Wolf Pack Return Home After Gritty Road Trip, Eye Key Weekend Matchups
After a grueling five-game swing through the Atlantic Division, the Hartford Wolf Pack are back in familiar territory-and they’re bringing some momentum with them. The club went 3-2-0-0 on their road trip, picking up crucial wins in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey to climb within striking distance of a playoff spot. Now sitting at 15-18-4-1, the Pack are just two points out of the postseason picture and have a golden opportunity to keep climbing with a back-to-back set on home ice this weekend.
A Road Trip That Built Some Backbone
Let’s start with the bounce-back win that may have set the tone for the trip. On Friday night in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Wolf Pack snapped a seven-game slide in that building with a 4-3 win that showed some real resilience.
The Penguins struck first and then retook the lead in the second period, but Hartford didn’t blink. Brett Berard answered just 26 seconds after the Penguins’ second goal, and from there the Pack took control.
Kalle Väisänen’s redirection on a Casey Fitzgerald shot gave Hartford the lead for good, and Justin Dowling added some cushion late in the second. Goaltender Dylan Garand shut the door in the third, making nine saves to preserve the win. It wasn’t perfect, but it was gritty-and it was exactly what the team needed.
Saturday night brought a bit of a reality check. The Penguins came out flying and built a 3-0 lead in the opening frame, with Gabe Klassen continuing to be a thorn in Hartford’s side.
Trey Fix-Wolansky got the Wolf Pack on the board early in the second, but that was as close as they’d get. Despite a strong push in the third period that included outshooting the Pens and ringing one off the post, the Pack couldn’t close the gap and fell 4-1.
But if Saturday was a stumble, Tuesday night in Hershey was a statement.
Fix-Wolansky's Hat Trick Headlines Wild Win in Hershey
Trey Fix-Wolansky put together the kind of performance that sticks with a team. The veteran forward not only opened the scoring just 32 seconds into the game-he followed it up with another tally less than three minutes later and capped the first Wolf Pack hat trick of the season with a penalty shot goal late in the second period.
By the time Fix-Wolansky was done lighting the lamp, Hartford had built a 4-1 lead. But Hershey wasn’t going quietly.
Brett Leason scored twice, and then the Bears tied it with back-to-back goals just 22 seconds apart early in the third. Suddenly, a game that seemed in control was headed to overtime.
That’s when Bryce McConnell-Barker stepped up. Just 92 seconds into the extra frame, the Wolf Pack earned a power play-and McConnell-Barker wasted no time. From the left-wing circle, he snapped a shot over the shoulder of Clay Stevenson to seal the 5-4 win and send the Pack home with a little swagger.
McConnell-Barker now leads the team with three game-winning goals on the season, and his late-game confidence is starting to become a real asset.
The Weekend Ahead: Familiar Foes and Fresh Faces
Friday night brings a renewal of the in-state rivalry with the Bridgeport Islanders in what’s been a tough season series for Hartford. This will be the seventh of 12 meetings between the clubs, and the Wolf Pack are just 2-4-0-0 so far-both wins coming on the road.
At home, it’s been a different story. The Islanders have shut out the Wolf Pack in both visits to Hartford this season, winning 3-0 in October and 4-0 on New Year’s Eve. If Hartford wants to flip the script, they’ll need to solve an Islanders defense that’s had their number at PeoplesBank Arena.
Then on Saturday, the Toronto Marlies come to town for the first time since the 2023-24 campaign. The Marlies swept that season series, including a 4-3 overtime win in Hartford and a 5-1 drubbing in Toronto. The Wolf Pack haven’t beaten the Marlies since April 5, 2023, when Jake Leschyshyn played the hero in OT.
This weekend offers a chance to rewrite some recent history-and with the team playing with renewed energy, there’s reason to believe they can.
Quick Hits
- Fix-Wolansky’s hat trick on Tuesday was the first by a Wolf Pack player this season. The last came courtesy of Alex Belzile back on December 4, 2024, against these same Islanders in Bridgeport.
- Former Pack forward Brennan Othmann made headlines of his own last weekend, scoring his first NHL goal for the Rangers in Philadelphia.
- With Tuesday’s win in Hershey, the Wolf Pack are now 9-9-1-1 on the road this season-hovering right around .500 in hostile territory.
- McConnell-Barker’s overtime winner not only secured the victory, but also gave him the team lead in game-winners with three.
How to Watch
Both games this weekend will be streamed live on AHLTV via FloHockey. Friday’s broadcast will be called by Sean Dufrense, while Alex Thomas returns to the mic Saturday night.
Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on Friday and 7:15 p.m. on Saturday. Fans can also catch the action live on Mixlr.
With the playoff race heating up and the Wolf Pack finding their rhythm, this weekend feels like more than just two games-it’s a chance to turn the corner.