By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky
After a challenging week that saw the Providence Bruins split a series with their division rivals and lose three of their top players, the team showed remarkable resilience as they aimed to fill the gaps in their lineup as they faced the Syracuse Crunch in a home-and-home series, concluding the weekend with a rematch against the Springfield Thunderbirds. Michael DiPietro was assigned to start both games against the Crunch, while Brandon Bussi took his place in goal for the game against the Thunderbirds.
On Wednesday, the Providence Bruins traveled to Syracuse to face the Crunch. In the first period, Georgii Merkulov showcased incredible effort by scoring a goal. He won the faceoff back to Jackson Edward, who then fired a low shot on goal. Merkulov battled through his defender and tapped in the rebound, giving the Baby B’s an early lead. This goal was significant as it was the first game of the season in which Merkulov played without his usual linemates, Vinni Lettieri and Matthew Poitras, who had been called to Boston. Despite this, the team’s unity and collective effort were evident in their performance.
Unfortunately, Syracuse responded by scoring two goals to take a 2-1 lead. With four minutes remaining in the game, Tyler Pitlick found the back of the net, leveling the score at 2-2. After a back-and-forth overtime period, the game went to a shootout, where Providence managed to secure the extra point. This victory marked the P-Bruins’ first win against Syracuse in two years.
On Saturday, the P-Bruins played at home at the Amica Mutual Pavilion as they faced off against the Crunch in a rematch. The game was intense, with Providence decisively dominating Syracuse. Michael DiPietro recorded his third shutout of the season, stopping all 26 shots he faced. It was exciting to see some players step up and rise to the occasion. Max Jones scored two goals, while Trevor Kuntar added another. Georgii Merkulov and John Farinacci continued their impressive performances, and both Joey Abate and Jackson Edward contributed with a primary assist in the 5-0 victory.
On Sunday, the team started strong again, taking a resounding 3-0 lead into the first intermission, with goals scored by Jeffrey Viel, Tyler Pitlick, and Brett Harrison. Early in that period, the P-Bruins faced a series of four consecutive penalties. However, Brandon Bussi made several outstanding saves to keep the Thunderbirds from scoring.
The second period started on an unusual note when Springfield had a goal disallowed for not wholly crossing the goal line. The game remained competitive, but the score was 3-0 as they entered the second intermission. Tyler Pitlick added another goal, leading the P-Bruins to a shutout victory over the Thunderbirds with a final score of 4-0. Brandon Bussi did an incredible job, stopping all 27 shots from Springfield.
The weekend’s storyline highlighted how well the team performed without four of its best players. Providence exhibited an impressive next-man-up mentality, and several unsung heroes emerged to contribute significantly. Jackson Edward recorded three assists in three games this week, benefiting from his promotion to the top defensive pair. John Farinacci continued his outstanding performance as well. Once again, the goaltending made crucial saves that kept the team competitive throughout the games.
The Boston Bruins are searching for solutions in the minor leagues, meaning that each week presents new challenges and opportunities. Every week serves as an audition for players, and the lineup may experience significant changes over the next month and a half leading up to the National Hockey League trade deadline.
Make sure to catch the Providence Bruins next week as they take on a challenging three-in-three series against the Rochester Americans, Springfield Thunderbirds, and Laval Rocket. While the lineup is still uncertain, the team’s potential to win these games is high. No team can stop them if they continue to play at their current level. Watch the P-Bruins on FloHockey and witness their potential turning into victories!
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