Albany, NY, October 25, 2014 – The Hartford Wolf Pack built leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the first period Saturday at the Times-Union Center, but the Albany Devils scored the last four goals of the game to post a 5-2 win, and a sweep of a home-and-home with the Wolf Pack.

Scott Timmins scored the game-winning goal for Albany and had an assist, and Joe Whitney, Darcy Zajac and Raman Hrabarenka also scored.  Rod Pelley added an empty-net goal, and Brandon Burlon had two assists.

Conor Allen had a goal and an assist for the Wolf Pack and Ryan Bourque also scored.  J.T. Miller added two assists.

“We had a good first period, that was one of our better ones this season, but we didn’t maintain it, unfortunately,” Allen said.  “They got a couple goals in the second that took away from our momentum, and we can’t let that bother us going forward.  We’ve just got to keep playing and stick to the plan.  I think we got away from it a little bit in the second, but if we play like we did in the first, we can win a lot of games this year.”

After never leading in a 7-3 home loss to the Devils the night before, the Wolf Pack drew first blood at 8:06 of Saturday’s first period.  Albany goaltender Scott Wedgewood (26 saves) stopped Allen’s shot from the right point, taking the puck high off of his chest, but the rebound dropped down to his left, and Bourque banged it in.

That lead lasted until the 17:44 mark, when Whitney, who also scored in Friday night’s game, tied things up for the Devils.  Timmins knocked down Mat Bodie’s aerial pass near the Wolf Pack blue line, and fired a shot that Hartford goaltender Jason Missiaen (28 saves) stopped.  The rebound came to Whitney at the left-wing side of the goalmouth, though, and Whitney finished the play.

Only 46 seconds later, however, the Wolf Pack regained the lead on Allen’s second goal of the year.  Miller carried down the right-wing side and threaded a perfect pass through traffic to the left faceoff dot to Allen, whose one-timer easily beat Wedgewood at 18:30.

The Devils would turn the tables in the second period, scoring a pair of goals 1:18 apart starting at the 4:18 mark.

Zajac scored shorthanded to make it 2-2 at 4:18, after Danny Kristo attempted to drop the puck back to Allen at the right point.  The pass missed Allen and Zajac broke in alone, putting a shot past Missiaen on the glove side.

Then, at 5:36, Timmins scored from a bad angle for what turned out to be the game-winner.  Timmins flung the puck at the goal post from below the goal line on the left-wing side, and it appeared to slip between Missiaen’s right skate and the post, trickling into the net for a 3-2 Albany lead.

That remained the score heading into the third period, and Hrabarenka made it a two-goal Albany edge with a power-play goal at 3:09 of the third.  With Oscar Lindberg in the penalty box for tripping, Hrabarenka took a pass from Burlon, moved to the top of the left-wing circle, and put a snap shot through a screen and past Missiaen.

The Wolf Pack pulled Missiaen with 2:24 remaining, but could not dent Wedgewood, and Pelley iced the game by hitting the empty net from deep in his own zone with 9.4 seconds left.

The Wolf Pack are right back in action Sunday on home ice, taking on the Norfolk Admirals in a 3:00 game at the XL Center.  The Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack” is again featured on Sundays this year, and has been expanded to Wednesday and Thursday home games as well.  The Family Value Pack features two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for only $35.

Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

Hartford Wolf Pack 2 at Albany Devils 5
Saturday, October 25, 2014 – Times Union Center

Hartford 2 0 0 – 2
Albany 1 2 2 – 5

1st Period-1, Hartford, R. Bourque 2 (Allen, Miller), 8:06. 2, Albany, Whitney 2 (Timmins), 17:44. 3, Hartford, Allen 2 (Miller, Haggerty), 18:30. Penalties-McPherson Alb (holding), 20:00.

2nd Period-4, Albany, Zajac 1   4:18 (SH). 5, Albany, Timmins 3 (Bernier, Burlon), 5:36. Penalties-Lindberg Hfd (hooking), 0:03; McKelvie Alb (hooking), 2:27; McIlrath Hfd (elbowing), 5:50; Thompson Alb (interference), 5:50; Helgeson Alb (interference), 12:52; Sislo Alb (boarding), 14:32.

3rd Period-6, Albany, Hrabarenka 3 (Burlon, Boucher), 3:09 (PP). 7, Albany, Pelley 1 (Sestito), 19:50 (EN). Penalties-Lindberg Hfd (tripping), 1:25; Kristo Hfd (unsportsmanlike conduct), 7:18; Lindberg Hfd (tripping), 9:30; McPherson Alb (slashing), 13:00.

Shots on Goal-Hartford 11-7-10-28. Albany 9-9-16-34.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 0 / 5; Albany 1 / 4.
Goalies-Hartford, Missiaen 1-2-0 (33 shots-29 saves). Albany, Wedgewood 2-0-0 (28 shots-26 saves).
A-2,777
Referees-Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Kevin Redding (16).

By Zachary Grenier

Hartford, CT, October 24, 2014 – Ben Thomson and Mike Sislo scored two goals apiece, and Joe Whitney and Scott Timmins both had a goal and an assist, to lead the Albany Devils to a 7-3 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack Friday night at the XL Center.

The loss was the first regulation defeat in five games on the season for the Wolf Pack (3-1-1-0, 7 pts.), who got goals from Marek Hrivik, Chris Bourque and J.T. Miller, and two assists from Jesper Fast.

The Wolf Pack were in an early deficit after Albany’s Thomson deflected a Dan Kelly slap shot from the left point, to put the Pack down 1-0 just 4:14 into the game.

“We’ve definitely talked about having better starts and having better first periods and I think we play better as the game goes on,” said Hartford assistant captain Ryan Bourque.

Hartford’s Hrivik tied the game up less than two minutes later, at 5:53, with a shorthanded goal, a slap shot from the right faceoff circle after Hrivik received a pass from Joey Crabb on a two on one.

With 8:43 left in the first Albany’s Paul Thompson, the AHL’s leading goal-scorer put the Pack down 2-1 when he put up his seventh of the season by beating Jason Missiaen, with another deflection of a left-point shot by Kelly.

Yet again, the Wolf Pack quickly tied the game up; this time it was Chris Bourque just 58 seconds after Thompson’s goal.  Bourque worked a give-and-go with Fast that led to Bourque’s sliding back-hander that beat Devils’ goaltender Keith Kinkaid (27 saves).

“We came back more than once, but you can only do that so many times,” said Hartford coach Ken Gernander.

It was not until the 11:01 mark of the second period that either team scored again.  Whitney got the puck at the side of the net after a blocked shot in front and put it home to put the Devils up 3-2.

Thomson dug a bigger hole for the Wolf Pack 2:50 into the third, when he capitalized on a Pack turnover in the defensive end, beating Missiaen with a wrist shot from the top of the left faceoff circle to make it 4-2.

“You’ve got to manage your puck,” said Gernander.  “You might not always be able to make a tape to tape pass or have an available outlet, but it’s got to be put in to an area that allows us to recover.”

Timmins added to the Albany lead with 12:55 left in the third, when he got his second goal of the year to make it 5-2.

J.T. Miller cut the Devils’ lead to two, when he capitalized on a Wolf Pack power play at 8:39 with a wrist shot from the faceoff dot that rang off of the iron and in.

After Miller’s goal, however, the Devils would tack on two more, both by Sislo.  He scored his fourth of the year at 10:10 to make it a three-goal Albany lead, and then added an empty-netter for the final margin at 19:28.

“It’s almost a benefit to have three games in a weekend,” Bourque said, “because you definitely have two games Saturday and Sunday to make up for tonight.”

The Wolf Pack and Devils complete a home-and-home Saturday night at the Times-Union Center in Albany, with faceoff at 5:00 PM.  All of the action of that game can be heard live on Fox Sports Radio 1410, and on-line at www.foxsportsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio.  Video streaming is available at www.ahllive.com.

The Wolf Pack’s next home outing is this Sunday, October 26 at the XL Center, as the Norfolk Admirals visit for a 3:00 game.  The Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack” is again featured on Sundays this year, and has been expanded to Wednesday and Thursday home games as well.  The Family Value Pack features two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for only $35.

Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

Albany Devils 7 at Hartford Wolf Pack 3
Friday, October 24, 2014 – XL Center

Albany 2 1 4 – 7
Hartford 2 0 1 – 3

1st Period-1, Albany, Thomson 1 (Kelly, Hrabarenka), 4:14. 2, Hartford, Hrivik 2 (Crabb), 5:53 (SH). 3, Albany, Thompson 7 (Kelly, Whitney), 11:17. 4, Hartford, Bourque 1 (Fast), 12:15. Penalties-Fast Hfd (holding), 0:28; McIlrath Hfd (holding), 4:32; Wohlberg Alb (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:05; Bourque Hfd (unsportsmanlike conduct), 15:05.

2nd Period-5, Albany, Whitney 1 (Sestito, Timmins), 11:01 (PP). Penalties-Pelley Alb (slashing), 6:15; Burlon Alb (fighting), 9:02; Kristo Hfd (fighting), 9:02; Thomson Alb (roughing), 9:28; McIlrath Hfd (roughing, roughing), 9:28; served by Boucher Alb (bench minor – too many men), 12:01; Pelley Alb (holding), 17:52; Bourque Hfd (tripping), 19:52.

3rd Period-6, Albany, Thomson 2   2:50. 7, Albany, Timmins 2   7:05. 8, Hartford, Miller 2 (Bodie, Fast), 8:39 (PP). 9, Albany, Sislo 3 (Zajac), 10:10 (SH). 10, Albany, Sislo 4 (Boucher), 19:28 (EN). Penalties-Lindberg Hfd (roughing), 4:57; McPherson Alb (double minor – high-sticking), 7:47; Zajac Alb (interference), 11:56; Wohlberg Alb (interference), 16:04.

Shots on Goal-Albany 7-9-11-27. Hartford 8-11-11-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Albany 1 / 5; Hartford 1 / 7.
Goalies-Albany, Kinkaid 3-0-1 (30 shots-27 saves). Hartford, Missiaen 1-1-0 (23 shots-17 saves); Skapski 0-0-0 (3 shots-3 saves).
A-3,216
Referees-Ryan Murphy (5), Ben Moser (3).
Linesmen-Jim Briggs (83), Luke Galvin (2).

HARTFORD, October 23, 2014: Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the Wolf Pack has signed defenseman Jared Nightingale to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement.

Nightingale, a ninth-year man out of Michigan State University, is highly familiar with the Wolf Pack jersey, as he played parts of three seasons, 2007-08 through 2009-10, with the Pack and spent the entire 2010-11 and 2011-12 campaigns with the Connecticut Whale. All told, Nightingale has played in 240 games for the Wolf Pack/Whale, tenth all-time in franchise history, and he ranks fifth on the all-time franchise penalty-minute list, with 595. The 32-year-old, 6-3, 207-pound Jackson, MI native also totaled eight goals and 26 assists for 34 points as a member of the Wolf Pack/Whale.

Nightingale has played in one game this season for the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, after logging 67 AHL games last year with the Rockford IceHogs. He notched one goal and three assists for four points in those 67 contests in 2013-14, along with a team-leading 114 penalty minutes.

Nightingale has skated in 387 AHL games in his career, with the Wolf Pack/Whale, IceHogs, Syracuse Crunch, Chicago Wolves, Iowa Stars and Springfield Falcons, amassing 14 goals and 35 assists for 49 points, plus 854 PIM. In 114 ECHL contests with the Walleye, Idaho Steelheads and Charlotte Checkers, Nightingale has totaled four goals and 23 assists for 27 points, along with 376 PIM.

The Wolf Pack are next in action tomorrow night, Friday, October 24, hosting the Albany Devils at the XL Center in a 7:00 PM game.  Once again this season every Friday night home game features $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period.  Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

HARTFORD, October 22, 2014:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the Wolf Pack has released forward Richard Nejezchleb from his Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement.  Nejezchleb will return to his Junior team, the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.

The 20-year-old Nejezchleb, who was a fifth-round selection (122^nd overall) by the parent New York Rangers in the 2014 NHL Draft, sat out the Wolf Pack’s first four games of the season due to injury.  The Prague, Czech Republic native has skated for the Wheat Kings for the past two seasons.

The Wolf Pack are next in action this Friday night, October 24, hosting the Albany Devils at the XL Center in a 7:00 PM game.  Once again this season every Friday night home game features $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period.  Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

HARTFORD, October 22, 2014:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Jim Schoenfeld announced today that the parent New York Rangers have reassigned goaltender Mackenzie Skapski to the Wolf Pack from its ECHL affiliate, the Greenville Road Warriors, and have reassigned forward Chris McCarthy from the Wolf Pack to Greenville.

Skapski, a rookie out of the Western Hockey League and a sixth-round draftee (170^th overall) by the Rangers in 2013, has played one game with Greenville, making his pro debut in a 3-0 loss at Orlando Sunday, in which he allowed three goals on 32 shots.  Last season with the Kootenay Ice of the WHL, the 6-3, 192-pound Skapski was 28-22-2 in 53 appearances, with a 2.70 goals-against average, a 91.6% save percentage and one shutout.  In 141 career WHL games over four seasons with Kootenay, the 20-year-old Abbotsford, B.C. native was 74-54-5, with a 2.81 GAA, a 90.9% save percentage and eight shutouts.

The Wolf Pack are next in action this Friday night, October 24, hosting the Albany Devils at the XL Center in a 7:00 PM game.  Once again this season every Friday night home game features $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period.  Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

Worcester, MA, October 21, 2014 – Rookie defenseman Mat Bodie’s first pro goal, scored with 17.9 seconds left in the third period, gave the Hartford Wolf Pack a 5-4 win over the Worcester Sharks Tuesday night at the DCU Center.

The Wolf Pack let a 4-2 lead slip away in the third, but with the game seemingly headed for overtime, Tommy Hughes and Danny Kristo combined to get the puck to Bodie, who moved to the left-wing faceoff dot and launched a shot that went high into the net behind Worcester goaltender Troy Grosenick, a former teammate, and roommate, of Bodie’s at Union College.

Kristo had a goal and two assists for the Wolf Pack, who also got goals from Conor Allen, Oscar Lindberg and Ryan Bourque, and two assists from Ryan Haggerty.  Melker Karlsson had a goal and two assists for Worcester, and former Wolf Pack Micheal Haley had a goal and an assist.

“That was a great play by Kristo and Tommy Hughes there, to get me the puck with a lot of open space,” Bodie said of his winning goal, “and then Haggerty and Lindberg in front of the net, they were creating a lot of traffic and I don’t think the goalie got a great look at it, but I just tried to place it up in the top half of the net.

“We got up to that 4-2 lead in the third and they were able to battle back, and we just stuck with our game plan and were able to find the game-winner.”

After Bourque scored a power-play goal 1:52 into the third period, banging the puck off of Grosenick and just inside the goal post from close range, Haley and Taylor Fedun scored only 1:55 apart shortly thereafter, to tie the game quickly.

Haley was left alone in front of the Wolf Pack net at 2:30, just 38 seconds after Bourque’s goal, and wired a shot past Jason Missiaen, who had replaced an injured Cedrick Desjardins in the second period.  Then, on his next shift, Haley and his linemates, Karlsson and Ryan Carpenter, combined to forecheck the puck free to Fedun, who got to his forehand in the slot and found the net at 4:25, with several Wolf Pack players scrambling around in front to try to clear the puck.

After that flurry, the tie held up until Bodie scored his late game-winner.

The game started poorly for the Wolf Pack as Petter Emanuelsson gave Worcester a 1-0 lead on the game’s first shot on goal, only 2:05 in.

The Pack’s Sam Noreau attempted to move the puck up the right-wing boards in his own end, but it deflected right on to the stick of Emanuelsson, who was headed up the slot.  Emanuelsson fired a low shot that beat a surprised Desjardins.

The Wolf Pack steadied their game after that, though, and would get the next two goals.

Allen scored his first goal of the year to tie the game at 11:30, off of a pass from Kristo.  Kristo blocked a dump-in attempt by Sharks defenseman Konrad Abeltshauser, and carried down right wing into the Worcester zone.  Kristo spun back and feathered the puck into the slot to Allen, who snapped it past the catching glove of Grosenick (22 saves).

Hartford then jumped ahead with 45 seconds remaining in the first, on Lindberg’s team-leading third goal of the season.  Justin Vaive battled the puck away from Matt Taormina below the Worcester goal line to Haggerty, who passed to Lindberg in the slot.  Lindberg’s one-timer beat Grosenick for a 2-1 Wolf Pack lead.

The Wolf Pack got into penalty trouble in the first half of the second period, and the Sharks capitalized to tie the game at 7:54.

Hartford killed 40 seconds of two-man disadvantage, but with Worcester skating five-on-four, Karlsson worked a give-and-go with defenseman Matt Tennyson, with Karlsson firing a shot past Desjardins from the left side of the slot.

That chased Desjardins (17 saves) from the game, after he had apparently been shaken up making a save moments before, and Missiaen was forced into action in relief.  Missiaen went on to stop 15 of the 17 shots he faced, to earn his first win of the season.

The Wolf Pack changed the momentum again less than four minutes later, at 11:39, on the first goal of the year for Kristo, who led the Wolf Pack in goals last season with 25.  Kristo bumped the puck away from a Worcester defender to Nick Tarnasky on left wing, and Tarnasky fed back across the slot to Kristo for an easy finish.

The victory in Worcester improved the Wolf Pack’s season record to 3-0-1-0 for six points, and the club is now 2-0 on the road.

The Wolf Pack are next in action this Friday night, October 24, hosting the Albany Devils at the XL Center in a 7:00 PM game.  Once again this season every Friday night home game features $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period.  Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

Hartford Wolf Pack 5 at Worcester Sharks 4
Tuesday, October 21, 2014 – DCU Center

Hartford 2 1 2 – 5
Worcester 1 1 2 – 4

1st Period-1, Worcester, Emanuelsson 3   2:05. 2, Hartford, Allen 1 (Kristo), 11:30. 3, Hartford, Lindberg 3 (Haggerty, Vaive), 19:15. Penalties-Fedun Wor (cross-checking), 6:26; Miller Hfd (tripping), 8:14; Spinell Hfd (interference), 15:32.

2nd Period-4, Worcester, Karlsson 2 (Tennyson, Langlois), 7:54 (PP). 5, Hartford, Kristo 1 (Tarnasky), 11:39. Penalties-Crabb Hfd (hooking), 5:27; Potulny Hfd (hooking), 6:47; Noreau Hfd (holding), 12:23; Haley Wor (slashing), 17:37.

3rd Period-6, Hartford, Bourque 1 (Miller, Haggerty), 1:52 (PP). 7, Worcester, Haley 3 (Karlsson, Carpenter), 2:30. 8, Worcester, Fedun 1 (Haley, Karlsson), 4:25. 9, Hartford, Bodie 1 (Hughes, Kristo), 19:42. Penalties-Hamilton Wor (high-sticking), 0:51; served by Vaive Hfd (bench minor – too many men), 5:30; Trupp Wor (goaltender interference), 6:06; Oleksuk Wor (hooking), 10:09.

Shots on Goal-Hartford 8-11-8-27. Worcester 11-14-11-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 1 / 5; Worcester 1 / 6.
Goalies-Hartford, Desjardins 2-0-0 (19 shots-17 saves); Missiaen 1-0-0 (17 shots-15 saves). Worcester, Grosenick 3-1-0 (27 shots-22 saves).
A-1,488
Referees-Geoff Miller (28), Olivier Gouin (66).
Linesmen-Alex Stagnone (7), Robert St. Lawrence (10).

By Zachary Grenier

Hartford, CT, October 19, 2014 – Jason Missiaen made 36 saves for the Hartford Wolf Pack Sunday at the XL Center, but Casey Wellman’s rebound goal with 1.5 seconds remaining in overtime gave the Hershey Bears a 1-0 win.

With Dylan McIlrath in the penalty box for tripping and the Bears on a four-on-three man advantage, Missiaen stopped a Connor Carrick shot and the rebound came to Wellman on the left-wing side.  Wellman’s shot hit Missiaen, went up in the air and dropped behind the Wolf Pack goaltender and slid over the goal line.

“I got the first one, and then the second one,” Missiaen said, “and I don’t know, I think the third one hit something and deflected in somehow, but it dropped right in front of the net.”

The Wolf Pack were outshot 37-15 in the game, including 11-4 in both of the first two periods.

One of the reasons for the shot disparity was penalties.  Hershey had six man-advantages in the game, three in the first period.  Hartford’s penalty kill was able to step up and kill off all but the last man-down situation of the game.

“My hat’s off to Missiaen,” Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander said.  “He kept us in it for 67 minutes.  Unfortunately it didn’t pay off for him.”

“There’s things we need to work on,” Missiaen said, “and I think we know that we didn’t play our best tonight, but we got a point out of it and we have to move forward.”

The Wolf Pack’s next game is Tuesday night, when the Pack (2-0-1-0, 3 pts.) heads to Worcester to battle the Sharks in a 7:00 PM game.  All of the action of that game can be heard live on Fox Sports Radio 1410, and on-line at www.foxsportsradio1410.com and iHeartRadio.  Video streaming is available at www.ahllive.com.

The next home action for the Wolf Pack is this Friday night, October 24, as the Albany Devils visit the XL Center for a 7:00 faceoff.  Once again this season every Friday night home game features $1 hot dogs and $2 beers through the start of the second period.  Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

Hershey Bears 1 (OT) at Hartford Wolf Pack 0
Sunday, October 19, 2014 – XL Center

Hershey 0 0 0 1 – 1
Hartford 0 0 0 0 – 0

1st Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Haggerty Hfd (holding the stick), 1:48; McIlrath Hfd (tripping), 6:22; Hughes Hfd (slashing), 11:19; Galiev Her (hooking), 13:37; Newbury Her (diving/embellishment), 17:28; McIlrath Hfd (cross-checking), 17:28; Landry Her (interference), 18:21; Allen Hfd (diving/embellishment), 18:21.

2nd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Spinell Hfd (interference), 1:47; Wey Her (high-sticking), 6:33; Gazley Her (roughing), 12:17; Kundratek Her (roughing), 12:17; Bourque Hfd (roughing), 12:17; Galiev Her (interference), 14:48; Bourque Hfd (hooking), 16:22.

3rd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Spencer Her (fighting), 2:54; Noreau Hfd (fighting), 2:54; Schilling Her (cross-checking), 6:32.

OT Period-1, Hershey, Wellman 3 (Carrick, Kennedy), 6:58 (PP). Penalties-McIlrath Hfd (tripping), 5:56.

Shots on Goal-Hershey 11-11-8-7-37. Hartford 4-4-6-1-15.
Power Play Opportunities-Hershey 1 / 6; Hartford 0 / 5.
Goalies-Hershey, Copley 2-0-0 (15 shots-15 saves). Hartford, Missiaen 0-0-0 (37 shots-36 saves).
A-2,037
Referees-Garrett Rank (48), Cameron Voss (78).
Linesmen-Glen Cooke (6), Mike Baker (11).

By Zachary Grenier

Hartford, CT, October 18, 2014 – In a physical home opener,  the Hartford Wolf Pack defeated the Portland Pirates 2-1 Saturday night at the XL Center.

The teams were evenly matched throughout the first period, as the score was 0-0 and the shots 8-4 in favor of the Pirates.

In the second period, the Pack’s offense dominated, as they outshot their Portland foe 19-7 in the period, but still no goals materialized.

“If it wasn’t for their goalie (Mike McKenna) that they rallied around, we could have put that game out of hand right away,” said Hartford goaltender Cedrick Desjardins.

After the Wolf Pack and the Pirates entered the third period tied up, Ryan Haggerty put the first goal on the board in the newly-renovated XL Center in Hartford with 13:15 left in the third period.

J.T. Miller got his first of the season with 7:12 left in the third to give the Wolf Pack a 2-0 lead.

With 5:09 remaining in the game, Portland’s Alexandre Bolduc cut the Pirate’s deficit to one, making it a 2-1 game after putting a bouncing puck away from  in front of the net.

The Pirates appeared to have scored a goal that would have tied the game with just under three minutes to go, but it was disallowed because of goaltender interference.

Desjardins and the Wolf Pack held on in a game that went down to the wire, 2-1.

“We are very deep right now so we have to use that to our advantage,” said Wolf Pack coach Ken Gernander.

The Wolf Pack are right back at the XL Center Sunday, hosting the Hershey Bears in a 3:00 PM game.  The Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack” will again be featured on Sundays this year, starting with this game, and has been expanded to Wednesday and Thursday home games as well.  The Family Value Pack features two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for only $35.  Tickets for all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

Portland Pirates 1 at Hartford Wolf Pack 2
Saturday, October 18, 2014 – XL Center

Portland 0 0 1 – 1
Hartford 0 0 2 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Louis Por (roughing, fighting), 4:18; McIlrath Hfd (fighting), 4:18; Selleck Por (tripping), 8:57; Bourque Hfd (interference), 9:04; Hughes Hfd (slashing), 11:52.

2nd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Martinook Por (roughing), 12:02; Bolduc Por (holding), 16:15.

3rd Period-1, Hartford, Haggerty 1 (Lindberg, Potulny), 6:45 (PP). 2, Hartford, Miller 1 (Bourque), 12:48. 3, Portland, Bolduc 1 (Lessio, Louis), 14:51. Penalties-Campbell Por (hooking), 5:10; Bourque Hfd (roughing), 7:28; Bolduc Por (unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:53; McIlrath Hfd (unsportsmanlike conduct), 18:53.

Shots on Goal-Portland 8-7-5-20. Hartford 4-19-9-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Portland 0 / 3; Hartford 1 / 5.
Goalies-Portland, McKenna 1-2-0 (32 shots-30 saves). Hartford, Desjardins 2-0-0 (20 shots-19 saves).
A-7,389
Referees-Jonathan Alarie (38).
Linesmen-Paul Simeon (66), Brent Colby (7).

NEW YORK, October 17, 2014 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the team has recalled forward Chris Mueller from the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) and assigned forwards Jesper Fast and J.T. Miller to Hartford.

Mueller tallied a goal, posted a plus-one rating, and recorded two shots on goal in Hartford’s regular season opener on Oct. 12 at Syracuse. He also registered three points (one goal, two assists), posted a plus-one rating, and recorded five shots on goal in four preseason games with the Rangers this year.

Fast has registered three shots on goal in three games with the Rangers this season.

Miller has recorded seven shots on goal and has been credited with four hits and three blocked shots in three contests with the Rangers this season.

Syracuse, NY, October 12, 2014 – Oscar Lindberg’s second goal of the game at 4:53 of overtime gave the Hartford Wolf Pack a 4-3 win over the Syracuse Crunch Sunday at the Onondaga County War Memorial, in the Wolf Pack’s season opener.

The Wolf Pack trailed 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2, but, after tying the game on a Marek Hrivik goal in the third period, took advantage of the AHL’s new three-on-three segment of overtime, as Lindberg broke two-on-one with Chris Bourque, whose second assist of the game set Lindberg up for the game-winner.

“I think we played a pretty solid game all the way through,” Lindberg said. “I’d never played a three-on-three in overtime, you just wait for the right opportunity to go. We got a two-on-one, and it was good pass by Chris.”

Chris Mueller had a goal and an assist in his first game with the Wolf Pack, and defenseman Mat Bodie had two assists in his pro debut. Cedrick Desjardins, a former Crunch, made 29 saves to get the win against his old team. Cedrick Paquette scored twice for Syracuse, which had lost its season opener the night before at home, 3-1 to Springfield.

After a scoreless first period in which the Wolf Pack were shorthanded four times, the two clubs would combine for five goals in the second frame.

The Crunch capitalized on their fifth man-advantage only 1:35 into the second, as Tanner Richard scored on a rebound. A Yanni Gourde shot was stopped by Desjardins, but the carom came to Richard, and his try deflected off of a Hartford defender’s skate and trickled across the goal line, just before Desjardins grabbed it.

The Wolf Pack power play got the equalizer only 50 seconds later, at 2:25. Just eight seconds after Slater Koekkoek was sent off for interference, Lindberg poked the puck past Syracuse netminder Andrei Vaslievsky (23 saves), after Vasilevsky had stopped a Chris Bourque shot from the right circle.

Just 2:12 after that, at 4:37, the Crunch jumped ahead again on Paquette’s first of the game. Jerome Samson lofted a pass up the left-wing side, and Paquette was able to step behind Bodie and grab the puck. Paquette cut across the slot from left to right and put a backhander through Desjardins’ legs.

The Wolf Pack responded at 9:36, with Mueller scoring in a delayed-penalty situation. With Desjardins on the bench for an extra attacker, Ryan Bourque carried the puck into the Syracuse zone on the left side and passed across the slot to Mueller, whose low shot beat Vasilevsky on the stick side.

The tie lasted only 1:26, as Paquette gave Syracuse back the lead again at 11:02. Paquette broke over the Wolf Pack line up the middle and, using Pack defenseman Dylan McIlrath as a screen, fired a shot that beat Desjardins under the crossbar.

Hartford was outshot 10-5 in the third, but got the only goal of the session at 6:35, just seven seconds after Mike Angelidis got out of the penalty box after serving a high-sticking minor. Vasilevsky got a piece of Danny Kristo’s shot from the left-wing side, but the puck got away from him and Hrivik dove down and poked it into the net for the tie.

The tie held up throughout the rest of the third, sending the game to overtime, which has been expanded to seven minutes this season in the AHL. The first three minutes is played at four-on-four, after which the game then goes to three-on-three.

Shortly after the switch to the three-on-three, a Syracuse centering pass just missed Mike Blunden in front of the Wolf Pack net, and Conor Allen sent Bourque and Lindberg away on a two-on-one. Bourque drew the defender to him on the left side and then dished across to Lindberg, who had plenty of room to bang the puck past Vasilevsky for the win.

The Wolf Pack open the home portion of their 2014-15 AHL regular season this Saturday, October 18 at the newly-renovated XL Center, hosting the Portland Pirates at 7:00 PM. Tickets for that game, and all 2014-15 Wolf Pack home games, are now on sale at the XL Center ticket office, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Wolf Pack tickets start as low as $12 for youth 12 years old or younger.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

Hartford Wolf Pack 4 (OT) at Syracuse Crunch 3
Sunday, October 12, 2014 – Onondaga County War Memorial Arena

Hartford 0 2 1 1 – 4
Syracuse 0 3 0 0 – 3

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Spinell Hfd (tripping), 7:40; Gourde Syr (holding), 7:57; Kantor Hfd (interference, roughing), 11:06; Gourde Syr (roughing), 11:06; Hughes Hfd (roughing), 12:46; Kantor Hfd (misconduct – continuing altercation), 16:26; O’Donnell Hfd (instigating, fighting, misconduct – instigating), 16:26; Mormina Syr (interference, fighting), 16:26; Noreau Hfd (roughing, roughing), 19:15.

2nd Period-1, Syracuse, Richard 1 (Gourde, Marchessault), 1:35 (PP). 2, Hartford, Lindberg 1 (Bourque, Mueller), 2:25 (PP). 3, Syracuse, Paquette 1 (Samson, Koekkoek), 4:37. 4, Hartford, Mueller 1 (Bodie, Bourque), 9:36. 5, Syracuse, Paquette 2 (Vermin, Cote), 11:02. Penalties-Noreau Hfd (high-sticking), 6:42; Cote Syr (holding the stick), 18:02.

3rd Period-6, Hartford, Hrivik 1 (Kristo, Bodie), 6:35 (PP). Penalties-Angelidis Syr (high-sticking), 4:28.

OT Period-7, Hartford, Lindberg 2 (Bourque, Allen), 4:53. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Hartford 4-13-5-5-27. Syracuse 10-11-10-1-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 2 / 3; Syracuse 1 / 6.
Goalies-Hartford, Desjardins 1-0-0 (32 shots-29 saves). Syracuse, Vasilevskiy 0-0-0 (27 shots-23 saves).
A-3,861
Referees-Chris Ciamaga (24), Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Shandor Alphonso (52), Francis Trempe (85).