After a lackluster loss in Hartford on April 10, the Providence Bruins rebounded with an impressive 6-2 victory over the Utica Comets on Friday afternoon at Marlboro.

Providence fell behind by a pair of goals in the first period, then scored six in a row. Robert Lantosi (2), Brady Lyle, Zach Senyshyn, Eddie Tralmaks and Paul Carey were the goal-scorers for the P-Bruins. Kyle Keyser made 25 saves in improving his record to 3-1.

“As a coach, what I liked about it was that their team made us play the right way,’’ said coach Jay Leach. “Early on, they were in our face, as advertised. They were on the forecheck, as advertised, and playing fast. I think we had to catch up.

“I loved our response to that. Going down 2-0, we looked like we were a little sleepy, let’s be honest, and they took it to us a bit.

“Once we started to advance pucks and play with some speed and get after it and get pucks to the net, we started to open things up. I thought it was a good last two periods, for sure.’’

Here are three quick hits from the game.

JAKUB LAUKO

Every time the 21-year-old winger has a good game, I get questions.

Is he ready? When is he going to get called up? What is management waiting for?

Well, all I can say in response is, he’s going to be worth the wait.

I expect he’ll take a run at an NHL job in training camp next season. Maybe he makes it or maybe he needs more time in the AHL, but when he does get to Boston for good he is going to be an entertaining, exciting player.

He has tremendous straight-line speed, a wicked shot and a willingness to scrap that is going to endear him to Bruins fans.

On Friday, he was originally credited with assists on Providence’s first three goals. Upon further review, one of the helpers was taken down, but his two points leaves him in a tie for the team scoring lead with 5-12-17 in 17 games.

In the third period, Lauko took issue with a Utica hit on Jack Ahcan and engaged in a spirited bout with Will Lockwood. He is now tied with Ian McKinnon for the team lead in fighting majors with three.

“Lauks is, not a funny player, but an intriguing player. He’s very young and he’s still finding his way,’’ said Leach.

“He’s shown, now on multiple occasions, his willingness to defend teammates with fights. We talk about not wanting him to (fight) — my only fear is injury. But to be honest, he’s handled himself just fine in all of them. If that’s going to be a part of his game, I’m not going to discourage that.

“I think his teammates in our organization value that. We’re not going to push him over the boards to go fight a bunch of guys, but by the same token, when he came back to that bench, I guarantee you all 20 guys were appreciative of his efforts and very impressed by the young man, for sure.’’

I’ll say it again: Lauko’s going to be worth the wait.

URHO VAAKANAINEN

Vaakanainen had a strong game, assisting on two goals for his first points of the season.

The second helper was an eye-opener as he lugged the puck into the offensive zone and then fired a backhand pass right on the tape of Tralmaks for a tap-in goal.

“He was skating well, harder on pucks. He closed well in his own end. He had some buzz offensively when he came over that blueline. It was a great play to finish there at the end of the third for that goal,’’ said Leach.

“I thought he was active and wanted to make a difference, which was great to see. We’ve certainly encouraged that out of him and we’ve seen it in the past. Hopefully it continues.’’

JACK AHCAN

Ahcan was a late add from Boston after spending the last 10 days or so on the NHL taxi squad.

He picked up right where he left off in the AHL, both handling the puck and defending with authority. He earned the primary assist on Lyle’s power play goal.

“It’s a real challenge to come down from the NHL, especially this year. Usually, a player coming down from the NHL, he’s still practicing with the team, he’s still playing games, but with the extended roster, you don’t what these kids are doing on a day-to-day basis. Sometimes they’re in warmups, sometimes they’re skating, you don’t know. These guys are up against it,’’ said Leach.

“For him to come down and perform like that right out of the gate, was really impressive. I thought Senyshyn was the same thing. It’s a tough thing to do.

“Jack was excellent, both ends of the rink. He broke out pucks well, he defended well. And then obviously was very active on the offensive blueline, creating havoc for the other team. He certainly was a guy that stood out.’’

The Providence Bruins split two games last week as their season hits the home stretch.

The P-Bruins scored late to beat Bridgeport, 2-1, on April 5, then were soundly beaten, 6-1, in Hartford on Saturday.

Coach Jay Leach wasn’t happy after his team’s most lopsided loss of the season.

“The second and third (periods) were a real concern. Not a lot of juice there for us — partly, I’m sure, because of the way that Hartford was playing, but also really because our willingness to play inside, block some shots and win a couple of battles was simply nonexistent for the last two periods,’’ he said.

“It was clearly a case of two teams that were playing polar opposites of one another. One was all-in and our group was not.’’

Here’s the good, bad and ugly.

GOOD

— Kyle Keyser was sharp in making 26 saves in the win over the Sound Tigers.

— Rookie Eduards Tralmaks scored his first goal as a pro against Bridgeport. After winning a puck battle on the boards, he went to the front of the net and shoveled a rebound over the goal line.

— Sammy Asselin’s plus-10 leads the team. Tommy Cross, who scored the P-Bruins’ only goal in Hartford, is second with plus-9.

— Brady Lyle scored his second game-winner against Bridgeport. He is tied for second among rookie defensemen with five goals.

— Providence finally faces a team other than Bridgeport and Hartford when the Utica Comets travel to Marlboro on Friday.

BAD

— Cameron Hughes got hit in the mouth by a clearing pass by Hartford goalie Adam Huska in the first minute of the second period. He left the game but later returned wearing a fishbowl. He spent some time in the dentist’s chair on Monday. He has had terrible luck since arriving in Providence when it come to getting hit in the face.

— Keyser was beaten by a bad-angle shot by Anthony Greco of the Wolf Pack on Saturday.

— It was a tough day for the defense pair of Nick Wolff and Joel Messner on Saturday. Both were on the ice for three goals against.

UGLY

— Providence’s penalty kill struggled on Saturday, giving up three goals on Hartford’s five power plays.

— Injured: Josiah Didier, Brendan Woods

The Providence Bruins continued their dominance of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers with a 2-1 win on Monday.

It was Providence’s seventh victory in eight games against Bridgeport.

After Sound Tigers’ captain Seth Helgesen took a roughing penalty on Oskar Steen, Brady Lyle scored the winner with three minutes left.

Here are three quick hits from Marlboro:

JACK STUDNICKA

Boston’s prize center prospect hasn’t seen a lot of NHL playing time lately, but Providence coach Jay Leach gave him all he could handle on Monday.

While Studnicka didn’t produce much in the way of numbers (no points, one shot on goal), I thought he had a decent game. In particular, his speed carrying the puck through the neutral zone and into the offensive zone was noticeable.

Unfortunately for him, he overskated the puck in front of goalie Kyle Keyser 12 seconds into the second period, handing Bridgeport a gift goal. It was nothing more than a bad break as the puck stopped in a puddle on the fresh sheet of ice. Could have happened to anyone.

“It’s always challenging – we’ve talked about this at length, about coming down (from the NHL). Especially for a guy like Jack, who wants to be a difference maker,’’ said Leach.

“By all means, I thought he was out there trying to make a difference, skating, and he certainly had some opportunities that didn’t go in for him. At the same time, those things (losing the puck in a puddle) happen. To be honest, there was a lot of water out there and it just happens. I’m sure he’s frustrated with it. It’s just one of those things in hockey that can occur from time to time.

“The biggest thing for me is getting Jack skating and on pucks and doing what he does. I thought he was physical, wanted to play inside. Good signs. It’s probably the first time he’s played that many minutes in a long time. So it was good for him to get out there and be exposed to that and I’m sure he’ll be looking for more next time.’’

KYLE KEYSER

With Dan Vladar and Jeremy Swayman up with Boston, Keyser was very sharp in making 26 saves and earning his second win in two starts. He’s stopped 55 of 57 shots for a save percentage of .964.

“He was really good. That was probably the best I’ve seen him play. He was able to pretty much locate everything. There were a couple of chances off the rush that he made look easy, in my opinion. He was out at the top of his crease,’’ said Leach.

“It was very impressive. Even his touches, they’ve certainly improved over the last two years, they were good for the most part. He certainly earned that victory.’’

EDUARDS TRALMAKS

The rookie free agent from Maine made his debut a memorable one as he scored his first pro goal in the second period.

Tralmaks outworked a Bridgeport player on the wall and went to the front, where he shoveled a rebound into the net from close range.

“I thought he was good right from the get-go. He was on pucks, skating in straight lines. He was under people, made a couple of plays off the wall, good defensively and then, obviously, he could have had two (goals), really. (He was) around the net, looking to shoot pucks. He was impressive,’’ said Leach.

The Providence Bruins have reached a point in their pandemic-shortened season where they have a lot of time in between games.

In fact, Providence has played only twice since March 20.

The P-Bruins split their two most recent games.

They lost to the Hartford Wolf Pack, 4-2, in Marlboro on March 26, and won, 3-2, in overtime against the Sound Tigers in Bridgeport on March 31.

“It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but it’s still a win and we’ll certainly take it,’’ said coach Jay Leach after his team came from behind in the third period for the win.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly.

GOOD

— Oskar Steen scored the game-winner in Bridgeport, beating longtime NHL netminder Cory Schneider in OT.

— Providence leads the Atlantic Division by 12 points and is third in the AHL with a points percentage of .781.

— With an assist on Steen’s goal, Jakub Lauko has 3-4-7 in his last six games.

— Rookies Matt Filipe and Alex-Olivier Voyer had a goal and an assist each in Bridgeport. Filipe has 1-2-3 in his last three games. Voyer has 3-2-5 in his last four games.

— Ian McKinnon continues to lead the AHL in penalty minutes, with 53 in only five games. He piled up 27 minutes against the Wolf Pack with a minor, a major and two misconducts.  I put him in the “good’’ category because of the energy and physicality that he brings.

BAD

— The last two first periods have been rough for Providence. They were outshot, 16-5, and gave up three goals against Hartford. They were outshot, 9-0, against Bridgeport.

— It took the P-Bruins 22:19 to get their first shot on net in Bridgeport. Chances are Providence has a had a shotless period or two during their 30-season history, but I can’t remember one.

— Lauko dropped the gloves with Hartford tough guy Mason Geertsen. It didn’t go well for Lauko.

— The game scheduled for April 3 against Utica – at last, a different opponent than Hartford and Bridgeport – was postponed because of COVID issues with the Comets.

UGLY

Injured: Urho Vaakanainen, Brendan Woods

The Providence Bruins extended their winning streak to four with a pair of victories last week as they continue to run away from Hartford and Bridgeport in the Atlantic Division.

The P-Bruins beat the Sound Tigers in Marlboro, 5-2, on Monday, then defeated the Wolf Pack in Hartford, 6-1, on Saturday.

After 14 games, Providence is 11-2-1 and is 16 points up on second-place Hartford in the division. Going into Sunday’s games, they are second in the AHL with a points percentage of .821. Only the Henderson Silver Knights (.857) are ahead of them.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly.

GOOD

— Jakub Lauko scored a goal and set one up against the Wolf Pack. He has 5-8-13 and is a team-high plus-10 in 13 games.

— Paul Carey scored his first goal of the season on Saturday and it was a beauty.

— With a pair of assists on Saturday, Cameron Hughes has a five-game point streak and nine points in his last five games. Hughes leads the team in scoring with 4-11-15 in 14 games.

— Brady Lyle recorded a Gordie Howe hat trick and was plus-three against Bridgeport.

— The P-Bruins had only 16 skaters – 10 forwards and 6 defensemen — on Monday instead of 18 because of injuries and callups, but they won anyway.

— Providence continues to get top-notch goaltending. With Dan Vladar and Jeremy Swayman on recall to Boston, Callum Booth stepped in and stopped 36 of 38 shots in the win against Bridgeport, then Kyle Keyser kicked out 27 of 28 to beat Hartford.

— Matt Filipe had a good game on Saturday and made one of the nicest plays of the season to set up Alex-Olivier Voyer for a goal.

— Go to the net and good things happen, they say. Voyer did that and potted two goals against the Wolf Pack.

— Joel Messner scored a goal and was plus-four in Hartford.

— Tommy Cross scored twice in Monday’s game. Before that, his last goal for the P-Bruins was on Feb. 11, 2018.

— Ian McKinnon continued to make his presence known with an assist in each game and a fight against Bridgeport.

— Robert Lantosi had 1-1-2 against Bridgeport.

— Cooper Zech returned to the lineup after missing a few games with an injury and was plus-three in Hartford.

— Pavel Shen scored his first goal of the season against the Sound Tigers and it turned out to be the game-winner.

— The P-Bruins went 2 for 6 on the power play in the two games. They are fifth in the AHL in PP opportunities with 61.

BAD

— Let’s be real. There really isn’t anything that falls into the “bad’’ category.

UGLY

— Injured: Brendan Woods

The Providence Bruins rolled to a 6-1 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack on the road on Saturday.

Kyle Keyser made 27 saves in his first start of the season in the AHL.

Alex-Olivier Voyer scored twice. Paul Carey, Sammy Asselin, Jakub Lauko and Joel Messner had the other goals.

It was Providence’s fourth win in a row. They now lead the second-place Wolf Pack by 16 points in the Atlantic Division.

Here are three quick hits from the game:

KYLE KEYSER

The last time the 22-year-old goalie started for Providence was in a 5-2 loss in Hartford in November 2019.

His return to the XL Center on Saturday had a much happier ending.

Keyser was beaten only once, in the third period, and the P-Bruins had the game well in hand by that point.

“He was very good, and he had to be. They came at us hard and he made a couple of really nice saves in the slot early. We knew they’d come with a lot of shots. We gave up a couple of high Grade A’s in the slot there that he kicked away nicely and was good throughout, he really was,’’ said coach Jay Leach.

“It’s nice to see. This was the last game he played for us, like a year and a half ago, in this building, so I’m sure it was good for him to get the win and to play the way he did.’’

PAUL CAREY

Pucks hadn’t been going in the net for Providence’s captain before Saturday, when his wrister beat Tyler Wall with 1:15 left in the first period. It was Carey’s first goal of the season – he has 10 assists and is third on the team in scoring with 11 points – and it gave Providence a 1-0 lead.

“Goal-scorers – and I can’t relate cause I never was one – but I’m sure it’s something that really does weigh on them when they don’t (score). I mean the guy had 22 in 30 (games) for us that year he came here and he had 22 last year, I think, as well, or close to that,’’ said Leach.

“He was battling something early. He won’t say that, he’ll probably get mad at me for saying that. But, regardless, he never changed. He came to work every day.’’

His goal on Saturday was “a high-end play. Usually those goals that snap a streak, a lot of them are off a skate or off a guy’s back or whatever it might be. He goes through a triangle, top shelf, on a partial breakaway, the way Paul Carey can. It was really nice to see.

“The boys were happy. I’m sure he was happy. I’m sure his play will be the same but he doesn’t have that big bagel next to his name. He’s going to sleep a little bit better tonight, I’m sure.’’

CURTIS HALL

Curtis Hall played a few shifts in the first period of the season opener in early February and then left with a lower-body injury.

He was back on Saturday and played a solid, up-and-down game at right wing with Pavel Shen and Joona Koppanen.

“I liked him. I thought that line was pretty effective. Him and Pavs and Koppie was real strong. Hallsy was good, I mean that’s his second professional game and probably his second game since lord knows when, combined with the rehab,’’ said Leach.

For the record, Hall’s last game with Yale was on March 8, 2020 against Union.

“That all being said, I thought he was good. He was up and down the walls, made a couple of plays off the walls, had some O-zone time and was solid defensively. Got a little penalty kill there as well. He was good,’’ said Leach.

Despite a depleted lineup because of callups by Boston, the Providence Bruins rolled to a 5-2 victory over Bridgeport on Monday in Marlboro.

Providence dressed 16 players – six defensemen and 10 forwards – two under the limit of 18. With goalies Dan Vladar and Jeremy Swayman with the NHL club, the P-Bruins turned to Callum Booth and the former Salisbury School netminder kicked out 36 shots to earn his first win in his first start of the season.

Tommy Cross scored twice and Brady Lyle, Robert Lantosi and Pavel Shen added single goals.

Since losing in overtime to Bridgeport on Feb. 9, 2020, Providence is 22-2-1. They are 15 points ahead of second-place Hartford in the Atlantic Division.

Here are three quick hits:

BRADY LYLE

The rookie defenseman from the Ontario Hockey League continues to play well, recording his first Gordie Howe hat trick as a pro.

His wicked wrister staked Providence to an early lead and he assisted on two goals by Cross, his D partner.

In the third period, Lyle took issue with a hard hit on Jakub Lauko and fought Jeff Kubiak of the Sound Tigers.

“To be honest with you, I didn’t know a whole lot about the player. We obviously signed him out of (Owen Sound). I never really saw him,’’ said coach Jay Leach. “We obviously didn’t have the opportunity to see him in rookie camp like we usually would. He came in, really, with a blank canvas with our staff, but he’s been great, he’s been solid.

“One thing I really like about Brady is he’s really hard on the puck. Obviously he has a hard shot, which you saw today, but every pass is hard – it’s a pro pass. In battles, he’s able to win pucks.

“He’s certainly working on certain aspects of his game to transition to professional hockey, but it’s been a terrific start. We’re able to play him in most situations, which is a lot to say for a young, rookie defenseman coming out of junior.’’

Lyle, who signed a two-year AHL contract with Providence last summer, has 4-4-8 in 12 games and is tied for the team lead with plus-9.

IAN McKINNON

Up from Jacksonville of the ECHL, Ian McKinnon is carving out a niche for himself as a banging winger who won’t hesitate to drop the gloves against the toughest players on the opposing team.

McKinnon earned his first point in the AHL on Monday and took on rock-hard Seth Helgeson in a bout late in the game.

“We knew he was a physical presence. We’ve had players playing in Jacksonville, so we developed a bit of a relationship with their coach – (John Ferguson Jr.) did. He was highly recommended from (Jacksonville coach) Jason Christie,’’ said Leach.

“He brings an element of physicality. He’s able to get to hits, which is a big thing. Usually these physical players, you’ve got to make sure they can skate to get in on these hits, and he does. He makes you pay.

“He forces the turnover in the second when the puck comes over the glass there. And to be honest with you, he’s making some plays. Made a nice play to (Pavel Shen) on that goal. Along with all that comes some physicality and obviously he gets into a fight today toward the end against a tough, tough customer (Seth Helgeson) in this league and does a great job.

“We knew he was a physical player and didn’t know a whole lot about his up and down play. He’s another one that’s been able to come in and fill a role for us and play regular minutes.’’

CALLUM BOOTH

Callum Booth has spent most of the season on Boston’s taxi squad. After going months without playing in a game, he stepped in on Monday and helped the shorthanded P-Bruins to another win.

“Boother comes in today – I think he played one game in the East Coast League and I think it was in November, maybe, or it might have been December, but doesn’t play a game until March 15 and goes out there and gets a nice win. In all honesty, it was close to a shutout. He did a nice job,’’ said Leach.

Indeed he did. Booth made a handful of 10-bell saves before the Sound Tigers broke his shutout with a pair of late goals. By then, Providence had wrapped up the victory.

It was a busy week for the Providence Bruins as they played three games in five days, won two of them and increased their lead in the Atlantic Division.

After a 3-2 overtime loss to Hartford in Marlboro on Monday, they beat Bridgeport, 3-0, on the road and Hartford at home, 5-2, on Friday.

Here’s the good, bad and ugly.

GOOD

— With a 9-2-1 record and a points percentage of .792, Providence finished the weekend with a 13-point lead on second-place Hartford in the Atlantic Division.

— Jeremy Swayman recorded his first pro shutout in Bridgeport and improved his record to 7-0 with Friday’s win. His goals-against average is 1.57 and his save percentage is .942.

— With a goal and two assists in Friday’s win, Cameron Hughes capped a six-point week. He leads the team in scoring with 4-8-12 in 12 games.

— Zach Senyshyn scored his team-high fifth goal in Bridgeport and earned himself a well-deserved recall to Boston.

— Newcomer Ian McKinnon had one of the best fights I’ve seen in the AHL in recent years against Hartford heavyweight Mason Geertsen on Monday.

— Jakub Lauko had his speed and scoring touch going in Friday’s win, burying two goals.

— Matt Filipe scored his first goal as a pro in Bridgeport.

— Tommy Cross was on the ice for all three Providence goals in the shutout against the Sound Tigers and Josiah Didier was on for two. Leach complimented them after the win: “The way they go about their games with the younger players has really been the key for us. They’re not independent contractors. They’re all in with regards to what we’re trying to do here in development and trying to win.”

— The power play delivered on Friday, going 2 for 5, after going 1 for 13 in the previous two games. On the first PP goal on Friday, the puck movement – Paul Carey to Hughes to Anton Blidh for the finish – was perfect.

— Greg McKegg recorded two assists in his first game with Providence on Friday.

BAD

— The P-Bruins gave up a shorthanded goal in Friday’s game. They’ve now allowed four shorties, the most in the AHL.

— Hartford’s Will Cuylle threw a heavy, late hit on Cooper Zech on Monday. Cuylle was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for interference. Zech didn’t play in the next two games.

UGLY

— Injured: Anton Blidh, Curtis Hall, Cooper Zech, Brendan Woods

The Providence Bruins beat the Hartford Wolf Pack, 5-2, in Marlboro on Friday afternoon in a game spiced by hard feelings.

Some of the P-Bruins – Sammy Asselin, Oskar Steen and Anton Blidh, in particular – really irritated the Wolf Pack, who were playing Providence for the sixth time, with six still to come. If the score hadn’t been close until the end, the lid might have blown off.

Cameron Hughes led the way for Providence with a goal and two assists and six shots. He is first on the team in scoring with 4-8-12 in 12 games.

Here are three quick hits:

DOWN GOES LAUKO

Jakub Lauko is often the last Bruin to come out for pregame warmup. When he stepped on the ice on Friday, he went down like a squirt who forgot to remove his skate guards.

In fact, that’s pretty much what happened.

Don’t know if maybe one of his teammates set him up with the old clear-tape-on-the-skate-blade trick or what, but the pratfall brought a smile to the face of everyone who saw it.

Then the high-spirited Lauko got up, dusted himself off, and went out and scored a pair of goals once the game started.

His offensive talent is there for all to see. But what about the rest of his game? I asked coach Jay Leach about Lauko’s play without the puck.

“There’s times where I think it’s good, and there’s times when it needs some work. I think we have to remember he’s 20. He’s a young, young professional. He certainly has offense. He certainly has speed, some physicality – you saw that in the first (period) as well,’’ said Leach.

“And then there are definitely times, we talk regularly on it, where he’s able to do the good things in the D zone and other times where we have to look at it and work on it. It’s a work in progress but at the same time, by no means is it something that can’t be corrected.’’

STEEN SNAPS (HIS STICK)

Steen’s competitiveness, his refusal to give in, is part of what makes him such a good player.

While battling along the boards with Hartford veteran Paul Thompson early in the third period, Steen cross-checked Thompson in the back, snapping his stick in two.

As you might expect, Thompson immediate cornered Steen and started firing punches.

Steen didn’t suffer any damage and somehow went unpenalized, while Thompson received a minor, a major and a game misconduct. Providence scored on the power play, with Steen earning an assist on the goal.

“He’s feisty as it gets,’’ Leach said of Steen. “It starts in the faceoff circle. He wants to win every single one of those faceoffs. That can lead to some jabs and some pushes and shoves and it begins from there.

“He’s just a competitive guy by nature. He’s always been that way, ever since we saw him a couple of years ago. And he’s very effective with his speed and his inside game. It’s tough to play against guys like that.’’

McKEGG’S DEBUT

Greg McKegg was a welcome addition to the lineup. After being sent down by Boston, he played at center between Asselin and Karson Kuhlman, recording a pair of assists.

“He adds a lot (to the lineup). He was pretty good. Really hard on the puck. He’s got speed. He’s smart. Plays in all situations. Terrific in the faceoff circle. I thought that line was excellent.

“I remember him, obviously, when he was with Charlotte and watching him play with New York last year. Just a terrific hockey player at this level.’’

The Providence Bruins lost to the Hartford Wolf Pack in overtime, 3-2, with Morgan Barron potting the GWG on Monday in Marlboro.

The P-Bruins had eight power plays and piled up 40 shots on Tyler Wall in the Wolf Pack net, but scored only once with the man advantage.

“I thought it was a fair result, to be honest with you,’’ said Providence coach Jay Leach. “I thought we were a little loose around our net from time to time. I thought we were a little light on pucks from time to time. I’ll give Hartford credit for that because they were coming at us and were very physical. They made it hard on our defensemen to make clean plays.’’

Here are three quick hits from the game:

ZACH SENYSHYN

The fourth-year right winger continues to play well.

He made a good play that led to Providence’s first goal, with his curl-and-drag move allowing him to get a shot past a defender and through to the net, where Cameron Hughes cashed in the rebound.

“I thought he was really good — again. Skating. He generated, especially with his speed,’’ said Leach. “He’s been very much a shot-first guy. That’s not to say he’s not setting up guys, but at the same time I like his mentality. He was good in pretty much all areas. Has consistently been that way really from the start of the season.’’

CAMERON HUGHES

Now in his third full season in Providence, Hughes never seems to get the recognition he deserves.

He had a goal and an assist on Monday and played his usual solid all-around game.

“We anticipated Hughsy always being that guy that plays the full 200-foot game in all situations. I think he was snakebit a bit last year, production-wise, but it wasn’t for a lack of chances. Now you’re seeing things going in for him a little bit more, which makes his numbers look better,’’ said Leach, who deploys Hughes at center between Senyshyn and Jakub Lauko.

“I do think he’s picked up a step and his shot has actually improved, as well. Little increments here and there and then obviously just being the steady player that he is, he’s turned into a very effective player in the American League.’’

THE FIGHT OF THE SEASON

Honestly, the highlight of the game happened just 70 seconds in when Providence’s Ian McKinnon and Hartford’s Mason Geertsen dropped the gloves off a faceoff and engaged in one of the best AHL tilts I’ve seen in several years.

The two had talked a couple of times when the Bruins and Wolf Pack played last week, but nothing came of it. With Nick Wolff sitting out on Monday with an upper-body injury, McKinnon was in the lineup to provide exactly the kind of muscle that he displayed against a very tough opponent in Geertsen.

Both players connected with solid punches, with McKinnon landing a vicious uppercut just before the linesmen stepped in.

“That was a big-boy fight. That should be No. 1 on hockeyfights.com. (McKinnon) stood right in there against a real tough customer,’’ said Leach.

“Both of those guys probably came away with respect for one another. I haven’t seen many like that since I’ve been coaching. That was 20-years-ago-type stuff. Kudos to both of them. I hope they’re both OK. One heck of a fight.’’