By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
After Wednesday night’s 3-2 road win against the Hartford Wolf Pack at PeoplesBank Arena, the Providence Bruins headed to Total Mortgage Arena for a clash against the Bridgeport Islanders, eager to sweep their two-game Connecticut road trip. However, Providence would fall flat this time around.
Providence fell 4-1 against Bridgeport to drop to 42-11-1-0 overall on the season. The loss snapped Providence’s winning streak at four games, and it was a game in which Bridgeport jumped out to a big lead that helped them secure the win.
First period
In the first period, Providence’s offense created quality scoring chances and finished the period with 13 shots on goal, but the team trailed at the end of the period.
Bridgeport got two goals late in the first period in a span of 2:37 from Alex Jefferies and Matt Luff to take a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission. Ethan Bear recorded an assist on both goals.
Second period
The second period saw Bridgeport continue its domination against Providence early into the period. After an early Frederic Brunet penalty put Providence on the penalty kill, Bridgeport took advantage. Just 2:37 into the period, Liam Foudy scored on the powerplay to extend Bridgeport’s lead to 3-0. Just over three minutes later, Matthew Maggio scored on a breakaway to make the Bridgeport lead 4-0.
Bridgeport scored four goals on 14 shots on goal against Providence goaltender Luke Cavallin 25:39 into the game.
Unlike the first period, Providence’s offensive chances weren’t there in the second period. Providence recorded just three shots on goal throughout the second period. The best chance Providence had offensively in the period was when Brooklyn Kalmikov hit the post in the final minutes.
Bridgeport’s two-goal second period helped them take a 4-0 lead over Providence heading into the second period.
Third period
Providence began the third period with a two-minute powerplay opportunity and capitalized when Riley Tufte scored 31 seconds into the period to cut the deficit to 4-1. Tufte’s goal was his team-leading 24th goal of the season, and Matej Blumel and Georgii Merkulov recorded the assists on the goal.
Tufte appeared to have scored his second goal of the game to cut the deficit to 4-2 with 6:22 remaining in regulation, but goaltender interference was called to not have the goal count. That turned out to be Providence’s last gasp at a potential comeback, with Patrick Brown being called for a tripping penalty less than three minutes later to put the team on the penalty kill in the final minutes of the period.
Bridgeport goaltender Henrik Tikkanen was better than Cavallin by making 24 saves to earn the win.
Quick turnaround
Providence has a quick turnaround with another game in less than 24 hours tomorrow afternoon against the Hershey Bears. Puck drop for tomorrow’s game against Hershey is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Providence has won two of the three meetings this season against Hershey, with the last meeting being a 4-1 win by Providence on Dec. 12 at Giant Center.
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