By: Jake Ferraro | Follow me on Twitter/X @18Jxxx18
After five days off, the Providence Bruins hosted the Hartford Wolf Pack last night to kick off a three-game home weekend. However, Providence suffered a brutal 2-0 loss, falling to 0-3 on the season. Less than 24 hours after the shutout, Providence now gets ready for another Atlantic Division rival coming into town: the Charlotte Checkers. In the fourth game of the 2026-27 American Hockey League season, it’s an absolutely crucial one for Providence.
Providence hosts Charlotte at Amica Mutual Pavilion, with puck drop at 7:05 p.m. ET. Tonight is the first of eight matchups between Providence and Charlotte this season.
Providence’s game against Hartford last night was brutal offensively. Goaltender Jiri Patera was solid, making 23 saves, but his offense didn’t support him. Providence went an abysmal 0-for-7 on the power play, including a two-minute 5-on-3 power play in the first period. Hartford forward Glenn Gawdin scored at 10:01 into the first period, and the rest of the game was quiet until forward Justin Dowling scored an empty-net goal late in the third period to ice the game. Hartford goaltender Callum Tung made 28 saves to record the shutout.
Providence’s offense has been a major concern through three games, scoring just one goal. Last night was the second straight game Providence was blanked. Forward Brendan Gaunce’s opening-night goal remains the lone goal on the season. Providence’s offense has gone 134:15 without scoring since Gaunce’s goal and is 0-15 on the power play this season. Providence is one of four AHL teams that haven’t scored a power play goal this season; the other three teams combined are 0/14, while Providence is 0/15. That is a bad stat when comparing the rest of the league. Providence’s depth from last season to this season shows how tough the 2026 offseason was after losing key players up front.
A Look at the Opponent
Charlotte enters tonight with a 1-1 record after splitting its first two games of this season against the Hershey Bears on the road at Giant Center. Charlotte won 5-2 in its season opener on Oct. 3, but fell 3-2 in regulation the very next day. Goaltender Cooper Black looked solid, making 30 saves in the season-opening win, and forward Nate Smith also recorded a hat trick.
Smith’s three goals from Oct. 3 put him atop Charlotte’s roster in goals and points early in the season. Forward Jack Devine is second on the roster in goals and points, with two goals. Forwards John Beecher and Will Bitten are the other two players on Charlotte’s roster who have scored a goal this season.
Last Season’s Dominance Against Charlotte
Despite currently being 0-3, Providence hopes to build on last season’s success against Charlotte, as the team won all four games in the season series. Over the four games, Providence outscored Charlotte 18-6. While Michael DiPietro started all four games, Simon Zajicek made a third-period relief appearance in the last meeting on Feb. 1, 2026, stopping all seven Charlotte shots on goal. In the two games played at Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence scored 11 goals combined.
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