HARTFORD, Conn. — Former Boston Bruin Riley Nash took down his old organization on Wednesday as he scored the game-winner in overtime, delivering the Wolf Pack a 3-2 victory over the Providence Bruins in Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals series.
The Wolf Pack are now up in the series two games to one.
Nash’s winning goal came 4:52 into the overtime period and was his second of the night. It was the first Calder Cup Playoff game-winning goal of Nash’s career and completed a three-point night for the NHL veteran, who also had an assist, according to a release from the Wolf Pack.
The goal came after Hartford defenseman Blake Hillman fired a shot from the left-wing point; Nash got a piece of the puck, which flew by Providence goalie Brandon Bussi to give the Wolf Pack the dramatic win.
The cardiac Wolf Pack are now 2-0 in overtime in the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs.
The Bruins took an early 1-0 lead in an action-packed first period on a goal by Providence center Marc McLaughlin 5:23 into the frame. The Wolf Pack responded as Nash scored his first goal of the evening 7:04 into the first period, coming off a loose puck.
Still in the first period, Wolf Pack forward Brennan Othmann gave Hartford its first lead since Game 1 when he put the Wolf Pack up 2-1 8:39 into the period. Nash recorded the assist on the play.
After two Wolf Pack penalties, the Bruins were in a prime position to score on a five-on-three power play, but the Wolf Pack killed it successfully. However, Providence came right back. With less than two minutes to go in the first period, the Bruins tied the game 2-2 on a goal by Bruins center Jayson Megna. The goal was Megna’s second of the series.
Both sides failed to score in a tightly contested second period despite the fact each team had a powerplay opportunity.
The third period brought much of the same. Despite multiple chances to open the period, Providence failed to score on Wolf Pack goalie Dylan Garand. A roughing call on Hartford offered Providence a chance to capitalize near the end of the third period, but the Bruins failed to do so.
Overtime began, and Nash’s game-winning goal just under five minutes into the extra period lifted the Wolf Pack to the team’s first home overtime victory in the Calder Cup Playoffs since May 1, 2015.
Garand recorded 33 saves on the night, including 18 in the first period, as the Wolf Pack improved to 4-2 this postseason.
The series resumes on Friday at 7 p.m., as the Wolf Pack Host the Bruins again in Game 4, as Hartford has a chance to advance and avoid a trip back to Providence.
For tickets and playoff information, one can visit here.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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