Wolf Pack bend, but don’t break in three game bender
The Hartford Wolf Pack cooled off but won’t be going anywhere. See which New York Rangers prospects showcased their talent over the weekend.
Well, you know what they say: you can’t win them all. The Hartford Wolf Pack were rolling with their 4-0 start, making them the only undefeated team in the AHL. Yet even the hottest streaks have a speed bump or two. Last weekend, they hit that bump.
First, the Springfield Thunderbirds (St. Louis Blues affiliate) defeated them handily 5-2. Then, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins added to their woes with a 4-2 win. It was a bit of a reality check after that blazing start.
However, didn’t let October end on a completely sour note. On Sunday, they defeated the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, the Flyers’ affiliate, 4-1, making them 5-2 as they enter the upcoming weekend.
The Wolf Pack’s Weekend Adventure:
The loss to Springfield was a wake-up call. It was dependent on special teams. The Thunderbirds scored two power-play goals, while the Wolf Pack struggled, going 0 for 6. They even got a shorthanded goal against them.
As for the game against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, it was a reality check. Hartford found themselves down 4-0 after the first period. Yet Turner Elson scored in his return, and Captain Jonny Brodzinski worked his power-play magic. Still, that first-period deficit was too much to overcome.
On Sunday, Riley Nash scored twice, and Brennan Othmann broke his four-game pointless streak with three assists in their win over the Phantoms. Even when the 20-year-old doesn’t light up the scoresheet, he’s making his presence felt with his physicality. Othman has two goals and four assists through 7 games, leading the Wolf Pack rookies in points and sitting at seventh among rookies in the AHL for production.
Meanwhile, Brodzinski is leading the pack with 11 points, which puts him at 6th overall in AHL scoring. He has six goals in 7 games and is currently riding a seven-game point streak.
And let’s not forget about Alex Belzile. The 32-year-old forward is setting an example with a solid six-game point streak after a quiet season opener. Belzile has two multi-point games, three goals, and eight points thus far.
On the blue line, Mac Hollowell is on a seven-game point streak. He has seven assists in seven games.
So, there you have it, ups and downs, but the Wolf Pack’s AHL journey promises a lot more excitement and potential.