By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
April had arrived for the Providence Bruins two days ago, and they started the month with a 3-2 shootout win against the Utica Comets at Adirondack Bank Center. Tonight, the second game of a four-game road trip for Providence has arrived, and it’s a showdown against the Syracuse Crunch at Upstate Medical Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Providence made team history in its last game against Utica. Providence won its 50th game of the 2025-26 American Hockey League season, marking the fourth time the team had won 50 games in a single season. Providence also earned its 101st point of this season, which marked the fifth 100-point season in team history. The last time Providence reached both achievements in a single season was back in the 2012-13 season.
In the win, Providence got its goals from John Farinacci and Matej Blumel. In the sixth round of the shootout, Blumel scored the game-winning goal. Providence goaltender Michael DiPietro finished with 23 saves to earn his 32nd win of the season, and defenseman Michael Callahan recorded two assists.
A Look at the Opponent
Syracuse enters tonight’s game in second place in the North Division with 84 points, trailing the division-leading Laval Rocket by one point. Syracuse enters tonight with four days of rest after playing three consecutive games this past weekend. Syracuse lost 4-3 in its first game against the Hershey Bears last Friday, then split its next two games against the Rochester Americans.
Syracuse forward Jakob Pelletier leads the entire AHL with 73 points this season, and his teammate Conor Geekie has 59 points, which are tied for the sixth-most in the league. Syracuse goaltenders Brandon Halverson and Ryan Fanti have formed a solid duo, as both goaltenders have a GAA under 2.50 this season. Halverson’s 23 wins are tied for sixth among all AHL goaltenders.
Long Time No See
Tonight is the second and final meeting of this season between Providence and Syracuse. The first meeting resulted in a 3-1 Providence win at Amica Mutual Pavilion on Dec. 20. Georgii Merkulov scored all three of Providence’s goals in the win to complete the hat trick.
Along with Merkolov’s hat trick, Riley Tufte added two assists, and Simon Zajicek made 23 saves to earn the win. Dating back to last season, Providence has won its last three games against Syracuse.
Getting Close to Clinching the Atlantic Division
While Providence has already clinched a spot in the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs, the team is getting close to clinching the Atlantic Division title and the AHL’s best record. Providence’s magic number to clinch the division is four, and the magic number is 13 to clinch the AHL’s best record.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins trail Providence by 11 points for the Atlantic Division lead, and play tonight at home against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at 7:05 p.m. ET. A Providence win over Syracuse and a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton loss in regulation would give Providence the 2026 Atlantic Division title by the end of the night.
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