The Providence Bruins go back to work tonight in Bridgeport, where they’ll try to figure out a way to beat the Sound Tigers.

Providence will be without Matt Beleskey for the forseeable future. He suffered a broken orbital bone when hit in the face by a deflected puck in the first period on Friday.

The P-Bruins are 1-3 against Bridgeport after last night’s 3-2 loss at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on a late, bad-angle goal by Casey Bailey. Providence’s only win came on Dec. 3 in Bridgeport.

Coach Jay Leach liked the P-Bruins’ good start on Friday night, jumping ahead on a Peter Cehlarik goal, but Bridgeport’s first goal left a sour taste.

“We really just gave them a 3 on 1 because one of our defensemen (Rob O’Gara) decided to join the rush on a 2 on 0 on the penalty kill. Ultimately, (that goal) got them right back in the game. After that, we chased the game,” Leach said.

“We probably played a good 30 minutes in that game and 30 minutes when we did not.”

Zane McIntyre will start in net tonight.

Jordan Binnington had an uncharacteristically leaky night on Friday. “I’m sure those are a couple of goals that Binner would like to have back. The third one looked like it deflected off of something. The first one hit one of our guys’ sticks,” Leach said.

PROVIDENCE LINES

Agostino-Szwarz-Czarnik

Cehlarik-JFK-Bjork

Fitzgerald-Cave-Senyshyn

Blidh-Porter-Payerl

DEFENSE PAIRS

Zboril-Cross

Johansson-Clifton

O’Gara-Acolatse

Binnington is the backup.

Scratches: Breen (lower body, day to day), Beleskey (broken orbital zone), Lauzon (concussion), Hennessey, Hickman

Providence finishes the weekend with a home game against Springfield on Sunday afternoon.

PROVIDENCE – Zane McIntyre usually starts in goal on Friday night when the Providence Bruins kick off a 3-games-in-3-nights weekend, but tonight Jordan Binnington gets the call when the Bridgeport Sound Tigers come to town.

The numbers so far this season clearly tilt in favor of Binnington, who is on loan from the St. Louis Blues. Along with a 10-1-1 record, he has an AHL-leading 1.55 goals-against average; his .940 save percentage is second. He was selected to play in the AHL All-Star Classic in Utica at the end of the month.

With losses in his last three starts, McIntyre is 11-8-2-1 with a save percentage of .893.  Those numbers are way down from last season when McIntyre was a second-team AHL all-star with a .930 save percentage and a 21-6-2-2 record.

“Binner has had a heck of a start to the season. He’s earned the start tonight. Obviously, Mac hasn’t been able to find the wins that he was seeing last year and early on this season,’’ coach Jay Leach said this morning.

“By no means are we turning our back on Mac. It’s an opportunity for Binner to get a win tonight. At the end of the day, we’re in this business to win. The last one we had was Binner, and that’s why we’re going with him tonight. We’ll evaluate after that,’’ he said.

Anders Bjork won’t play tonight, but will be in the lineup on Saturday. He didn’t practice all week, as Boston gave him time off for the bye week.

PROVIDENCE LINES

Agostino-Szwarz-Czarnik

Cehlarik-JFK-Fitzgerald

Beleskey-Cave-Senyshyn

Blidh-Hennessy-Hickman

DEFENSE PAIRS

Zboril-Cross

Breen-Acolatse

Johansson-O’Gara

McIntyre is the backup.

Scratches: Porter, Payerl, Hargrove, Bjork, Lauzon, Clifton

Providence is 1-2 against Bridgeport this season, with both losses at home.

The Sound Tigers have lost 4 in a row. In their most recent game, they were beaten by Hartford, 2-1, in a shootout on Wednesday.

Islanders prospect Josh Ho Sang, Bridgeport’s most dangerous forward, was a healthy scratch in that game.

“He has to learn to manage the puck better and play away from the puck. Too many turnovers,”  coach Brent Thompson told Michael Fornabaio of The Connecticut Post. “It’s a team game. It’s making sure all five guys are on the same page. He’s got to learn to play that team game, which will help him be successful in the NHL.”

Said Ho-Sang: “They’re going to treat me however they want to treat me. At the end of the day, whatever they say is, kind of, law. It doesn’t really matter what I want to say about it or how I feel.

“I think they just want me to be the best version of me possible. That’s what everyone wants. They’re trying to figure it out.’’

The Sound Tigers will be without Sebastian Aho, Michael Dal Colle and Anthony Beauvillier. They’ve been recalled by the Islanders.

The P-Bruins visit Bridgeport on Saturday night before finishing the weekend with a home game against Springfield on Sunday.

It wasn’t a particularly good weekend for the Providence Bruins, who came away with just 2 of 6 points, losing at home to Hartford, 3-2, winning at Springfield, 6-2, and falling to Syracuse, 4-3, on Sunday.

Providence’s hasn’t given up many third-period leads this season, but they did so on Sunday to a strong Syracuse team.

Coach Jay Leach’s take: “Start to finish, they were a better team. We were a step slow all night. Obviously, it’s our third (game) in three (days) and they had just two and you could see it. In saying that, that’s pro hockey. It’s a lesson for our guys. You’re going to face adversity like that and I didn’t think we responded very well.’’

Here’s the good, bad and ugly.

GOOD

*** The line of Kenny Agostino (1-2-3), Jordan Szwarz (2-1-3) and Austin Czarnik (0-3-3) was dominant in Springfield.

*** Down from Boston, Anders Bjork had 2-2-4 in 3 games and Peter Cehlarik scored a goal in both of the games he played.

*** Tommy Cross scored a goal and three assists with 10 shots for the weekend.

***After a 0 for 26 streak, the power play gained some traction with goals on Saturday and Sunday.

*** The penalty kill was a perfect 8 for 8.

*** After a quiet game on Friday, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson rebounded with a goal and an assist on Saturday and 2 assists on Sunday.

*** The P-Bruins have taken 11 of 12 points from Springfield with 5 wins and an overtime loss.

*** Czarnik and Jordan Binnington were selected to play in the AHL All-Star Classic this month. Czarnik is up to 13^th in the AHL in scoring with 9-23-32 in 29 games. Binnington has a 10-1-1 record. He has the best goals-against average in the AHL at 1.55 and his .943 save percentage is second.

BAD

*** Zane McIntyre allowed 3 goals on 10 shots in 22:55 on Friday.

*** Providence has lost 3 of its last 4 games.

UGLY

***Injured: Jeremy Lauzon (concussion).

*** The P-Bruins gave up a goal 17 seconds into the game on Sunday and 80 seconds in on Friday.

The Providence Bruins wrapped up 2017 on a high note by taking 5 out of 6 points on the road. They battled back for a 5-4 shootout victory in Utica on Wednesday, beat the Comets, 3-1, on Friday, then came from behind again in Belleville on Saturday before losing in overtime, 3-2.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly.

GOOD

*** The shootout win in Utica was one of most memorable of the season. Down by 2, Providence tied it on goals by Justin Hickman and Matt Beleskey. Kenny Agostino scored in the shootout and Zane McIntyre stopped all 3 Comets’ shooters for the win.

*** The P-Bruins received an incredible break in the third period on Wednesday when a Utica goal that might have put the game out of reach was disallowed because the net was off its pegs. They got another break two nights later. This time Providence scored while the net was off, but the referees allowed the goal.

*** Providence went 5-2-1-0 on their eight-game road trip. Five of their next seven games are at home.

*** The P-Bruins are a league best 5-0 in shootouts.

*** With a .703 points percentage, Providence is second in AHL and first in the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division.

*** Jay Leach will coach the Atlantic Division team at the AHL All-Star Classic later this month.

*** Chris Breen scored his first goal of the season and assisted on Anton Blidh’s goal in Belleville.

*** Blidh has 4-3-7 in his last 8 games.

*** Justin Hickman has 3 goals in his last 4 games.

*** With a win in Utica, Jordan Binnington improved his record to 9-1-1. His goals-against average of 1.59 is the best in the league and his .938 save percentage is second.

*** Adam Payerl had 1-1-2 in the 5-4 win in Utica.

BAD

*** Providence is 22^nd in the AHL in power play opportunities with 137.

UGLY

*** The P-Bruins haven’t scored on their last 24 power plays. The PP is 27^th in the AHL at 13.1 percent.

*** The P-Bruins didn’t get home from Belleville until 5 a.m. on Sunday.

*** Injured: Jeremy Lauzon (upper body).

The Providence Bruins close out the 2017 calendar on the road tonight, paying their first visit to Belleville to play the Senators.

Zane McIntyre starts in net.

It will be the last of eight straight on the road for the P-Bruins, who have gone 5-2 to this point.

Providence starts the night in first place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference with a .710 points percentage. Belleville is sixth in the North Division at .422.

On a shootout goal by Jordan Szwarz, Providence won the first meeting between the teams on Oct. 21 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

The P-Bruins won, 3-1, in Utica last night, while the Senators were idle.

Ben Marshall, Sena Acolatse and Jesse Gabrielle draw into the lineup tonight, replacing Emil Johansson, Chris Porter and Justin Hickman.

PROVIDENCE LINES

Agostino-Szwarz-Czarnik

Fitzgerald-JFK-Beleskey

Blidh-Cave-Senyshyn

Gabrielle-Payerl-Acolatse

DEFENSE PAIRS

Zboril-Cross

Breen-Clifton

Marshall-O’Gara

Binnington is the backup.

INJURED: Lauzon (upper body)

SCRATCHES: Hennessy, Hickman, Porter, Johansson

The Providence Bruins will be without injured forward Jordan Szwarz for the third straight game when they face the Utica Comets on the road tonight.

The P-Bruins beat the Comets in overtime at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Dec. 9 and 10. Szwarz and Kenny Agostino — with a highlight reel move — scored the game-winners.

Providence starts the night in first place in the Atlantic Division with a .690 points percentage. Utica is fourth in the North Division at .517.

The Comets will be without Reid Boucher, their top scorer with 25 points in 25 games. He is on recall with Vancouver.

Zane McIntyre will start in goal for Providence.

PROVIDENCE LINES

Agostino-JFK-Czarnik

Beleskey-Cave-Senyshyn

Blidh-Payerl-Hickman

Hargrove-Hennessy-Porter

DEFENSE PAIRS

Zboril-Cross

Breen-Clifton

Johansson-O’Gara

Binnington will be the backup.

INJURED: Szwarz, Lauzon (upper body), Fitzgerald (knee)

HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Acolatse, Gabrielle, Marshall

The P-Bruins play the Comets again in Utica on Friday night.

 

The Providence Bruins split their only two games over the weekend. They lost in Hartford, 6-4, on Friday, then won in a shootout in Springfield, 2-1, on Saturday, sending them into the brief Christmas break on a positive note.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly.

GOOD

*** After another strong performance in Saturday’s shootout win, Jordan Binnington is 8-1-1. His .936 save percentage is third in the AHL and his 1.65 goals against average is second.

*** In Springfield, Jacob Forsbacka Karlsson scored the only goal for the P-Bruins in regulation, then tucked the shootout winner.

*** They are 4-0 in shootouts, the best record in the AHL.

*** Providence is first in the Atlantic Division with a .690 points percentage.  That’s good for third in the Eastern Conference and fourth in the league.

*** Justin Hickman scored twice in Hartford.

***Matt Beleskey notched his first goal for Providence against the Wolf Pack.

*** Josh Hennessy set a perfect screen on Beleskey’s goal on Friday and buried one in the shootout on Saturday.

*** Colby Cave played his first NHL game for Boston on Dec. 21 against Winnipeg.

BAD

*** Zane McIntyre was beaten by Peter Holland from a sharp angle in the first minute of the loss at Hartford. Since shutting out Hershey on Dec. 13, his save percentage is .855 in two starts plus a 33-minute relief stint.

*** Holding a one-goal lead going into the third period in Hartford, the P-Bruins gave up four straight goals.

*** After a 0-for-7 weekend, Providence’s power play is 25^th in the league at 14.3 percent. On the PK, they gave up a power play goal in each game, leaving the kill at 21st in the AHL at 81 percent.

UGLY

*** Injured: Jordan Szwarz, Ryan Fitzgerald, Jeremy Lauzon.

The Providence Bruins’ late December road odyssey continues tonight with a trip to Hartford to face the Wolf Pack at the XL Center at 7:15.

Zane McIntyre will start in goal for the P-Bruins, who will be without two of their top players in Jordan Szwarz, who is day to day with an injury, and Colby Cave.

Cave, who played a very solid 11:15 in his NHL debut with Boston against Winnipeg last night, was returned to the P-Bruins this morning. It stands to reason he is being held out tonight just in case Boston needs him again on Saturday against Detroit.

Matt Beleskey will play right wing with Kenny Agostino and Austin Czarnik tonight after skating with Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and Chris Porter in his Providence debut last Saturday.

After a slow start, Hartford has been much improved lately, going 5-0-1-2 in its last 8 games. The Wolf Pack are in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with a .500 winning percentage.

They are coming off a 5-4 OT win at Lehigh Valley on Wednesday. Defenseman Tony DeAngelo scored the winner on a setup from Peter Holland.

Former Providence College defenseman John Gilmour has been red-hot for the Pack with 3-5-8 in his last 4 games.

Providence lines

Agostino-Czarnik-Beleskey

Blidh-JFK-Senyshyn

Hargrove-Hennessy-Porter

Gabrielle-Payerl-Hickman

D pairs

Zboril-Cross

Breen-Marshall

Johansson-O’Gara

Binnington is the backup

Injured: Szwarz, Fitzgerald (knee), Lauzon (upper body)

Healthy scratches: Cave, Clifton, Acolatse

The P-Bruins will bus to Springfield after the game. They’ll face the Thunderbirds on Saturday night.

PROVIDENCE — Two days after playing his first game for the Providence Bruins, Matt Beleskey got his first practice under his belt on Monday at Providence College’s Schneider Arena.

Beleskey, 29, continues to take an optimistic approach as he looks to get his game on track after playing 14 scoreless games in Boston and not dressing for 15 others.

“I’m just looking to play hockey, get an opportunity to get back out on the ice. It’s no fun sitting in the stands, especially doing it for an extended period of time. I’m trying to get back to where I want to be. Hopefully, they’ll want me contributing up in Boston if I’m playing the way I’m capable,” he said.

P-Bruins coach Jay Leach is glad to have Beleskey, who played an estimated 14-to-15 minutes with two shots on net while skating alongside Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson and Chris Porter in Hershey on Saturday night.

“It’s a great opportunity for our young guys to see a guy that’s played in the league for a long time. He’s got some intangibles on the wall, some stuff that (the young players) will really benefit from. And he’s a really good guy,” said Leach.

“Most importantly, for him, it’s an opportunity to get playing, play some minutes, get some practices in. I said to him today, this is a terrific opportunity to play and get back to where he was.”

Beleskey got his first look at Providence’s team in Saturday’s 6-2 road win and he was impressed.

“It’s a good, skilled team. Young guys. Excited group. I think if you watch the way we played in that game, it’s going to be a tough team to beat if we move the puck around like we did. Going forward, it’s only going to get stronger,” he said.

The Providence Bruins started and finished strong on their three-game road trip last week, earning four of six points.  They won 3-0 and 6-2 in Hershey – historically one of the league’s tougher buildings – sandwiched around a 5-3 loss in Syracuse that snapped the P-Bruins’ 8-game winning streak.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly.

GOOD

*** Austin Czarnik (1-2-3) and linemates Kenny Agostino and Jordan Szwarz (both with 1-1-2) were dazzling on Saturday night, whipping the puck around like they had it on a string. Said Hershey coach Troy Mann: “I saw a Szwarz line that was men against boys. Agostino-Szwarz-Czarnik put on a clinic.’’

*** Who doesn’t enjoy a goalie fight? By now everyone has seen the video of Providence’s Jordan Binnington and Hershey’s Pheonix Copley dropping the gloves and taking off the masks on Saturday night. After they were thrown out, the two former teammates then watched the rest of the game together in the media room. The fight capped an eventful week for Binnington, who spent a couple of days on NHL recall with St. Louis.

*** Binnington got credit for the win, even though he made just 4 saves before being ejected.

*** Providence is 8-1 so far in December. They finished the weekend in first place in the Atlantic Division, second in the Eastern Conference and third in the AHL.

*** Zane McIntyre pitched his first shutout of the season on Wednesday.

*** Emil Johansson came to the aid of Agostino on Saturday night and earned his first fighting major.

*** After scoring a power play goal early in the game on Wednesday, Colton Hargrove made a beautiful pass to Anton Blidh for an insurance goal in the third period.

*** Blidh had a great week with 2-3-5 in 3 games.

*** Szwarz’ plus-19 is third in the league.

*** Jakob Zboril leads all AHL rookies with plus-16.

*** Zach Senyshyn has scored goals in three straight games.

***Adam Payerl scored his first goal of the season on Saturday.

BAD

*** Hershey captain Garrett Mitchell’s charge/head shot on Agostino on Saturday was cheap.

*** The Bears’ Liam O’Brien cut Zach Senyshyn near the eye in the final seconds of the first period on Saturday. Providence believes it was a butt-end. Refs Peter Schlittenhardt and Chris Pontes didn’t call anything.

*** Providence still has five games left on the road before their next game at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in January.

*** Tough night for Hargrove – minus-4 – in Syracuse on Friday.

UGLY

*** Injured: Ryan Fitzgerald (knee), Jeremy Lauzon (upper body).

*** The P-Bruins gave up 3 goals in 4:07 in the first period in the loss to the Crunch.