Rangers prospects blanked in 6-0 Wolf Pack playoff loss

Alex Belzile / Photo Credit: Hartford Wolf Pack

It’s time for the Hartford Wolf Pack to quickly turn the page on their 6-0 loss to the Providence Bruins in Game 2 of their Calder Cup Playoff series Friday. The AHL affiliate of the New York Rangers had a three-game playoff winning streak come to an end and they’re now tied 1-1 in the best-of-5 Atlantic Division Semifinals.

Rangers goalie prospect Dylan Garand, who had a postseason goals-against average of 1.95 and save percentage of .945 entering the game, allowed six goals on 40 shots. He battled to make 15 saves on 17 shots in the second period and 13 of 14 in the third.

Hartford couldn’t replicate their fast start nor strong play from Game 1 on Wednesday, a 4-3 victory after an early 2-0 lead. The Wolf pack allowed a goal 2:42 into Game 2 and two goals 24 seconds apart beginning at 13:44 to fall behind 3-0 in the first period.

Jayson Megna, who played six games for the Rangers and 69 with the Wolf Pack in 2015-16, had a goal and an assist, one of five Bruins to record a multi-point game. Ian Mitchell and Vincent Arseneau each scored twice.

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Rangers prospect Matthew Robertson receives game misconduct in AHL playoff game

Matthew Robertson – Photo: Hartford Wolf Pack

Matthew Robertson, New York’s second-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, totaled 19 penalty minutes in the loss, including a major for boarding and a game misconduct at 13:14 of the third period. He also was assessed a pair of minor penalties earlier in the game.

Though Providence didn’t score during Robertson’s five-minute major in the third, it did have a power-play goals earlier in the game, including a 5-on-3 PPG with Robertson in the penalty box during the second period. Hartford had a two-minute 5-on-3 opportunity early in the third but failed to score.

Providence goalie Brandon Bussi finished with 34 saves, 18 in the third period.

Rangers forward prospect Brett Berard, who leads the Wolf Pack with five postseason points, had a three-game point streak end in the loss. He had scored multiple points in each of the previous two games.

The series shifts to Hartford for Game 3 on Wednesday.

Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of... More about Jim Cerny

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