Brennan Othmann among 13 Rangers reinforcements for playoffs
The New York Rangers charter plane heading to South Florida for Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Panthers is going to be pretty full.
The Rangers recalled 13 players from their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, on Saturday. Those players will help make up New York’s taxi squad, or Black Aces, for the remainder of the playoffs now that Hartford’s season is over following a three-game sweep at the hands of the Hershey Bears in the Atlantic Division Final of the Calder Cup Playoffs.
Included in the call ups is forward Brennan Othmann, New York’s first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. The 21-year-old first-year pro was second on the Wolf Pack with 21 goals and 49 points during the regular season, and fourth among all AHL rookies in scoring.
During the postseason, Othmann had five points (one goal, four assists) in 10 games, one shy of the team scoring lead shared by three players.
Othmann made his NHL debut for the Rangers on Jan. 4 against the Chicago Blackhawks and was scoreless in three games with the Blueshirts this season.
The Rangers are tied 1-1 with the Panthers in the best-of-7 conference final after a thrilling 2-1 overtime win in Game 2 at Madison Square Garden.
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Brett Berard, Adam Sykora, Dylan Garand among Rangers prospects recalled for playoffs
Brett Berard — Photo courtesy of Hartford Wolf Pack
Several other prospects were recalled by the Rangers on Saturday, along with a group of more veteran players.
Brett Berard, who led the Wolf Pack and was second among AHL rookies with 25 goals this season, was among those recalled. The fifth-round pick in 2020, tied for Hartford’s scoring lead in the playoffs with six points (one goal, five assists).
Adam Sykora, New York’s second-round pick in 2022, had 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 66 games as a 19-year-old rookie. He added three assists in 10 playoff games.
Goalie Dylan Garand, a standout during the Calder Cup Playoffs, joins the the Black Aces after posting a 2.59 foals-against average and .922 save percentage in nine postseason games. Garand won three overtime games for the Wolf Pack in the playoffs.
During the regular season, the 21-year-old who’s a 2020 pick was 16-17-5 with a 3.03 GAA and .898 save percentage with two shutouts.
Other Rangers prospects recalled include defensemen Matthew Robertson and Victor Mancini.
Tyler Pitlick, Jake Leschyshyn, Ben Harpur and Connor Mackey are among the veterans recalled who’ve played previously with the Rangers in the NHL. Pitlick has 420 games of NHL experience, including 34 with the Blueshirts this season.
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Rangers recall 13 players from Hartford Wolf Pack
Here the complete list of the 13 players recalled by the Rangers on Saturday:
Forwards: Alex Belzile, Brett Berard, Anton Blidh, Jake Leschyshyn, Brennan Othmann, Tyler Pitlick, Adam Sykora
Defensemen: Ben Harpur, Connor Mackey, Victor Mancini, Matthew Robertson, Brandon Scanlin
Goalie: Dylan Garand
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