The Hartford Wolf Pack, the New York Rangers’ main minor league affiliate in the American Hockey League, have played nine games this season. They are seeking consistency and currently hold a record of 4-3-1-1 (10 points, .556 point percentage), placing them fourth in the Atlantic Division, ninth in the Eastern Conference, and 15th overall in the AHL.
Last week, Hartford earned three out of six possible points, achieving a 3-2 comeback victory over the Grand Rapids Griffins and gaining a point from a 3-2 overtime defeat against the Syracuse Crunch. They concluded their two-game road trip with a 2-1 loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and they are still searching for their first road win, with two chances to accomplish that this week.
Dylan Roobroeck stood out for the Wolf Pack last week, extending his point streak to four games (three goals, one assist). After struggling to score in his first five games, the 21-year-old rookie center is leveraging his impressive size (6-foot-7) to create scoring opportunities and contribute to Hartford’s offensive play. The team will rely on him and other players to boost their scoring depth.
In terms of goaltending, Dylan Garand has shown strong performance in the last season of his entry-level contract, sporting a 3-0-1 record, a 2.94 goals-against average, and an .894 save percentage, while sharing duties with veteran Louis Domingue. Garand has been solid, securing three of Hartford’s four victories, and he continued to impress during challenging matchups against well-performing teams like Grand Rapids and Syracuse.
On the other hand, Domingue has had a rough start, coming in with a 1-3-1 record, a 3.78 GAA, and an .885 save percentage. While both goalies have been impacted by the team’s defensive struggles, Domingue has yet to find his rhythm, allowing five goals in two of his five outings and three or more in four games.
It will be intriguing to see whether coach Grant Potulny continues to rely on Garand or maintains a rotation as he has in previous seasons. The Wolf Pack notably miss injured forward Brennan Othmann, especially on the power play, as they have gone 0-for-21 since his upper-body injury on October 19. After some early success with Othmann and Brett Berard, the power play unit has faltered, dropping to 17th in the AHL with a conversion rate of 14.6 percent (six goals on 41 opportunities).
The Wolf Pack’s power play struggles were evident in their recent loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, where a power-play goal could have made a significant impact.
**One Timers:**
– Matthew Robertson recorded two assists and was key in Hartford’s overtime win over the Griffins; his performance has varied early this season.
– Casey Fitzgerald notched five assists over the past seven games.
– The team’s overall defense has shown improvement in the last three games, allowing just two goals in two matches and three in another.
**Upcoming Schedule:**
– **Wednesday, November 6:** vs. Syracuse Crunch (7pm, XL Center) – This is their second and final encounter of the season; Hartford previously lost 3-2 in overtime to the Crunch.
– **Friday, November 8:** vs. Rochester Americans (7:05pm, Blue Cross Arena) – This is the first of two meetings; last season, the Wolf Pack lost both matchups.
– **Sunday, November 10:** vs. Providence Bruins (3:05pm, Amica Mutual Pavilion) – This begins the season series; last season, the teams split their meetings.
Providence enters the week with a 3-6-0-0 record and is amid a two-game losing streak, while Rochester is on a four-game winning streak with a 5-3-0-0 record.
