group credit for blowing a two-goal lead?

Rochester is one of the top teams coming into the season with a few key additions. The Wolf Pack, despite a young core, stepped up to the plate and fought Rochester in all aspects of the game. Despite the early struggles for Hartford, the Pack never gave up while Adam Huska was holding down the fort, especially in the first period when the flood gates could have opened for the Americans, generating stellar chances. The Pack had a hard time controlling Rochester, especially with their puck movement.

Next comes the second period. The continuous efforts rewarded forwards Filip Chytil and Cristoval “Boo” Nieves. The first goal by Chytil was set up perfectly by Danny O’Regan. A cross-crease pass that was effective when Rochester’s defense broke down on the play. The second goal by Nieves was on a partial breakaway after a great pass by Matt Beleskey. Despite the initial save, Nieves tapped the puck in on his own rebound.

Rochester struck early in the third to set the tone for the final frame. Despite the initial goal, the Pack continued to battle Rochester defensively and offensively. The offensive opportunities were persisting. The effort was there. However, as the group was getting worn out, Rochester was outplaying the Pack in some aspects of the contest. The Pack’s defense got sloppy, made mistakes, and not a lot of good defensive coverage. Rochester eventually scored at the end of the third with the net empty. The reaction by the Pack? Frustrated. They did not take the goal given up lightly. Off to overtime.

We defended it well, but we just could never get the clear we needed there.

Kris Knoblauch – Howlings.net

The lone goal in the shootout came from Huska’s former UConn teammate Tage Thompson to give Hartford their first loss of the season.

Despite the outcome, improvements have to come despite an overall solid effort by the group. It will be interesting to see how the Pack respond to their first loss on Friday when they face Springfield.

There are going to be some growing pains. Everything will not be easy. The lesson tonight was that we have to keep pressing even though we have the lead. We have to play smart, and keep putting the pressure on.

Kris Knoblauch – Howlings.net

Chytil Bangs Door For Call Up

Filip Chytil had a great weekend in Hartford. His performance, in my opinion, warrants him being the first call up when the Rangers need another forward. In the points column, the prospect collected three points (2G, A). In Saturday’s game against Springfield, the forward was flying. He led the team in shots with eight and had multiple opportunities offensively. He utilized his speed to his advantage and helped contribute defensively. In his shifts, he was ready to play. He has a mentality of winning and show the Rangers that he wants to be up. Sunday was more of the same – he was noticeable and produced a goal. I cannot imagine the prospect being with Hartford for long.

Roster Move

On Wednesday afternoon, Hartford reassigned forward Ryan Gropp to the Maine Mariners of the ECHL.

Gropp played one game in Hartford, which was last Sunday after being a healthy scratch for the previous three contests. The forward needs playing time, which he will get in Maine.

UPDATE: Gropp Suspended

According to Larry Brooks, the Wolf Pack has suspended Ryan Gropp for failure to report to the Maine Mariners of the ECHL.

One-Timers

• Adam Huska and Igor Shesterkin had another weekend split of being in net. I assume the upcoming weekend will bring the same. Both goalies have played impressively.
  • Shesterkin: He played on Saturday against Springfield. The prospect was comfortable in net and made impressive saves. Shesterkin stopped 17 of 18 shots for the win.
  • Huska: A strong outing on Sunday against Rochester. Despite the loss, the young prospect kept the team in the contest in moments where Rochester was pouring it on in Hartford’s defensive zone. He faced 35 of 37 shots in regulation. In the shootout, he stopped one of two shooters.
• Nick Ebert, who the Rangers acquired in the Vlad Namestnikov trade, debuted in Sunday’s game, replacing Joey Keane.
• Ryan Gropp took Gabriel Fontaine’s spot on Sunday.
• Congrats to Vitali Kravtsov on notching his first point on North American ice on Sunday. He recorded the secondary assist on Cristoval “Boo” Nieves’ goal.
  • There was a report that the forward may return to the KHL. However, there is no confirmation on what will happen.
• The list of players who have not contributed this season is down to only a few. The following players have not yet recorded a point.
  • Mason Geertsen, Ville Meskanen, and Nick Ebert.

Upcoming Games

The Pack will enter the weekend with a pair of games on the docket.

Friday, October 18th vs Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at 7:15 pm, XL Center

• The second of ten games in the season series. Hartford was victorious in the first meeting on October 12th, winning 3-1.
• The Thunderbirds defeated Providence last Sunday by the final of 5-2. This was Providence’s first loss of the season. Springfield went 1-2 last weekend.
• This is the final game in the five-game homestand. Hartford is 3-0-0-1 at the XL Center thus far.
• Springfield is 2-3 entering the weekend.
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

Saturday, October 19th vs Binghamton Devils (New Jersey) at 7:05 pm, Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena

• This is Hartford’s second game against a North Division opponent. The Pack begins a four-game season series with Binghamton. Last season, the club went 2-1-1 against the Devils.
• The trip to Binghamton is the first road game of the season for the group. Including Saturday’s game, five of the next seven will be on the road.
• The Devils enter the weekend with a record of 1-2-1.
• The player to watch out for is Chris Conner. The veteran on Binghamton notched six points (3G, 3A) in four games.
• Listen – Devils broadcast. Watch – AHLTV.
  • NOTE: Hartford does not broadcast away games unless noted otherwise.

Training camp opens up this Thursday for the big club. Players are expected to report in and then take the ice on Friday. If both RFAs, Brendan Lemieux and Tony DeAngelo remain unsigned, don’t expect them to be there. The natural question is, who would jump in if they are out? Let’s address that here.

Replacing Lemieux

Brendan Lemieux is a rare commodity in the Rangers lineup. He is a gritty agitator that can actually contribute offensively. He won’t be easy to replace but the Rangers do have a few temporary options for pre-season at least.

1. Michael Haley: The 33 year old winger is no stranger to throwing fists, but he is also no stranger to the Rangers. He played 9 games for them way back in the 2012-2013 season and has been reportedly invited to training camp as a tryout. This works for exhibition but is not an option for the season should Lemieux hold out longer.
   
2. Matt Beleskey: I know what you are thinking; doesn’t he have to be sent to Hartford for the Rangers to be cap compliant? No! The answer is the Rangers are currently cap compliant with him penciled in. Of course they only have $1M in space to sign both Lemieux and DeAngelo so he won’t be here if either one signs. The 31 year old forward will be a UFA next summer, but could actually help fill Lemieux’s void heading into the season.

Replacing DeAngelo

Finding a suitable replacement for Tony D. is not going to be easy. This is especially so if you want to keep the whole lefty/righty combination as your defensive pairs.

1. Joey Keane: The only right-handed defenseman prospect that could fill the hole in DeAngelo’s absence. He certainly can skate and chip in offensively but still looks very green to me.
2. Brendan Smith: Just like Beleskey above, he currently fits under the cap. The veteran defenseman will have to play the off side but should be able to handle it.
3. Yegor Rykov: The 22 year old prospect from the KHL looked rock solid in the last Traverse City game. However, being a lefty he or Libor Hajek would have to play the opposite side and that might be too much to ask both rookies.

The trade deadline for the Hartford Wolf Pack was quiet. The New York Rangers did not tinker with the AHL roster, except with one addition. Going forward the rest of the season, the group is expected to remain the same until we reach April. As we enter this week, Hartford is still far from the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.

Hartford has a busy week ahead with three games on tap to end February and begin March. Coming into Wednesday’s contest, Hartford is tied for seventh in the Atlantic Division with the Springfield Thunderbirds. Hartford has a record of 23-25-6-3.

Standings Update & Positioning

The Wolf Pack are nine points out from a playoff spot. On the plus side, the Pack has won a string of games as of late and has kept up with the bottom tier teams. Hartford is now tied for seventh and is able to reach as high as sixth depending on the outcome of other games this week.

If Hartford continues to pick up points, they have to act fast if they want to jump up in the standings. Here are a few teams that Hartford could jump or be within reach of with the scenario of a Hartford win plus these teams losing:

• 7th- Springfield Thunderbirds – Tied
• 6th- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – four points ahead
• 5th- Lehigh Valley Phantoms – Five points ahead

These are teams Hartford can creep up to in the standings. In fact, the next two weeks feature multiple games against Springfield and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

After this weekend is complete, we will go from there and revisit the standings if it is worth to do so.

You can check the 2019 AHL Playoff Primer here as this is updated daily.

Information To Know

In addition to the trade deadline passing on Monday in the National Hockey League, there was another deadline that loomed in the AHL at 3pm.

The Rangers have elected to not assign any prospect to Hartford before the deadline. That means players such as Lias Andersson, Boo Nieves, and Connor Brickley will not be able to return to Hartford for the remainder of this season.

Normally teams will assign prospects to their minor league teams as a paper transaction. Then the following day, call them back up. This tells a story of how New York is not expecting Hartford to make the postseason.

Another deadline of note is the AHL’s trade and loan deadline. The deadline is strictly for players on AHL contracts, and I do not expect movement from Hartford here.

Farm Report: Injuries, Contracts, Roster Movements

This week featured a bit of news regarding multiple aspects of Hartford’s roster.

• Two Players Return Next Season
  • On Monday, the Rangers announced contract extensions for Steven Fogarty and Boo Nieves. I expect at least one of them to be in Hartford next season. Well deserved by both forwards.
• Transactions
  • Defenseman Matt Finn has been released from his PTO.
  • Defenseman Julius Bergman joins Hartford as he was acquired in the trade involving former Ranger, Adam McQuaid.
• Injury Updates
  • Ville Meskanen was injured in the opening shift of Saturday’s game, and he did not play on Sunday. I suspect a lower-body injury, around his knee and foot area. He was limping off the ice after a collision with a Providence player along the boards.
  • Brandon Crawley is still out for a brief period with an upper-body injury.

Steven Fogarty Impresses

The Rangers prospect found his offensive touch again. Sunday’s game against Providence was the Steven Fogarty show, as the forward notched a hat trick plus one assist. Check out his goals here.

In addition to two of the goals being shorthanded, Fogarty is now the third player in franchise history to register two shorthanded goals in the same game.

The prospect is on a six-game point streak and has points in seven of his last eight games (7 goals, 6 assists for 13 points). The hot hand continues as we enter into this week’s games. Impressive playing by the forward in the last few weeks.

One Timers

• Vinni Lettieri has points in seven straight games (5 goals, 5 assists for 10 points). Check out his shorthanded beauty here.

• John Gilmour and Steven Fogarty are tied for points on the team at 39.
• Matt Beleskey hasn’t recorded a point in his last four games. In addition, the veteran has not scored a goal in 19 games. He is looking to break that spell.
• Sean Day continues to produce points. He has points in four of his last five games (2 goals, 3 assists for 5 points).
• Ty Ronning has goals in back to back games.

• Hartford has three shorthanded goals in the last two games.

Upcoming Games

Wednesday, February 27th vs Hershey Bears (Washington) at 7pm, XL Center

• This is the third of six meetings against the Hershey Bears. This is the first time Hershey is in Hartford this season.
• Hershey’s 16 game winning streak ended on Sunday against Bridgeport as the Sound Tigers won 5-1. The Bears were on a 16-0-0-1 streak before the regulation loss.
• Hartford is 0-1-1 in the season series against Hershey. The first meeting ended in a shootout loss on November 4th and the second meeting was a 6-3 defeat on December 8th.
• Hershey is third in the Atlantic Division with a record of 31-21-0-3 for 65 points.

Friday, March 1st vs Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at 7:05 pm, Mass Mutual Center

• This is the eighth of ten meetings in the season series. Hartford is 3-4 against Springfield entering the contest.
• Springfield has stumbled this season, going from one of the top teams to now a tie with Hartford for last. The Thunderbirds are 2-7-0-1 in the last ten games.
• Depending on the outcome of Wednesday’s game between Hartford and Hershey, the Pack may be ahead of Springfield entering Friday’s game.
• This is the third meeting in Springfield. Hartford is 1-1 this season at the Mass Mutual Center.
• The Thunderbirds record is 22-23-6-5 for 55 points.

Saturday, March 2nd vs Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh) at 7:30 pm, XL Center

• This is the fifth of six meetings against the Penguins. Hartford is 1-2-1 in the season series.
• The Penguins are 26-22-5-2 for 59 points and is ahead of Hartford by four points. The Penguins are sixth in the Atlantic Division.
• The Penguins are 4-4-1-1 in their last ten meetings.

The Wolf Pack continue their skid as they enter the early stages of February. The group has lost seven straight and is 29th in the American Hockey League. Ouch. Who would have thought the group would creep this low? I did not, considering the roster that was provided. As we enter this week, with four games on tap, Hartford is 19-23-3-2 for 43 points. That ranks them eighth in the Atlantic Division.

Hartford Falls After Trading Away Captain

The group is 1-7 since the captain, Cole Schneider, departed from the organization through a trade. Since the trade, the Wolf Pack have not looked the same. When you trade away one of the team’s better forwards, second in points at the time, usually the gamble may not be worth it. Well, we have the results after the trade, and the Pack’s plan has seemingly backfired.

I am not knocking on Connor Brickley because he’s a different type of player. We are comparing apples to oranges here. Chris Drury wanted grit and, unfortunately, Milwaukee won the trade, value wise. Perhaps the organization could have moved another forward for Connor Brickley.

The players and Keith McCambridge had some interesting commentary on the trade. Remarks from the group on Howlings.net regarding the trade raises eyebrows.

“I told them he was a part of our family starting from September and you hope till early June (Calder Cup Final time) you’re together as a family. I really like this group. They get along well together, and a piece of our family was taken away. I always speak from the heart to the team,” McCambridge said.

McCambridge was channeling his captain’s player role, not so much being their head coach

“I liked Cole a lot. He was a good man. I like what he represented. Now, we have to pick up the slack in a leadership void and what he brought (to the team) on the ice as well.”

Keith McCambridge

From a coach’s perspective, McCambridge sounds as if he lost one of the best forwards in the locker room, despite bumping him to the third or fourth line to kickstart his offense, which seemed to have worked.

“We’re bummed out for sure. That is the tough part of the business, and we signed up for it, and we all know the possibilities,” Holland said. “Our lives can be tossed into a blender and get traded away.”

Peter Holland

Was this the right move for the Wolf Pack? Probably not, but I will let you decide.

John Gilmour Continues To Prosper

The 25-year-old defenseman continues to make strides in Hartford. His contract is up this summer and I expect him to return. Offensively, he has found a spark and ran away with it as his offensive game continues to shine. The prospect has 36 points in 47 games played. Last season in 44 outings, he collected 26 points and in the 2016-17 season, he had 25 points. If the defenseman stays in Hartford for a majority of the season, we could see him reach as high as the 50-point range, which, for a defenseman, would be impressive.

John Gilmour is the best defenseman on the ice for the Pack on both ends of the ice. His speed allows him to easily transition from defense to offense and be able to block lanes when the opponent establishes play in Hartford’s zone. If the Rangers are looking for a call up on the blue line, I expect John Gilmour to get the call.

Injury Updates

Hartford is dealing with a few injuries or illnesses. As a result, players such as Sean Day and Zach Tolkinen are being given opportunities to play.

• Matt Beleskey – Illness. He should return shortly.
• Brandon Crawley – Injured. Time table for return is unknown.

Rangers Prospects In Hockey East Updates

Goaltender Tyler Wall was named Hockey East’s defensive player of the week. Congrats to the Rangers prospect for his award!

Closer to home, University of Connecticut’s goaltender, and Rangers prospect, Adam Huska is the starting goalie for the university. Despite a record of 5-11-2 with a 3.16 goals against average, he is still continuing to develop. The team in front of him has struggled this season as the group is led mainly by young freshmen. The University of Connecticut is 7-17-2, but is just 2-12-2 in Hockey East play.

Upcoming Games

The Pack has a busy week coming up. Perhaps the losing streak could get snapped this week.

Tuesday, February 5th vs Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) at 7 pm, XL Center

• This is the final meeting in Hartford between the clubs. This is the ninth of ten meetings in the season series. The series finishes up next Saturday in Bridgeport.
• Hartford is 4-3-1 against Bridgeport. Last season the group was 3-6-1.
• The Sound Tigers are second in the Atlantic Division with 56 points. They are 25-17-4-2 and have won four of their last ten outings.

Friday, February 8th vs Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay) at 7:15 pm, XL Center

• This is the first meeting between the clubs. This is a two-game season series. Hartford is in Syracuse on March 16th. Last season, the Pack split the season series with the Crunch.
• Syracuse is 27-13-2-1 for 57 points, second in the North Division. The Crunch enter the week winning six straight.
• Hartford is 12-9-2 at home, while Syracuse is 10-8-2 on the road.

Saturday, February 9th vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia) at 7:05 pm, PPL Center

• Saturday begins back to back games in Allentown against the Phantoms. This game will be the fourth of six meetings in the season series. The last three meetings will be in Allentown.
• Hartford is 2-1 against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms entering the contest. Last season, the Pack won all six games against the Phantoms.
• The Phantoms are fourth in the Atlantic Division with 55 points. They are 25-17-3-2, and is 5-5 in their last ten outings.

Sunday, February 10th vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia) at 3:05 pm, PPL Center

• This is the fifth of six meetings on the season series.
• Hartford will return to Allentown on April 13th to finish the season series during the final week of the season.

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 announced moments ago that they have recalled goaltender Alexandar Georgiev. In addition, the team has sent forward Matt Beleskey and goaltender Dustin Tokarski to Hartford.

Tokarski never saw any game action while up with the Rangers. Beleskey, on the other hand, suited up four times for the Blueshirts and recorded his first goal with the Rangers since coming to the team at last year’s deadline.

Georgiev has been with the Wolf Pack since the beginning of December, where he played five games. During those five contests, Georgiev allowed a total of 17 goals and had a save percentage of .884%.

Buchnevich and Zuccarello Returning – Both Pavel Buchnevich and Mats Zuccarello, two players that the Rangers relied upon for offense entering the season, should be getting back into game action against the Coyotes. Buchnevich went out of the lineup after sustaining a broken thumb against the Blue Jackets, while Zuccarello has been dealing with a nagging groin injury. Zuccarello did play in two games after first going out with his injury, but rushed himself back which only made his injury worse. Both players participated in regular line rushes, as well as practicing with the top power-play units.

Andersson Out – It would appear from today’s practice that forward Lias Andersson is the proverbial “odd-man-out” with the Rangers’ forward group returning to almost full health. Andersson has been decent in his time with the Blueshirts so far, though he has played mostly on the fourth line under David Quinn. 

McLeod Remains Sidelined – After sustaining a hand injury against the Islanders a few weeks ago,  Cody McLeod remains on the injury report as he works his way back. Unfortunately for McLeod, Matt Beleskey has come into David Quinn’s lineup and performed admirably. Both McLeod and Beleskey play a similar style of game so it will be interesting to see how Jeff Gorton, David Quinn, and the Rangers decide to play this one out when McLeod is back to full health.

After nearly a week of no games, the Rangers headed to Florida to take on the Panthers. And like all of their previous road wins, this one went to a shootout. But unlike their last game on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets, the Blueshirts were victorious.

Mika Zibanejad – The Rangers center got the Blueshirts on the board in the first period. After Kevin Hayes’ point shot hit Jimmy Vesey in front, the puck laid on the ice for Mika to put into the Florida net. The goal was Zibanejad’s ninth of the season, as the Swede continues to prove his value to the Rangers.

https://twitter.com/4bnyrgameday/status/1071559926982606850?s=21

Vladislav Namestnikov – After missing the last handful of games with a concussion, forward Vlad Namestnikov got himself back on the scoresheet late in the first period. With the Blueshirts shorthanded, Kevin Hayes did some great work and found Namestnikov cutting to the front of the net. Namestnikov corralled the pass and beat Luongo for his third of the season. Prior to his injury, with Mats Zuccarello our of the lineup, #90 had been seeing first line minutes alongside the aforementioned Mika Zibanejad. Whether or not he returns to that role remains to be seen, but Namestnikov definitely had an impact in this one.

https://twitter.com/4bnyrgameday/status/1071567559391088640?s=21

Matt Beleskey – When Beleskey was called up in the wake of Cody McLeod’s injury, the hope was that the 30-year-old forward would provide a spark to David Quinn’s lineup. And while he has certainly does that physically, Beleskey got on the scoresheet tonight with his first as a Ranger. After Tony DeAngelo worked the puck to Brady Skjei, the point shot from the defenseman was deftly redirected in front by Beleskey. The goal was the first for Beleskey since the 2016-17 season while he was with the Boston Bruins.

https://twitter.com/4bnyrgameday/status/1071575820014157824?s=21

Fredrik Claesson – The veteran defenseman has been a model of consistency when he’s been in the lineup for the Rangers. And tonight, with the game tied at 3, Claesson beat Roberto Luongo with a laser over the netminder’s glove to give the Rangers a 4-3 lead. Claesson’s goal was his second of the season as the defenseman continued his solid play in tonight’s victory.

https://twitter.com/4bnyrgameday/status/1071588009097736192?s=21

Henrik Lundqvist – Though he’d probably want the first two goals back, when the Rangers needed him, King Henrik came up big. The Panthers controlled the puck during most of the extra frame, but they were unable to beat Lundqvist, who made this spectacular save on Mike Matheson late in overtime. The win was the 441st of his storied career as King Henrik continues to make his case for the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Too Close For Comfort – Despite winning tonight’s game, the Rangers were unable to close out their opponent in the third period. This has become a theme for the Rangers this season, as far too many games have gone to extra time. The Blueshirts have a goal differential that is towards the bottom of the league and being able to defend leads late in the game will need to be worked on by David Quinn and the Blueshirts.

Next Game: The Rangers will try and sweep their Florida trip when they face the Lightning on Monday night in Tampa. Puck drops at 730!

LETS GO RANGERS!!

The Rangers announced that they have recalled forward Matt Beleskey from the Wolf Pack.

Earlier in the week, the Rangers sent down Beleskey, along with Vinni Lettieri and Steven Fogarty. The Rangers didn’t have any scheduled games this week, and this stint in Hartford gave the trio some extra ice time while the Blueshirts were on a mini hiatus. Unfortunately for Fogarty and Lettieri, with reports of the injured Mats Zuccarello and Vladislav Namestnikov being almost ready for action, it would seem like the two youngsters will remain with the AHL club.