By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The fourth day of April has arrived, and the Providence Bruins will get ready to play their third game already for the month. After earning a 4-2 win last night against the Syracuse Crunch at Upstate Medical Arena, it’s time for Providence’s first game of the 2025-26 American Hockey League season against the Rochester Americans. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. ET at Blue Cross Arena.
Last night against Syracuse, Providence earned another pivotal win, remaining the AHL’s best team this season. Providence now has 51 wins and 103 points overall on the season. Providence remains two points ahead of the Grand Rapids Griffins for the AHL’s best record, with each team having six games remaining in the season.
Providence defensemen Navrin Mutter and Max Wanner not only scored their first goals of the season, but also as members of the team. Wanner’s goal at 3:56 of the second period turned out to be the game-winning goal. Providence captain Patrick Brown scored the other two goals in the win, including the empty-netter to ice the game. On Brown’s first goal scored in the first period, James Hagens recorded the secondary assist to earn his third AHL point in five games. Simon Zajicek made 24 saves to earn his 13th win of the season.
A Look at the Opponent
Rochester has begun April with two consecutive home losses and has an overall record of 28-27-5-4 this season. Rochester lost 5-3 to the Charlotte Checkers three days ago, then lost 5-2 last night to the Belleville Senators. Rochester currently holds a four-point cushion on Belleville for the North Division’s fifth seed.
Rochester defenseman Zac Jones is having an incredible season, as his 47 assists and 57 points lead all AHL defensemen. Konsta Helenius is second on Rochester’s roster with 56 points. Goaltending has been an area of concern for Rochester this season. Last night, Rochester goaltender Devon Levi got benched after he allowed Belleville to score three goals in the opening eight minutes of the game. Scott Ratzlaff finished the game for Levi, making 13 saves in relief, but he has a 3.34 GAA and a .881 save percentage in 11 games this season.
A Look at Last Season
Because tonight is the first meeting of the season between Providence and Rochester, last season is the best way to see how each team fared against playing the other. Each team won one game against the other in the two meetings last season.
Providence won 3-0 against Rochester at home on Jan. 24, 2025, behind a 29-save shutout from Michael DiPietro, and Fabian Lysell scored two goals in the win as well. Rochester won 4-3 in a shootout at home in the second game on March 14, 2025. In the two games combined, Providence forward Georgii Merkulov recorded three assists.
Another Chance to Clinch the Division
Providence had a chance to win the Atlantic Division last night with its win over Syracuse, but it didn’t happen because the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins won 3-1 over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms as well. However, Providence has another chance to clinch the Atlantic Division title tonight.
Providence can clinch the Atlantic Division if they either win or if Wilkes-Barre/Scranton loses in regulation. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton plays tonight on the road against Lehigh Valley at 7:05 p.m. ET.
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