Game Preview
Dec 29, 2017
Game Day Info:
Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Puck Drop: Friday, Dec. 29 at 7:05 p.m.
Game Preview:
The Wolf Pack snapped a streak of ten straight losses in head-to-head competition with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (a franchise record for most consecutive losses vs. a single opponent) in the teams’ last meeting December 15 at the XL Center, defeating Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 7-3. In the Wolf Pack’s first visit of the year to Wilkes-Barre on October 21, the Penguins prevailed with a 3-2 shootout win.
The Penguins are coming off a 5-4 loss against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms Wednesday night, and have lost four of their last five games, including one overtime loss. The Penguins sit in fourth place in the Atlantic Division, two spots ahead of the Wolf Pack, with a 15-12-2-1 record and a 0.603 win percentage.
Last Time Out:
Last Saturday, the Wolf Pack played to a 5-1 loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the XL Center. Ryan Sproul scored the lone goal and Alexandar Georgiev took the loss in net, where he made 25 saves on 30 shots. The game served as the Wolf Pack’s first loss in regulation time in December.
Thus far, the Pack are 13-13-3-3 on the season with a .500 win percentage, which places them sixth in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division with 32 points from 32 games played. The Providence Bruins currently lead the division, while the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Charlotte Checkers fall close behind in the tight race.
Players to Watch:
#37 Gabriel Fontaine
In 29 games with the Wolf Pack this season, Gabriel Fontaine has scored six goals and logged two assists for a total of eight points. The rookie forward is on a three-game point streak, which is a personal professional high for the Montreal native. Fontaine was drafted 171st overall by the New York Rangers in the 2016 NHL draft and spent last year playing in the QMJHL.
#11 Daniel Sprong
Daniel Sprong currently leads Wilkes-Barre Scranton in points and in goals, with 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points in in 28 games. The right wing is no stranger to offensive production, as he scored five goals and tallied two assists in 10 games in the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs. Sprong has played in 18 NHL games and was a 2015 second round draft selection at 46th overall for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Coming Up Next:
The Wolf Pack will be back home at the XL Center tomorrow for a matchup against the Springfield Thunderbirds. For tickets and information, visit the Hartford Wolf Pack ticketing site or call 866-762-6451.