By: Jake Ferraro: Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The Providence Bruins ended March with a tough 4-2 loss at home to the Springfield Thunderbirds this past Sunday. It was then time for Providence to begin April, with the first game of a four-game road trip starting against the Utica Comets at Adirondack Bank Center. Providence won the first three meetings of the season against Utica. The fourth meeting would be a nail-biter that was won 3-2 in a shootout by Providence. With the win, Providence improved to 50-14-1-0 overall on the season.
The win gave Providence its fourth 50-win season and fifth 100-point season in team history. It marks the first time since the 2012-13 season that Providence completed both accomplishments. Utica wouldn’t make it easy for Providence to earn its 101st overall point of this season, but a hard-fought win was earned.
First period
The first period between Providence and Utica would be scoreless. Providence defenseman Victor Sodorstrom took a delay of game penalty with under 8.5 minutes remaining in the period, but Utica wouldn’t capitalize. Providence outshot Utica 8-7 for the period.
Second period
Providence’s penalty kill got back to work in the second period when Riley Tufte was called for a tripping penalty. Then, defenseman Colin Felix got called for a roughing penalty with 38 seconds remaining on Tufte’s penalty, giving Utica a 5-on-3 powerplay opportunity, but Providence’s penalty kill would successfully do its job again by killing off both penalties
Providence then had a powerplay opportunity when Utica’s Kyle Criscuolo was called for a slashing penalty, but couldn’t capitalize. With 5:30 remaining in the period, Josh Filmon broke the ice, scoring against Providence goaltender Michael DiPietro to give Utica a 1-0 lead.
Providence applied offensive pressure against Utica goaltender Jakub Malek, finishing the period with 14 shots on goal, but couldn’t find a way to get on the scoreboard. That was until John Farinacci tied the game for Providence at one with 2:35 remaining in the period for his eighth goal of the season. Providence and Utica headed into the second intermission tied at one.
Third period
Providence began the third period like the second period, killing off another powerplay. Felix was called for his second penalty of the game, but Providence successfully killed it off. Providence would then fail on its second powerplay of the game after killing off Felix’s penalty.
Providence and Utica would then trade one goal each. Matej Blumel gave Providence a 2-1 lead on a deflection with 8:42 remaining in the period for his 18th goal of the season, then just 1:04 later, Mike Hardman tied the game at two for Utica. Providence killed off its fifth penalty of the game before the period ended, and overtime would be needed.
OT/SO
Overtime saw chances from both teams to win the game, but no goal would be scored, so a shootout would be needed to determine a winner. Providence and Utica had to go into a sudden-death shootout, and one player continued his hot hand.
After scoring Providence’s goal in the third period, Blumel scored to begin the sixth round of the shootout. After Blumel’s goal, DiPietro denied Ryan Schmelzer to win the game for Providence.
Utica had three chances to win the shootout, but DiPietro stopped every chance. DiPietro finished the game with 23 saves to earn his 32nd win of the season.
Another busy weekend ahead
Providence will return to action with a back-to-back this weekend with two more games in New York. The first game will be this Friday at 7 p.m. ET against the Syracuse Crunch at Upstate Medical Arena. Providence won the first and only meeting of the season against Syracuse 3-1 back on Dec. 20 behind a Georgii Mekulov hat trick. On Saturday at 5:05 p.m. ET, Providence will play the Rochester Americans for the first time this season.
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