The Hartford Wolf Pack are quietly staying in the playoff conversation. Winners in six of their last 10 games, the Pack are showing signs of life, but they’re still just outside the AHL’s Atlantic Division postseason picture.
At 16-19-4-1, they sit seventh in the division with 37 points - just one point back of the final playoff spot. It’s not panic time, but every game from here on out matters.
Last week brought a mix of highs and lows. Hartford opened with a dramatic 5-4 overtime win over the Hershey Bears on Tuesday, followed by a gritty 3-2 victory against the Bridgeport Islanders on Friday. But the momentum hit a wall Saturday in Toronto, where the Wolf Pack fell 4-1 to the Marlies - their 19th regulation loss of the season.
With three games on the schedule this week, Hartford has a chance to claw back to .500 and keep pace in a tight playoff race. The Rangers’ AHL affiliate is getting contributions from a mix of young talent and seasoned pros, and the lineup continues to shuffle as New York makes moves of its own.
Roster Moves: Mackey Up, Blidh Back
The Rangers made a move Monday that impacted both ends of the organization. Defenseman Connor Mackey was called up to New York after the Rangers shipped Carson Soucy to the Islanders in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick. The Wolf Pack blue line takes a hit with Mackey’s departure, but they do get forward Anton Blidh back after a brief stint in the NHL.
Blidh’s return adds a veteran presence up front, and he’ll be counted on to help anchor a forward group that’s been in flux all season.
Juuso Pärssinen: Back on the Ice - Briefly
There was a glimmer of hope Friday night when Juuso Pärssinen returned to the lineup after missing 19 games. The 24-year-old made an immediate impact, scoring his first goal with Hartford in a 3-2 win over Bridgeport.
But the celebration was short-lived - Pärssinen left the game in the second period with an upper-body injury and didn’t dress Saturday in Toronto. He’s considered day-to-day.
Pärssinen’s season has been a roller coaster. After a tough start with the Rangers - two goals and one assist in 14 games - he was placed on waivers and assigned to Hartford.
His AHL debut came on Nov. 28, but he was injured in that very game and hadn’t seen the ice since. Before this season, he put up 25 points in 36 games with Milwaukee during the 2023-24 campaign, so there’s clearly offensive upside when he’s healthy.
On Friday, he skated alongside Trey Fix-Wolansky and Brendan Brisson on the second line - a trio with NHL experience and some real scoring punch. If Pärssinen can stay healthy, he could be a difference-maker in the second half.
Bryce McConnell-Barker Finding His Stride
Second-year pro Bryce McConnell-Barker is starting to turn heads. The 2022 third-round pick is showing real growth in his sophomore season, already setting a new career high with eight goals in 37 games - one better than his rookie total. He’s tied for fourth on the team in goals and has been especially effective on the power play, where his three goals are tied for third-most on the squad.
What’s more, McConnell-Barker has a knack for the clutch moment. He’s tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals, including a dramatic overtime winner against Hershey on Jan. 20 - part of a two-goal performance that night.
His offensive production is trending up, and the numbers back it up. He’s averaging 1.72 shots per game this season, more than double his rate from a year ago. That increased activity is translating into more chances - and more goals.
With the Rangers continuing to retool, McConnell-Barker could be a name to watch if New York needs a bottom-six forward later this season. For now, he’s becoming a key piece of Hartford’s offensive puzzle.
Trey Fix-Wolansky Leading the Charge
There’s no question who’s driving the offense right now - Trey Fix-Wolansky is in the zone. The 5-foot-6 winger leads the Wolf Pack in both goals (15) and points (27) through 40 games, and he’s riding a four-game point streak that includes four goals and three assists.
He lit up Hershey with a hat trick on Jan. 20, then followed it up with two primary assists against Bridgeport just three days later. Fix-Wolansky has registered a point in 22 of 40 games this season and has notched multiple points in four of them.
Signed to a one-year, two-way deal by the Rangers last summer, Fix-Wolansky is making a strong case for another shot at the NHL. He has 26 games of NHL experience under his belt - all with Columbus - and if he keeps producing at this clip, he could be in line for a call-up depending on how things shake out in New York.
His AHL track record speaks for itself: 29 goals in one season, 26 in two others. He’s a proven scorer at this level, and right now, he’s the engine driving Hartford’s offense.
Looking Ahead: Three Key Matchups
The Wolf Pack have three games this week - all against divisional opponents - and every point is critical as they try to climb the standings.
**Wednesday, Jan. 28 vs. Charlotte Checkers (6:30 p.m.
ET, PeoplesBank Arena)**
Hartford faces Charlotte for the second time this season, having won the first meeting 4-1 back in October.
The Checkers are third in the Atlantic and fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 24-12-3-0 record. Jack Devine leads the way with 29 points, while Wilmer Skoog and Ben Steeves have each chipped in 27.
**Friday, Jan. 30 vs. Bridgeport Islanders (7:00 p.m.
ET, PeoplesBank Arena)**
This will be the eighth meeting between the Wolf Pack and Bridgeport this season.
Hartford is 3-4-0-0 in the season series and will look to even things up. Bridgeport sits sixth in the Atlantic, just one point ahead of Hartford.
Adam Beckman leads the Islanders with 25 points, while Joey Larson and Alex Jefferies are close behind with 24 apiece.
Saturday, Jan. 31 at Springfield Thunderbirds (6:05 p.m. ET, MassMutual Center)
Hartford is 4-2-0-0 against Springfield this season and will look to add to that success. The Thunderbirds are currently at the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings.
Matt Luff (33 points) and Matthew Peca (27 points) are the key offensive threats.
With three divisional games on tap, this week could be a turning point for the Wolf Pack. Win two or even all three, and they’re right back in the thick of the playoff hunt.
Drop a couple, and the climb gets steeper. The good news?
They’ve got the firepower - and maybe just enough momentum - to make a real push.