By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter / X @KennyKaminsky
The Amica Mutual Pavillion was buzzing with anticipation. Last night, the Providence Bruins kicked off their regular season against the Montreal Canadiens affiliate, Laval Rocket. The Bruins showcased a blend of fresh talent and familiar faces. Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell, two promising players, played opening night for Providence. Goaltender Brandon Bussi, a key returner, added stability to the Baby Bruins lineup. Newcomers like Billy Sweezey and Jackson Edward brought their size and skill to an already formidable team.
Providence’s first period unfolded as planned. They swiftly scored two goals, with veterans Vinni Lettieri and Patrick Brown marking their season’s firsts. They went into the intermission with a 2-1 lead. The Rocket would score the following four goals as they ultimately won 5-2 on opening night. The shot difference, with the Rocket having 39 compared to the Bruins’ 14, was a testament to the Bruins’ lackluster performance.
What changed from the first ten minutes to the rest of the game? Nothing changed; the Bruins had been a step behind the Rocket since the puck dropped. The Lettieri goal was a beautifully placed shot right under the bar on the power play. Patrick Brown’s goal was a slapper that found the bottom part of the net. The Rocket was far more physical despite Jeffrey Viel winning the only fight of the night.
While the night ended in disappointment for the home fans, there were some bright spots. Georgii Merkulov’s performance was a standout, showcasing his skills and assisting in the opening goal. Despite a relatively quiet game, Fabian Lysell’s bursts of speed in open ice caused chaos for the Rocket’s defense. His speed, which drew a penalty after he outpaced the defense, and another instance where he beat the defender but ran out of space, demonstrated his potential.
Brandon Bussi let in some soft goals, but once again, it’s difficult to gauge if it was him or just the poor defense in front of him. Since the opening draw, the puck had been constantly around Bussi’s crease. He had a few excellent saves, but rebound control was an issue. Bussi was much better at shots down low than he was in the preseason, but there were still a few times the puck would pop out of Brandon’s glove.
The best pairing of the night was Frederic Brunet and Jordan Oesterle. Both players played well offensively and picked up the slack physically. Oesterle had two assists as well and currently leads the team in points. At the end of the day, the Bruins had no answer to the Laval young defensemen. Laval defensemen accounted for four of the Rocket’s five goals. Logan Mailloux torched the Bruins tonight, registering four points. He had two nifty goals, which made the Providence defense look silly.
Lucky for Providence, they have a quick turnaround. They play the Bridgeport Islanders tonight at 7 p.m. EST at the Total Morgage Arena. If the Baby B’s can expand on those glimpses of offensive potential, they will have a much better night. The defense will also need to step it up. It’s a long season, and the Providence Bruins still have a good roster to make a deep playoff run, but they need to play a full 60 minutes first.
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