A day after the Rangers defeated the Sabres, their AHL affiliate was in action on Friday The 13th. It marked the first game of the AHL season.

The game was also the pro debut of top prospect Brennan Othmann. After a strong training camp where he impressed the team with a good preseason, the 20-year-old former 2021 first round pick was assigned to Hartford. It was the right move because it’ll allow him to play more consistent minutes in a main role.

If last night was any indication, the organization should be excited about Othmann’s future. He scored twice on the power play in a Wolf Pack 3-2 shootout win over Providence.

That included a tying power play goal with 2:40 left in regulation. He retrieved a loose puck and fired a wrist shot by Brandon Bussi at 17:50 of the third period to force overtime.

Earlier in the game, Othmann got his first AHL goal on the power play to tie it with less than five minutes remaining in the second period. On a good play from Jonny Brodzinski, he took a feed and buried a one-timer past Bussi at 15:03.

It was an instinctive play where Othmann got himself in a position to score the goal. He cut towards the net to receive a perfect pass from Brodzinski for the easy finish. It’s the instincts along with the skating that makes him a promising young player. He knows where to go for goals.

With the Wolf Pack trailing by one late in regulation, they were knocking on the door on the power play. Following a sequence where Bussi made some stops, a loose puck bounced right to Othmann. He didn’t wait long to shoot it past a sprawling Bussi into the top of the net for his second of the game.

The clutch tally allowed the Wolf Pack to reach extras. Neither team scored in overtime. In the shootout, Brodzinski scored in the first round. Louis Domingue stopped all three Providence shooters to get the win. He made 24 saves.

Othmann was named the game’s first star in his debut. It was a good way to start the season.

The Wolf Pack are back in action later tonight when they visit Springfield.