Wolf Pack Weekly

April 4, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


The Pack were three for three in games this past week, clinching a playoff berth for the eighth consecutive year, and improving their league-best home record to 28-6-1-1, which also sets a new franchise mark. The club's overall record now stands at 46-21-3-3, good for 98 points, just two behind division-leading Manchester. The team leads the AHL in penalty minutes with 2211, but has the second-best penalty killing in the league with a 89.42% proficiency. The club is also tied with Norfolk and Manchester for the most shutouts of the season (13).

Goaltenders Steve Valiquette and Jason LaBarbera continue to lead the league in goals against average, Valiquette at 1.72, LaBarbera at 1.82. Valiquette also sports the best saves percentage at .936.

This week:

The Wolf Pack play their last seven games within 12 days ... starting Wednesday in Worcester. The team then faces the Providence Bruins in a home-and-home series on Saturday and Sunday this week. The Calder Cup will be in Hartford for Saturday's game.

Tuesday, April 5 - "Pack Talk" at Little Mark's Big Barbecue on ESPN Radio 1410 This week's scheduled guests Dominic Moore and Layne Ulmer will join the voice of the Wolf Pack, Bob Crawford, at Little Mark's Big Barbecue, 279 West Main Street (Route 44) in Avon from 7 to 8:00 p.m. Fans are invited to come down to Little Mark's to participate live, or to listen in on ESPN Radio 1410.

This is the second-last week of Pack Talk, it concludes with the last show of the season next Tuesday, April 12.

Wednesday, April 6 at Worcester - DCU Center, 7:05 p.m.
* Worcester is fighting for a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division with a record of 36-30-4-3, good for 79 points. They are 21-12-1-1 at home.
* The Pack is 4-3-0-0 against the IceCats, their last game, a 4-1 win in Hartford. The Pack's high scorers against Worcester are Alexandre Giroux and Jed Ortmeyer with seven points each, while the IceCats' leading scorers against the Wolf Pack are Mike Glumac and John DiSalvatore with five points each.
* Radio - live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radio 1410 and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Saturday, April 9 vs. Providence - Hartford Civic Center, 7:05 p.m.
* Providence is currently in fourth place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 38-26-3-7. With 86 points, they stand two points behind Lowell for third place.
* The Wolf Pack are 4-4-0-0 against the Bruins, the last game a 3-0 loss for the Wolf Pack in Providence on February 4. Dominic Moore is Hartford's high scorer against Providence (3-4-7). Andy Hilbert has five goals and five assists for the Bruins versus Hartford.
* The Bruins sport the second-best powerplay in the league at 19.48%, with Brad Boyes leading the way with 19 powerplay goals (tied for tops in the league).
* The Bruins are on a six-game winning streak, and have won eight of their last nine.
* The Calder Cup will be on display at the game for fans to have pictures taken.
* Radio - live with Bob Crawford on ESPN Radsio 140 and on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Sunday, April 10 at Providence - Dunkin' Donuts Center, 4:05 p.m.
* It's the last meeting of the regular season of the two clubs
* Joined in progress on ESPN Radio 1410 after New York Yankees baseball, and live on the web at: www.hartfordwolfpack.com

Injuries:

Lucas Lawson (groin) - day-to-day
Jake Taylor (groin) - out indefinitely
Blair Betts (right shoulder) - out indefinitely

Recent Transactions:

March 31 - Dwight Helminen and David Liffiton reassigned to Charlotte of the ECHL

Practice Schedule:

All Wolf Pack practices are open to the media at the Hartford Civic Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell. As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 246-7825 Ext. 256 before attending a practice.

Tue. April 5 10:00 a.m. to noon, HCC
Wed. April 6 10:00 to 11:15 a.m., HCC (Game in Worcester)
Thu. April 7 10:00 a.m. to noon, HCC
Fri. April 8 10:00 - 11:15 a.m., HCC
Sat. April 9 10:00 - 11:15 a.m., HCC (Game vs. Providence)
Sun. April 10 Game in Providence
Mon, April 11 TBD

Pack Tracks:

Playoff ticket strips (all 16 games) are on sale now by calling (860) 548-2000. Prices start as low as $198.40 for adults and $107.20 for youth 16 and under. Individual tickets for the Wolf Pack's first two home games (Games A and B) will go on sale Friday, April 8 at the Hartford Civic Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations and on the web at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. Individual tickets for the first round are available for as little as $9.00 for youth and $17.00 for adults.

The GEICO Connecticut Cup will be presented to the Wolf Pack on Sunday, April 17 before the game. The Pack won the inaugural cup after beating Bridgeport in their season series 6-2-2-0. Post game, the team will present its team awards and hold its annual "Shirts Off Our Backs" promotion.

The Hartford Wolf Pack "Pack Shop" at 100 Allyn Street is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as two hours prior to and one hour after each and every Wolf Pack home game, including Saturday and Sundays. A full line of Wolf Pack merchandise is available, while a limited selection of items will still be available in the Civic Center Mall before games.



American Hockey League Stories from April 4, 2005


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