By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277
The American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins finished their recent five-game road trip last night in Springfield, Massachusetts, with a victory over the host Springfield Thunderbirds at the MassMutual Center. Recently signed defenseman Christian Wolanin scored 43 seconds into the overtime period for his first goal of the season, beating this afternoon’s opponent as this home-and-home series continues against the Thunderbirds.
With last night’s 4-3 overtime victory in Western Massachusetts, Providence went 4-1 on the road trip and improved its 2025-26 regular season record to 17-4-0 with 34 points. The top minor-pro affiliate of the Boston Bruins is currently in second place in the Atlantic, one point behind division-leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Also, with last night’s victory in Springfield, the B’s improved their road record to 9-1-0 and 7-3-0 in their previous ten games.
This afternoon’s action will shift focus to the Amica Mutual Pavilion, where the Providence team last played on November 22nd, when they were shut out by the visiting WBS Penguins 0-1. The Bruins are 8-3-0 at home this season in front of the home faithful, and the AMP should be rocking this afternoon with the team’s return to the Lasalle Square venue.
With goaltender Simon Zajicek getting the start last night, stopping 20 of 23 Thunderbirds shots in the overtime win, netminder Michael DiPietro is expected to get the nod this afternoon in Providence, Rhode Island. DiPietro is 9-3-0 on the season with a 2.08 goals-against-average and .928 save percentage. Michael looks to get back in the win column after giving up four goals in a 1-4 loss to the host Laval Rocket during the previous five-game road trip, which remains the only road loss of the season.
Going into this afternoon’s game against the Thunderbirds, forward and Providence Captain Patrick Brown, who’s having a tremendous season, looks to extend his two-game point streak and leads the team in overall scoring with 10-13-23 numbers in 21 games. Forward Fabian Lysell is in second in team scoring with 10-10-20 in 18 games and looks to keep his point-producing streak alive with 4-4-8 numbers in his last five straight, and in his previous ten games has gone 6-7-13. Lysell has undoubtedly been more noticeable this season and, with his point production lately, has certainly earned consideration as the next man up if a recall is needed at the higher NHL level.
Forward Riley Tufte is third on the Providence team in scoring with 8-8-16 numbers in 14 games played this season. The 6′-6″ 233-pound forward got the recall to Boston before the Providence team started the recent five-game road trip. He rejoined the AHL Bruins last night in Springfield, registering zero points in his return to the B’s affiliate. Forward Georgii Merkulov is in fourth in team scoring with 6-9-15 numbers in his last 19 games. The undrafted versatile forward had an assist last night on the road and has gotten his game into another gear lately with four points in his previous three games.
Boston Bruins forward prospects Dans Locmelis and Matt Poitras round out the top five in Providence team scoring. Locmelis has 7-6-13 numbers in 21 games played, with only an assist in his last three games, and Poitras has 3-10-13 numbers in 21 games this season, and is also another player to mention with a boost in offense lately, with 2-3-5 numbers in his last four games.
Providence is second in the league in goals against, giving up 46 goals in 21 games played. While a majority of this stat is going to the tremendous goaltending efforts of DiPietro and Zajicek, a lot has to be said about the Providence defensive corps in front of them, and how they’ve been a battered crew, taking blocked shot injuries or those stingers for times of discomfort. Defenseman Frederic Brunet has been playing well all season, but with the next man up mentality surrounding this Bruins defensive prospect, his game has elevated, producing 2-2-4 numbers and currently on a four-game point streak.
The aforementioned and recently signed Providence defenseman Christian Wolanin has taken full advantage of his opportunity with the AHL Bruins. In his last six games, the 30-year-old blueliner has 1-6-7 and has been an important addition not only as a band-aid but also as an offensive asset for the backend and the team’s defensive transition out of their own zone.
For the Springfield Thunderbirds, it hasn’t been a great start to the season for second-year head coach Steve Konowalchuk, as his club sits dead last in the Atlantic Division with a 5-11-3-2 record and 15 points in 21 regular-season games. Springfield enters the Amica Mutual Pavilion this afternoon with a road record of 3-7-1-1 and 4-3-2-1 in the team’s last ten games.
A few players to keep an eye on concerning the Thunderbirds in this afternoon’s road action at the AMP in downtown Providence. Birds forward Jakub Stancl had a hat trick last night in the overtime loss to Providence. Springfield forward Mathew Peca had two assists last night against Providence. Defenseman Samuel Johannesson is currently on a two-game point streak, and forward Nikita Susuyev is also on a two-game heater.
As for the Springfield goaltending, with Georgi Romanov getting the start last night at the MassMutual Center, I’d expect the Thunderbirds to go with netminder Vadim Zherenko with this afternoon’s road game against Providence. Zherenko is 3-5-3 with a 3.28 goals-against-average and a .895 save percentage in 13 appearances this season. If, in fact, Springfield head coach Konowalchuk goes with Romonov in back-to-back situations, Georgi is 2-5-2 with a 3.20 GAA and .904 Save%.
If Providence can secure the team’s 18th victory of the season this afternoon at the AMP vs. the visiting Thunderbirds, the Bruins will move into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division. The Atlantic-leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins got a 4-1 victory over the Hershey Bears, but are not in action today, so the B’s can make up some valuable points.
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