The Providence Bruins extended their win streak to four games, securing a dramatic 3-2 overtime victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, RI, on Wednesday night. The Bruins showed resilience after squandering a late lead, but Fabian Lysell’s overtime goal sealed the win in a dominant extra period performance.
Providence came into the game on a three-game winning streak, averaging 3.3 goals per game and allowing just 1.7. Meanwhile, Hartford had been struggling with a four-game losing streak, averaging only 2.3 goals per game and allowing 3.5. Despite being outshot by the Wolf Pack in the third period, Providence held strong, with Michael DiPietro making 26 saves on 28 shots. For Hartford, Dylan Garand kept his team in the game, stopping 42 of 45 shots faced.
The Bruins dominated the first period, outshooting the Wolf Pack 15-5. However, both teams failed to score, with Providence having a power-play opportunity that they couldn’t convert. Despite the early pressure, the game remained scoreless heading into the second.
Providence broke the tie just under six minutes into the second period when Joey Abate netted his first goal of the season. Hartford quickly responded late in the frame, as Justin Dowling scored his third of the season with just under two minutes left. Both teams had power-play chances but couldn’t capitalize, and the game remained tied at 1-1 heading into the third period.
The Bruins regained the lead with over seven minutes remaining in regulation, as captain Patrick Brown scored his sixth goal of the season on the power play. But Hartford didn’t back down, and with just over two minutes left, Dylan Roobroeck tied the game at 2-2, scoring his fourth goal of the season. Despite a late power-play opportunity for the Wolf Pack, neither team could find the go-ahead goal, and the game went into overtime.
In overtime, Providence took control, outshooting Hartford 6-2. Lysell, who had been a key contributor all night, ended the game in dramatic fashion, scoring his sixth goal of the season on a well-placed shot to beat Garand and give Providence the win.
“We knew it was going to be a battle all night, and when it went to overtime, I just wanted to make sure I got a good shot off. Luckily, it found the back of the net. It feels great to contribute to the team’s win and keep the streak alive.”
— Fabian Lysell
DiPietro was steady in net, stopping 26 of 28 shots, while Garand had a busy night, stopping 42 of 45 shots in a losing effort. Lysell was named the first star of the game, finishing with a goal and an assist. Brown earned second-star honors, also contributing a goal and an assist, and Abate rounded out the top three with his first goal of the season.
Providence will aim to extend their streak when they take on the Utica Comets on Saturday at 7:05 PM EST. Meanwhile, the Wolf Pack will look to bounce back on Friday at home against the Rochester Americans, with puck drop scheduled for 7:00 PM EST.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are not only losing games, they are losing players at a rapid rate as they prepare to host the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.
The Maple Leafs finished their 5-3 road loss to Boston Bruins on Tuesday without captain Auston Matthews (lower-body injury) and No. 1 goaltender Anthony Stolarz (upper-body).
Matthews left the game in the second period after taking a hit in the back from Boston defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
“I think it’s a penalty, personally, but I’m not the referee,” Toronto coach Craig Berube said. “I don’t like the hit. He’s in a vulnerable position.”
Matthews returned a hit on Zadorov before finishing his shift.
No matter who is available, the Maple Leafs appear to have a difficult task against the Kings, who are coming off a 5-1 road win over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday and have won two in a row, as well as three of their past four.
As for Matthews, he was to be assessed on Wednesday, a day off for the team.
After the game, Berube was uncertain about the severity of the injury.
“I don’t know exactly,” he said. “I can’t give you a timeline or how serious it is right now. I’m not sure when he hurt it to be honest with you.”
Stolarz was replaced by Dennis Hildeby after the first period but Berube did not seem concerned.
“I don’t believe that’s serious,” Berube said. “I think he’ll be fine.”
Goaltender Joseph Woll, who missed the early weeks of the season for a personal issue, is with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and is close to returning to the Maple Leafs.
Toronto already is without top defenseman Chris Tanev and forward Scott Laughton, who both have upper-body injuries.
The Maple Leafs have lost three straight after winning three in a row. They have struggled at times despite playing 12 of their first 16 games at home.
“It’s adversity, for sure,” said forward Max Domi, who had an assist for Toronto in Boston. “Every guy in here is champing at the bit. Everyone wants an opportunity and here’s our opportunity. Everyone’s got to step up. Next-man-up mentality.”
The Kings are playing well on the road, having won the first two matchups of their current six-game trip.
They are 7-1-2 away from home and will be pursuing a fifth consecutive road victory on Thursday.
“It’s weird — like, two years ago, same thing,” said Quinton Byfield, who had a goal and an assist on Tuesday. “We were hot on the road, last year we were hot at home, now we’re hot on the road, I guess, again. I can’t say anything about that, it’s kind of how it goes sometimes, so obviously you want to make it both home and away and get some wins at home, but we’ve got to finish the road trip strong.”
The Kings trailed after the first period at Montreal, then erupted for three goals in a span of 4:05 early in the second.
“We felt pretty good about the period, so to come out one down was disappointing,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said. “But I thought we did a good job not to overreact and just understand that the way we’re playing, just come out and do it again.”