( Photo Credit: Providence Bruins / Flickr )

By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter @BlackAndGold277

Last night the Providence Bruins earned two points and continue to climb the AHL Atlantic Division standings with an overtime victory over the visiting Hartford Wolf Pack. The extra session win at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island, saw the return of veteran goaltender Troy Grosenick. The 32-year-old Wisconsin native was on the shelf with a lower-body injury dating back to the first game of the season when he left after the first period in a 2-1 shootout win over the Bridgeport Islanders back on October 16th, 2021.

After over a month of recovering from an ankle injury, Grosenick was sharp in his return to the Providence team stopping 23 of 24 Wolf Pack shots for his first win as an AHL Bruins member. Troy signed over the 2021 offseason as a free agent as an insurance policy and depth addition in case a player with NHL experience is needed at the higher level in a break glass in case of an emergency situation. Grosenick was the third star in this game and was a huge reason why the Bruins stayed in this game, accompanied by a solid defensive effort in front of him. Below is the goal from Boston Bruins prospect forward Oskar Steen that sealed the victory in overtime and captured the Providence Bruins third consecutive win.

In four regulation periods and one overtime extra frame Grosenick in two appearances, this season has a record of 1-0, a 1.49 goals-against-average, and .950 save percentage. With last night’s victory, Troy adds to an impressive career when talking about his AHL time in the crease. Grosenick now has an AHL record of 134-85-34 with a 2.55 GAA and .911 Save%.

With Grosenick’s Return to Providence, a Goaltender Needs to be Released

While the Grosenick return to action increases the Boston Bruins goaltending depth, there’s no need for a three-headed monster in the crease with the B’s top minor-pro affiliate. Unfortunately, with Troy’s addition back in the Providence lineup, netminder Jon Gillies has been released from his professional try-out. Gillies, a former draft pick of the NHL’s Calgary Flames and South Portland, Maine native, will report back to the ECHL Maine Mariners when the team returns to New England after this current road trip down south to play teams line the Florida Everblades, Jacksonville IceMen, and tonight’s road game against the Orlando Solar Bears.

While Grosenick was on the shelf with a lower-body injury, Gillies was a fine addition to the Providence team in his absence. In three games for the AHL Bruins, Gillies posted a 3-0 record with a 1.67 GAA and .948 Save%. With his addition to the Maine Mariners team, a goaltender at the ECHL level will most likely be released to make room for him to work with Jeremy Brodeur. With the Mariners now carrying Brodeur, Gillies, and Callum Booth, it seems that the odd man out could be Zachary Bouthillier, who has a 2021/22 regular-season record of 1-1-1 with a 3.40 GAA and .907 Save%.