( Photo Credit: Tessa McAndrews / Providence Bruins )

By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter @BlackAndGold277

The American Hockey League Providence Bruins wrapped up their brief preseason campaign on a high note, triumphing in two consecutive games against the Springfield Thunderbirds. The home-and-home preseason schedule kicked off on Friday night, October 4th, at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, and finished on Saturday, October 5th, at the Amica Mutual Pavillion in downtown Providence, Rhode Island.

On Friday night on the road against the Thunderbirds, Boston Bruins forward prospect Brett Harrison was the hero on this night, earning the first star of the game, scoring two goals on five shots on net. Goaltender Ryan Bichel got the start in goal, stopping all 21 Thunderbirds’ shots before leaving the game halfway through, giving time to Providence netminder Nolan Maier, who finished the contest, stopping 11 of 12 shots. Providence forward Jimmy Lambert and defenseman Drew Bavaro also scored goals in this game, sealing the 4-1 victory over the Thunderbirds.

On Saturday night at the AMP in Providence, Bruins forward prospect Trevor Kuntar was a man on a mission, scoring three goals on seven shots and earning the game’s first-star award. All three of Kuntar’s goals came in the second period against Springfield, as the former 2020 third-round selection continues to have an outstanding training camp, whether at the NHL or AHL levels.

Veteran forward Tyler Pitlick, who’s with Providence on a Professional Tryout Agreement, had assists on all three of Kuntar’s second-period goals, giving him four points on the weekend. Goaltender Michael DiPietro got the start in goal for the final game of the short preseason for Providence, stopping 28 of 29 Thunderbirds shots for the 5-1 victory.

Providence kicks off the 2024-25 regular season this Friday night, October 11th, as the visiting Laval Rocket travel to Rhode Island to play game one for the season. This is the first time in two seasons that these two teams will face each other. In the 2021-22 campaign, Providence lost both games vs. Laval, with the Rocket outscoring the Bruins 10-3.