Drew Fortescue picked the perfect moment to score the first pro goal of his career.
The rookie defenseman buried the overtime winner Saturday night, lifting the Hartford Wolf Pack to a 3-2 victory over the Syracuse Crunch and giving Hartford the extra point in a game that needed more than 60 minutes to settle. The win kept the Wolf Pack moving through their season-long eight-game road trip, where they now sit at 3-3-1-0.
Hartford struck first just past the nine-minute mark of the opening period. Bryce McConnell-Barker tracked down a loose puck behind the Syracuse net and found Justin Nachbaur above the right circle, where Nachbaur fired through traffic and beat Olivier Rodrigue for his first goal as a member of the Wolf Pack. It came one day after he logged his first point with the club.
Syracuse answered before the period was over. Jakob Pelletier turned a turnover into a goal just under the 12-minute mark, slipping the puck through Callum Tung’s five hole to make it 1-1. The first period also ended with some extra fire, as Nachbaur and Cooper Flinton dropped the gloves in a spirited fight.
The Crunch grabbed their first lead early in the second when a communication breakdown opened the door for Lucas Mercuri, who scored into an empty Hartford net just over three minutes into the frame. Hartford didn’t stay down long.
Liam Greentree sent a puck into neutral ice, Matteo Pietroniro couldn’t control it, and Carey Terrance pounced before setting up Justin Dowling for the tying goal. It was Dowling’s third of the season, and the teams went to the second intermission locked at 2-2.
The third period stayed tight, with both clubs killing off two big penalties and neither side able to break through. That sent the game to overtime, where Hartford finally found the opening it needed.
Taylor Raddysh knocked Jansen Harkins off the puck and moved it to Fortescue, who jumped into the Syracuse zone on an odd-man rush with Juuso Pärssinen. Fortescue chose to shoot, and his blocker-side finish beat Rodrigue to end it.
Hartford now heads to Springfield on Tuesday to face the Thunderbirds in the second meeting of the season in the I-91 Rivalry. Puck drop is set for 10:35 am.
In Other News...
Rangers Suddenly Have Real Road Momentum After Another Strong Night
The Rangers have quietly built some real traction over the last week, and it showed again with a third straight win, their first on this four-game road trip. A team that had been searching for a cleaner rhythm away from home suddenly looks a little more settled, with several players stretching out point streaks and the overall pace of the group starting to feel more connected.
Adam Fox was once again at the center of it, continuing a season that has him piling up assists at a rare clip for a Rangers defenseman. In goal, Joonas Korpisalo also gave the night a different feel, making his season debut and picking up his first win as a Ranger, a useful sign for a club trying to turn this road swing into something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Suddenly Entered The Kucherov Buzz For One Big Reason
Nikita Kucherovs trade request out of Tampa Bay has suddenly put the Rangers in the conversation, and it is not hard to see why the idea has traction in New York. The star winger made it clear his issue is with the way he has been treated by the Lightning, pointing to poor communication and a lack of respect rather than anything tied to money, which immediately turns this into more than a routine contract dispute.
Insider chatter has only added to the intrigue, with the Rangers mentioned as a possible landing spot if the situation ever gets that far. There is still plenty to sort through, including whether Kucherov would even approve New York on a no-trade list, but for a team that is always watching for elite talent, this is the kind of opening that gets attention fast. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Showed One Encouraging Thing Despite A Nervy Finish
The Rangers got a look at some fresh faces against Seattle, with Matthew Robertson and Joonas Korpisalo both making their season debuts in a game that had plenty of early control before it tightened up late. New York built a 4-0 lead through the first two periods, giving the night the feel of a comfortable reset for a team trying to sort out its depth and get contributions from players stepping into bigger roles.
Then the third period arrived and reminded everyone how quickly a game can change. Seattle broke through early to end Korpisalos shutout bid, and the finish turned nervy in a hurry, but the bigger takeaway for the Rangers was the way they had dictated the first 40 minutes and given themselves enough cushion to survive the wobble. [Read more 🡒]