By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky
The Providence Bruins are entering the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs after a fantastic regular season, finishing in third place in the Atlantic Division. They will face their familiar rivals, the Springfield Thunderbirds. Game One is scheduled for this Wednesday at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in downtown Providence, followed by Game Two this Friday at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. If necessary, Game Three will return to the AMP on Sunday.
Both Michael DiPietro and Brandon Bussi are healthy and coming off strong performances, which the team will need to compete for the Calder Cup. On the other hand, Colten Ellis and Vadim Zherenko are also playing exceptionally well. The key question remains: will it be enough to overcome the P-Bruins?
The Providence Bruins have transformed considerably over the past week. With the Boston Bruins’ season coming to an end, they have welcomed back several key players to their roster. Vinni Lettieri, Ian Mitchell, Frederic Brunet, John Farinacci, Fabian Lysell, and Fraser Minten have all rejoined the team following the conclusion of the National Hockey League regular season. As a result, the P-Bruins have become one of the deepest teams in the American Hockey League. The question is how quickly these players can develop chemistry on the ice.
These two teams were evenly matched in the regular season. Providence has a record of 5-6-1, but both teams have changed significantly since the beginning of the season. This matchup will be an essential first test for the P-Bruins as they aim to build on their performance this season. Facing adversity early in the playoffs can be beneficial.
The Baby Bs are currently facing some injury challenges. Georgii Merkulov hopes to return by the first game of the playoffs, but this has not yet been confirmed. Additionally, Billy Sweezey and Jake Gaudet may be unavailable at the start of the playoffs. Gaudet has been out since the team’s 10-2 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, while Sweezey has missed time due to an injury sustained from a hit late in a previous game. Despite these setbacks, the team’s considerable depth should allow them to manage the situation effectively. However, losing their top scorer is undoubtedly a significant challenge.
The Bruins organization recently faced a significant loss with the release of Dalton Bancroft from his Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement, allowing him to return to college to rejoin the Cornell Big Red for his senior season. Despite having him signed through the end of the 2025-26 season, the limited roster opportunities would have made it challenging for Dalton to get consistent ice time. While it is tough to lose him, this move makes sense for both parties. In his limited appearances this season, Bancroft, a former Ontario Junior Hockey League MVP, scored his first professional goal in just five games.
Catch the P-Bruins this week as they face the Springfield Thunderbirds in the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. This three-game series promises to be exciting, as both teams are evenly matched. You can watch the games on FloHockey. If you don’t have a subscription to Flo, tune into the Black N’ Gold YouTube channel, where Sam Smith, Mark Allred, and I will provide live reactions and commentary.
Leave a Reply