By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky
The Providence Bruins recently had a successful weekend, defeating the Bridgeport Islanders and the Hartford Wolf Pack during their trip to Connecticut. Now, the Baby B’s are heading to Hershey, Pennsylvania, to face the back-to-back champion Hershey Bears. The Bears have had the upper hand in their matchups this season, winning both games against Providence. This series was a test for the P-Bruins as they measured themselves against top competition in the American Hockey League. Michael DiPietro was set to start in the first game on Saturday, while his goaltending partner, Brandon Bussi, is looking to take the net in the Sunday matinee.
The first period of the weekend was a nightmare for the Baby Bruins, as they surrendered the first three goals within fifteen minutes. Fortunately, Providence was on a five-on-three power play to finish the period. Patrick Brown managed to sneak one past AHL Goalie of the Year Hunter Shepherd, giving the Bruins some life as they headed into the first intermission. Boston Bruins fans held their breath when Matthew Poitras needed assistance after taking a brutal hit late in the first period.
Halfway through the second period, Providence regained their momentum, and Riley Tufte batted a shot home to bring the game within one goal. To close out the period, Georgii Merkulov drove the puck to the net, and Vinni Lettieri capitalized on the rebound to tie the game at three before the second intermission. After an entire period filled with chances, the teams remained deadlocked, requiring overtime to decide the game’s outcome. Following fantastic chances for both teams, the game went into a shootout. Unfortunately, Hershey’s Luke Philp scored in the fourth round, giving the Bears the edge with a final score of 4-3.
Despite the loss, there were many positives to take away from the game. Matthew Poitras made a strong return, playing several key shifts and looking as good as ever. Both teams had numerous opportunities on special teams, but the game quickly escalated into a battle, resulting in 25 penalties. The veterans stepped up, with Lettieri contributing two points, while Brown and Tufte netted some tough goals. Lastly, I was particularly impressed by the resilience the P-Bruins displayed after falling behind 3-0 against the back-to-back champions. They didn’t give up and played exceptionally well for the remainder of the game.
The second game started much better for the P-Bruins as Max Jones scored early, putting the Baby B’s ahead 1-0. Providence had all the momentum until Hershey scored and tied the game. This goal prompted a shower of over 100,000 teddy bears onto the ice, leading to a 45-minute delay that disrupted Providence’s energy. Subsequently, the Hershey Bears scored five consecutive goals, ultimately defeating Providence 5-1.
This game undoubtedly disappointed Bruins fans, but it has been an unusual weekend. The delay seemed to unsettle the team, and Brandon Bussi made some uncharacteristic mistakes, allowing three consecutive goals to slip through. Despite this, it was a weekend that could have demonstrated that Providence can compete with the best teams. Given the circumstances, they showed they could.
Join the Providence Bruins next Friday as they face off against the Bridgeport Islanders at home for the first time this season. The Bruins have had a strong performance against the Islanders, boasting an undefeated record of 7-0-0. The game is set to start at 7:00 PM.
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