By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
After clinching the 2026 Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy this past weekend, the Providence Bruins headed to Adirondack Bank Center to play their two remaining games of the American Hockey League season against the Utica Comets. Providence won its first four meetings of the season against Utica entering Friday’s game. However, the fifth meeting would be a disaster for Providence with Utica earning a 4-1 win.
With the loss, Providence fell to 54-13-2-0 overall this season and had its three-game winning streak snapped. Providence had momentum toward the end of the first period with a late goal scored. Then, the rest of the game would be brutal for Providence.
First Period
The first period began rough for Providence goaltender Simon Zajicek when Kyle Criscuolo scored 3:48 into the game, giving Utica a 1-0 lead. Providence forward Fabian Lysell was then called for a roughing penalty at 9:45 of the period. Utica capitalized on Lysell’s penalty when Matyas Melovsky scored a power play goal to extend the lead to 2-0. Before the period ended, Providence got momentum on its side.
Providence was granted a 5-on-3 power play for 1:57 after Melovsky and Mikael Diotte were each called for a penalty. On the 5-on-3 power play, Providence forward Matej Blumel scored his 20th goal of the season against Utica goaltender Nico Daws to cut the deficit to 2-1. Blumel’s goal was also his 50th point of the season. While Providence didn’t score on the 5-on-4 power play and trailed 2-1 heading into the first intermission, Blumel’s goal was important to slow Utica’s hot start.
Second Period
At 5:30 of the second period, Providence defenseman Colin Felix and forward Matthew Poitras were each called for a penalty to give Utica a 5-on-3 power play for two minutes. Providence was successful at killing off Utica’s 5-on-3 power play, but the team didn’t record a shot on goal for over ten minutes to begin the period.
Like the first period, Utica would score two goals in the second period. With 6:14 remaining in the period, Brian Halonen scored to make it a 3-1 game, then Angus Crookshank scored with 1:30 remaining to extend the lead to 4-1. Providence trailed 4-1 heading into the second intermission and was outshot 27-10 through two periods.
Third Period
The third period was a fast one, with neither team scoring. Utica kept its three-goal lead throughout the remainder of the game after Crookshank’s goal to earn its first win of the season against Providence.
Zajicek was pressured throughout the game by Utica’s offense, and he finished with 30 saves. Daws made 13 saves against a Providence offense that didn’t apply a ton of pressure throughout the game. Providence forward Georgii Merkulov recorded his 60th point of the season by recording an assist on Blumel’s goal.
Back at it Tomorrow Night
Providence will play its final game of the season against Utica tomorrow night, back at home at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Puck drop for tomorrow’s game is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET.
Providence has won both of its home games against Utica this season. The first game ended in a 3-2 overtime win on Nov. 15, and the second in a 5-2 win on March 20. In the March meeting, Providence scored four goals in the third period to secure the win. Riley Tufte scored two of the third-period goals in the win.
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