#caldercupplayoffs

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WOLF PACK - CATCHING UP ON PAST NEWS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack RANGERS RECALL 13 FROM WOLF PACK HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has recalled 13 players from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. The club recalled seven forwards, five defensemen, and one goaltender from Hartford. Forwards: Alex Belzile, Brett Berard, Anton Blidh, Jake Leschyshyn, Brennan Othmann, Tyler Pitlick, and Adam Sýkora Defensemen: Ben Harpur, Connor Mackey, Victor Mancini, Matthew Robertson, and Brandon Scanlin Goaltender: Dylan Garand Belzile, 32, led the Wolf Pack with 50 points (19 g, 31 a) in 61 games in his first season with the club. The native of St. Eloi, QC, also notched the first Calder Cup Playoff overtime goal of his career on April 27th at Charlotte, helping the Wolf Pack to a 3-2 overtime victory in Game 2 against the Checkers. Berard, 21, led the Wolf Pack in goals with 25 as a rookie. He finished tied for third on the club in points with 48 (25 g, 23 a) and finished second in the AHL in goals by a rookie. In the Calder Cup Playoffs, Berard finished tied for the team lead in points with six (1 g, 5 a). His five assists during the postseason led the club in that category. Blidh, 29, appeared in 64 games during his first full season with the Wolf Pack. The veteran forward recorded 17 points (7 g, 10 a) during the regular season. During the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs, Blidh recorded two goals in ten games. He recorded the game-winning goal in the Wolf Pack’s Game 1 victory over the Providence Bruins on May 1st. Leschyshyn, 25, recorded 19 points (8 g, 11 a) in 47 regular season games with the Wolf Pack this season. The native of Raleigh, NC, led the Wolf Pack in goals during the Calder Cup Playoffs with five in ten games. Othmann, 21, appeared in 67 games as a rookie North American pro with the Wolf Pack, scoring 49 points (21 g, 28 a). The native of Scarborough, ON, finished second on the Wolf Pack in points and goals as a rookie. He tacked on five points (1 g, 4 a) in ten Calder Cup Playoff games this spring. Pitlick, 32, split the 2023-24 season between the Wolf Pack and Rangers. In 22 games with the Wolf Pack, Pitlick notched seven points (3 g, 4 a). As a member of the Rangers, the native of Minneapolis, MN, scored four points (1 g, 3 a) in 34 games. In ten Calder Cup Playoff games with Hartford this spring, Pitlick recorded three points (1 g, 2 a). Sýkora, 19, scored 23 points (8 g, 15 a) in 66 games in his rookie AHL campaign with the Wolf Pack. He recorded his first career AHL goal on November 15th, 2023, against the Springfield Thunderbirds. In ten Calder Cup Playoff games, Sýkora notched three assists. Harpur, 29, appeared in just seven games with the Wolf Pack this season, scoring three points (1 g, 2 a). Mackey, 27, dressed in 44 games with the Wolf Pack during his first season with the club. The Tower Lakes, IL, native recorded eleven points (2 g, 9 a). He led the team in +/- with a +12 rating during the regular season. Mancini, 21, skated in 40 games with the University of Nebraska-Omaha before turning pro. After signing an amateur tryout agreement (ATO) with the Wolf Pack, Mancini scored three assists in seven regular season games with the club. He then appeared in ten Calder Cup Playoff games, adding three assists. His +5 +/- rating during the Calder Cup Playoffs led the club. Robertson, 23, scored 21 points (4 g, 17 a) in 68 games with the Wolf Pack this season. The native of Edmonton, AB, has appeared in 190 career games with Hartford over three seasons. Scanlin, 24, scored a career-high eight goals and 16 points (8 g, 8 a) in 64 games with the Wolf Pack this season. His eight goals led the club in goals by a defenseman during the 2023-24 campaign. His +4 +/- rating was fourth on the club during the regular season. Garand, 21, posted a record of 16-17-5 in 39 games during his second professional season. He posted a .898 save percentage, 3.03 goals against average, and two shutouts in the regular season. During the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs, Garand sported a record of 5-4 in nine games with a .922 save percentage. He also notched the first assist of his professional career during the club’s First Round series against the Checkers. _________________ WOLF PACK INK DYLAN ROOBROECK TO ATO HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed forward Dylan Roobroeck to an amateur tryout agreement (ATO). Roobroeck, 19, will join the Wolf Pack immediately and wear #10. He inked a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers on Monday morning. The native of London, ON, recorded 72 points (26 g, 46 a) in 68 games with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals this season. He ranked second on the team in points and third in assists. Roobroeck tacked on 26 points (11 g, 15 a) in 21 games during the OHL Playoffs for the Generals. His eleven postseason goals led the club in that category. Throughout three seasons in the OHL with the Generals and Niagara IceDogs, Roobroeck has appeared in 200 games and scored 146 points (49 g, 97 a). He’s added 26 points (11 g, 15 a) in 26 career OHL Playoff games. Roobroeck was selected in the sixth round, 178th overall, of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft by the Rangers. The Wolf Pack take on the Hershey Bears Wednesday night in Game 3 of the 2024 Atlantic Division Finals. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. from the XL Center. Single-game tickets for Game 3 and Game 4 of the Atlantic Division Finals are on sale now! For playoff information, please visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. ____________________ WOLF PACK PUSHED TO BRINK BY BEARS, FALL 4-2 IN GAME 2 HERSHEY, PA – The Hershey Bears jumped out to a 4-0 lead in Game 2 of the Atlantic Division Finals on Saturday night, hanging on for an eventual 4-2 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack. The Bears now lead the series 2-0. Ethen Frank notched his second game-winning goal of the Atlantic Division Finals on Saturday night, putting the Bears ahead 3-0 4:25 into the third period. Frank took a pass down low from Lucas Johansen. Frank handled the pass on the forehand, went to the backhand, and beat Dylan Garand for his fifth goal of the playoffs. The goal gives Frank the game-winner in each of Hershey’s last three games. For the second time in the series, the Bears opened the scoring. Ivan Miroshnichenko collected a pass from Jimmy Huntington and snapped a shot over the right shoulder of Garand just 2:50 into the hockey game. The powerplay goal was the Bears’ third in the series and gave Miroshnichenko a three-game goal-scoring streak. The Wolf Pack battled back from there, outshooting the Bears 11-9 in the opening stanza. Hartford’s best two chances came at five-on-five, but both were shut down by Hunter Shepard. Jake Leschyshyn had two chances in front to jam a loose puck by Shepard, but could not find daylight. Moments later, Nikolas Brouillard was robbed by the glove of Shepard on a golden opportunity from the left-wing circle. Miroshnichenko extended the lead to 2-0 13:32 into the second period, potting his team-leading fifth goal of the playoffs. The rookie forward danced around a defenseman, got Garand down, waited out the goaltender, and snapped a shot over his left pad to send the Giant Center crowd into a frenzy. Frank scored his second goal of the series 4:25 into the final frame, ballooning the lead to 3-0. Hendrix Lapierre then potted his first goal of the series at 8:30, tipping in a point shot from Jake Massie that made it 4-0 for the Bears. Despite trailing 4-0 late in the game, the Wolf Pack battled to the end and cut the deficit in half. Leschyshyn got the Wolf Pack on the board at 17:02, tipping in a shot from Victor Mancini. The goal was Leschyshyn’s team-leading fifth of the postseason. Anton Blidh then notched his second goal of the playoffs at 19:11, deflecting a shot from Brouillard from the left-wing circle. It would not be enough, however, as the Bears held on to take a stranglehold in the series. Game 3 of the 2024 Atlantic Division Finals will occur at the XL Center in Hartford on Wednesday, May 22nd. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. Single-game tickets for Game 3 and Game 4 of the Atlantic Division Finals are on sale now! For playoff information, please visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. _________________________ WOLF PACK DROP GAME 1 TO BEARS 6-1 HERSHEY, PA – The Hershey Bears struck first in the 2024 Atlantic Division Finals, knocking off the Hartford Wolf Pack 6-1 at the Giant Center. The Bears now lead the best-of-five series 1-0. Ethen Frank buried his second game-winning goal against the Wolf Pack this season, blasting home a powerplay goal 3:58 into the second period. Frank was set up in the left-wing circle, where he blasted home his team-leading fourth goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs to make it 2-0 at the time. The Bears opened the scoring 7:40 into the hockey game, as Chase Priskie buried the first goal of his Calder Cup Playoff career to give the club a lead they never lost. Priskie took a feed from Henrik Rybinski, worked into a high-danger area in the slot, and rifled a shot by the glove of Olof Lindbom. Bogdan Trineyev provided a screen on the goal, which was assisted by Rybinski and Matt Strome. Frank’s powerplay goal came after the Bears were able to kill off two consecutive Wolf Pack powerplay opportunities to start the middle frame. The goal was Frank’s second game-winning goal in as many games for the Bears. He had the game-winner in Game 4 against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last Saturday night. Jake Leschyshyn got the Wolf Pack on the board at 5:42, scoring his fourth goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Leschyshyn used a burst of speed to get by Joe Snively and enter the offensive zone on a partial breakaway. Leschyshyn snapped a shot by the blocker of Hunter Shepard to make it a 2-1 game. The Bears struck twice late in the second period, ballooning the lead to 4-1. First, Alex Limoges buried a rebound on the powerplay at 13:28 for his second goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Garrett Roe then notched his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal at 14:35, deflecting a shot from Lucas Johansen from the left-wing wall. The goals, which made it a 4-1 game, came just 1:07 apart. Ivan Miroshnichenko stole a puck at his own blue line and burst away through the neutral zone, setting up a breakaway opportunity. The rookie forward went to the backhand and beat Lindbom for his third goal of the postseason at 11:01 to make it a 5-1 score. On the play, Lindbom was injured and forced to leave the hockey game. Talyn Boyko entered, making his AHL debut in relief. Trineyev was whistled for boarding at 11:46, but it was the Bears who struck on the Wolf Pack powerplay. Jimmy Huntington waltzed into the offensive zone, glided by two defenders, and snapped a shot by the blocker of Boyko for his first goal of the postseason. The goal was the second shorthanded marker allowed by the Wolf Pack during the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Game 2 between the Wolf Pack and Bears goes on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. at the Giant Center. Single-game tickets for Game 3 and Game 4 of the Atlantic Division Finals are on sale now! For playoff information, please visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. ____________________ RANGERS RECALL GOALTENDER DYLAN GARAND FROM WOLF PACK HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has recalled goaltender Dylan Garand from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. Garand, 21, posted a record of 16-17-5 with a .898 save percentage, 3.03 goals-against average, and two shutouts in 39 games with the Wolf Pack during the 2023-24 regular season. The native of Victoria, BC, set AHL career-highs in wins (16) and save percentage (.898). In the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs, Garand has led the Wolf Pack to their second consecutive appearance in the Atlantic Division Finals. The netminder is 5-2 during the postseason with a .931 save percentage, 2.32 goals-against average, and one assist in seven games. He collected a powerplay assist during the Wolf Pack’s First Round series against the Charlotte Checkers. His .931 save percentage in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs ranks fourth among all goaltenders. In his career, Garand is 29-32-8 with five shutouts in 73 regular season games. In 15 Calder Cup Playoff games, Garand is 10-5 with two shutouts. The Wolf Pack take on the Hershey Bears tonight in Game 1 of the 2024 Atlantic Division Finals. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. from the Giant Center in Hershey, with ‘Voice of the Wolf Pack’ Alex Thomas kicking off the night with ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting at 6:45 p.m. Single-game tickets for Game 3 and Game 4 of the Atlantic Division Finals are on sale now! For playoff information, please visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOWLINGS Read the full article

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WOLF PACK ENJOYS STRONG 2023-24 SEASON IN THE COMMUNITY AND AT THE BOX OFFICE

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack completed another successful season both on and off the ice last week. On the ice, the club advanced to the Atlantic Division Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs for the second consecutive season, winning two playoff rounds in the process. Off the ice, the Wolf Pack enjoyed another strong year of growth in ticket sales and its footprint in the Greater Hartford Community. The club enjoyed 19 lower bowl sellouts during the 2023-24 campaign, a mark that helped them see 24 of 36 regular season home games draw a crowd of over 5,000 fans. Over the course of 36 regular season home games, the Wolf Pack welcomed an average of 5,456 fans to the XL Center in downtown Hartford. This marked the club’s highest single-season average attendance since the 2010-11 season. This all combined to see the Wolf Pack enjoy a 56% increase in ticket sales since the 2021-22 season. The 2023-24 season also saw the Wolf Pack continue to expand their footprint in the Greater Hartford Community. The franchise’s beloved mascot, Sonar, made 60 appearances during the season at local schools, community events, community fundraising initiatives, youth sports practices, and more. Hartford Wolf Pack players and coaches also chipped in, making 23 visits during the season. In addition to traditional visits to local schools and youth hockey practices, Wolf Pack players and coaches made trips to Connecticut Children’s Hospital to donate toys during the holiday season as part of the team’s annual toy drive and to donate the teddy bears following the team’s annual ‘Teddy Bear Toss’ game. Players and coaches also stopped by a local soup kitchen in Southington, CT, to assist with lunch service and cleanup. Over 500 backpacks were donated to teachers in over 20 classrooms in the Greater Hartford area, with Wolf Pack players and front office staff delivering them to students. The Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation donated over 1,000 tickets during the 2023-24 season. These ticket donations were made as part of fundraising efforts for local schools, youth sports organizations, community initiatives in the Hartford area, and hospitals. Additionally, some ticket donations were made to organizations that allowed clients to attend a Wolf Pack game who otherwise would not have been able to. The ‘Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation’ also issued seven grants totaling over $40,000 to Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, The Hartford Police Athletic League (P.A.L.), Children in Placement, Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Hands on Hartford, Covenant Preparatory School, and the Boys and Girls Club of Meriden. The club also donated over 1,100 pounds of food to Hands on Hartford following their annual food drive on March 16th at the XL Center. For more information on the Wolf Pack’s community initiatives and the ‘Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation’, please visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com/fan-zone/hartford-wolf-pack-community-foundation. About Oak View Group (OVG): Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues, and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues, either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since its inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOWLINGS Read the full article

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WOLF PACK’S CALDER CUP DREAMS ENDED BY BEARS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack drew first blood in Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Finals but could not hold off a push from the Hershey Bears. The Bears scored four unanswered goals to pull away for a 4-1 decision in Game 3, sweeping the series 3-0 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Garrett Roe played the hero this night, notching his first multi-goal Calder Cup Playoff performance. His second goal of the night proved to be the game-winning tally. Roe was on a two-on-one with Chase Priskie before his pass hit the skate of Priskie and trickled back to him. He collected the puck on his backhand and snapped his third goal of the playoffs by Dylan Garand at 7:29 of the second period, making it 2-1 at the time. A late lineup addition in Matthew Phillips nearly put the Bears on the board in the opening seconds, striking iron with a one-time shot. Shortly thereafter, a delay of game penalty by Joe Snively at 25 seconds gave the Pack an early crack at the man advantage. Hershey applied heavy pressure on the penalty kill, not allowing the Wolf Pack to register a shot. The two sides exchanged chances in the ensuing minutes, highlighted by a Brett Berard backhander that nearly trickled by Hunter Shepard. It would be the Wolf Pack drawing first blood at 13:24, as Mac Hollowell fed a pass to the net front for Jaroslav Chmelař. The young forward waited out Shepard and stuffed home his second postseason goal at 13:24 to give Hartford a 1-0 lead. The Bears equalized early in the second period, tying the game just 1:56 in. Hardy Häman-Aktell had some space at the blue line and elected to fire a shot into a crowd of bodies screening Garand. The shot caught the stick of Roe, who deflected home his second goal of the playoffs to even the score. Just under six minutes later, Roe’s second of the period came off a fortuitous bounce and gave the Bears a lead they never lost. It was the second of three points on the night for Roe (2 g, 1 a). Bogdan Trineyev was awarded a penalty shot at 16:49 of the second period after being hauled down on a breakaway. However, he could not convert on it, missing on a backhand deke. The Wolf Pack had a late opportunity in the second period to find an equalizer on the powerplay, but the Bears' penalty kill again stood tall. A second Wolf Pack penalty in the third period gave the Bears another opportunity to extend their lead. It was on this chance, their fourth of the night, that Hershey cashed in. With just eight seconds left on the powerplay, Henrik Rybinski fed a net-crashing Matthew Strome from behind the net. Strome ripped home a one-timer to make it 3-1 at 11:52. The goal was his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal. Down two, the Wolf Pack pressured hard with the extra attacker in the final minutes. A slew of chances in the offensive zone came up empty, however. Mike Vecchione then landed the dagger, hitting the empty net to secure the 4-1 win and the sweep of Hartford. The goal was Vecchione’s first of the Calder Cup Playoffs. To stay updated with the Wolf Pack during the 2024 offseason, please visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com. About Oak View Group (OVG): Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues, and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues, either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since its inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOWLINGS Read the full article

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WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at the XL Center on Friday night. The goal gave the Wolf Pack a 2-1 victory in Game 4 and a 3-1 victory in the series. Adam Sýkora won a puck battle behind the net, sweeping it up the boards for Brandon Scanlin. Scanlin sent the puck across the ice to Victor Mancini, who blasted a shot from the right-wing circle off the crossbar. The rebound clanked off of Leschyshyn and into the net at 9:41 to give the Wolf Pack the series victory. Leschyshyn opened the scoring 14:30 into the hockey game, ripping home his second goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs from the left-wing circle on the game's first powerplay. Nic Petan hustled back into the defensive zone to break up an opportunity for Anthony Richard. Alex Belzile collected the puck and found Brennan Othmann, who sped into the offensive zone. Othmann gained the left-wing circle before dropping a pass to Leschyshyn. The veteran forward then labeled a shot over the shoulder of Bussi to make it 1-0 Wolf Pack. Both goaltenders made substantial efforts in the second period, keeping the spread 1-0. Bussi made eight saves for the Bruins, while Dylan Garand turned aside eight shots in the Wolf Pack net. The Bruins finally evened the affair 10:01 into the third period, as John Farinacci buried his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal off a netmouth scramble. Jimmy Lambert sent the puck toward Garand, creating a frantic pile in front of the net. Oskar Steen tipped the puck to the left of the Wolf Pack netminder, who was down and out with many bodies around him. Farinacci found the loose change and buried the equalizer. The Wolf Pack got a late powerplay opportunity in regulation time, as the Bruins were called for 'too many men' at 17:02. Bussi and the Bruin penalty kill stood tall, limiting the Wolf Pack and pushing the game to overtime. In the extra session, Leschyshyn would play the hero as Mancini's shot rocketed off the crossbar and off the forward's skates. The goal pushed the Wolf Pack to 3-0 in overtime during the Calder Cup Playoffs. The goal is also Leschyshyn's first career game-winning goal in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Wolf Pack now awaits the winner of the Hershey Bears Vs—Lehigh Valley Phantoms series. The Atlantic Division Finals will be a best-of-five series, with the schedule to be released once the matchup is confirmed. Single-game tickets for the Atlantic Division Finals will go on sale at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 13th. For playoff information, please visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. About OVG360: OVG360, a division of Oak View Group, is a full-service venue management and hospitality company that helps client partners reimagine the sports, live entertainment, and convention industries for the betterment of the venue, employees, artists, athletes, and surrounding communities. With a portfolio of more than 200 client partners spanning arenas, stadiums, convention centers, performing arts centers, cultural institutions, and state fairs around the globe, OVG360 provides a set of services, resources, and expertise designed to elevate every aspect of business that matters to venue operators. Service-oriented and driven by social responsibility, OVG360 helps facilities drive value through excellence and innovation in food services, booking and content development, sustainable operations, public health and safety, and more. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since its inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article

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PRE-GAME: WOLF PACK CAN CLOSE OUT BRUINS TONIGHT

PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACK LOOK TO CLOSE OUT SERIES AGAINST BRUINS AT XL CENTER By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack welcome the Providence Bruins to town tonight for Game 4 of their Atlantic Division Semifinals series. Thanks to an overtime victory in Game 3 on Wednesday night, the Wolf Pack lead the series 2-1 and can advance with a victory tonight. The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on AHLTV and Mixlr. Tale of The Tape: The Wolf Pack and Bruins met ten times during the regular season, with each team winning five games. The Wolf Pack posted a record of 5-4-1-0, while the Bruins went 5-3-1-1. This is the seventh all-time Calder Cup Playoff series between the rivals and the second meeting in as many springs. Each team has claimed three of the first six series, with the Wolf Pack winning the last two in 2015 and 2023. Hartford took Game 1 by a final score of 4-3 last Wednesday night at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, but the Bruins struck back in a big way in Game 2, winning 6-0. Hartford returned fire in Game 3, winning 3-2 in overtime to take a 2-1 edge in the series. Marc McLaughlin opened the scoring 5:23 into the game, converting on a chance in the slot for his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal. Riley Nash answered back at 7:04, potting a loose puck from outside the crease. Adam Sýkora banked the puck off the legs of a defenseman to the front of the net, where Nash located it and fired it home. Brennan Othmann gave the Wolf Pack their first lead of the night at 8:39, burying a rebound for his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal on the powerplay. Jayson Megna equalized at 18:07, tipping in an Ian Mitchell shot for his second goal of the series. The final 40 minutes passed without a goal, as both Dylan Garand (14 saves) and Brandon Bussi (13 saves) held strong and forced overtime. In the extra session, Nash deflected a Blake Hillman shot from the point at 4:52 to give the Wolf Pack the 3-2 victory. Including the regular season, the Wolf Pack are 4-2-0-0 against the Bruins at the XL Center this season. Wolf Pack Outlook: Wednesday night’s overtime victory pushed the Wolf Pack to 2-0 in overtime during the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Alex Belzile scored 8:11 into overtime in Game 2 against the Charlotte Checkers on April 27th during Hartford’s First Round series victory. Nash and Ryder Korczak led the way with three shots each in Game 3. Nash’s three-point (2 g, 1 a) outing is the second by a Wolf Pack player during the Calder Cup Playoffs. Tyler Pitlick recorded three points (1 g, 2 a) in Game 1 against the Bruins. For the second time in six Calder Cup Playoff games this spring, the Wolf Pack did not surrender a powerplay goal in Game 3. They went four-for-four on the penalty kill. Nash leads the Wolf Pack in both goals with four and points with six (4 g, 2 a) during the Calder Cup Playoffs. His four goals are tied for the most in the Calder Cup Playoffs with Tyler Madden of the Ontario Reign and Cole Schwindt of the Calgary Wranglers. Brett Berard leads the Wolf Pack in playoff assists with four through six games. Bruins Outlook: McLaughlin’s goal in Game 1 was the first Calder Cup Playoff goal of his career. John Farinacci picked up the primary assist, the first point of his Calder Cup Playoff career. After firing 20 shots on goal in the first period, the Bruins were held to just 15 shots over the game’s final 44:52 of play. Georgii Merkulov and Frederic Brunet led the Bruins with five shots each in Game 3. After killing the first seven powerplays for the Wolf Pack in the series, the Bruins went one-for-two on the penalty kill in Game 3. Megna, Vincent Arseneau, and Jimmy Lambert are tied for the team lead in goals with two each during the Calder Cup Playoffs. Merkulov’s three assists lead the team in that category. Game Information: WATCH: AHLTV LISTEN: Mixlr Play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack Alex Thomas will have ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ starting live at 6:45 p.m. on both AHLTV and Mixlr. Single-game tickets for Game 4 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals are on sale now! For playoff information, please visit www.hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. About Oak View Group (OVG): Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOWLINGS Read the full article

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PREGAME: WOLF PACK HOPE TO BUILD ON WIN OVER B'S

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins meet tonight for Game 2 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinal series at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., and coverage is available on AHLTV and Mixlr. Tale of The Tape: The Wolf Pack and Bruins met ten times during the regular season, with each team winning five games. The Wolf Pack posted a record of 5-4-1-0, while the Bruins went 5-3-1-1. The Wolf Pack went 2-2-1-0 in Providence during the 2023-24 campaign. The Wolf Pack drew first blood in the series on Wednesday night, taking Game 1 4-3 in Providence. Jake Leschyshyn opened the scoring just 67 seconds in, cutting down the right-wing side before maneuvering to the slot and snapping his first goal of the Calder Cup Playoffs by Brandon Bussi. 4:20 later, at 5:27, Blake Hillman extended the lead to 2-0 with his first postseason goal. Brett Berard found Hillman in the slot, who fired a one-timer by Bussi. The goal was Hillman's third career Calder Cup Playoff tally. The Bruins drew even in the second period, striking twice. Jimmy Lambert collected his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal 6:19 into the period, driving into the right-wing circle before snapping a shot by Dylan Garand. Oskar Steen then set Lambert up in the slot at 13:41, where the forward ripped home his second goal of the contest. Tyler Pitlick ripped the lead back for the Wolf Pack with 33.5 seconds left in the middle stanza. Victor Mancini fired a puck toward the goal that Pitlick got a piece of, beating Bussi for his first goal of the playoffs. Anton Blidh then displayed great patience before tucking in a backhander for his first goal of the postseason 88 seconds into the third period. The goal, which made it 4-2 then, would be the eventual game-winner. Patrick Brown drew the Bruins within one at 19:12, deflecting home an Anthony Richard shot with the extra attacker out, but it would not be enough on this night. The Wolf Pack's victory in Game 1 was its third consecutive postseason victory at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, dating back to Game 1 and Game 2 of last year's Atlantic Division Semifinal. Wolf Pack Outlook: Hartford's victory in Game 1 was its third straight this postseason. The club will play its fifth consecutive road playoff game tonight. Pitlick's goal in Game 1 was his first in the Calder Cup Playoffs since May 3rd, 2013, as a member of the Oklahoma City Barons. His three points in Game 1 (1 g, 2 a) are the most by a Wolf Pack player in a postseason game this year. Berard collected two assists in Game 1, giving him a three-game point streak. That is the longest active point streak among Wolf Pack players. Garand picked up his third consecutive victory in Game 1. He made 32 saves. Garand is 3-1 during these Calder Cup Playoffs with a .945 save percentage. Berard leads the Wolf Pack in points with five (1 g, 4 a) through four games during these Calder Cup Playoffs. Riley Nash's two goals lead the Pack, while Berard's four assists lead the way in that category. Bruins Outlook: The Bruins earned a bye for the second consecutive spring through the First Round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. The Bruins finished second in the Atlantic Division with a record of 42-21-6-3, good for 93 points behind only the Hershey Bears. Their 93 points were good for second in the Eastern Conference, behind only the Bears, and fourth in the AHL behind the Bears (111 points), Coachella Valley Firebirds (103 points), and Milwaukee Admirals (97 points). At home this season, the Bruins went 21-9-3-3. They finished with 48 points at home, which is second in the Eastern Conference behind only the Bears. Their 21 wins at home were also second in the Eastern Conference, once again only trailing the Bears (29). The Bruins were 0-for-two on the powerplay in Game 1. Bussi made 23 saves in defeat, falling to 1-4 in his Calder Cup Playoff career against the Wolf Pack. Lambert, who had two goals in his Calder Cup Playoff debut, led the Bruins with six shots in Game 1. During the regular season, Georgii Merklov led the Bruins in both goals with 30 and points with 65 (30 g, 35 a). Jayson Megna, meanwhile, led the club in assists with 37. He recorded three assists in the regular season finale against the Wolf Pack. Game Information: WATCH: AHLTV LISTEN: Mixlr The Wolf Pack's play-by-play voice, Alex Thomas, will host 'Wolf Pack Pregame,' which will air live on AHLTV and Mixlr at 6:50 p.m. Single-game tickets for Game 3 and Game 4 of the Atlantic Division Semifinal are on sale now! For playoff information, please visit hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. About Oak View Group (OVG): Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues, and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Established by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since its inception in 1997. It is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOWLINGS Read the full article

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WOLF PACK COMPLETE PAIR OF TRANSACTIONS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack Bryce McConnell-Barker Reassigned by Rangers, Maxim Barbashev Released from ATO HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned forward Bryce McConnell-Barker to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack from the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds. Additionally, Rangers Assistant General Manager and Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has released forward Maxim Barbashev from his amateur tryout agreement (ATO). McConnell-Barker, 19, appeared in 52 games with the Greyhounds this season, scoring 51 points (22 g, 29 a). He finished third on the club in points, tied for third in goals, and fifth in assists. In eleven playoff games this spring, the 6’1”, 199-pound forward tacked on 15 points (5 g, 10 a). He was the second-highest scorer on the Greyhounds during their postseason run. The native of London, ON, has appeared in 188 career OHL games with Greyhounds over four seasons. He recorded 177 points (75 g, 102 a) in that span. McConnell-Barker was selected in the third round, 97th overall, of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the Rangers. Barbashev, 20, appeared in 15 games with the Shawinigan Cataractes and 44 games with the Rimouski Océanic of the QMJHL this season. In 15 games with the Cataractes, Barbashev scored nine points (2 g, 7 a). He was traded to the Océanic on November 21st, 2023, and scored 26 points (12 g, 14 a) in 44 games. The 6’1”, 191-pound forward tacked on two assists in five QMJHL Playoff games. The native of Moskva, RUS, has played in 195 games in his QMJHL career, scoring 152 points (67 g, 85 a) with the Océanic, Cataractes, and Moncton Wildcats. Barbashev was selected in the fifth round, 161st overall, by the Rangers in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He made his professional debut in the Wolf Pack’s 6-4 victory over the Springfield Thunderbirds on April 20th at the MassMutual Center. The Wolf Pack are off to the Atlantic Division Semifinals! The club will take on the Providence Bruins in a best-of-five Calder Cup Playoff series. Game 1 is at the Amica Mutual Pavilion tonight, May 1st, at 7:05 p.m. The series shifts to Hartford for Game 3 at the XL Center next Wednesday, May 8th, with the puck drop set for 7:00 p.m. Single-game tickets are on sale now at hartfordwolfpack.com! To learn more about Wolf Pack playoff ticket strips and to be up-to-date on everything Calder Cup Playoffs, visit hartfordwolfpack.com/tickets/playoff-information. About Oak View Group (OVG): Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in live experience venue development, management, premium hospitality services, and 360-degree solutions for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster of arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions. Founded by Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff in 2015, OVG is the leading developer of major new venues either open or under development across four continents. Visit OakViewGroup.com, and follow OVG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack are the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and play at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers newest faces including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOWLINGS Read the full article

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HARTFORD WOLF PACK SEASON ENDS WITH 3-1 LOSS TO HERSHEY BEARS

By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack returned to the XL Center on Wednesday night, looking to stay alive in the 2023 Calder Cup Playoffs. However, the clock struck midnight on the Wolf Pack’s Cinderella run, as three unanswered goals led the Hershey Bears to a 3-1 decision and eliminated the Wolf Pack from the playoffs. Lucas Johansen potted the eventual game-winner 4:22 into the final stanza. A four-on-four sequence began after Beck Malenstyn and Will Cuylle were called for hooking penalties at 3:51 and 4:07, respectively. Mike Vecchione corralled the puck behind the Hartford net and snapped a pass to Johansen, powering into the slot. Johansen blasted the puck over the glove of Louis Domingue to give the Bears their first lead of the game and eventually send Hershey to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Wolf Pack opened the scoring late in the opening period. Ryan Carpenter collected the puck behind the Hershey net and attempted a wraparound that Hunter Shepard denied. The puck popped right back to Carpenter, who snuck a pass through the blue paint to Turner Elson streaking towards the goal. Elson unleashed a shot over a diving Shepard to give the Wolf Pack the game’s first lead. It was the second time Elson has found the twine in the playoffs. Hershey answered back just over the 15-minute mark of the second period. A delayed penalty was called against Hartford, and Vecchione collected the puck before the Pack could touch it up. Vecchione snapped a pass to Vincent Iorio, who sped into the offensive zone and ripped a shot that found the back of the Hartford net to even the contest at one. The goal was Iorio’s first career playoff marker. Hershey had an opportunity to take the lead when Sam Anas was awarded a penalty shot at 3:28 of the final stanza. However, Domingue made an excellent glove save to keep the score even and keep Hartford’s hopes alive. Johansen scored his first career Calder Cup Playoff goal at 4:22 of the third period, however, putting the Bears ahead for good in the deciding game of this series. Garrett Pilon tacked on an insurance marker at 7:25 of the third frame, burying the rebound from a Connor McMichael shot to put the Bears up by two. The Wolf Pack pushed for an answer late in the third period, with Domingue lifted in favor of the extra skater. However, Shepard held strong, preventing the Wolf Pack from working their way back into the tilt and sending the Bears to the Eastern Conference Finals. Make sure to follow the Wolf Pack on all their social media pages for information on the 2023-24 season. The Wolf Pack thank you for all of your support throughout the 2022-23 campaign, and we hope to see you in the fall! ABOUT THE HARTFORD WOLF PACK: The Hartford Wolf Pack has been a premier franchise in the American Hockey League since the team’s inception in 1997. The Wolf Pack is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL's New York Rangers and plays at the XL Center. The Wolf Pack has been home to some of the Rangers' newest faces, including Igor Shesterkin, Filip Chytil, and Ryan Lindgren. Follow the Wolf Pack on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. HARTFORD WOLF PACK HOME Read the full article