The Hartford Wolf Pack have made their second round of training camp cuts, paring their roster by six players.

Defensemen Tysen Dowzak has been assigned to Charlotte, while fellow blueliner Tomas Kundratek has once again been re-assigned to his junior team, the Medicine Hat Tigers — time will tell if he chooses to report. In addition, the Wolf Pack have assigned AHL signings Jean-Philip Chabot and Mike Berube to Charlotte. Defenseman Luke Lucyk, who’s under contract with the Checkers, has been cut and is also Charlotte-bound. Veteran Dan LaCouture, in camp as a tryout, has also been cut.

That leaves the following 28 players with the team:

Goal (4): Chad Johnson, Ryan Munce, Miika Wiikman, Matt Zaba

Defense (9): Trevor Glass, Ilkka Heikkinen, Brent Henley, Jared Nightingale, Corey Potter, Bobby Sanguinetti, Michael Sauer, David Urquhart, Nigel Williams

Forwards (15): Andres Ambühl, Tyler Arnason, Dane Byers, Derek Couture, Paul Crowder, Devin DiDiomete, Brodie Dupont, Ryan Hillier, Corey Locke, Jordan Owens, P.A. Parenteau, Patrick Rissmiller, Justin Soryal, Dale Weise, Tomas Zaborsky

The Wolf Pack play their final game of the preseason this afternoon against the Worcester Sharks at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury at 3:00 PM.

Players cut by the Wolf Pack on September 27th:

Reassigned by NY Rangers from Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL):
Defensemen (1): Tysen Dowzak

Loaned by Wolf Pack to Charlotte (ECHL):
Forwards (1): Jean-Philip Chabot
Defensemen (1): Mike Berube

Released by Wolf Pack and Joining Charlotte (ECHL):
Defensemen (1): Luke Lucyk

Reassigned by NY Rangers to Medicine Hat (WHL):
Defensemen (1): Tomas Kundratek

Released by Wolf Pack:
Forwards (1): Dan LaCouture

Derek Couture continued to make a case for a roster spot with his team-leading fourth goal of the preseason (and a fight) and Dane Byers added a goal (and a fight) of his own, but the Wolf Pack fell 3-2 to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  The Pack outshot their hosts 40-18, but Matt Zaba stopped just 15 shots in his preseason debut for the Pack.  I’ll get back in the swing of things once the regular season starts next week; in the meantime, here’s the game wrap from the Wolf Pack.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3, Hartford Wolf Pack 2

Shelton, CT, September 26, 2009 – Vladimir Nikiforov scored the game-winning goal and added two assists, and former Hartford Wolf Pack forward Paul Healey scored two goals, as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers handed the Hartford Wolf Pack their first loss in three AHL preseason games, 3-2, Saturday night at The Rinks at Shelton.

The Wolf Pack lost despite outshooting the Sound Tigers 40-18 in the game.

Healey gave Bridgeport the game’s first lead at the 8:13 mark of the first period.  Nikiforov’s shot from the left wing side hit a crowd in front of Pack starting goaltender Matt Zaba and Healey flipped in the rebound.  That marked the first time Hartford had trailed in three preseason games.

That lead lasted until 19:33, when Derek Couture scored his team-leading fourth goal of the preseason to tie it up for the Wolf Pack.  Couture cleanly beat Bridgeport starter Scott Munroe with a shot from the top of the right-wing circle.

Hartford took its only lead of the game 4:03 into the second frame, just as a power play was expiring.  Stationed along with Paul Crowder in front of relief goaltender Mikko Koskinen, Dane Byers poked in the rebound of a shot by Andres Ambuhl.

Healey got that goal back for the Sound Tigers at 9:43, as he again buried the rebound of a Nikiforov try.

After Koskinen preserved the tie by stopping Ambuhl on a one-on-one chance at 12:56, one of Koskinen’s 13 saves in the second period, Nikiforov notched the deciding goal at 9:18 of the third session, with the Wolf Pack’s Corey Potter in the penalty box for slashing.  Nikiforov beat Zaba after Dustin Friesen threw the puck in front from the left-wing circle.

That was one of only two shots on goal for Bridgeport in the period, and Koskinen stopped all 17 Wolf Pack shots in the frame.  Koskinen got the win, with 30 total saves and one goal-against.

The Wolf Pack finish their 2009 preseason slate Sunday, September 27 at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury at 3:00 PM, hosting the Worcester Sharks.  The Wolf Pack’s 2009-10 regular-season home schedule kicks off Saturday, October 10 at the XL Center against the Springfield Falcons (7:00).  Once again this season, tickets to the home opener are only $10 each.

Hartford Wolf Pack 2 at Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3
Sep 26, 2009 – The Rinks at Shelton

Hartford 1 1 0 – 2
Bridgeport 1 1 1 – 3

1st Period-1, Bridgeport, Healey 1 (Sixsmith, Nikiforov), 8:13. 2, Hartford, Couture 4 (Henley, Rissmiller), 19:33. Penalties-Henley Hfd (roughing), 3:01; Figren Bri (hooking), 5:22; Lesperance Bri (hooking), 9:07; Sauer Hfd (holding), 13:01; Romano Bri (hooking), 17:20.

2nd Period-3, Hartford, Byers 1 (Ambuhl), 4:03. 4, Bridgeport, Healey 2 (Nikiforov, Sixsmith), 9:43. Penalties-Owens Hfd (interference), 0:48; Bourbeau Bri (holding the stick), 1:58; Couture Hfd (fighting), 4:59; Gannon Bri (fighting), 4:59; Gannon Bri (hooking), 13:06; DiDiomete Hfd (roughing), 15:51.

3rd Period-5, Bridgeport, Nikiforov 1 (Friesen), 9:18 (pp). Penalties-Sellars Bri (holding), 1:21; Byers Hfd (fighting), 8:47; Bourbeau Bri (fighting), 8:47; Potter Hfd (slashing), 9:06; Sellars Bri (interference), 10:09; Sellars Bri (hooking), 14:03; Owens Hfd (diving), 18:14; Lesperance Bri (hooking), 18:14.

Shots on Goal: Hartford 9-14-17-40. Bridgeport 7-9-2-18.
Power Play Opportunities: Hartford 0 of 8; Bridgeport 1 of 5.
Goalies: Hartford, Zaba 0-1-0 (18 shots-15 saves). Bridgeport, Munroe 0-0-0 (9 shots-8 saves); Koskinen 1-0-0 (31 shots-30 saves).
A: 1,723

A few more familiar faces made their way back into the Wolf Pack lineup on Friday night, but it was still the newcomers making the biggest impact, led by 21-year old defenseman Trevor Glass’ pair of goals and another strong performance by tryout invitee Dan Couture, who’s goal and assist give him four points in two preseason games.  The following game recap comes courtesy of the Wolf Pack. For a look at how individual players fared in the contest, see Leslie Treff’s take at Hockey’s Future’s Rangers blog.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2 at Hartford Wolf Pack 4

Cromwell, CT, September 25, 2009 – Rookie defenseman Trevor Glass scored two goals, and Derek Couture added a goal and an assist, as the Hartford Wolf Pack ran their AHL preseason record to 2-0 with a 4-2 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Friday night at Champions Skating Center.

Tony Romano had both of Bridgeport’s goals.  Tyler Arnason chipped in two assists for the Wolf Pack.

The Wolf Pack jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, on goals by Couture and Corey Locke.

Couture notched his third goal in two preseason games at 6:20.  Couture broke in on a two-on-one with Tomas Zaborsky and jammed Zaborsky’s pass underneath Bridgeport starting goaltender Dov Grumet-Morris.

Locke, playing his first game of the preseason, then scored on a five-on-three power play at 8:55, beating Grumet-Morris with a sharp-angle shot from the right-wing faceoff circle.

Hartford outshot Bridgeport 11-3 in the opening frame, but the Sound Tigers would enjoy a 30-16 advantage in that department over the final two periods.

The two teams traded goals in the second, the Wolf Pack scoring on a four-on-four and the Sound Tigers replying with a power-play tally.

Rookie defenseman Trevor Glass pounded home a slapshot from the top of the right circle at 17:12 for a 3-0 Hartford lead.  That was against relief goaltender Juha Toivonen, who relieved Grumet-Morris at the 9:42 mark.

Bridgeport got on the board for the first time at 19:03, with Jared Nightingale off for cross-checking.  Tony Romano buried a chance from right outside the goal crease of Wolf Pack netminder Chad Johnson, making his first Pack appearance.

After that late goal in the second, Romano scored again at the 1:00 mark of the third frame to make it 3-2, but that would be as close as the Sound Tigers would get.

Glass tallied his second of the game at 4:34, when Arnason set him up at the left side of the crease on a two-on-one.  That made the final 4-2.

Johnson made 31 saves in the Hartford net.  Grumet-Morris allowed two goals for Bridgeport on 13 shots, and Toivonen took the loss with two goals-against on 14 shots.

The Wolf Pack wrap up their home preseason action this Sunday, September 27 at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury at 3:00 PM, hosting the Worcester Sharks.  The Wolf Pack’s 2009-10 regular-season home schedule kicks off Saturday, October 10 at the XL Center against the Springfield Falcons (7:00).  Once again this season, tickets to the home opener are only $10 each.

Bridgeport Sound Tigers 2 at Hartford Wolf Pack 4
Sep 25, 2009 – Champions Skating Center

Bridgeport 0 1 1 – 2
Hartford 2 1 1 – 4

1st Period-1, Hartford, Couture 3 (Zaborsky), 6:20. 2, Hartford, Locke 1 (Urquhart, Weise), 8:55 (pp). Penalties-Bourbeau Bri (holding the stick), 3:52; Findorff Bri (bench minor – too many men), 7:47; Gannon Bri (hooking), 8:14; Glass Hfd (holding), 12:36; Lesperance Bri (roughing), 15:05.

2nd Period-3, Hartford, Glass 1 (Owens, Arnason), 17:12. 4, Bridgeport, Romano 1 (DiBenedetto, Figren), 19:03 (pp). Penalties-Findorff Bri (holding), 0:35; Soryal Hfd (slashing, roughing), 0:35; Gruenke Bri (slashing), 3:14; Lucyk Hfd (hooking), 4:25; Findorff Bri (hooking), 8:17; Owens Hfd (hooking), 10:52; Klementyev Bri (fighting), 13:27; Weise Hfd (fighting), 13:27; Romano Bri (hooking), 15:45; Dupont Hfd (interference), 16:29; Nightingale Hfd (cross-checking), 18:12.

3rd Period-5, Bridgeport, Romano 2 (DiBenedetto, Figren), 1:00. 6, Hartford, Glass 2 (Arnason, Couture), 4:36. Penalties-Sellars Bri (fighting), 1:00; Weise Hfd (fighting), 1:00; Couture Hfd (roughing), 10:34; Nightingale Hfd (hooking), 16:47.

Shots on Goal: Bridgeport 3-11-19-33. Hartford 11-8-8-27.
Power Play Opportunities: Bridgeport 1 of 8; Hartford 1 of 7.
Goalies: Bridgeport, Grumet-Morris 0-0-0 (13 shots-11 saves); Toivnen 0-1-0 (9:42 second, 14 shots-12 saves). Hartford, Johnson 1-0-0 (33 shots-31 saves).
Referee: Francis Charron.
Linesmen: Brent Colby (7), Luke Galvin (2).