By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277
After getting shut out 0-2 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion by the visiting Laval Rocket last Sunday afternoon, the American Hockey League Providence Bruins got back in the win column, beating the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3-2. Last night’s victory was the 13th of the 2025-26 regular season and moved the Boston Bruins’ minor-pro affiliate to first place in the Atlantic Division with 26 points, one point ahead of the second-place Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins.
Last night’s victory on home ice was a testament to the Boston Bruins’ depth and finding players who continue to strive forward and play meaningful games at the AHL and ECHL levels while being evaluated in the developmental process. The next man up mentality was on full display with the NHL Bruins making several recalls for the current four-game western road trip.
With forwards Matej Blumel, Riley Tufte, and defenseman Michael Callahan all up with Boston across the country, the Providence Bruins roster created opportunities with the Bruins’ ECHL affiliate, the Maine Mariners, and immediately made impacts to last night’s home win over Lehigh. Before the two games this weekend, Providence made a few transactions per the AHL official website to fill roster spots at the higher level.
The AHL Bruins signed defenseman Christian Wolanin to a professional try-out, signed left-wing Shawn Element to a professional try-out, and recalled forward Jacob Perreault from loan to the ECHL Maine Mariners. The B’s ECHL affiliate has gotten off to a decent start to their regular season campaign, going 7-4-2, sitting third in the North Division. The 25-year-old Element played six games for the Mariners before coming up to Providence, contributing 1-4-5 numbers and 28 penalty minutes. Wolanin is a 30-year-old who recently played in the AHL with the Vancouver Canucks organization’s Abbotsford Canucks. Wolanin last played in the 2024-25 season, where he had an exceptional campaign, posting 4-36-40 numbers in 58 games.
Forward Jacob Perreault, on the other hand, was signed in September of this year (2025) to a one-year AHL-only contract after spending a majority of last year with the AHL Bakersfield Condors. With the Condors, he posted 3-11-14 numbers in 38 games as a former 2020 first-round selection of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks. With the Maine Mariners this season, Jacob has 5-9-14 numbers in 13 games.
Last night’s game vs. the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, forward Jake Schmaltz got the Providence Bruins off and running on the scoreboard, scoring his second of the season at the 2:20 mark of the first period. The assists on Schmaltz’s even-strength goal went to defenseman Victor Soderstrom and forward Joey Abate. The Phantoms would tie Providence at the 3:59 mark of the opening frame courtesy of a power play goal for Lehigh’s Karsen Dorwart’s fourth of the season.
Closing the first period vs. the Phantoms, Providence team Captain Patrick Brown would get a power play goal of his own at the 8:51 mark, scoring his seventh of the season. The assists on Brown’s man-advantage tally went to defenseman Victor Soderstrom and forward Matt Poitras. For Soderstrom, that’s his second multi-point game of the season in 13 appearances. Poitras, on the other hand, snapped a three-game pointless streak with the helper.
With no scoring in the middle frame, the Providence club would take a 3-1 lead at the 4:33 mark of the third period, with newcomer forward Jacob Perreault, who got the game winner and his first goal of the season. The goal for Perreault went unassisted as the Lehigh defense turned the puck over, having the speedy Perreault going in all alone and faking out Phantoms netminder Aleksei Kolosov to seal the deal.
Providence went with goaltender Simon Zajicek for this Friday night home action, and any time head coach Ryan Mougenel chooses a starting goaltender, the decision is honestly a no-brainer. Both Michael DiPietro and Zajicek have been outstanding so far this season, and both rank high in the league in most goaltending stats. Last night’s victory for Zajicek extended his winning streak to three games and now has a regular-season record of 6-1-0 with a 1.70 goals-against-average and a .942 save percentage.
The AHL Bruins look to make it two games in a row as the visiting Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins come to town. The NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins affiliate is one point behind Providence for the Atlantic Division lead, so this is lining up to be a decent Saturday night battle. The WBS Pens were on the road last night in Hartford, Connecticut, and lost to the host Hartford Wolf Pack 5-2. The Penguins are 6-3-0 on the road this season, leading into tonight’s game at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Providence has a home record of 8-2-0 at the AMP and is 8-2-0 in its last ten, while WBS is 5-4-1 in its previous ten.
Providence goaltender Michael DiPietro is expected to get tonight’s start against the Penguins, with Zajicek getting the nod and victory last night vs. Lehigh Valley. DiPietro is 7-1-0 with a 1.99 goals-against-average and .932 save percentage. His first loss of the season came via the 0-2 shutout to Laval last Sunday afternoon. Before the loss to the Rocket the Windsor, Ontario native went on a seven-game heater (winning streak).
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