By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277
The American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins are in Charlotte, North Carolina, to face the Charlotte Checkers tonight, with puck drop at the Bojangles Coliseum set for 7 pm. The higher-seeded Checkers won both road games at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, taking a commanding 2-0 Calder Cup Playoff lead. The heavily favored Checkers come into tonight’s game down in North Carolina in a series-sweeping scenario in this best-of-five second round, and desperately need to find their scoring touch, being outscored in this series 7-1.
It’s no secret that there are a few flaws on this Providence Bruins team that seem to be hindering any effort to get into this series against Charlotte. The offense and inability to finish have been frustrating in these two games against the Checkers. Providence was tied for fourth in the league, scoring 240 goals during the regular season. Outscored playoff opponent Springfield Thunderbirds 7-3 in the best-of-three Calder Cup opening round series against the Atlantic rival. Versus Charlotte, the Bruins have been stifled offensively up and down the lineup, no matter who’s been on the team for the 2024-25 campaign, or players assigned and eligible for this postseason.
The Bruins’ special teams in this second-round series against Charlotte has been hit and miss in these two games against the Checkers, with a power play that has been non-existent, scoring zero goals. The Providence Power Play during the round vs. Springfield saw the B’s notch four on the man advantage, including three in the third and series-clinching game, while in the regular season, they were one of the most improved teams on the power play in the second half. The saving grace of the special teams for this Providence club has been the penalty kill against the better Checkers team, shutting down their man advantage all six times thus far in this best-of-five series.
Bruins goaltender Michael DiPietro has been the backbone of the 2024-25 season and continues to be a positive bulb in a row of lights with dimming efforts this postseason. Often against this Checkers team, the 25-year-old netminder has been left out to dry, particularly in game one in Providence, where Charlotte notched five goals. Two of those five goals came via Checkers’ shorthanded efforts, only about 45 seconds apart in the first period at the AMP, spotting the visitors a 2-0 lead just under five minutes into the game.
The officiating in these postseason games between Providence and Charlotte has been somewhat abysmal, with the calls going against the B’s in a very “soft” manner. This is the playoffs, and contact like that is expected, but I’m not here making excuses for how this top minor-pro affiliate of the National Hockey League the Boston Bruins are getting screwed. In this series, particularly against the Checkers, they’ve lost the same thing that got this team to this point.
Providence Head Coach Ryan Mougenel told media members in attendance at his postgame press conference at the AMP, saying the team has lost its fundamentals and players need to find ways to find another level often quoting, “play like a man” when asked what he needs from his team before tonight’s game three on the road. The Bruins need to find ways to get inside and drive the net, causing anxiety around the Checkers’ crease and those critical offensive scoring areas to capitalize tonight in the United States mid-Atlantic.
Getting back to the fundamentals of the game with an emphasis on burying pucks in all situations will be critical areas that this coaching staff needs to address for a successful bout tonight and get back in this series. The B’s will be without forward Dans Locmelis as the Boston prospect was permitted to participate in this summer’s IIHF World Championships. This year’s tournament will be held in Sweden and Denmark and kicks off on Friday, May 9th, and the former 2022 fourth rounder will represent his native Latvia.
With DiPietro most likely getting the start on the road tonight, the defense needs to be a wall against the Checkers and hem out any offensive threats while shutting down passing lanes. With possession in the defensive zone, the backend six of the Providence team must think smartly and act quickly with zone transition. Too often, when possession is made, an opposing player on the attack works harder, keeping the puck in the zone to create an offensive chance.
The visiting Bruins need a stronger effort and a buy-in mentality from their offensive core. Players who have a history of scoring goals, such as Matt Poitras, Fabian Lysell, Vinni Lettieri, Fraser Minten, Riley Tufte, John Farinacci, and Oliver Wahlstrom, need to have their fair share of accountability for the lack of offensive production in this series. The leadership core of Jeffery Viel, Patrick Brown, and Tyler Pitlik, along with Lettieri, should be key cogs in their own efforts on and off the ice as individuals, but setting an example and getting the most out of a younger player pushing their ability and raw upside for a victory this evening.
Regardless of what happens tonight, it’s been a pleasure covering this AHL team this season for well over a decade now. I truly hope, as a fan, that Providence can find a way to extend this series and seriously challenge for a Calder Cup. Nothing would make me happier than to be able to provide our amazing supporters with more Bruins-related content from all of our members here at the Black N’ Gold Productions sports media company.
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