Wolf Pack Steal Point, Fall to Bruins 3-2 in Overtime

The Hartford Wolf Pack kicked off their three-game week in Providence, taking on the Bruins for the second time this season. The Wolf Pack sought a bounce-back performance after a brutal loss in Belleville on Saturday.

Providence outplayed Hartford throughout the game, but a miraculous performance in net from Dylan Garand forced overtime. The Bruins would take the extra point, however, securing a 3-2 overtime decision.

Just Find Justin

The Bruins dominated the opening frame, outshooting the Wolf Pack 15-5. However, Garand stood tall in net, denying all 15 bids against him. On the other end of the ice, Michael DiPietro stopped all five shots he faced, sending the game to the first intermission with a scoreless tie.

Providence finally broke the ice just over 14 minutes into the middle frame. Joey Abate took a feed from Jake Schmaltz and fired a long shot on net. Garand made the initial stop, but the puck trickled through the netminder and into the goal to give the Bruins the game's first lead.

However, the Wolf Pack answered back in the final minutes of the frame. Adam Sýkora knocked the puck away from a Bruin and corralled it in the offensive zone. Sýkora found Justin Dowling powering in and snapped him a pass. Dowling moved in and faked a slap shot before slipping the puck through the five-hole of DiPietro to tie the game.

The goal was Dowling's third of the season, and it sent the game into the second intermission with the score knotted at one.

Big Man, Big Moment

Providence would once again take the lead about 13 minutes into the third period. With Brett Berard in the box for hooking, Patrick Brown deflected a shot by Garand to put the Bruins back on top.

The Wolf Pack would get a golden opportunity to tie the game late in regulation. Riley Tufte went off for hooking, sending Hartford to the power play. Wolf Pack head coach Grant Potulny opted to lift Garand for the extra skater, giving the Wolf Pack a two-man advantage.

On the ensuing power play, Trey Fix-Wolansky kept a clearing attempt in and fired a long shot on net. Dylan Roobroeck, stationed in front of the cage, got a piece of it and redirected it into the goal to tie the game again.

The goal was Roobroeck's fourth of the season, tying him with Fix-Wolansky for the active team lead. Only Gabe Perreault, who was recalled by the New York Rangers on Sunday, has more, with five.

Neither team could find the lead in the remainder of regulation, sending the game to overtime.

Bad Bounces, Familiar Feelings

Both teams got opportunities in the extra frame, but the goaltenders made some impressive stops to keep the game knotted.

Finally, Fabian Lysell worked into the Hartford zone and cut towards the net. Lysell attempted a centering feed, but the puck ricocheted off the skate of Connor Mackey and into the Hartford net. The Bruins took the win and the extra point as a result.

It's another bad bounce in a week that's been filled with them. Garand was phenomenal, making 42 saves and basically willing the Wolf Pack into overtime, but he takes an unfortunate loss thanks to a carom he had no chance of corralling.

The positives? The Wolf Pack stole a point against the top team in the top team in the Eastern Conference. It may not feel great right now, but it's something they can hang their hat on as they gear up for a six-game home stand.

Up Next

The Wolf Pack are back in action on Friday, hosting the Rochester Americans to kick off a six-game home stand. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm.