Gabe Perreault Delivers in the Clutch as Wolf Pack Complete Comeback Win
Saturday night in Cleveland, the Hartford Wolf Pack were staring down a 2-0 deficit in the third period. Then Gabe Perreault took over.
The New York Rangers’ top prospect turned in the first multi-goal performance of his pro career, fueling a furious third-period rally that lifted Hartford to a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Monsters. And he didn’t just spark the comeback - he finished it, too, burying the game-winner with just 61 seconds left in regulation.
For a Rangers organization that had a rough night at the NHL level - a flat 4-1 loss to the Lightning and a concerning upper-body injury to Adam Fox - Perreault’s breakout performance in the AHL was a much-needed bright spot.
A Spark and a Finish
Perreault’s first goal came midway through the third, and it was textbook. Skating 4-on-4, he found soft ice in the slot and let loose a blistering quick-release shot that sliced the deficit in half at 11:56. The kind of goal that doesn’t just put numbers on the board - it changes momentum.
And momentum swung hard. Just nine seconds later, the Wolf Pack struck again. Trey Fix-Wolansky cleaned up a rebound after Jaroslav Chmelar’s wraparound attempt was denied, tying the game at 2-2 and flipping the pressure squarely onto Cleveland.
Then, with under two minutes to play, the Monsters took a high-sticking penalty. Perreault didn’t waste time making them pay. Just 19 seconds into the power play, he stepped into a prime shooting lane between the circles and ripped home the game-winner - another lightning-fast release, another reminder of why he’s one of the most exciting young forwards in the Rangers’ system.
It was Perreault’s first power-play goal of the season and his eighth overall. He’s now tied for fifth among AHL rookies in goals, and his shooting percentage?
A scorching 32 percent - eight goals on just 25 shots. That kind of efficiency jumps off the page.
The next step: getting him to pull the trigger more often.
AHL Rookie Season Gaining Steam
Perreault’s night wasn’t just a personal milestone - it was a continuation of what’s quietly becoming a very strong rookie campaign in Hartford. He leads the team in scoring with 14 points through 15 games and owns a team-best plus-10 rating. Earlier this season, he rattled off a four-game point streak and earned AHL Player of the Week honors.
His brief NHL stint in early November showed flashes of promise, too. He logged his first NHL point with an assist on an Alexis Lafrenière power-play goal in a 6-2 win over Nashville. But defensive concerns limited his ice time, and he was sent back to Hartford after three games.
Since returning, Perreault needed a couple games to settle back in. But over his last four, he’s found his rhythm again - three goals, one assist, and a renewed presence as the engine of the Wolf Pack offense.
Hartford, not coincidentally, has won four of six since his return, including a two-game sweep in Cleveland this weekend.
What’s Next for Perreault?
At just 20 years old, Perreault is showing the kind of offensive instincts and poise under pressure that have the Rangers excited about his future. He’s not just putting up numbers - he’s delivering in key moments, like Saturday night’s game-winner with the clock winding down.
There’s still room to grow, especially in the defensive zone, where NHL coaches demand consistency. But if Perreault keeps producing like this - and keeps showing that knack for rising to the occasion - it’s only a matter of time before he earns another shot in New York.
For now, though, he’s giving Hartford exactly what they need: a game-breaker who can tilt the ice and finish when it matters most.