Springfield’s Leo Loof is about to take a seat at the end of his bout with Jeffrey Viel of Providence on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
The Providence Bruins split their two weekend games against the Springfield Thunderbirds.
They lost, 4-2, on the road on Saturday, then came back with a better performance in a 3-0 win in the rematch at home on Sunday.
The P-Bruins are 2-2 after the first four games of the season.
“We’re still building our identity,” said coach Ryan Mougenel on Sunday.
“It’s getting to the point where we’ve got to recognize what’s winning hockey and what’s not. I feel like we’re a team right now that needs to grind it out a little bit so it’s good that the guys responded and found ways to score and defend the right way. There’s still things in our game that, to have a consistent winning environment, you’ve got to do.”
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— Fabian Lysell made a highlight-reel move and scored his first goal of the season on Saturday. He was feisty and dialed in on Sunday and played his best game of the season, creating chances and setting up a goal by Jordan Oesterle.
— Jeffrey Viel gave the team a lift in the first period on Sunday with a bout against Leo Loof. “I thought that Jeffrey Viel stepping up and fighting set the right tone,” Mougenel said. Providence took the lead within a couple of minutes of Viel’s fight.
— Jordan Osterle had an assist on Saturday and a goal on Sunday. He continues to lead the team in scoring with 2-3-5 in four games.
— Michael DiPietro was solid as a rock on Sunday, pitching a 23-save shutout. DiPietro is 2-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .962 save percentage.
— John Farinacci scored his first goal of the season with a strong move to the net on Saturday, then assisted on a goal by Vinni Lettieri on Sunday.
— Ryan Mast isn’t known for taking chances in the offensive zone but he made a good pinch that led to Lettieri’s goal in the first period of Sunday’s game.
— Patrick Brown, who scored an empty net goal to clinch Sunday’s win, was named team captain. He’s a great choice.
— Providence added a solid pro to the lineup with the signing of Tyler Pitlick to a PTO.
BAD
— The power play is 28th in the AHL at 6.3 percent and is 0 for its last 15.
— The P-Bruins gave up a goal off a defensive faceoff in the last minute of the first period on Saturday.
— Providence allowed two goals in 27 seconds midway through Saturday’s game, digging a hole they couldn’t climb out of.
— With the P-Bruins guarding a two-goal lead with 6:46 left on Sunday, Fabian Lysell committed an egregious turnover, leading to a clean breakaway by Marcus Sylvegard that was turned away by Michael DiPietro. It was no time for Lysell to attempt a risky one-on-one move.
Providence’s Jeffrey Viel was pumped after punishing Laval’s Luke Tuch in a fight on Friday night. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
Two games down, 70 to go.
The Providence Bruins earned a split on the first weekend of the 2024-25 season.
They started fast but quickly lost their way in a disappointing 5-2 loss to the Laval Rocket in the opener at home on Friday, then dug in for a 3-2 road win against the Bridgeport Islanders on Saturday.
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— Vinni Lettieri scored goals in both games. It’s great to have him back.
— Jordan Oesterle had an excellent weekend. The veteran defenseman earned primary assists on both Providence goals on Friday, then scored the shorthanded game-winner in Bridgeport.
— Good start for rugged winger Jeffrey Viel. He demolished Laval’s Luke Tuch in a fight, much to the delight of Friday night’s big crowd, then took a picture-perfect stretch pass from Mike Callahan and scored a breakaway goal on Saturday.
— Mike DiPietro earned the win in Bridgeport, stopping 28 of 30 shots.
— Getting Ian Mitchell back from Boston should provide a good boost for the P-Bruins.
— The home opener drew a crowd of 9,189.
BAD
— Providence jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first 11 minutes against Laval, then allowed five straight goals. That’s no way to start a season with a big crowd in the building.
— After scoring early in Friday’s game, the power play went 0 for 8 for the rest of the weekend and gave up a shorthanded goal in Bridgeport.
— The lack of sustained attack in both games was alarming. Providence generated only 14 shots on Friday and 20 on Saturday.
— Tough night for Jimmy Lambert – minus-3 – against Laval.
Trevor Kuntar scores one of his three goals against Springfield in a preseason game on Oct. 5. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
The Providence Bruins have finished first in the Atlantic Division three times and second once in the last five years. The last time they missed the playoffs was 2011-12, Bruce Cassidy’s first year as head coach.
It’s a safe bet – maybe even a mortal lock – that they’ll be in the playoffs once again at the end of this season.
Injuries and callups can always change things, but with the current lineup the P-Bruins figure to finish closer to the top of the Atlantic Division standings than to the bottom.
This year’s edition, featuring a good mix of youngsters and veterans, is strong in goal and on defense with proven scorers up front.
“The identity of the Bruins is the same and speaks for itself. We want to compete hard every night, be on our toes,” said Evan Gold, Providence general manager.
“The mix is nice. We’ve always aimed for that mix of young players who are going to play important roles for us up and down the lineup. We’ve added what we feel are some strong vets that our pro (scouting) group worked hard to identify to complement some of the youth that we have and help drive the bus both on and off the ice for us.”
From the net out, here’s how the team looks as the season opens at home against the Laval Rocket on Friday night.
GOALTENDING
There was some turbulence in the goalie department at the end of Boston training camp, but when the smoke cleared Providence remained in excellent shape with Brandon Bussi and Michael DiPietro returning. Both posted strong numbers last season.
Bussi was placed on waivers the same day Jeremy Swayman agreed on a new eight-year, $66 million contract. He went unclaimed. DiPietro had passed through waivers a couple of days earlier.
Both could be unrestricted free agents at the end of the season, so they have every incentive to have a big year.
“Obviously, waivers is never a fun thing for anyone. Buss is a total pro. I think he’s excited to continue working in our organization. For both it’s come to work every day, you never know when that next opportunity is going to come. I think they are really firmly planted right now in the present and very committed to help this team,” Gold said.
“The goaltending should be solid every night no matter who is in there.”
DEFENSE
Defense should be a strong suit, especially when Ian Mitchell and Alec Regula join the lineup.
Mitchell is a puck mover and power-play point man who would not look out of place in a number of NHL lineups.
Two-way D-man Regula was having a fine year for Providence last year before being sidelined by an ankle injury.
New this year, Jordan Oesterle brings 371 games of NHL experience.
Opposition forwards will want to keep their heads up when new addition Billy Sweezey, coming off a good camp with Boston, is on the ice.
Steady Mike Callahan returns for his third pro season and Frederic Brunet is back for his second year.
Rookie Jackson Edward is a feisty defender who gets under the skin of the opposition and Drew Bavaro, another first-year pro, has a big shot from the point.
Ryan Mast and Mason Millman round out the D corps.
“We need to get a little bit healthy right now, a couple of guys (Mitchell and Regula) banged up. But if we have the full complement we expect to have, it should be a strength and it should be competition every night for playing time, but in a positive way where we’ll make sure the vets are getting their touches and also the kids are getting the important touches they need to develop,” said Gold.
FORWARDS
At the top of the lineup, Georgii Merkulov, Fabian Lysell, Patrick Brown and Vinni Lettieri are very good AHL players.
There’s a very good chance all four will see time in Boston at one time or another this season.
Jeffery Viel figures to be a fan favorite. He finishes every check and is willing to fight anyone, even Zdeno Chara a few years back. Seventeen goals for Manitoba last year and 15 for San Jose the year before that demonstrate that he can play, too.
Rookie Riley Duran opened some eyes in Boston camp. He’s a prospect to watch.
Keep an eye on Brett Harrison, too. Often physically overmatched as a rookie last season, he’s added strength and displayed a deft scoring touch in Boston camp.
Trevor Kuntar is a rat who gets in the face of opposing players from the opening puck drop. He put up 10 goals and 113 penalty minutes in his first year. More goals and fewer stick penalties would be a positive for him.
John Farinacci is stronger after a full summer of training and is looking to build on a solid rookie year.
Veteran Tyler Pitlick (420 NHL games) is a wild card. He attended Providence camp on a PTO and was a standout but isn’t on the opening night roster. If they get him under contract he’d be a nice addition to the lineup.
No one works harder than Marc McLaughlin, who had no puck luck whatsoever last season and is looking to put up better numbers this year.
Jimmy Lambert gave the P-Bruins an injection of energy in the playoffs last season after spending the year in Maine. He’s played very well in Providence’s camp.
Joey Abate brings non-stop energy and physicality.
Jaxon Nelson has size and was good on draws in college, but hasn’t shown much offense since signing out of Minnesota last spring.
Adam Mechura rounds out the forward contingent.
“On paper, there should be a really good, deep complementary group. Our pro (scouting) group worked really hard – we wanted to identify competitive players and add some strength to the group, a willingness to not only play on the interior but cycle pucks and be heavier on pucks,” said Gold.
“Those types of things – the type of player we graduated in (Justin) Brazeau — that’s probably a good example of some of the things we’ve talked about as a group internally.”
Coach Ryan Mougenel likes what he’s seen so far. “I think we have some offense, some guys that can put the puck past goalies. There might be a couple of sleepers, a couple of Justin Brazeaus, in the mix here.”
LOOKING AHEAD
I make this point every October: You never know what you’re going to get in the six-and-a-half-month battle of attrition that is the AHL schedule. The roster on opening night might not be what you finish with in April.
Veterans aren’t a lock to play as well as in previous seasons. Prospects that are expected to thrive don’t always do so. There’s callups and injuries and trades, Oh My!
Having said that, I’m optimistic that this will be another very entertaining season at the AMP.
The Hershey Bears, Calder Cup champs for two straight years, are the favorite in the Atlantic Division. They always are. But the P-Bruins should be able to give them a run for their money.
“You’ve got to wrestle the belt away from the champs,” said Gold. “Look, it’s a long season. Our goals right now are to get going, to build our game, to build an identity among our group and really focus on the details of preparation and playing the right way.”
BUFFALO – The Boston Bruins rookies got goals from Brett Harrison, Lucas Romeo and Adam Mechura, but lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets in overtime, 4-3, on the second day of the Prospects Challenge on Saturday.
In a contest that was spiced by three fights, the Bruins rallied from two goals down in the first period and one goal down in the third to force OT.
“It was spirited, there was a lot of good energy. The guys competed, which we wanted to see,” said coach Ryan Mougenel.
“I thought a lot of the nerves were out compared to the first game, but (there were) a lot of really good things. You could see a little bit of the separation from guys that have played (in the AHL), like (John Farinacci), and I thought Riley Duran was excellent.”
Here are notes on four players.
JACKSON EDWARD
Edward isn’t one of those players who lets his performance speak for itself. While walking the walk as an aggressive defender on the ice, he also talks the talk.
Sitting near ice level for Friday’s game against Pittsburgh, I heard Edward going at it verbally with the Pens players virtually nonstop. There was less chatter on Saturday, but Edward still directed a fair number of chirps in the direction of Columbus players.
“I just think it’s more fun when you get into the game. I’ve always been competitive. I just like to get into it,” he said after assisting on a third-period goal that tied the score.
Earlier in the game, Edward drew a roughing penalty for horse-collaring a Columbus player and throwing him to the ice.
Mougenel likes what he’s seen and heard so far from the former London Knights defenseman, who is ticketed for Providence this season.
“I think that’s a little bit of his game, for sure. I like the physicality, I like that he has juice. He plays the game with confrontation and I like that. As he goes along he’s going to have to realize that he has to back it up and that’s a whole ‘nother conversation, but he’s involved. He makes noise. I like it and we welcome it. He’s not dry toast,” he said.
Edward acknowledges there will be lessons to learn as a first-year pro.
“I still think I’m defining my game. I think I have tool sets in different areas of the game. I think that’s the main thing this year in pro is going to be defining my game. I think I defend well, I like playing (against) top lines. I can bring some offense and I think I have some to unlock. I like playing aggressive,” he said.
RILEY DURAN
Playing on a line with Farinacci and Brett Harrison, Duran turned in his second strong game in a row.
The former Providence College winger played well in the AHL after turning pro last spring and that’s continued in Buffalo.
“He looks faster in pro than he did in college, he plays faster. He plays with, not a reckless abandon, but there’s a tenacity. ‘I don’t have to worry about what’s happening behind me, I’m going to do my job.’ It’s freeing for him,” said Jamie Langenbrunner, Bruins assistant general manager, player personnel.
“He’s been very impressive here. He was impressive when he stepped into Providence, played well in the playoffs. He got a big opportunity playing pretty high in the lineup and really took it. He’s extremely strong in battles. His motor doesn’t stop.
“His ability to get in on the forecheck is something we desire in our group and you don’t have to ask him twice to do it. He gets there and causes the D to be under a little bit of duress, which is important. And he’s making enough plays. He’s a guy that’s probably ahead of where we would have placed him coming in and that’s great.”
JOHN FARINACCI
After playing 79 NCAA games across three years at Harvard, Farinacci played a total of 75 games in Providence as a first-year pro last season. He had a good start, but appeared to run out of gas in the second half.
“I won’t say it was unexpected that he was going to hit a wall,” said Langenbrunner.
To be more prepared for his second year, Farinacci trained all summer at Warrior Arena with head performance coach Kevin Neeld and his staff. Early returns are very positive.
“He’s had a really strong first two days here and been a very effective player. He looks stronger in battles, winning a lot of one-on-one battles. He looks stronger over the puck. He’s learning what it means to be a pro and being over the puck instead of reaching and getting away with it. I think in general even his first step maybe looks a little bit better. That’s an area that we knew and he knew that he has to focus on,” said Langenbrunner.
BRETT HARRISON
After scoring once on Friday, Harrison added another on Saturday.
His decision to spend the month of August in Boston preparing for the season is paying dividends.
“I’ve been skating there, working with (skills and skating coach Tom Ford). I feel a lot quicker and a lot stronger. I’m not getting pushed off in battles. That’s helped. And just the confidence, being in Boston a month early has gotten me used to all the guys. Skating with all the NHLers, I’ve gained confidence with them and I’ve just brought that on the ice here. I feel good. My body feels good,” Harrison said.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
New Jersey native John Farinacci on the late Johnny Gaudreau
“Growing up, I had a Johnny Hockey T-shirt from when he was at BC. In those days, I think every kid from New Jersey wanted to be like him.”
BUFFALO – It was a bumpy ride for the Boston Bruins rookies in the opener of the Prospects Challenge on Friday.
The Bruins squandered a 3-1 first period lead on the way to a 6-3 defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins prospects.
“I thought (the Pens) got through the neutral zone extremely easy. We didn’t get a lot of skin on guys, watched them skate by us. Those are all fixable, teachable moments. We’ll be better at it tomorrow,” said coach Ryan Mougenel.
Goal scorers for the Bruins were free agent Markus Vidicek (Halifax) and Providence Bruins John Farinacci and Brett Harrison.
“I really liked a lot of the guys that were in Providence last year,” said Mougenel, mentioning Farinacci, Harrison and Riley Duran, who bull-rushed the net leading to Harrison’s goal.
Here are quick hits on three players.
FREDERIC BRUNET
A play in the third period put an exclamation point on the progress Brunet has made over the last 12 months.
The second-year defenseman took out a Pens player hard along the boards and when the player pushed back, Brunet added a stiff arm that earned him a roughing penalty.
A year ago in Buffalo, Brunet wouldn’t have made such a physical play. He hadn’t yet signed his entry-level deal. His lack of confidence was evident.
Now, after spending a year in Providence, Brunet’s confidence is growing.
“Just that play showed – I got a penalty, I’m not proud of it – but just taking the guy out, having that mindset, that physicality, is a huge step,” said Brunet, who wore an “A” for Friday’s game.
“I approach it the same as last year – I want to prove myself, leave a good image. The difference is my confidence, to make better plays, hold onto the puck a little more, have confidence to not force it and make some plays that maybe last year I didn’t have. I’m here to compete like last year but the difference is confidence.
“I’m working a lot on my defense right now. I define myself as a hybrid D-man,” combining strong offense and defense.
“I really want to work on my physicality. It’s really a big thing in my game. If I can do that, maybe I can show I’m ready for the next step,” he said.
TREVOR KUNTAR
Kuntar was in the thick of the action throughout the game, from a hard finish on Pittsburgh’s Rutger McGroary on the boards in the first period to a scrum in the closing minutes that landed him in the box.
“You don’t have to tell Kuntar twice that you have to play harder, that’s for sure. It’s built into him,” said Mougenel.
“He’s easy to sell to (Jim Montgomery): This is what he is, this is what he does. He plays hard every shift. There’s a market for that. There’s not a lot of guys like that around. He recognizes that, he’s a smart kid. He’s another kid you root for. “
Kuntar put up 20 points and 113 penalty minutes as a rookie pro.
“He’s got to build a little bit more finish into his game, for sure. He got a lot of opportunities to score last year in Providence. First-year player, what did he have, 10 (goals)? Probably should have had 15 with some of the looks he had. Just rounding out his game, he’s got to be a guy we rely on on the PK,” said Mougenel.
If and when Kuntar reaches the NHL, penalty killing would be a handy skill to have.
“He’s going to have to kill penalties at the NHL level, I think. That’s going to be a little bit of his DNA up there,” said Mougenel.
DREW BAVARO
Early in the game the rookie from Notre Dame made a slick play at the offensive blueline and fired a shot that was tipped in by Vidicek for Boston’s first goal.
That was the good news. The bad news was a third period turnover that resulted in a three-on-one for Pittsburgh, which they capitalized on for their sixth goal.
With the Bruins trailing by two goals at the time, you can understand Bavaro’s decision to take a chance.
“I hold myself to a high standard, so you never want that to happen, but in terms of how the game was going, I knew we had to make a push there,” he said.
“It was a little bit of a high-risk play, but if things are cleaned up a little bit that’s still a play I can execute. Maybe a little less fluff, as Moug likes to call it, getting that thing to the net, that’s a strong point in my game. Making that extra pass worked (in the first period) but it doesn’t always work. You learn from it.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Mougenel on Fabian Lysell and Georgii Merkulov heading into NHL training camp next week:
“I do think they’re in a really good spot to push (to make the big club). They’ve got the right staff for those guys. Monty has a ton of patience for young players. They’vd got Chris Kelly, who is really good at the details and (coaching players) to value what’s important in the NHL. Then you’ve got Joe Sacco, who is great for those young players, too. When (Lysell and Merkulov are) ready to graduate, they’ll be in good hands.”
Colorado College’s Gleb Veremyev celebrates a goal against Minnesota Duluth. (Photo courtesy of Colorado College Athletics)
Undrafted left winger Gleb Veremyev is a player to watch at Boston Bruins development camp starting Monday at Warrior Arena.
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Veremyev possesses traits valued by NHL evaluators. He competes shift in and shift out. He loves to use his size, whether he’s banging bodies on the forecheck or bulling his way through traffic around the net.
Coming back from a knee injury that forced him to miss all but 14 games as a freshman, the 21-year-old turned in a strong sophomore year in 2023-24 with 15 goals and 28 points in 37 games on the top line for a Colorado College team that is on the rise in the big-boy-hockey NCHC.
If Veremyev picks up where he left off last year, by the end of the ’24-25 college season he’ll be an attractive free agent for the Bruins and any number of NHL teams looking to add size and toughness to their prospect pool.
Veremyev, whose parents emigrated from Russia, can’t wait to get going at development camp.
“Obviously it’s a historic franchise. I’m super excited to show them what I can do and learn more about the organization itself,’’ he said.
“I like Boston a lot. They play a style of game that’s similar to the way I like to play the game. It’s an Original Six franchise. Boston’s a beautiful city,” said Veremyev, who attended Calgary’s development camp in 2022.
“With a chance like this to get to their camp and experience it, it was really high on my list. I talked to my adviser and I was like, yeah, I’d love to go to their camp. And here we are.”
Veremyev, fluent in Russian as well as English, was born in New Jersey. He started to draw attention from college recuiters in his mid-teens while playing for the New Jersey Rockets. He spent two seasons with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL, posting over 100 penalty minutes both years, before heading to Colorado College, where he is carrying a 3.5 GPA.
Asked to describe himself as a player, here’s what he said:
“I think I’m a true power forward. I can be on a top line, opening up space for my teammates, putting the puck in the net. I love to get in on the forecheck. I’ve really been working on my defensive game a lot this past year and I think it’s improved a lot. I’m working on my first three strides. My game overall, I’d say I’m really hard to play against, I’ve got good hands and a good shot. I’m not afraid to play against anyone and prove myself against anyone on the ice.”
Colorado College coach Kris Mayotte and Veremyev have known each other for quite a while.
“When he was at Providence he recruited me and then at Michigan, so I’ve had a relationship with him for a long time. I thought he was really ambitious and somebody I wanted to play for, so when he came to Colorado College, I thought it would be the right option,” said Veremyev.
“His game is growing because he’s maturing as a kid,” Mayotte said.
“He certainly has the skill set that you project to be playing a future NHL role. He has the size, he has the skill, he has the competitiveness and the willingness. It really is just continuing to finetune the details. He’s a physical presence. He doesn’t back down from anything. He’s going to get to the net. He’s going to finish all his hits. But it’s learning and continuing to embrace and execute the smaller details.
“It might not have to be a really big hit, but it’s good stick detail and you create a turnover that way. Just continuing to embrace the type of player he is and what that means at the NHL level versus what it meant at a junior level and at a college level. We’ve seen those steps. He wants it. He’s really motivated. I see him playing that potential middle-six, bottom-six role.”
No matter what happens at Bruins camp this week, Veremyev plans on returning to school for his junior year.
He could have turned pro after last season but decided against it.
“I had offers, obviously, to sign, but it’s key not to rush something like that. You are entering a different side of hockey and I think it’s smart to get closer to your degree. There’s a life after hockey,” he said.
“What we have going on at Colorado College is something special and there’s some unfinished business. (New York Rangers draft pick) Noah Laba, my linemate, obviously had a chance to sign. We kind of talked it over a bit.
“Myself, him and (goalie Kaidan Mbereko) didn’t really think it was time. We want to finish what we started (at Colorado College). Hopefully I’m more developed and ready to step in and play in the NHL after going back this year.”
Gleb Veremyev carries the puck against Denver last November. (Photo courtesy of Colorado College Athletics)
The 2023-24 Providence Bruins season came to a disappointing end with a pair of overtime losses in Hartford.
The P-Bruins fell, 3-2, on Wednesday and, 2-1, on Friday and lost the series against the Wolf Pack, three games to one.
After routing Hartford, 6-0, in Game 2, the P-Bruins scraped together a total of only three goals in the final two games.
“The guys battled extremely hard. We didn’t have a ton of puck luck but sometimes you’ve got to create those chances. At the end of the day, we needed guys to score,” said coach Ryan Mougenel after Friday’s loss.
“It’s just tough. We were real rusty that first game (a 4-3 loss on May 1). We lose two overtime games. That’s kind of the Achilles heel of best out of five. It’s disappointing. It’s almost a disadvantage to have the bye. For us it was.”
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— Providence had one foot in the grave in the third period of Game 4 but dug deep to tie the game and force overtime on John Farinacci’s goal. It was the rookie’s first goal in 21 games.
— Ian Mitchell was a standout for Providence throughout the series. He finished with 2-2-4 in the postseason, tied for the team points lead with Jimmy Lambert.
— Considering how well Jimmy Lambert played against Hartford, you wonder why he spent most of the season with Maine of the ECHL. Lambert was fast and physical and played with a lot of juice. He recorded assists in Game 3 and 4 and finished with 2-2-4, tied with Ian Mitchell in points.
— Brandon Bussi stopped 83 of 88 shots in the final three games of the series for a .943 save percentage.
— While the ending was tough, it was an entertaining and productive season. Most important from a Bruins point of view, Justin Brazeau, Parker Wotherspoon, Jesper Boqvist, Johnny Beecher and Mason Lohrei moved up to contribute in Boston after spending varying amounts of time in Providence.
BAD
— Providence hasn’t won a playoff series since 2017, when they beat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Hershey before losing to the Syracuse Crunch in the Eastern Conference Final. (There were no playoffs in ’20 and ’21 because of Covid.)
They’ve gone a combined 258-141-35-21 in the regular season since then, but the lack of postseason success leaves a sour taste.
— Providence caught no breaks in OT in either game. The Hartford goal that ended the season on Friday came on a shot that hit the crossbar and deflected into the net off the leg of Jake Leschyshyn, whose stick was tied up by a Bruins defenseman.
— Georgii Merkulov with 30 and Anthony Richard with 25 were Providence goal leaders in the regular season. Neither one scored a goal against the Wolf Pack.
— After playing in Hartford on Wednesday night, the P-Bruins bussed home to Providence. Then they made the return trip to Hartford on Thursday afternoon and stayed over for Friday’s game. That’s two two-hour bus rides within 14-15 hours. That didn’t have any impact on the outcome on Friday, but why not stay over after Wednesday’s game?
— Providence was caught with too many men on the ice with 2:58 left in the third period on Friday. Yeesh.
— Fabian Lysell took a hooking penalty in the neutral zone in the first period of Game 3. Hartford scored on the power play. Jimmy Lambert received a tripping penalty in the first period of Game 4. The Wolf Pack once again cashed in on the power play.
— Providence went 0 for 6 on the power play in the last two games.
— Losing Vincent Arseneau to injury just one shift into Game 3 was a tough blow for the P-Bruins. Before that, Arseneau made a lot of Hartford players very nervous every time he stepped on the ice.
UGLY
— Injured: Alec Regula, Fabian Lysell, Vincent Arseneau
Brett Harrison gets ready to convert a pass from Vincent Arseneau for Providence’s third goal on Friday night. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
The injuries are piling up as the Providence Bruins hit the road this week with their best-of-five Atlantic Division semifinal series against the Hartford Wolf Pack tied at one game each.
Providence had 10 days between games before the series got started with a 4-3 Hartford win on Wednesday at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. The P-Bruins responded with a dominating 6-0 blowout win at home on Friday.
“Everybody was on board, everybody was pulling the rope. (Brandon) Bussi was a lot sharper, made the saves he needed to make,” coach Ryan Mougenel said after Friday’s game. “Our leaders led the way, the Browns and Megnas. They did a great job for us. It was a great bounce-back win.”
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— Vincent Arseneau didn’t have a point or a shot in Game 1, but the Wolf Pack certainly took note of his physicality on the forecheck. The hits continued in Game 2, but Arseneau also had a major impact on the scoresheet. He got inside for a tip-in on Providence’s first goal just 2:43 into the first period. He put a perfect pass on Brett Harrison’s tape for a goal later in the first. Near the end of the second period, he picked a corner on Dylan Garand for Providence’s fourth goal. He continued to bang bodies and rattle Hartford’s defensemen on the forecheck.
— In Game 1, Brandon Bussi wasn’t as sharp as he usually is, but he rebounded in a big way in Game 2. Bussi made a number of fine saves, kicking out all 34 Hartford shots and posting his first postseason shutout.
— Brett Harrison was a healthy scratch in Game 1 but drew into the Game 2 lineup in place of Oskar Steen and was a standout with a goal and two assists.
He won an offensive zone draw that led to Vincent Arseneau’s goal early in the first period. Later in the period he steered in a perfect pass from Arseneau for a goal, then late in the second period he earned the primary assist on Arseneau’s second goal.
“That says a lot about the kid. He’s been working really hard. He’s a young pro, he’s finding his way. (Scoring) is kind of what he does. He’s got a great nose for the net, great offensive mind. He’s getting stronger and better and we’re real happy for him. More importantly, we’re happy with how hard he’s worked. We’re proud of him,” Mougenel said.
— Patrick Brown continued his strong play with a goal in Game 1 and two assists in Game 2.
— Ian Mitchell scored two power play goals in Game 2 along with an assist in Game 1.
— Georgii Merkulov had two assists in Game 2.
— Special teams were excellent in Game 2. The power play went 2 for 6 and the P-Bruins killed all five shorthanded situations, including a 5 on 3 for a full two minutes in the third period.
— Jimmy Lambert gave the P-Bruins a big lift with two goals in Game 1.
— With Providence ahead by six goals in the third period on Friday, Riley Duran blocked a slapshot from the point while killing a penalty. That kind of buy-in from a young player goes a long way.
BAD
— After going 10 days between games, Providence was rusty early in Game 1. Hartford scored on two of its first three shots in the opening 5:27.
— After digging out of a 0-2 hole in Game 1, Providence gave up a goal with 34 seconds left in the second period, then another one just 1:28 into the third period.
— Hartford’s Matthew Robertson rammed Vincent Arseneau into the boards from behind late in Game 2. He received five minutes for boarding and a game misconduct. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the AHL decided to suspend Robertson.
UGLY
— Injured: Alec Regula, Fabian Lysell, Joey Abate, Oskar Steen, Anthony Richard
Brandon Bussi and Kyle Keyser celebrate Sunday’s win over Hartford. (Photo courtesy of Providence Bruins)
The Providence Bruins wrapped up the regular season by winning two out of three games over the weekend.
They started by beating the Springfield Thunderbirds, 4-2, at home on Friday night. That victory clinched second place in the Atlantic Division and a first-round bye. In Bridgeport on Saturday, the P-Bruins lost, 4-1, to the Islanders. Back home on Friday. Providence scored twice in the third period on the way to a 4-2 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack.
“I’m real proud of the guys. You look back at the year and their growth was exceptional in a lot of our guys. A game like today to end the season, with back to back three in threes, to play that hard at the end says a ton. They’re not easy,” said coach Ryan Mougenel after Sunday’s game.
“It’s a grind as a coach, I can’t imagine it as a player. It says a lot about the group. It says a lot about some of our young kids. It’s tough to fight through. Arguably, our older guys were some of the best players today. That speaks volumes.”
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— After going 1-3-1-1 in October, Providence finished the regular season with a record of 42-21-6-3. They ended up second in the Atlantic Division, earning a bye in the opening round of the playoffs. They were fourth in the AHL with 93 points and fourth in points percentage at .646.
— Georgii Merkulov scored two goals and an assist on Friday and two goals on Sunday. He finished the regular season with 30-35-65 in 67 games, a 10-point improvement over last season. He was fifth in the AHL in points. Only five players scored more goals. He is the first P-Bruin to hit the 30-goal mark since Frank Vatrano did it in 2015-16.
— Jayson Megna had a goal and an assist on Friday and three assists on Sunday. With 15 points in his last 10 games, he finished second on the team with 19-37-56 in 69 games, his best offensive season in the AHL. He was voted team MVP by his teammates.
— Anthony Richard recorded three assists on Friday and one on Sunday. He finished third on the team with 25-30-55 in 59 games.
— Patrick Brown scored a goal on Friday and recorded assists on Saturday and on the game-winning goal on Sunday. He has points in five straight games.
— With Providence nursing a one-goal lead on Sunday, Kyle Keyser made a terrific kick save on Alex Belzile with 3:28 left. Keyser stopped all nine shots he faced after taking over in net for the third period.
— Alec Regula’s plus-36 was the best in the AHL. He was presented with the Best Defenseman Award on Sunday. Dan Renouf, Regula’s partner, was second in the league with plus 34.
— In his first game on a tryout contract, former Boston University center Nick Zabaneh scored the game-winning goal with 8:49 left in Sunday’s game.
— Riley Duran potted the GWG on a rebound Friday night against Springfield after Patrick Brown won an offensive zone faceoff and Dan Renouf fired a shot from the point.
— Trevor Kuntar snapped a streak of 16 straight games without a goal when he scored on Sunday. And it was a beauty, as he beat a Hartford defenseman and tucked the puck into the net for his 10th goal of the year.
— Providence went 22-9-2-1 against the other New England teams. They were 9-3 vs. Bridgeport; 8-3-1-0 with Springfield; and 5-3-1-1 against Hartford.
— The P-Bruins led the AHL with 15 shorthanded goals.
— Attendance on Sunday was 9,643. Providence finished sixth in the AHL with an average crowd of 7,713. That’s 68.42 percent of capacity.
BAD
— The power play is in a 0 for 16 slump.
— Hard to believe Hartford’s Nic Petan wasn’t called for a penalty after he hacked Anthony Richard’s arm as Richard broke in on the Hartford net in the third period. Richard easily could have been injured on the play and it’s no surprise that he went after Petan seconds later and both players drew roughing penalties.
— John Farinacci has gone 20 games without a goal.
— The P-Bruins finished 28th in the league on the power play at home at 15.1 percent.
— They were 30th in the AHL on the penalty kill on the road at 75.9 percent. Bridgeport scored two power-play goals on three opportunities on Saturday.
The Providence Bruins won two of their three games over the weekend. One of the wins came in overtime and the other in a shootout, providing four important points as the P-Bruins close in on clinching second place in the Atlantic Division and a first-round bye.
They started with a 5-4 victory over the Utica Comets at home on Friday. Providence led, 4-1, with 10 minutes left in the third period, but needed a Patrick Brown score in OT to escape with the win.
At home again on Saturday against Utica, the P-Bruins wrested a 3-2 win away from the Comets in a shootout as Jayson Megna scored the decisive goal and Mike DiPietro shut the door in net.
On the road on Sunday, Providence jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period, but lost to the Springfield Thunderbirds, 4-2.
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
— Providence is 40-20-6-3 for 89 points. With three games left in the regular season, they need one point to wrap up second-place in the Atlantic Division.
— With Saturday’s win, the P-Bruins reached 40 wins for the eighth time in the last 12 seasons.
— Patrick Brown continues to play terrific hockey.
His OT goal clinched the win on Friday. On Saturday, he made an outstanding play that culminated in an Oskar Steen shorthanded goal 52 seconds into the second period. Brown outskated and outworked a Utica player all the way up the ice, then got off a shot on net. Steen was there to bury the rebound.
On Sunday he gave the P-Bruins a 1-0 lead 46 seconds into the game and recorded a game-high six shots.
— Rookie Riley Duran was outstanding in Friday’s game. He scored his first goal as a pro in the first period and had the primary assist on two other goals.
— Mike DiPietro stopped 26 of 28 shots, plus all three in the shootout, in Saturday’s win.
— Oskar Steen scored twice on Friday and once on Saturday. He has six goals in his last six games.
— Providence leads the AHL with 15 shorthanded goals.
— Mason Lohrei had two assists and was plus-four on Friday night.
— Good work on the forecheck by Joey Abate paved the way for Georgii Merkulov’s 26th goal of the season on Saturday.
— Jaxon Nelson scored his first goal as a pro on Sunday and Jimmy Lambert scored his first goal as a Providence Bruin on Friday.
BAD
— Providence squandered a 4-1 lead in the third period on Friday night and a 2-0 lead nearly halfway through the game on Sunday.
— Not a great weekend for special teams. Providence went 0 for 11 on the power play and allowed four goals in 11 times shorthanded.
Rinkside Rhode Island 