Game Preview
Feb 2, 2018Game Day Info:
Hartford Wolf Pack vs. Providence Bruins
Puck Drop: Friday, Feb. 2 at 7:05 p.m.
Game Preview:
The Wolf Pack will begin a home-and-home set against the Providence Bruins tonight at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. The Pack have won their last two meetings with the Bruins, and are 2-1-0-1 in four head-to-head matchups on the year.
The Bruins (25-15-3-1, 54 pts., .614) are coming off a January 27 5-2 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds prior to the All-Star break. The team sits in third place in the Atlantic Division, behind the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Lehigh Valley Phantoms, respectively.
Last Time Out:
The Wolf Pack are riding a five-game winning streak, and are coming off a decisive 4-0 win over the Charlotte Checkers last Saturday. Behind Alexandar Georgiev’s shutout, the Pack picked up a win with goals from Scott Kosmachuk, Vinni Lettieri, Adam Tambellini and Dan Catenacci.
Thus far, the Pack are 20-20-3-3 on the season with a .500 win percentage, which places them sixth in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division with 46 points from 46 games played.
Players to Watch:
#95 Vinni Lettieri
In 33 games played, rookie forward Vinni Lettieri has scored 13 goals and notched nine assists for a total of 22 points with the Hartford Wolf Pack, giving him the team lead in goals for active players. Lettieri earned his first New York Rangers call-up on December 28, and in numerous call-up stints, he’s scored one goal and added three assists in 10 games. The Minnesota native came to Hartford from the University of Minnesota, where he helped Minnesota capture four-straight Big Ten regular-season championships, as well as the 2015 Big Ten Tournament title.
#27 Austin Czarnik
Austin Czarnik currently has 11 goals and 29 assists for a team-leading 40 points in 37 games with Providence. The 24-year-old center was with the Boston Bruins for a large part of the 2016-17 season, scoring five goals and adding eight assists for 13 points in 49 games. In 17 games throughout the 2017 Calder Cup Playoffs, the Michigan native had three goals and four assists. Czarnik went undrafted during his two draft classes, but signed with Boston in 2015.
Coming Up Next:
The Pack will be back home at the XL Center tomorrow to take on the Providence Bruins in the second game of the back-to-back set. The first 2,000 fans will receive a Wolf Pack gym bag, presented by ProHealth Physicians. For tickets and information, visit the Hartford Wolf Pack ticketing site or call 866-762-6451.