Drew Fortescue picked the perfect moment for the first professional goal of his career.
His overtime winner on Saturday night lifted the Hartford Wolf Pack to a 3-2 victory over the Syracuse Crunch at Upstate Medical University Arena, capping a road win that had to be earned every step of the way.
Hartford got on the board first when Justin Nachbaur buried his first goal as a member of the Wolf Pack 9:11 into the game. Bryce McConnell-Barker carried the puck to the right side of the offensive zone and fed Nachbaur in the right-wing circle, where he snapped a shot into traffic that slipped past Olivier Rodrigue for a 1-0 lead.
Syracuse answered at 11:50. Nick Abruzzese jumped an outlet pass at the blueline and quickly moved the puck down low to Jakob Pelletier, who went to the front of the net and beat Callum Tung to tie it 1-1. It was Pelletier’s ninth goal of the season.
The Crunch grabbed the lead early in the second period, just 3:17 in, when Lucas Mercuri snapped a five-game scoring drought. A breakdown in front of the Hartford net left a loose puck for Mercuri, and he finished by beating Tung by the right pad for his third goal of the season.
Hartford didn’t fold. The Wolf Pack settled in, put together a string of strong shifts, and got back even at 11:58.
Liam Greentree sent a puck through center that Carey Terrance collected, Terrance drove in on the right side and slipped a cross-ice pass to Justin Dowling in the left-wing circle. Dowling fired a shot past Rodrigue’s blocker for his third goal of the season, making it 2-2.
The third period brought plenty of power-play chances for both teams, but neither side could crack the deadlock. Tung stopped five shots in the final frame for Hartford, while Rodrigue turned aside six for Syracuse.
Overtime didn’t last long before Fortescue finished it. The Wolf Pack came in on a two-on-one with Juuso Pärssinen, and Fortescue chose to shoot from the left-wing circle, beating Rodrigue at 2:59 for the winner.
Hartford wraps up its eight-game road trip Tuesday morning against the Springfield Thunderbirds. Puck drop is set for 10:35 a.m., with coverage on AHLTV on FloHockey.
The Wolf Pack return to PeoplesBank Arena on Saturday, Nov. 14, when they host the Thunderbirds in the ‘I-91 Rivalry’ presented by Braman Pest. ‘Wolf Pack Pregame’ begins at 7:00 p.m. on AHLTV of FloHockey and Mixlr.
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 Prospect Just Delivered A Big Hartford Boost In OT
The Hartford Wolf Pack kept their long road swing moving in the right direction with a 3-2 overtime win over the Syracuse Crunch, a result that gave the Rangers AHL affiliate another needed lift in the middle of an eight-game trip. It was the kind of game that can settle a group down for a few days, especially with Hartford now sitting at 3-3-1-0 on the journey and still grinding through the challenges that come with life away from home.
The bigger takeaway for the Rangers pipeline was the kind of night it was for a pair of prospects. Justin Nachbaur found the net for the first time with the Wolf Pack, and Drew Fortescue delivered the decisive finish in overtime, a moment that should mean plenty for a young defenseman trying to establish himself at the pro level. Hartford will try to carry that momentum into its next stop against the Springfield Thunderbirds. [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 🡒]