Expanded Rosters

The Rangers are going to have to determine whom to include on their expanded playoff roster. David Quinn has plenty of candidates to chose from but no clear cut way to do it. I reached out to the Rangers if the NHL has provided any guidance as to how many people they can invite to “camp” when phase 3 kicks in. According to the team spokesperson they have not received any details on how that will be handled yet.

Some players to include on the roster seem obvious like Steven Fogarty, Vinni Lettieri, Boo Nieves, and Tim Gettinger. However, the Rangers will need to see them in a controlled training camp environment to see where they are fitness wise. Same goes for key battles like Micheal Haley and Matt Beleskey who are essentially the same type of player. Or what about prospects like Vitali Kravtsov and Lias Andersson? You have to assume injuries will happen and each one of these spots is precious.

On defense, where there is a higher probability that injuries set in who will Quinn insert? We can’t simply assume Libor Hajek will make it. Plus how many will they carry? Battles for those spots amongst Brandon Crawley, Yegor Rykov, Darren Raddyish, and Tarmo Reunanen should be intense. However, without the benefit of a camp, it will be impossible and unfair to determine.

When it comes to Libor though, he has an edge. Not because he’s played with the team this season, but how do you say no to a sheep farmer? I jest…or maybe I don’t.

Born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Steven Fogarty had a tumultuous start to his life moving around a lot. With his dad relocated for the US army, a 1-year old Fogarty ended up in Cairo, Egypt. It is an interesting destination for an American kid to say the least.

After a short stop in New Jersey, the Fogarty family settled down in Edina, Minnesota where Steven started playing hockey at age 5 at a rink they had down the block. “Didn’t travel a ton, in Minnesota you play for your city association, so mostly local. Played a few summers on different traveling teams and did the usual trips up to Canada every once in a while“, talking about his first years on the ice. He played for Edina High in the USHS winning the section championship with his school several times. He played for the Chicago Steel in the USHL for a couple games before attending the NHL draft in 2011.

Draft and college

Fogarty was lucky that the draft was close to home, in St. Paul, Minnesota, and he was able to attend. Before the draft he spoke to several teams, the Rangers being one of them. “I Had no idea I’d even have a chance being drafted a year prior. I knew NYR was one of the teams I had talked to a few times, and was the one team I was hoping would draft me“, Fogarty continued on that weekend in 2011. He had already committed to the Penticton Vees in the BCHL and Notre Dame for the 2012-13 season. It gave the Rangers the rare opportunity to own a player’s rights for 5 years unlike the usual 4, for college players. Being drafted was a dream come true, as it is for everyone. He didn’t even plan on attending the draft at first, but his dad convinced him to go and by doing so, he was able to put on the jersey and be part of the draft.

After a year in the BCHL (where he played with a 14-year old Ryan Gropp), Fogarty switched to college and joined Notre Dame. With the Fighting Irish the young center laid the groundwork to what one day would become the entry level contract he’d be offered by the New York Rangers. Being a reliable 2-way center, his focus was never really on scoring but they saw something else in him that would be evident later on in Hartford.

Leadership

His leadership qualities added something to the team. It’s often scoffed at but leadership is something you are born with. It isn’t really something you teach. Fogary played the full 4 years with Notre Dame, the final 2 as their captain, before signing an amateur try out with the Hartford Wolf Pack the day he was offered his entry level contract. “It was a bittersweet couple days having my college career cut short, but do be able to sign with the NYR was a huge day for me and my family“, Fogarty said about the end of the 2015-16 season.

Fogarty is thankful for the opportunities which were given to him. Despite never being able to really break through on the ice as a team, he cherishes the memories of his academic career in Indiana. “Playing for Notre Dame for 4 years was the best time of my life. I Learned so much about me as a person, and was able to really develop as a hockey player as well. Wouldn’t trade it for the world”. It is important to not lose sight of what you have in your quest to chase your dream. Fogarty always knew pro hockey was a goal that needed determination, effort and luck. He eventually made it to the pros, but his college years are something he will remember forever.

Note from the author: This is something I heard from other college players as well. Justin Richards and Patrick Khodorenko praised the comradery of the years in college, and how their experience helped them grow as a person. I grew up in the Netherlands myself, lived in South Africa and now in VIenna, Austria. I never got to experience the US College lifestyle myself so all I have to go on is what I see in movies. These interviews have really opened my eyes as to how much of a cornerstone US colleges and universities represent in society, and it’s totally different from what we have in Europe.

Pro hockey

In the summer of 2016, Fogarty prepared for his first season of professional hockey. He signed a 2-year entry level contract with the Rangers and played most of the season in Hartford with the AHL affiliate Wolf Pack. Fogarty has had a great relationship with the younger players and captained the team this past season. He is literally the Leader of the Pack. It has given Fogarty the challenge he was looking for. Pro hockey is different and there is a lot of competition. He feels college hockey with Notre Dame has prepared him for the jump.

He was given a shot with the Rangers a few times, and he is thankful for the guidance he had in his earlier seasons from the more experienced guys. “I had some great teammates over the years who have been great to look to for how to handle yourself on the ice and off“. Now, at age 27, Fogarty is praring for his 5th season as a professional hockey player. He is one of the older guys now, and he is the one younger kids look up to. “Being an older guy its been fun watching guys like Chytil or Lindgren come in and really blossom as players and be key players for NYR“.

Fogs, the number 19 and fishing

Fogarty, who is called Fogs by teammates, has never really cared much about a specific number, but when he had the chance, he picked 19. It has no real significance. He just used it as a kid, and stuck with it. Growing up, he was a fan of Alex Ovechkin and Patrice Bergeron. “I try to emulate Patrice Bergeron. His ability to dominate all 200 feet is pretty remarkable. He is always in the Selke trophy contention, and is a great leader on a great team. Seems like everyone in the league respects him as a person and player“.

Bergeron is a player that has been mentioned by 3 players I spoke to now this lockdown. Richards and Khodorenko see him as the one they try to model their game after. And while it’s almost impossible to get to the same level as Bergeron, emulating the style of play is a great way to push yourself to new heights. Outside hockey, Fogarty likes to go fishing and play golf with his family and friends. “I have a cabin in Northern Minnesota and I love hanging out there with the people closest to me”, Fogarty said.

Return to Play

The pandemic has affected life for Fogarty, as it has for all of us. It didn’t really sink in until shops closed and hockey was cancelled. “Especially as far as the hockey season goes, staying in shape as if the season resumes, but also not being able to skate. I am now starting to get into a routine as far as working out and taking care of my body so I am ready if we get the call to resume“, he continued. With the NHL season picking up soon, there is a chance he is called up to the team as there is no roster limit in the play offs. He has been spending time with his family, and trying to get as many workouts in as he can, but it’s tough to deal with the unknown.

Time will tell what happens next, but Fogarty, who is an unrestricted free agent after this season would be valuable to a young Wolf Pack team going forward.

Note from the author: I would like to thank Steven Fogarty for taking the time to sit down with me.

Pack Captain

Steven Fogarty is your all around player that is able to play on the penalty kill, power play, and rotating as a center or wing throughout his career. Off the ice, Fogarty has earned himself the C as he is a tremendous leader in the locker room. This was his first season with the captaincy. Fogarty continues to lead as an example player for the Rangers prospects. Wolf Pack Head Coach Kris Knoblauch has trusted Fogarty in all situations and rewarded the forward throughout the season with opportunities to help the team respond in situations. Fogarty has earned solid marks from his teammates and the coaching staff in Hartford.

Given the high roster turnover in the American Hockey League, players are often one and done with teams (excludes prospects). The older forwards tend to bounce from teams depending on their situation and how management wants to craft their farm teams. Steven Fogarty is a player that is hard to replace, and re-signing would provide a huge boost for next season’s roster in all aspects of the game. He has earned another contract through my eyes and I hope Chris Drury agrees.

Fogarty’s Game

On the offensive aspect of his game, Fogarty has blossomed to be a legitimate point producer in his career. He can create wonderful plays, he is able to capitalize on opportunities with his skill assets, and essentially become offensively reliable for Hartford. His 52 point season in the 2018-19 season was remarkable, considering the roster he was with. That was one of the weakest Pack rosters in recent memory and the forward found ways to lead offensively.

This season with a bolstered roster, Fogarty continued to be a consistent point producer for Hartford despite the ever changing roster from call ups and injuries. Fogarty ranked third for points on the team with a total of 38 (13 goals, 24 assists) in 54 games. He was a point behind Danny Regan for second, and ten points behind Vinni Lettieri for first.

Defensively Sound

On the defensive aspect, the forward is able to block shots, block passing lanes, and forecheck. He is able to play a bit physical if needed as well. He plays with his heart out for every shift and puts in at least a 100% effort. Fogarty is an AHL player that teams would love to have. As the Rangers continue with their youth movement, they will need a few aged and veteran players for the roster. Fogarty deserves a spot since he is able to step up to the plate frequently. As a result of his attitude and skill set, Fogarty was given spot call ups by New York in the last three seasons that were well deserved.

Hartford’s captain is my top choice for a player who should return next season. He continues to fit perfectly in the organization and improve his game despite being on the older side. He still has potential to be a Rangers forward if needed, especially in the bottom 6 area if they need to the penalty kill in a pinch . In Hartford, Fogarty can continue to be a solid veteran for the future Rangers as leadership is crucial for mentoring the young guys in the organization. You cannot go wrong re-signing the forward.

Heads Up Fans, Mail Bag Coming Next Week!!

Next week’s article will have a different twist. I will do a mailbag and answer questions from the readers. Have a question about a player, growth development, or anything Wolf Pack related? Let me know! You can write under the comments section here, or send me a tweet or message to my Twitter account here.

I look forward to your questions!

Chytil Day-to-Day, Fogarty recalled

Last night, Filip Chytil was checked heavily into the boards in Dallas and went down awkwardly. It looked like it was his left leg, and he is day-to-day with a lower body injury. With the Rangers in action tonight, they have recalled Steven Fogarty to replace him.

Lauri Pajuniemi is special

Yesterday we had The Draft Analyst give us an in-depth scouting report on Rangers prospect, Lauri Pajuniemi.

In drafting Pajuniemi, the Rangers’ scouting staff appear to have made a sound decision in selecting a forward who was a regular for Finland at multiple best-on-best international tournaments and showed unlimited potential.  Being left off Finland’s national teams for both the under-18 and under-20 world championship squads in recent seasons, coupled with not getting drafted in his first look, may have motivated Pajuniemi to prove his doubters wrong. Fast forward to 2020, and he is now one of the top young goal scorers in all of Europe.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Adam Fox hits 40 points

Hartford Slump Continues

The Wolf Pack are 4-4-2 in their last 10 games. At the XL Center, the group dropped their last 2 home meetings (0-1-1). For the month of February, the group compiled a 5-5-2 record. Considering the continued road struggles, the record could be worse but the Pack found a couple of wins away from home finally.

The Wolf Pack have a weaker roster at the moment due to call ups from New York and a lengthy injury for Cristoval “Boo” Nieves. The offense is often inconsistent, where some there just isn’t enough. The group has to figure out how to bolster offensive production if they want to turn this around. On the plus, Nieves should be returning soon to play in these highly contested divisional games. Prior to his injury, the forward was hot offensively.

The power play continues to struggle, but has found ways to capitalize on opportunities. The defense can get spotty, and when they are, JF Berube comes up big in net for the club. Head coach Kris Knoblauch needs to build confidence of struggling prospects such as Yegor Rykov and Libor Hajek. That will come once the team find themselves again and continue to push for a higher seed playoff spot. Depending on the outcome for the Rangers, we could see Brett Howden and Julien Gauthier arrive just in time for the playoffs or at a later date. Those would be two solid offensive reinforcements for Hartford.

Standings Update

Entering the first week of March, Hartford ranks 3rd in the Atlantic Division with a record of 31-16-6-5 for 73 points. Providence grabbed 2nd place after the two clubs battled last Sunday afternoon for the spot. The Wolf Pack can bump Providence back to 3rd depending how both clubs perform this weekend. The Hershey Bears are 3 points ahead of Hartford for 1st in the Atlantic Division. The Wolf Pack will face Hershey twice for the 2 biggest games of the season to fight for the 1st seed.

Hartford will be home heavy in March which will help their push to get higher in the standings. Given the success at the XL Center, the remaining 8 home games in March will be critical to Hartford if they want to get on a roll. Entering the weekend, Hartford’s magic number to clinch a playoff spot is down to 26. You can view the daily playoff primer here.

Vinni Lettieri Heats Up

Hartford’s leading scorer is having another solid season in the AHL. Lettieri is 1 point away from tying his previous career high in points (48) from last season. The forward ranks 11th in the league for points (47) and 9th for goals (25). He continues to drive Hartford’s offense and has done so on a continual basis. Lettieri loves to shoot and he can pull the trigger on his shots as I have seen a couple of beautiful goals by the forward. His one timers on the power play can be lethal. As a result, Lettieri has 9 power play goals which ranks him 15th in the league for power play goals among players in the league.

Lettieri is still hopeful for his next change with the Rangers. Check out more on the forward here as Dom Amore of the Hartford Courant chatted with Knoblauch and Lettieri.

Steven Fogarty Delivers as Captain

The 26 year old forward continues to be a strong leader for the young talented Wolf Pack roster. Fogarty plays with heart and will do anything to help his team out to win games. Despite being on the older side, Fogarty is still growing his game as there is a noticeable difference over his tenure with Hartford. Fogarty is versatile and can fit in any situation given to him. He can produce, block shots, be defensive, and win crucial face offs. He is also great on mentoring the Rangers of tomorrow and be the guiding light through the bad and ugly portion of the season. Having the forward around next season would be beneficial. His presence in the locker room helps the group as they rely on him, along with other veterans. Through 51 games, the forward collected 13 goals, 24 assists for 37 points.

Libor Hajek Struggles

Since joining Hartford earlier in the season, Hajek continues to struggle with the group. Defensively he has a plethora of mistakes that are often in games. The prospect is finding his game and needs to be comfortable. Once he becomes confident, then we can see progress on the defenseman. In his first full year in the organization last season, Hajek was rough to watch in Hartford while playing better in New York.

Fast forward to this season, the defenseman continues to struggle in a couple of aspects in the game. Add in his injury, that sets him back further from where he was originally. Considering the Rangers dealt Joey Keane and Brady Skjei, they still see potential in Hajek. I am hoping to see growth in him as the season winds down. If not, we shall see how he looks in training camp for next season. He will have to work hard this summer if he wants to make the Rangers lineup next season.

One Timers

• The AHL Trade Deadline was on Monday. The Wolf Pack were quiet and no moves were made.
• Hartford swapped Jake Elmer for Greg Chase last Sunday afternoon on the transactions page. The move gives Chase an opportunity in Hartford after playing well in Maine. Elmer will get playing time with the Mariners.
• Danny O’Regan has points in the last 2 of 3 games. He has 3 assists in that span.
• Congrats to Ty Ronning as the forward registered his first goal with Hartford this season last Friday in Binghamton. Well deserved for the prospect.

On The Beat: Rangers prospects that could join Wolf Pack playoff run

Check out the latest on who could join the Wolf Pack’s playoff run here, written by Greg Markiewicz.

Upcoming Games

Hartford has 18 games remaining on the docket (11 home, 7 away).

Friday, March 6th vs Hershey Bears (Washington) at 7:15pm, XL Center

• This is the 5th of 6 meetings in the season series against Hershey (Series tied at 2). The final meeting will be held the following day in Hartford. The last 2 games in the series are the biggest games of the season for the club. The Wolf Pack will fight to regain their top spot in the division.
• The Bears enter the week 1st in the Atlantic Division and 2nd in the Eastern Conference. Hershey is 35-18-3-3 for 76 points. The Bears are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games and 14-10-2-1 on the road.
• Forward Philippe Maillet leads the Bears in points with 42. Through 58 games, the forward collected 15 goals and 27 assists.
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

Saturday, March 7th vs Hershey Bears (Washington) at 7pm, XL Center

• This is the final and 8th meeting in the season series between the clubs.
• Hartford’s losses to Hershey this season were both in overtime at the Giant Center. The Wolf Pack are 1-0 at the XL Center against the Bears. The club also won a game in regulation in Hershey on January 8th.
• The Wolf Pack’s home record is 21-3-1-2. The club has lost two straight on home ice (0-1-1).
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

Sunday, March 8th vs Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at 3:05pm, Mass Mutual Center

• This is the 8th of 10 meetings in the season series against the Thunderbirds. Hartford leads the series 5-2.
• Springfield ranks 5th in the Atlantic Division with a record of 30-26-2 for 62 points. Springfield is 4-6 in their last 10 games.
• Panthers prospect Owen Tippett continues to lead the Thunderbirds in points with 40. Through 46 games, the prospect registered 19 goals and 21 assists.
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

Steven Fogarty

The Wolf Pack Captain is a possibility, especially if the Rangers want a reserve forward who can step in and play 4th line minutes in a pinch. The 26 year old played 6 games earlier this season but has no points in 17 NHL games. He likely means more to the Pack as he has 36 points and 49 games on the year, so the Rangers would be very careful before pulling him away from Hartford who have Championship hopes this season.

Vinni Lettieri

If the Rangers want someone who can chip in 3rd line offense, 25 year old Vinni Lettieri is the best choice. The Pack’s leading scorer has 44 points in 56 games, and gives David Quinn some options to move players around. How about Kappo Kakko on the left side with either Strome or Zibanejad? The bottom line is that calling up Lettieri is a low risk/reward move and really doesn’t move the needle for a playoff push.

Vitali Kravtsov

Now if the Rangers want to make a move with multiple levels of consequence, calling up Vitali Kravtsov who is part of the future would move needles. Yes it is a high risk/reward play but if Kravtsov who nearly made the team out of camp can chip in real offense and inject that youthful optimism it will be worth it. The Rangers had it in their game plan this season to give him a look at some point and now they have a golden opportunity.

Kravtsov is 20 years old and has 14 points in 33 games. While that may not seem impressive, many of those points have been garnered in the last few weeks. The Rangers’ first round 9th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft has 1 goal and 7 assists for 8 points in his last 12 games. There is also no concern about burning a year off his entry level contract since he signed it during the year of his 20th birthday. Only deals signed in a player’s 18th or 19th birth date year are slide eligible. So the Rangers have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Calling up Kravtsov is the bold move, but will the Rangers make it?

Entering this week, Hartford is 30-14-6-5 for 71 points and second place in the Atlantic Division. That ranks them third in the Eastern Conference and fifth in the American Hockey League. The Wolf Pack are 4-4-2 in their last ten games. In that span, the group lost twice at home and four times on the road.

Scouting The Opponents

Hartford’s biggest rival in the standings is the Hershey Bears. The club has given Hartford fits in the season series and is giving the Pack a run for their money for 1st in the division and possibly the conference. The Bears continue to be a robust and impressive team that is led by quality prospects and veterans similar to Hartford. The difference is the Bears found their game mid-season as opposed to Hartford.

Hershey enters the week 33-17-3-3 for 72 points. The Bears are 6-3-1 in their last ten games. The stakes are high for both clubs if they want dibs for tops in the division. Both fanbases are definitely watching the scoreboard in the upcoming few weeks to see who wins this fight.

The two biggest games of the season will be on March 6th and 7th as the Wolf Pack host the Bears for the final two meetings of the season. That could be a huge boost or killer for the Pack against the Bears.

Playoff Primer

Updated daily, you can check out the magic number for Hartford to clinch a playoff spot. As of Tuesday prior to any games played, the magic number is 32.

Click here to view the latest.

Yegor Rykov Struggles

Through 25 games with Hartford, Rykov is having a rough rookie season. Despite joining the team in December and looking good early on, the prospect has found himself struggling in all aspects of the game. The mix of minor injuries plus healthy scratches has led the prospect out of the lineup, especially as of late.

The young defenseman is still finding his game. Defensively he has made a plethora of mistakes, especially ones ending up back of the net. He is out of position at times, which doesn’t allow him to be effective against opponents. He plays with limited minutes and is still learning how to compete against opponents. The coaching staff is working diligently on the prospect, and progress should be made long term. Considering him joining late in the season, that is difficult on the prospect. He is working to improve his game and has the right attitude.

Rangers Enhance Wolf Pack Roster

Announced on February 19th, Hartford acquired goaltender Jean-Francois Berube in exchange for future considerations listed below.

Looking at the trade as a whole, the move is to benefit Hartford for their upcoming playoff run as Adam Huska and Tom McCollum were unable to fill the void Igor Shesterkin left when he was called up to the Rangers.

You can read more about Huska and Berube in the following links as both articles were written by Greg Markiewicz .

What JF Berube Brings to the Pack’s Playoff Push

Rangers make trade to bolster Wolf Pack goaltending for Playoffs

Vitali Kravtsov Heats Up

The Rangers prospect had himself a great weekend. In the last two games, Kravtsov recorded a goal and two assists. In the last four games, he has 15 shots on net as he is shooting the puck more while in possession. The offense is slowly coming life for the talented prospect. He may not be on the scoresheet nightly, but his play has improved throughout the year. He fights for the puck, he tries to create plays and spark the offense. He has worked on his defensive game as well and has looked better in the neutral and defensive zones. He is still growing as a player and we are seeing the progress.

Check out his breakaway goal last Saturday! That was a beauty as Nick Ebert fed Kravtsov the perfect pass.

2020 Calder Cup Playoff Eligibility

Along with the NHL trade deadline on Monday, the Rangers had the option to assign players to Hartford and call them back up for paper transactions.

Along with the current Hartford roster, the Rangers elected to give Brett Howden and Julien Gauthier an opportunity to participate in Hartford’s 2020 playoff run. However, if the Rangers do make the postseason, the forwards could join Hartford at a later time.

One–Timers

• Captain Steven Fogarty is on a five-game assist streak. Through 48 games, the forward has collected 12 goals and 23 assists for 35 points. His career best was last season, registering 52 points.
• Vinni Lettieri recorded three points in the last two games. Entering the week, Lettieri is five points away from tying his career high in points of 48. The forward ranks 16th in the league for points (43) and eighth in goals (24).
• Darren Raddysh has five points in the last four games. The defenseman recorded three assists last Sunday against Bridgeport. Raddysh has 27 points in 55 games thus far and is three points away from tying his career high from last season of 30 points.
• Nick Jones continues to have a solid rookie season with Hartford. Jones recorded two points last Sunday to bring his point total to 18 through 54 games.
• After registering three power-play goals on Sunday, Hartford’s power play percentage jumps to 13.6%. Despite the continual power play struggles, the group found a way to convert with the man advantage after not being able to do so for a while.
• Tim Gettinger recorded a goal and an assist on Sunday. His short-handed goal was beautiful! Check it out.

Upcoming Games

Hartford has 21 games remaining (12 home, 9 away).

Friday, February 28th vs. Binghamton Devils (New Jersey) at 7:05 pm, Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena

• This is the fourth and final meeting in the season series. Hartford leads the series 3-0 and could potentially sweep the Devils. The group outscored Binghamton 12-6 thus far.
• Entering the week, Binghamton is 27-24-4 for 58 points in the North Division. That ranks the club fifth in their division. The Devils have won six of their last ten games.
• New Jersey’s prospect Brett Seney leads the Devils in points (41). Through 54 games, the forward collected 18 goals and 23 assists.
• Listen – Fox Sports 1430 Binghamton. Watch – AHLTV.

Saturday, February 29th vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders) at 7pm, Webster Bank Arena

• This is the 8th of 10 meetings in the season series with the Sound Tigers. Hartford leads the series 6-1. Hartford will face Bridgeport once again next Saturday on 3/14. Then both clubs will face each other for the final meetings in the last three weeks of the season.
• Entering the week, Bridgeport is 19-30-5-2 for 45 points in the Atlantic Division. That ranks the group eighth in the division and last in the Eastern Conference. Bridgeport is on a 0-3-0-1 run and has four of their last ten games.
• Defenseman Sebastian Aho leads the Sound Tigers in points (26). The Islanders prospect collected 2 goals and 24 assists in 42 games.
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

Sunday, March 1st vs. Providence Bruins (Boston) at 3pm, XL Center

• This is the 7th of 10 meetings in the season series against Providence. Hartford lead the series 6-0-0-1 with the lone shootout loss occurring on 11/15.
• Entering the week, Providence is 31-18-3-3 for 68 points in the Atlantic Division. As of Tuesday, three points separate the Bruins from the Wolf Pack. The Bruins are on a 5-0-1 run and have won six of their last 10 games.
• Boston’s prospect Jack Studnicka leads the Bruins in points (41). Through 53 games, the forward collected 20 goals and 21 assists.
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

Wolf Pack Continue Three Game Stand Against Springfield

In the mini series, the Wolf Pack are 1-1 in two meetings. The third meeting will be back at the XL Center midweek while the first two was a home and home. Hartford won the first game, then was shutout 2-0 in Springfield on the following night. Again, road struggles continue to haunt the group. The Hershey Bears were also in action and shutout against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms by the score of 3-0. Both teams continue to be tied in the standings for 1st in the Atlantic Division.

Wolf Pack Can Make History Wednesday

Hartford’s next home game is on Wednesday when the group host the Springfield Thunderbirds. If the Wolf Pack pull out a victory in any fashion, they will set a new franchise record for consecutive home wins (12). The group tied the previous record on Friday night, which occurred in the 2004-05 season from December 17th, 2004 to February 18th, 2005.

The Wolf Pack are 19-1-0-2 at home through 22 games at the XL Center. The last loss was in regulation on November 20th against the Syracuse Crunch. That is remarkable.

Standings Update

Entering the week, Hartford is 26-11-4-5 for 61 points. That ranks the Wolf Pack 1st in the Atlantic Division, second in the Eastern Conference (Belleville is ahead by one point), and third in the league.

The Hershey Bears are still tied in the standings with Hartford. The Bears are 28-15-2-3 for 61 points. However, the Wolf Pack own the tiebreaker as the club played two less games than Hershey. Hartford plays on Wednesday while Hershey is off until Friday. The game on hand will reduce to one once we enter the weekend.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are 23-16-3-5 for 54 points in the division. The Penguins are becoming hot as of late, winning their last six of 10 games and are on a 5-0-0-2 run entering the week. The Penguins hold down the final playoff spot in 4th.

Challenges Ahead

The most notable challenge is improving play on the road. The Wolf Pack compiled a 7-10-4-3 record through 24 road games. The month of February brings a challenge to the group. They are missing something while playing on the road. The group will have plenty of games on the docket this month to figure how out to be competitive away from home ice. Currently, Hartford is on a 0-3-2 run on the road that has to be snapped.

Another struggle is the power play. Hartford’s power play ranks 27th in the league operating a 13.8%. The group has talent and they are unable to figure out the man advantage. If the PP can improve before the playoffs, then the Pack can make a run to the Cup. While this is a struggle, this is not as important as playing on the road. On the other hand, maybe an improved power play could help turn a corner on road struggles

On The Beat: Mason Geertsen a Fan Favorite in Hartford

Check out Hartford’s lone enforcer, tough guy, and a great defensive player here. This is a nicely done article by Greg Markiewicz on the underrated player with the club.

Injury/Health Updates

Reported by Gerry Cantlon from Howlings, there are a few players sick. On the injury aspect, there is not much to report.

Injuries

• Gabriel Fontaine is still out for the season as the forward had shoulder surgery earlier in the season. He is not expected to return on ice anytime soon.
• Defenseman Nick Ebert is out day to day with a lower body injury.

Health

• Cristoval “Boo” Nieves has missed two games due to the flu. He is considered day to day.
• Steven Fogarty is fighting off a cold but has played last weekend.

Transactions

• Igor Shesterkin recalled to New York on January 29th.
• Phil Di Giuseppe recalled to New York on February 2nd.
• Ty Ronning recalled to Hartford on February 3rd.

Upcoming Games

Wednesday, February 5th vs Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at 7pm, XL Center

• This is the 6th of 10 meetings in the season series. Hartford lead the series 4-1. After the conclusion of Wednesday’s game, the next meeting will be on February 21st in Springfield.
• As noted earlier, Springfield is 26-20-2 for 54 points in the Atlantic Division. The Thunderbirds have won their last 6 of 10 games.
• Panthers prospect Owen Tippett leads the Thunderbirds in points (40). The forward tallied 19 goals, 21 assists for 40 points in 46 games. The second best in points is Daniel Audette with 29 points.
• Listen – Mixr. Watch – AHLTV.

Friday, February 7th vs Charlotte Checkers (Carolina) at 7pm, Bojangles Coliseum

• This is the 5th of 8 meetings in the season series against Charlotte. The series is tied at 2.
• The Wolf Pack have not won a game in Charlotte in franchise history. Hartford is 0-10 against the Checkers in the last 5 years.
• As noted earlier, Charlotte is 25-17-3 for 53 points in the Atlantic Division. The Checkers have won their last 6 of 10 games.
• Forward Janne Kuokkanen leads the Checkers in points (36). The forward tallied 9 goals, 27 assists for 36 points in 44 games.
• Listen – ESPN 730AM Charlotte. Watch – AHLTV.

Saturday, February 8th vs Charlotte Checkers (Carolina) at 6pm, Bojangles Coliseum

• This will be the 6th of 8 meetings in the season series. The last 2 meetings will be in Hartford on March 20th and 25th.
• Charlotte is 12-9-1 at home while Hartford is 7-10-4-3 on the road.
• In the first trip to Charlotte on December 17th and 18th, Hartford lost both contests. The Wolf Pack lost 6-3, followed by 7-1.
• Listen – ESPN 730AM Charlotte. Watch – AHLTV.

Kakko speaks about struggles

Kakko has not scored a goal since 11/12.

Entering the holiday break, the Hartford Wolf Pack sit tied atop the Atlantic Division at 41 points with the Providence Bruins and have the fourth-best point total in the AHL trailing Milwaukee Admirals by 8. Given the results of the Pack’s last four seasons, fans like myself have reason to be extremely positive about the team’s turnaround.

The power play has improved since the beginning of December, finding itself 23rd after nearly being dead last. Players like Steven Fogarty and Vinni Lettieri have found their games after slow starts. Vitaly Kravtsov is back with the team and seems happier now than at the beginning of the season and is more engaged in playing here. Despite the improved special teams, play and morale, one area that has suffered over the last few weeks is playing games away from the XL Center.

Road Woes

In 15 home games, the Pack are 12-1-0-2 and have scored 47 goals while giving up 25. On the road however, the Pack haven’t been as good with a record of 5-6-2-3 while scoring only 39 goals and giving up 56 goals. The Pack’s last two away games saw them outscored 13-4 against the Charlotte Checkers with the Wolf Pack 0-13 all-time playing down in the Queen City.

The Pack habe also lacked the same discipline away from Hartford, despite having the second-fewest PIMs of any team in the AHL, 161 minutes on the road compared to 111 minutes at home. While those numbers appear to make the Pack look like a subpar road team overall, one trend sticks out that makes that number seem even worse: they have yet to win any games outside of New England.

Of that 5-6-2-3 road record, the Pack’s lone win outside of Providence, Springfield or Bridgeport was a 4-3 come from behind win in OT in Binghamton on October 19th. Two regulation losses in Charlotte and one each in Laval, Lehigh Valley, Rochester and Syracuse, OT losses in Lehigh Valley and Hershey and shootout losses Laval and Belleville bring the Pack to 1-6-2-2 at those venues. In New England, the Pack have an OT win thus far in Bridgeport, a win in Springfield and a 2-0-0-1 record in Providence. Numbers that are, for lack of a better term, alarming. But why?

What’s going on?

One could say the reasoning is conditioning. Even during recent home games, the Pack have seemed to cling to leads and the team hasn’t been able to keep up during the later stages. It becomes even more important the further a team travels to play games, particularly when the AHL is still a league where the majority of travel is by bus. It is still early enough that the Pack can condition themselves better for some key games later in the season where every point is going to mean the difference between home-ice advantage or having to play more games in tough environments such as Hershey. This being especially true with several young players who have little experience with the grind of an AHL schedule.

While the Pack has seen their offensive numbers improve slightly, the defense hasn’t been as strong since losing Ryan Lindgren to recall. While players like Joey Keane and Darren Raddysh have made contributions on the score sheet, the holes in the defense have been apparent as they’ve spent many games giving up too many shots over the last month or so. It was noticeable in the Pack’s first game down in Charlotte where they gave up 19 shots in the first period which led to an eventual 6-3 win by Charlotte after they chased Igor Shesterkin from the game early in the second period.

What also hasn’t helped the Pack’s defense was losing Gabriel Fontaine to a shoulder injury for the remainder of this season. A strong penalty killer and defensive forward, his presence has been missed as players like Tim Gettinger have done alright but haven’t quite been able to play to the level that Fontaine had before his injury. Yegor Rykov has been a welcome addition to the Pack after missing three months with an injury and is getting better each game he plays.

The guy?

Another key to the Pack’s road woes could also be the lack of a true go-to player that can finish a play in tough situations. While the Pack has players such as Danny O’Regan, Keane and Phil di Giuseppe that can set plays up as good as any, players like Vinni Lettieri have not been as consistent as in prior seasons. Last season, Vinni Lettieri and Peter Holland were two players who could be counted on to finish plays in key spots. This season, however, Lettieri has been inconsistent and hasn’t seemed to find the chemistry with players like Vincent LoVerde, Boo Nieves or Darren Raddysh to read their movements well enough to set himself for shots. Bottom line, the Pack either need Lettieri, or someone else, to step up and finish plays to score, especially on the road, or Chris Drury will have to look for someone elsewhere.

With just a few games left before the halfway point of the season, it’s clear that the Wolf Pack, despite being in a good position, need to condition themselves to play better on the road. Being tighter on defense while also finding themselves a finisher, whether that player is already in Hartford or management needs to bring one into the organization, will certainly go a long way. With the Pack showing themselves as a contender this season, they have to be able to steal a game or two on the road to compete with some of the best teams in the league. Hopefully, some changes and moves give the Pack what they need to step up away from Trumbull Street.