The Hartford Wolf Pack blanked Providence, 4-0, on Friday night to win their Atlantic Division semifinal series, 3-1. (Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack)
HARTFORD, May 5, 2023 – Goalie Dylan Garand made 32 saves to lead the Hartford Wolf Pack into the next round with a 4-0 win over Providence in Game 4 of their Atlantic Division semifinal series on Friday night before more than 5,000 fans at the XL Center.
Hartford eliminated the Atlantic Division regular-season champion Bruins, 3-1 and will face the Hershey Bears in a best-of-5 series for the Atlantic Division championship beginning on Thursday. The winner of the series will advance to the Eastern Conference finals.
After giving up six goals in a Game 3 loss, Hartford clamped down and blanked the Bruins for the second time in the series. The Wolf Pack have allowed a total of three goals in their five wins this postseason.
Turner Elson and Ryan Carpenter each posted a goal and an assist for Hartford, and Jake Leschyshyn netted his first two goals of the playoffs.
Garand (5-1) finished the series with a 1.26 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage in four starts.
Brandon Bussi (1-3) stopped 28 of 31 shots for the Bruins, who have lost five consecutive playoff series since reaching the conference finals in 2017.
Elson broke the ice for Hartford just 3:40 into the opening period, stuffing in a rebound of a shot that was stopped by Bruins goalie Brandon Bussi.
Jake Leschyshyn stretched the lead to 2-0 about five minutes into the second period, poking in a rebound of a shot initially taken by Tim Gettinger.
Hartford made it 3-0 in the second period. Jonny Brodzinski got the shot that Bussi stopped but the rebound went to Carpenter in the right wing circle and he blasted the rebound into the net for his 13th Calder Cup playoff goal.
Atlantic Division finals
Best of 5
Thursday, May 11: @Hershey, 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 13: @Hershey, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 17: @Hartford, 7 p.m.
Friday, May 19: @Hartford, if necessary, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 23: @Hersney, if necessary, 7 p.m.
Atlantic Division semifinals
Best of 5
Hartford 3, Providence 1
Game 1, April 28: Hartford 1, Providence 0
Game 2: April 29: Hartford 2, Providence 1
Game 3: May 3: Providence 6, Hartford 3
Game 4: May 5: Hartford 4, Providence 0
Atlantic Division first round
Best of 3
Hartford 2, Springfield 0
Game 1, April 19: Hartford 6, Springfield 1
Game 2, April 21: Hartford 7, Springfield 1
