Head-to-head:
This is the eighth of ten meetings on the season between the Wolf Pack and the Providence Bruins, top affiliate of the Boston Bruins, the fourth of five visits by the P-Bruins to the XL Center and the second of three straight games in the season series here in Hartford. The Wolf Pack are 3-3-0-1 thus far vs. the Bruins, after having won the last two head-to-head battles, and are 2-1-0-0 in three previous home games in the series. The Wolf Pack are 8-1-1-0 in the last ten XL Center games between the two teams. Providence rookie Peter Cehlarik is the leading scorer in this year’s season series, with 3-6-9, and Adam Tambellini tops Wolf Pack scorers with 3-2-5. In the all-time series vs. Providence, the Wolf Pack has a record of 86(W)-59(L)-8(T)-11(OTL)-7(SOL) in 171 meetings, with a mark of 46(W)-27(L)-5(T)-5(OTL)-2(SOL) at home.
Wolf Pack Notebook:
The Wolf Pack (21-37-4-2, 48 pts., .375) finished a season-high stretch of six straight road games Tuesday night, with a 5-2 loss at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Tonight starts four straight on home ice for the Pack, who have split their last four home outings. Marek Hrivik scored his third shorthanded goal of the season Tuesday, tying him for third in the AHL in that department and extending a point-scoring streak to four games (2-4-6). Chris Brown had the other Wolf Pack goal, his 12th of the season. Jeff Malcolm started in goal and denied 14 of the 19 shots he faced, and Mackenzie Skapski was perfect on 20 shots in relief. Taylor Beck (16-43-59 in 48 GP) comes into tonight second in the AHL in points and tied for second in assists. Ty Ronning, a seventh-round (201st overall) draft pick by the parent New York Rangers in the 2016 NHL draft who has played the last four seasons with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, signed an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement with the Wolf Pack Wednesday.
Bruins Notebook:
The Bruins (36-19-5-4, 81 pts., .633) last played Sunday, when they lost 5-2 to Utica in the finale of a three-game home weekend. Providence had won its previous two games on the weekend, but has lost four of its last six. Austin Czarnik and Chris Porter scored third-period goals Sunday for the Bruins, to narrow a 4-0 deficit to 4-2, but Providence could get no closer to the Comets than that. Porter has goals in back-to-back games (2-0-2), and Czarnik now has at least a point in six of his last seven AHL games (2-5-7). Jake DeBrusk assisted on both Providence goals Sunday, his second straight two-assist effort, and he now has points in four straight (2-4-6). Rookie defenseman Matt Grzelcyk had a helper for a third consecutive game (0-3-3), giving him at least a point in four of the last five (1-4-5). Zane McIntyre, who made 22 saves in the Bruin net Sunday, has lost four of his last five decisions, after going 15-0-1 in his first 16 AHL verdicts.
Last Night in the AHL:
Milwaukee 6 @ Manitoba 2
Tonight in the AHL (all times Eastern):
Utica @ Albany (7:00) Iowa @ Cleveland (7:00) Rockford @ Grand Rapids (7:00) W-B/Scr. @ Syracuse (7:00)
Springfield @ Rochester (7:05) Toronto @ Binghamton (7:30) Milwaukee @ Manitoba (8:00) Stockton @ Texas (8:30)
San Diego @ Bakersfield (10:00) San Antonio @ Ontario (10:00)
New York Rangers Notebook:
The parent New York Rangers (45-25-4, 94 pts.) start a three-game California road trip tomorrow night in Los Angeles (10:30). The Rangers’ last action was a 3-2 home loss to the Islanders Wednesday night. Mats Zuccarello and Rick Nash scored for the Rangers, and Antti Raanta made 25 saves. After tomorrow night’s action, the Blueshirts move on to Anaheim on Sunday (9:00) and San Jose Tuesday (10:30), before returning home to host Pittsburgh next Friday night (7:00).
Today/Tonight in the NHL (all times Eastern):
NY Islanders @ Pittsburgh (7:00) Tampa Bay @ Detroit (7:30) San Jose @ Dallas (8:30) Winnipeg @ Anaheim (10:00)