Wolf Pack Weekly, May 12-17
May 12, 2015
The Wolf Pack’s best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinal series with the Hershey Bears is tied at two games apiece, after the Wolf Pack took Game Four Monday night, 3-1, in a second consecutive Wolf Pack off-site home game played at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA, due to scheduling conflicts at the XL Center. Oscar Lindberg led the way in the Game-Four victory, with his first North American pro playoff goal and two assists. The Bears had won the previous two games in the series, 2-1 Sunday at the DCU Center and 6-4 Friday night in Hershey, after the Wolf Pack posted a 2-1 overtime win in Game One Wednesday night on the road. Lindberg (1-4-5) and Chris Bourque (2-3-5) are tied for the series scoring lead, and fellow Wolf Pack forward Joey Crabb has lit the lamp in the last three games (3-0-3).
Full Speed Ahead: “Full Speed Ahead” is the official Wolf Pack playoff slogan. This comes from the ship U.S.S Hartford, which served as Admiral David Farragut’s flagship during the Civil War. During the battle of Mobile Bay, while on the deck of the Hartford, Farragut famously said, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”.
The Wolf Pack 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs are presented by Amtrak.
Either the Wolf Pack or their second-round opponents, the Hershey Bears, will be pushed the brink of elimination in Game Five Wednesday night (7:00 PM faceoff) at Giant Center in Hershey, after which the series will return to the XL Center for Game Six on Friday night (7:00 PM). If neither team sweeps Games Five and Six, Game Seven will be in Hershey on Sunday, facing off at 5:00.
Game One Wed., May 6 Giant Center HFD 2, HER 1 (OT)
Game Two Fri., May 8 Giant Center HER 6, HFD 4
Game Three Sun., May 10 DCU Center (Worcester) HER 2, HFD 1
Game Four Mon., May 11 DCU Center (Worcester) HFD 3, HER 1
(Series tied, 2-2
Game Five Wed., May 13 Giant Center 7:00
Game Six Fri., May 15 XL Center 7:00
Game Seven (if nec.) Sun., May 17 Giant Center 5:00
Tickets for Game Six at the XL Center are priced at $47, $32, $27, $22, $17, and $14 for youth, and are on sale at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.
Wednesday, May 13, Game Five at Hershey (Giant Center), 7:00 p.m.
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The Bears are 2-2 at home in the postseason, after compiling the second-best home record in the AHL during the regular year, with a mark of 26-7-3-2.
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Former Bear Chris Bourque (3-5-8) is tied with Oscar Lindberg (1-7-8) for the Wolf Pack team playoff points lead, and tied with Chris Mueller (3-3-6) and Joey Crabb (3-1-4) for tops among Pack skaters in playoff goals.
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Defenseman Nate Schmidt, who was recalled by the parent Washington Capitals club before Monday’s Game Four, leads Hershey in playoff points, with 3-5-8 in seven games, and shares the Bear goal-scoring lead with Tim Kennedy (3-4-7), Cameron Schilling (3-3-6) and Casey Wellman (3-3-6).
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Yann Danis has gone the whole way in net for the Wolf Pack thus far in the series, allowing nine goals on 110 shots for a 2.13 GAA and a 91.8% save percentage. Philipp Grubauer has played all but 31 minutes of Game Two in the Hershey net, surrendering ten goals on 124 shots (2.67 GAA, 91.9% save percentage).
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Broadcast – live with Bob Crawford on Fox Sports Radio 1410, on-line at www.foxsportsradio1410.com and on iHeartRadio.Video streaming at www.ahllive.com.
Friday, May 15, Game Six vs. Hershey at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.
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As at regular-season Friday-night home games, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs and $2 beers at this game, through the start of the second period.
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The Wolf Pack are 2-1 in three XL Center games this postseason, and have won nine of their last ten games at the XL Center going back to the regular season. Overall in home action in the 2015 playoffs, including the two off-site home games played in Worcester, the Pack are 3-2.
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Monday’s Game Four loss was the Bears’ first defeat in four postseason away games. This game will be the first playoff road game for Hershey not played at the DCU Center in Worcester, as the Worcester Sharks were the Bears’ first-round opponent.
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This will be an elimination game for one of the two teams, depending on the outcome of Game Five. The Wolf Pack are 13-6 all-time in their playoff history with a chance to end a series, and 14-13 all-time when facing elimination. The Pack fought off two elimination games in their first-round series against Providence, a best-of-five series that went the distance.
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There will be a special playoff edition of “Hawk’s Nest” prior to this game in the XL Center’s Comcast Coliseum Club, with Bob “Hawk” Crawford, the play-by-play voice of the Wolf Pack, conducting a Wolf Pack-themed interview from 6:00-6:20 PM. Wolf Pack goaltender Jeff Malcolm is scheduled to be the guest, and questions and comments will be welcomed from the patrons enjoying the Comcast Coliseum Club’s wide array of dining and beverage options. The Comcast Coliseum Club restaurant and bar area is open two hours prior to every Wolf Pack home game, to everyone holding a ticket to the game.
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Tickets for this game are available at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.
**IF NECESSARY** Sunday, May 17, Game Seven at Hershey (Giant Center), 5:00 p.m.
Wolf Pack Community Appearances: The Wolf Pack have the following appearances scheduled this week. For further information on these, or any other Wolf Pack community initiatives, contact Wolf Pack community relations manager Frank Berrian, at (860) 541-4728:
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Thursday, May 14, 6:00 PM, Stepney School, 695 Main St. (Rt. 25), Monroe, CT: The Wolf Pack’s beloved mascot, Sonar, congratulates Monroe youngsters who completed a school reading program, at Stepney School’s “Celebration of Reading” event.
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Saturday, May 16, 9:00 AM, Bushnell Park, Downtown Hartford: Sonar joins participants in the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Walk.
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Saturday, May 16, 10:30 AM, Windsor, CT: Sonar whoops it up in the “Shad Derby” parade, which steps off from Windsor High School and finishes on the town green.
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Saturday, May 16, 2:00 PM, Rentschler Field, 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT: Sonar joins in on the American Cancer Society “Relay for Life”, walking alongside survivors and supporters alike, to raise awareness for cancer research.
Recent Transactions: None
Practice: All Wolf Pack practices atChampions Skating Center in Cromwell are open to the public. Schedule is subject to change.
Wed., May 13 Game Five in Hershey
Thurs., May 14 12:00 noon – 1:00 PM, XL Center
Fri., May 15 10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game Six vs. Hershey)
Sat., May 16 10:00 – 11:00 AM, Champions Skating Center
Sun., May 17 Game Seven at Hershey – if necessary
Mon., May 18 TBD
Pack Tracks: To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.