By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
The Providence Bruins began April by having a four-game road trip. Tonight, it’s time for Providence to return home to play the second game of its final three-game weekend of this season, and it’s a chance to avenge a loss against a team that defeated them on the road trip last Saturday, the Rochester Americans. Puck drop for tonight’s game between Providence and Rochester is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET at Amica Mutual Pavilion.
Last night at PeoplesBank Arena in Connecticut’s capital, Providence defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack by a final score of 4-1 to conclude its four-game road trip. Providence now has 106 points on the season and has a three-point cushion on the Grand Rapids Griffins to have the best record in the American Hockey League. Both teams have four games remaining on the season, so each game is pivotal for Providence to clinch the AHL’s best record for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
In the win last night, Providence goaltender Michael DiPietro sparkled again. DiPietro made 23 saves, which included some spectacular saves, to earn his 33rd win of the season. DiPietro had a shutout streak of 149:55 over his past three combined starts against Hartford, an impressive streak for any goaltender over a three-game stretch.
Offensively for Providence, Frederic Brunet, Georgii Merkulov, John Farinacci, and Jake Schmaltz scored the goals in the win. Brunet, Farinacci, and Christian Wolanin each recorded two points in the game for Providence. Brunet had missed Providence’s last seven games, and Wolanin had missed the team’s last two games. Last night, both Brunet and Wolanin made up for the lineup’s absence by recording a two-point game each.
A Look at the Opponent
Rochester has won three of its six games in April, holding the North Division’s fifth seed with 71 points. Last night on the road against the Springfield Thunderbids, Rochester’s three-game winning streak was snapped with a 3-1 loss. Trevor Kuntar scored for Rochester to make it a 2-1 game with 2:22 remaining in regulation, but Springfield added an empty-net goal to ice the game. Rochester goaltender Scott Ratzlaff made 25 saves in the loss.
Rochester forward Konsta Helenius and defenseman Zac Jones are each tied for first on the team’s roster with 60 points. Jones’ 50 assists and 60 points lead all AHL defensemen this season. Riley Fiddler-Schultz’s 21 goals and Kuntar’s 20 goals this season have also given Rochester solid depth up front. Rochester’s top goaltender, Devon Levi, has 23 wins along with a 2.76 GAA and a .905 save percentage in 49 games played.
Eager to Avenge Last Week’s Loss
Last Saturday, Providence met Rochester for the first time this season at Blue Cross Arena. After each team scored a goal in the first period, Providence and Rochester remained tied at one after 60 minutes and needed overtime to determine a winner.
During the final minute of overtime, Matteo Constantini scored the overtime winner to give Rochester the 2-1 win. Providence’s offense struggled in overtime by not recording a single shot on goal. Victor Soderstrom scored the only goal in the loss for Providence, and DiPietro finished with 19 saves.
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