Game Preview

Jan 19, 2018

Game Day Info:

Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Utica Comets

Puck Drop: Friday, Jan. 19 at 7:15 p.m.

Game Preview:

The Comets were also the opponent for the Wolf Pack’s last home game, January 7, when Utica upended the Wolf Pack by a score of 5-1. The only other meeting between the two clubs this season was November 18, a 4-1 Wolf Pack victory in Utica.

The Comets (19-14-4-3, 43 pts., .563) have won six of their last seven games, and are 6-2-0-2 in their last ten, to move into fourth place in the North Division, six points ahead of the Laval Rocket.

Last Time Out:

On Monday, the Wolf Pack played to a 5-1 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds in an away matchup. Joe Whitney scored the lone Wolf Pack goal, while Marek Mazanec took the loss in net.

Thus far, the Pack are 15-20-3-3 on the season with a .439 win percentage, which places them eighth in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division with 36 points from 41 games played. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins currently lead the division with a 24-10-2-1 record, while the Providence Bruins and Lehigh Valley Phantoms fall close behind in the tight race.

Players to Watch:

#24 Boo Nieves

Fresh off a New York Rangers call-up, Boo Nieves is set to play in his first Wolf Pack game back tonight. Nieves spent 28 games with the parent organization, where he logged one goal and eight assists for nine points and a +/- of +6. Nieves played in 40 Wolf Pack games last season, where he contributed six goals and 12 assists. The forward was a second-round pick of the Rangers in 2012 where he was selected 59th overall.

#52 Philip Holm

Philip Holm leads active Utica players in points, with eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 33 games. The defenseman won a goal medal in the 2017 World Championship with Sweden and spent last season skating in the Swedish Elite League, where he totaled 21 points in 56 games with Vaxjo HC.

Coming Up Next:

The Pack will be back home at the XL Center on Sunday for a matchup against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Pet Adoption Night. For tickets and information, visit the Hartford Wolf Pack ticketing site or call 866-762-6451.