Rangers goalie prospect earns 2nd straight shutout for Wolf Pack
Dylan Garand is unbeatable lately for the Hartford Wolf Pack. The New York Rangers goalie prospect backstopped his second consecutive shutout Wednesday, leading the organization’s AHL affiliate to a 3-0 win against the first-overall Hershey Bears.
That 31-save shutout followed hot on the heels of him blanking the Rockford IceHogs 4-0 this past Friday. He stopped all 24 shots in that one. The 22-year-old has allowed just one goal on 87 shots in his past three starts, which includes a 6-1 win against the Bridgeport Islanders on Dec. 4.
“I just think he’s been building towards this,” Hartford coach Grant Potulny said postgame. “He’s been really consistent all year, and Dylan rises to the moment. I shouldn’t even say that. He prepares for the moment, he doesn’t rise to it. … It’s a continuation of where his game’s going. It’s a great sign for us.”
Hartford was outshot 12-4 by two-time defending Calder Cup champion Hershey on Wednesday, but the game was scoreless after 20 minutes thanks to Garand. His play allowed the Wolf Pack to regain its footing, grab a 2-0 lead in the second period and finish off their biggest win of the season.
“I’m just trying to give the guys a chance to win, and whether I have to come up big in the first or second ore third period, I can’t control when that is. Just do my job. Stop some puck and get a win,” Garand said about his stellar first period. “We didn’t love our start but we did a really good job getting it back.”
Garand turned aside all 13 shots in the third period, to close out the shutout, and Hartford added a goal for the 3-0 final.
Related: Hartford Wolf Pack weekly: Dylan Roobroeck, power play heat up
Rangers prospect Dylan Garand one of top goalies in AHL this season
Dylan Garand – photo courtesy of Hartford Wolf Pack
In his third pro season, Garand is off to his best start. The 2020 fourth-round draft pick is 8-2-2 for a team that has an overall 11-9-2-1 record, and has outplayed his veteran goalie partner Louis Domingue.
Garand’s 2.22 goals-against average is ninth in the AHL. His .924 save percentage is eighth in the league and he’s tied for third with two shutouts.
The previous two seasons, Garand had a 3.02 GAA in 71 games and his save percentage was slightly under .900. So, his play so far this season is a major upgrade. It’s more in line with how Garand’s played in the Calder Cup Playoffs in 2023 and 2024. He had a 1.76 GAA in eight games during the postseason two years ago and 2.59 GAA this past spring.
Jake Leschyshyn scored two goals in the win Wednesday, and has three goals in his past three games for the Wolf Pack. Matthew Robertson assisted on all three goals; he is up to third on the Wolf Pack with 11 helpers and leads all Hartford defensemen with 12 points.
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