( Photo Credit: Providence Bruins / Flickr )

By: Sam Fryman  |  Follow Me On Twitter @sfryman20

 

There’s an old saying regarding April showers and what they may bring. For the Providence Bruins, that has meant two things to begin the month. Many goals and many games consecutively to make the team work harder than they ever have before. The first two games of the weekend came against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in a home and away series, giving the Bruins a chance to decrease their magic number to nearly zero.

Friday, April 5, 2019, Providence Bruins vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Home)

( Photo Credit: Providence Bruins / Flickr )

First Period:

The game started as quickly as one could imagine with Bridgeport’s Grant Hutton getting his first goal of the season just over a minute into the game. The goal came on the power play with Providence’s Jeremy Lauzon getting called for hooking at the 49-second mark. Just one minute later the Bruins would answer back with the gritty play of Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson. JFK made a great play behind the cage of Jeremy Smith that managed to get across the line. The tally also kept his scoring streak intact.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Another player looking to extend a streak was Paul Carey, and he would get the chance to do so at the 9:40 mark thanks to another Bruins’ power play. The alternate captain sent a great pass from circle to circle where Gemel Smith was waiting to put a one-timer in the back of the net. Thanks to the Sound Tigers second hooking call in as many minutes, the Bruins increased their lead to two with a goal from Ryan Fitzgerald. For Fitzgerald, it was a quick shot from the high slot, given plenty of help from his teammates on the second power-play unit. While Bridgeport would get one back late, the Bruins ended the period outshooting their opponents by a two to one margin.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Score: 3-2 Bruins

Second Period:

In the second period, the Bruins would prove that when it rains, it pours. At the 3:37 mark, they would start an offensive barrage that would see them score three goals in just under two minutes of playing time. Mark McNeil, Paul Carey, and rookie Bruin Victor Berglund scored in that order. All three exhibited some fantastic dangles on their goals. As they did in the first period; however, the Sound Tigers would battle back and cut the lead back down to two. Otto Koivula and highly touted prospect Josh Ho-Sang were responsible for the Bridgeport tallies.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Score: 6-4 Bruins

Third Period:

Entering the third, special teams had worked very well in favor of Providence, and they would get another opportunity to prove themselves. With Bridgeport defender Kyle Burroughs in the box for holding, Bruins captain Jordan Szwarz netted his 22nd goal of the season, deflecting a slap shot from Paul Carey. The score left the Bruins three for four with the man advantage, one of their best special teams showings this season. Carey would cap off a four-point night with an empty netter to seal the game after Bridgeport had gotten the Providence lead down to one. The final score marked the most goals the Bruins have scored in a game this season.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Final: 8-6 Bruins

Saturday, April 6, 2019, Providence Bruins vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Away)

( Photo Credit: Gregory Vasil/Getty Images )

First Period:

Coming into the second game of the weekend, Bridgeport certainly wanted to put Friday’s game behind them. The Bruins had the opportunity to decrease their magic number to six, but it was the Sound Tigers who came out with the fire early. Ryan Bourque tipped in a shot to give the home squad a 1-0 lead just 3:29 into the game. After Jakub Zboril was sent to the box for tripping, Oliver Wahlstrom doubled the lead for Bridgeport, and the Bruins were in a hole before the halfway mark of the first period.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Late in the first frame, the hottest Bruin of the last few games would continue to be hotter than an inferno. Paul Carey was able to walk in and net his 24th goal of the season to cut the lead in half with just about four minutes left in the period. With 42 seconds left in the period, Carey did it again to leave the game tied as the first frame came to a close. Jordan Szwarz picked up an assist on Carey’s second of the night.

Score: 2-2

Second Period:

The second period turned out to be fairly even between the two teams until late. Right after the penalty kill had come up large for the Bruins, Ryan Bourque was able to net his second of the night to give Bridgeport their second lead of the night. Although Dan Vladar continues to come up big, Providence couldn’t capitalize on their man advantage chances, and they ended the second period behind.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Score: 3-2 Sound Tigers

Third Period:

In the final twenty minutes, Bridgeport was able to get a big insurance goal as Travis St. Denis was able to put a rebound past Vladar to make the lead 4-2. Despite JFK adding a critical tally late, it wouldn’t be enough for the Bruins to overcome and the magic number would stay stagnant going into the final matchup of the weekend against the Utica Comets. After the final whistle, the tempers would get the best of the Bruins as Mark McNeil would get a fighting major as well as a game misconduct for throwing punches after the game was declared official. Providence would also get some needed reinforcements back as Boston announced that Anton Blidh, Trent Frederic, Jeremy Lauzon, and Zach Senyshyn would return to the AHL.

Final: 4-3 Sound Tigers

Sunday, April 7, 2019, Providence Bruins vs. Utica Comets (Home)

( Photo Courtesy of Providence Bruins/Flickr )

First Period:

Zane McIntyre was back in net for the Bruins as a revamped squad was ready to take on Utica and get their magic number down to one with only a few games remaining in the regular season. All four of the Bruins latest additions from Boston were in the starting five and came out with a solid burst of offense. Just like Saturday’s contest, however, the opponents would get on the board first with Vincent Arseneau netting his 8th goal of the season for the Comets. Providence would get two late power-play opportunities but wouldn’t get the game tied as the first twenty minutes came to a close. The shot total was in favor of the Comets 10-8.

Score: 1-0 Comets

Second Period:

Late in the second frame, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson made it three consecutive games with a goal as he tied the game with a fantastic wrist shot from the near side circle. Zech and Cehlarik picked up the assists at the 16:42 mark. The tally also gave the Bruins a power play tally in each one of their games during the weekend. Utica goalie Ivan Kulbakov remained strong for the rest of the period to keep the game and the shot total even.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Score: 1-1

Third Period:

In the third period, the Bruins would make it a game in their favor with two more players that had provided offense all weekend long. Paul Carey gave Providence the lead right off of the draw with his 26th tally of the season to give the Bruins a one-goal lead. Anton Blidh then finished off the game with an empty net goal, and the Bruins magic number was moved down to just one. Jordan Szwarz picked up the assists on both third-period goals to give him yet another multi-point game. It was certainly a weekend to remember for Providence, and with a magic number as low as it can possibly be they will play another three in three to close out the regular season.

Final: 3-1 Bruins

Interested in going to any Boston Bruins 2019 Stanley Cup Playoff games or the last regular season contests for the Providence Bruins? Take a look at the upcoming schedule and ticket availability from SeatGiant. Click the links below and use discount code BNGP to save a little cash!

—–> Click Here To Get Your Boston Bruins First Round Stanley Cup Playoff Tickets From The Great Folks at SeatGiant! <—-

—> Click Here To Get Your Providence Bruins Regular Season & Calder Cup Playoff Tickets From The Great Folks at SeatGiant! <—