SOUND TIGERS REPORT: Week 14

Finnish native Otto Koivula was en fuego last week, extending his point-
scoring streak to five games and moving into the Top 5 among AHL
rookies in points scored.
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Koivula extends goal-scoring streak; Sound Tigers conclude road trip and return home this weekend.

BRIDGEPORT—Otto Koivula extended his goal-scoring streak to five games and moved into the top seven among all rookie scorers in the American Hockey League, as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (21-11-4-2) completed the first half of their 2018-19 regular season last week. The Finnish star's active streak is tied for the longest in the league and the Finnish forward now ranks second on the Sound Tigers in goals (12) and points (25).

The Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, collected just one point in three games (0-2-0-1) last week, continuing a six-game road trip through the North Division. The lone point came in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Rochester Americans (22-12-2-0) on Wednesday, in which the Sound Tigers battled back from a first-period deficit at Blue Cross Arena. That SOL allowed Bridgeport to increase its run in games it picked up at least one point to nine in its last 10 games. Matt Gaudreau (one goal, one assist) and Tanner Fritz (one goal, one assist) led the way offensively, including Gaudreau's first AHL goal early in the second period, while Jeremy Smith (11-6-2) made 25 saves just hours after he was named CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month for December.

Following a practice day on Thursday, the Sound Tigers faced the Syracuse Crunch (21-10-2-0) for the first time this season and dropped a 3-1 decision at the War Memorial Arena in Syracuse on Friday night. Koivula posted Bridgeport’s only goal and Christopher Gibson (11-5-4) stopped 29 of 32 shots, while the Crunch capitalized once in each period to earn their fourth straight home victory.

Twenty-four hours later, Koivula set a new career high with his fifth goal in five games, but the Sound Tigers could not hold off the Binghamton Devils (16-20-3-0), dropping a 3-2 decision at Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday. Travis St. Denis also scored on the power play and Smith made 31 saves as the Sound Tigers saw their winless streak hit three games for the first time this year (0-2-1).

Bridgeport remains second in the Atlantic Division with 48 points in 38 games, and the league-leadings Charlotte Checkers by nine points. Bridgeport will look for its first win of 2019 on Friday night when they conclude their season-long road trip at the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, N.Y. The Sound Tigers will face the Utica Comets (20-16-2-1) for the first time this season before returning home to face their in-state archrivals, the 17-16-2-2 Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday. First puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Webster Bank Arena.

Fans can follow all of the action online via the Sound Tigers Radio Network and AHLTV, beginning with the pregame show 15 minutes before each listed start time.

—Staff Reports

Black Wolves Get Two First Round Draft Picks In Trade With Philadelphia For Crowley

UNCASVILLE—The New England Black Wolves have traded forward Kevin Crowley to the Philadelphia Wings for first round picks in the 2019 and 2022 NLL Entry Drafts.

The draft picks the team receives will join a franchise with a core of young talent, including 2018 NLL Entry Draft selection Dereck Downs, who had two points in his first career game against Saskatchewan on December 28, and Colton Watkinson, who was a member of the 2017-18 NLL All-Rookie Team after being drafted in the first round by New England in 2017.

Other recent early draft selections currently making an impact on the Black Wolves roster include defensemen Nick Chaykowsky and Joel Coyle, forwards Seth Oakes and JP Kealey and goaltender Doug Jamieson.

Crowley has 533 career points (257 goals, 276 assists) in 118 career games over seven seasons.

“This is a deal that had to be made,” Black Wolves general manager Rich Lisk said. “We have tried the past two years to sign Kevin to a multi-year deal and we could not come to an agreement. We are unwavering in our commitment to build a team of players that want to be in New England and the team that we have assembled is just that.”

The Black Wolves will be back in action next on January 12 at Calgary before returning home to take on the Georgia Swarm on January 19 at Mohegan Sun Arena. Season tickets and mini plans are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting blackwolves.com or calling 844-LAX-WOLF.

—Staff Reports

WOLF PACK WEEKLY: January 1-6, 2019

HARTFORD—The Hartford Wolf Pack (15-15-2-2, 34 pts., .500) finished out calendar year 2018 by going 4-1-1-0 in their last six games, to get to the even mark for the season. After snapping a five-game losing streak with their first shutout of the season, a 3-0 home win over Providence December 19, the Wolf Pack swept a pair of games in Rochester in their last action before the Christmas holiday. The club returned to play with a home-and-home against Bridgeport, which yielded a 3-2 regulation loss on Thursday night in Bridgeport and a 3-2 overtime defeat Saturday night at home. The Wolf Pack went to overtime again Sunday at the XL Center, and registered a 6-5 victory over the Springfield Thunderbirds. John Gilmour had two goals, including the game-winner. Gabriel Fontaine also scored twice, and Peter Holland and Ville Meskanen added a each had goal and an assist.

 

For the latest AHL standings, click here.

 

This week:

 

The Wolf Pack face their second three-games-in-three-days situation, starting with their second straight home game against Springfield this Friday night. That is a 7:15 p.m. faceoff, and then the Lehigh Valley Phantoms make their first XL Center visit of the year Saturday night, for a 7 p.m. game. On Sunday the Wolf Pack head to Providence to take on the Bruins, with faceoff at 3:05 p.m.

Fri., Jan. 4, vs. Springfield at the XL Center, 7:15 p.m.

At every Friday-night Wolf Pack home game, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas presented by Nomads Adventure Quest until the start of the second period.

• Sunday’s 6-5 overtime win over the Thunderbirds at the XL Center gave the Wolf Pack a split of the first two games of the season between the I-91 rivals. The Thunderbirds took the first meeting October 28 in Springfield, 6-2.
• After their OT loss to the Wolf Pack Sunday, the Thunderbirds, AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers, are winless in a team season-high five straight games (0-3-2-0) and are 15-11-4-3 on the season for 37 points, three points ahead of the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division standings.
• Matt Marcinew scored his first career AHL goal for the Thunderbirds in Sunday’s game in Hartford, and Joel Lowry and Anthony Greco had a goal and an assist each.
• Fans 21 and older are invited to come early for “Hockey Happy Hour” in the Comcast Coliseum Club at all Wolf Pack home games. Fans can enjoy $2 beers and $5 appetizers from 5:15 p.m. until the game starts.

Broadcast–live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on News Radio 1410 WPOP, on-line at newsradio1410.iheart.com and on iHeartRadio. Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV.

Sat., Jan. 5, vs. Lehigh Valley at the XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

This is “Pucks and Paws” and Pet Adoption Night at the XL Center. There will be designated sections in which fans can purchase tickets to bring their dogs to the game (click here), and in the XL Center atrium prior to the game, a number of Sonar’s lovable, furry friends who are in need of good homes will be on hand.

The Phantoms (19-10-1-2, 41 pts.), AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, had a 4-0-0-1 run snapped in their last contest—7-3 home loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday night. That was Lehigh Valley’s first regulation loss under new head coach Kerry Huffman, who took over when Scott Gordon was promoted to become bench boss of the Flyers.

• This is the second meeting of the year between the Wolf Pack and Phantoms, and Lehigh Valley took the first, winning 7-3 on October 24 at the XL Center.
• Phantoms point-scoring leader Greg Carey comes into the week tied for sixth in the AHL in points, with 16-18-34 in 32 games.

Broadcast–Live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on News Radio 1410 WPOP, on-line at newsradio1410.iheart.com and on iHeartRadio. Video streaming at theahl.com/AHLTV.

 Sun., Jan. 6 vs. the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, Providence, at 3:05 p.m.

The Wolf Pack is 4-0-1-0 vs. the Bruins, AHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins, this season. The Pack earned a 4-3 victory in their only previous visit to Providence (Oct. 13).

• The Bruins finished 2018 one point behind the Wolf Pack in the Atlantic Division standings, with a record of 14-15-5-0 for 33 points.
• Veteran defenseman Cody Goloubef scored two goals for the Bruins in a 4-1 win at Hershey Saturday night, in his return to the lineup after missing the previous 17 games due to injury.

Tickets for all 2018-19 Wolf Pack home games 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. Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $13 each. All tickets will have a $3 day-of-game surcharge.

Recent Transactions:

• Drew Melanson – Recalled by the Wolf Pack from Maine (ECHL) Dec. 20.
• Sean Day – Reassigned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers from Maine (ECHL) Dec. 27.
• Ryan Gropp – Reassigned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers from Maine (ECHL) Dec. 27.
• Lias Andersson – Returned to the Wolf Pack by the New York Rangers Dec. 28.

Practice:

All Wolf Pack practices are open to the media at the XL Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell. As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 541-4791 before attending a practice.

Thurs., Jan. 3, 10:30–11 a.m., XL Center

• Fri., Jan. 4, 10–10:30 a.m., XL Center (game vs. Springfield)
• Sat., Jan. 5, 10:30–11 a.m., Champions Skating Center (game vs. Lehigh Valley)
• Sun., Jan. 6, Game at Providence
• Mon., Jan. 7, No practice

Pack Tracks:

Sat., Jan. 19, when the Wolf Pack host the Springfield Thunderbirds at 7 p.m., the first 1,000 kids 12 years old and younger will receive a free Wolf Pack rally towel, presented by Carvel.

Once again this season, fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, and $2 draft beers and fountain sodas, at every Friday Wolf Pack home game, through the start of the second period, presented by Nomads Adventure Quest. After this Friday, the Wolf Pack’s next Friday home date is Jan. 18, when they host the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in a 7:15 p.m. game.

Each of the Wolf Pack’s Sunday and Wednesday home games will feature the Wolf Pack’s “Click It or Ticket Family Value Pack”. The Family Value Pack includes two tickets, two sodas and two hot dogs, all for just $40. The next Family Value Pack game is Wed., Jan.y 23, when the Springfield Thunderbirds come to town for a 7 p.m. game.

Every Wolf Pack Wednesday home game is a “Winning Wednesday”. If the Wolf Pack win at home on a Wednesday, fans can show their Winning Wednesday ticket at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center and receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday Wolf Pack home game (some restrictions apply).

Wolf Pack home game tickets can be purchased at the Agera Energy Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499. Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $13 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase. To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.

—Staff Reports