By: Ryan Kelsey
The Hartford Wolf Pack look to get back on track tonight against the Providence Bruins after losing four games in a row. The Wolf Pack who are currently in third place of the Atlantic Division with 73 points, will have a tough match up as they take on the hot Bruins who are just one point behind the Hershey Bears (81 points) and have won their past 10 games.
The Wolf Pack will have to play solid defense tonight if they want to snap their losing streak and get a win in front of the home crowd. One player in particular that the Wolf Pack will have to try and slow down will be Bruins goal-scoring leader Jack Studnicka who has earned at least one point in six straight games. However, slowing down Studnicka will be a challenge for the Wolf Pack especially after the team lost defenseman Mason Geertsen to suspension. Geertsen will not be playing in the Wolf Packs next three games after joining in a fight during the loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds, 4-1, on March 8th.
With the loss of key players on the Wolf Pack, the team will have to play with the “next man up” mentality. After the Thunderbirds took down the Pack, Hartford head coach Kris Knoblauch said “The guys that played, and their replacements, really stepped up.” Knoblauch continued and stated, “The defense, I was happy with them, those five guys played pretty well. And some guys, like (Ryan) Gropp, (Greg) Chase, I thought they elevated their games.”
On the offensive side of the ice, the Wolf Pack will play tonight’s game short-handed and will have to work together to keep up with the high scoring Bruins. Scoring goals has been an issue lately for the Wolf Pack as the team has scored just four goals combined during their four-game losing streak.
This is not an encouraging sign for the Hartford Wolf Pack and they will need other players on the team to step up tonight as well. The team will be without forward Vinni Lettieri, and forward Matt Beleskey as both players were also suspended for their involvement during the Thunderbirds game. Two players that the Wolf Pack will no doubt look to lean on tonight for offensive production will have to be forwards Patrick Newell, and Ryan Dmowski.
Tonight’s game is a huge one for the Wolf Pack as they look to keep their playoff chances alive. After being neck and neck with the Hershey Bears, the Wolf Pack have slowly dropped all the way to third place. The Wolf Pack are now eight points behind the Hershey Bears and are seven points behind the Providence Bruins. If the team can pull off the upset against the Bruins then the Pack can close the gap to just 5 points on the Bruins and can extend their slim two point lead over the Charlotte Checkers to four.
Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm at the XL Center.
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