Apr 12, 2024
HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack can lock up their spot in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs tonight on home ice against the rival Springfield Thunderbirds.
The puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., and coverage is available on AHLTV and Mixlr.
Tale of The Tape:
This is the ninth of ten meetings between the Wolf Pack and the Thunderbirds this season. It is the fifth and final meeting between the sides at the XL Center. The season series will conclude next Saturday night at the MassMutual Center.
The T-Birds have won four straight in this head-to-head matchup, most recently claiming a 6-2 decision at the XL Center on March 29th.
Adam Edström opened the scoring 8:04 into the game, tapping home a backdoor feed from Mac Hollowell during a stretch of four-on-four play.
The T-Birds erupted for five straight goals, however, controlling the rest of the game. Ryan Suzuki tied the game 13:05 in, beating Dylan Garand on a breakaway. Hugh McGing then stuffed home a rebound 3:29 into the second period, giving the T-Birds a lead they never lost.
Adam Gaudette snapped the game-winning goal by Garand at 6:47, making it 3-1 at the time. Jakub Vrana ballooned the lead to 5-1 with two powerplay goals in 30 seconds, first scorching a shot from the right-wing circle while on a five-on-three at 9:26.
At 9:56, he deflected a Joseph Duszak shot while on a five-on-four.
Nic Petan and Mikhail Abramov traded goals in the final stanza, with Petan’s goal at 9:12 being his second as a member of the Wolf Pack.
The Thunderbirds have recorded six goals in each of the last three matchups.
In addition to their March 29th win, the T-Birds took a 6-3 decision on February 23rd at the MassMutual Center and on February 3rd in Hartford.
The Wolf Pack’s last win in the head-to-head matchup was a 4-2 victory in Springfield on November 24th.
Wolf Pack Outlook:
The Wolf Pack dropped their sixth straight game on Sunday afternoon, falling 4-1 to the Charlotte Checkers at the Bojangles Coliseum.
Mitchell Vande Sompel’s shot through traffic 7:14 into the hockey game gave the Checkers a lead they would not lose, while Wilmer Skoog’s tally at 5:13 of the second period proved to be the eventual game-winner. Both Will Lockwood and Mackie Samoskevich tacked on insurance markers, extending the lead to 4-0.
Brett Berard got Hartford on the board at 19:56 of the third period, but it would not be enough to spark a comeback.
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