Game Preview

Nov 12, 2017

Game Day Info:

Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Laval Rocket

Puck Drop: Sunday, Nov. 12 at 5 p.m.

Game Preview:

This is the Wolf Pack’s first look at the Laval Rocket, a new franchise in the AHL this year. Prior to the birth of the Rocket, which is 7-5-2-0 thus far on the season, the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL affiliate for the past two seasons was the St. John’s IceCaps.

The Rocket sit in third place in the North Division, behind the Toronto Marlies and Rochester Americans. The new team has 53 goals for and 54 against thus far in the season. The top point-getter for Laval, which came into last week as the third highest-scoring team in the AHL (3.77 goals-per-game), is defenseman Matt Taormina (2-13-15 in 14 GP), who leads league blueliners in points and assists.

Last Time Out:

Last night, the Wolf Pack played to a 2-1 road win against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. A stellar night in net for Alexandar Georgiev with 43 saves was supplemented by goals from Joe Whitney (5-6-11 in 14 GP) and Dan Catenacci (1-5-6 in 11 GP.)

Thus far, the Pack are 6-7-0-1 on the season, which places them sixth in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division, one spot ahead of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins currently lead the division with an 9-2-0-1 record, while the Phantoms and Checkers fall close behind in the tight race.

Players to Watch:

#9 Joe Whitney

Newly deemed captain of the Wolf Pack, Joe Whitney has had himself a start to the 2016-17 season with five goals and six assists in his first 14 games with the team. The numbers tie him for the team lead in goals and points. Whitney is an AHL veteran, with nearly 400 career games under his belt. In 55 games with the San Antonio Rampage last season, Whitney posted 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points, and he had 3-5-8 in 19 games with the Tucson Roadrunners.

#27 Peter Holland

Center Peter Holland signed a two-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens this summer. The Toronto native has seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 12 games this season with the Rocket. Holland was a first round pick by the Anaheim Ducks in 2009 at 15th overall. He has played for various NHL teams, where in 243 games he scored 35 goals and logged 46 assists.

Coming Up Next:

The Wolf Pack will be back home at the XL Center on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. faceoff against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. All fans in attendance will win a free ticket to the Pack’s next home game if the Wolf Pack win. For tickets and information, visit the Hartford Wolf Pack ticketing site or call 866-762-6451.