By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The Providence Bruins played three road games in the first four days of April. Tonight, the final game of a four-game road trip for Providence awaits against the Hartford Wolf Pack at PeoplesBank Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. However, tonight marks the start of a long weekend for Providence, as it’s the first game of a back-to-back-to-back. Tonight also marks Providence’s final back-to-back-to-back of this season.
This past Saturday, Providence fell 2-1 in overtime in its last game at Blue Cross Arena against the Rochester Americans. Victor Soderstrom scored the only goal, and Michael DiPietro made 19 saves in the loss for Providence. However, Providence got big news last night.
The Bridgeport Islanders rallied back from trailing 5-2 less than two minutes into the third period in their game against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, to win 6-5 in overtime in the end. Bridgeport’s win helped Providence clinch the 2026 Atlantic Division title. 2026 marked the eighth time in Providence history that they finished first in its division, and it’s the first division title the team has won since 2023.
Even with clinching the Atlantic Division, the pressure and focus for Providence shifts to clinching the American Hockey League’s best record in 2026. Providence leads the AHL with 104 points this season, but the Grand Rapids Griffins trail them by one point in the standings, with each team having five games remaining on the season. However, Grand Rapids has three more regulation wins than Providence, which can play a major factor in the overall finish.
A Look at the Opponent
Hartford enters tonight in last place in the Atlantic Division with 56 points. Hartford is currently on a six-game losing streak, and its most recent loss was one of the worst of the season, losing 8-1 to the Hershey Bears at home this past Saturday.
Trey Fix-Wolansky leads Hartford with 27 goals and 46 points this season. No other skater besides Fix-Wolansky has 35 points or has 20 goals on the season for Hartford. Brendan Brisson’s 16 goals and 32 points are each the second-most on Hartford’s roster. Hartford’s top goaltender, Dylan Garand, has won 16 games to go along with a 2.83 GAA and a .896 save percentage in 36 games played.
Eager to Finish the Season Series Strongly
Providence has won seven of the ten meetings against Hartford this season. Tonight is the 11th and final meeting of this season between Providence and Hartford. Providence has won the last two meetings against Hartford, and both wins were impressive.
On March 4 in Hartford, Providence trailed 2-0 in the second period, only to score three unanswered goals and win 3-2. Matthew Poitras scored the go-ahead goal with 1:49 remaining in regulation, and DiPietro made 39 saves in the win.
In the last meeting between the two teams on March 14, Providence completely dominated Hartford, winning 7-0 at home. Ty Gallagher recorded a hat trick, Soderstrom scored two goals, Lukas Reichel recorded three assists, DiPietro made 13 saves, and Matej Blumel, Michael Callahan, and Poitras each recorded two points in the win.
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