Entering the first week of March, the playoff race continues in the American Hockey League for the Wolf Pack. The club gear up for another three in three weekend. Hartford has 18 games remaining in the season, already! The season has flown fast. Let’s get to the details of the current situations for the Pack.
Rangers, Avalanche Swap Defensemen
The trade deadline has affected the Wolf Pack in one move. Ryan Graves was dealt to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Chris Bigras. The new forward will debut on Friday night against Springfield. To read more on my analysis of the trade, check out my article earlier in the week here.
Post Season Race Update
The Wolf Pack continue to sit in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with 59 points. The fifth-place Bridgeport Sound Tigers are ahead of the Wolf Pack by a single point with two games in hand. The Charlotte Checkers are in fourth, continually holding down the last playoff spot in the division with 65 points. In addition, the Checkers have played one less game than Hartford. The Wolf Pack cannot afford to go on a losing streak. As of late, the club has won a few games, followed up with losses going 5-5 in the last ten games. They will have to play better hockey down the stretch if they want to make the postseason.
One positive aspect of the situation, the Wolf Pack will begin a three-game series with the Checkers starting this Sunday, with six points at stake. The next five games are critical, and any losing streak will have the club suffer at the end.
The American Hockey League has published their annual Playoff Primer. You can check it out here as the league updates the page daily (usually in the mornings).
Upcoming Games
Friday, March 2nd vs Springfield Thunderbirds (Florida) at 7:05 pm, Mass Mutual Center
- This is the 10th of 12 meetings in the season series against Springfield. This is the final meeting in Springfield, with Hartford having a record of 1-3-0-1 in the Mass Mutual Center. Hartford is 3-5-0-1 in the season series. They must be better in the rivalry games. Springfield comes into this one having won three of their last four games.
Saturday, March 3rd vs Providence Bruins (Boston) at 3:00 pm, XL Center
- Hartford completed a home at home series with Providence last weekend, with each clubs winning at home. Hartford is 4-2-1-1 in the season series, with this matchup being the 9th of 10 meetings. Providence is 6-3-0-1 in their last ten games.
Sunday, March 4th vs Charlotte Checkers (Carolina) at 3:00 pm, XL Center
- The important game of the weekend. This begins three straight games against the Checkers. After Sunday, the remaining two shift to Charlotte for the upcoming weekend. Hartford is 2-3 in the season series against the Checkers. Both clubs meet a total six times, with the season series ending next weekend. Last time out on February 13th and 14th, Hartford dropped both games. Charlotte is 6-4 in the last ten games.
