By: Mark Allred | Follow me on Twitter / X @BlackAndGold277
The American Hockey League Providence Bruins staged a jaw-dropping comeback at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, netting five goals in the third period to erase a three-goal deficit and defeat the Hamilton Hammers 5-4 in regulation. The star of the night was forward Mikey Eyssimont, who continued his torrid pace by notching a natural hat trick—his third hatty of the season and third in just eight games since joining Providence after being waived by the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins in early October 2026.
The Bruins extended their winning streak to four games with this dramatic road victory over the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders. The game north of the border marked the first meeting between the two teams since the Hammers’ relocation from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Hamilton, Ontario during this past offseason.
Hamilton was by far the better-prepared team in this game, seizing control early and building a 3-0 lead through two periods in front of the home faithful. However, the Providence offense erupted in the final frame. Riley Duran opened the scoring for Providence at 4:39 of the third, tallying his second goal of the season with assists from defensemen Ty Gallagher and Jordan Harris—both of whom extended their point streaks to four games.
Alex Steeves followed up at 10:42, cutting the deficit to 3-2 with his second of the year, again assisted by Gallagher (who recorded his second multi-point game of the season) and Harris (his third). The Hammers responded with a shorthanded goal at 16:56, stretching their lead to 4-2 and seemingly putting the game out of reach.
But Eyssimont, looking to extend a two-game point streak (3-2-5), had other plans and took control single-handedly. He began the late-game heroics at 17:52, scoring his 11th of the season on the power play with assists from Steeves and Ivan Ivan.
Just a minute later, Eyssimont struck again, this time at 18:52, assisted by Duran and Gallagher. With the game tied and less than a minute to play, Eyssimont completed his natural hat trick at 19:35, netting his 13th goal of the year with help from Gallagher—who capped a four-point night—and Ivan, who finished with two assists.
Goaltender Simon Zajicek got the start for Providence, making 24 saves on 28 shots to earn his third win of the season. Zajicek’s record now stands at 3-3-0, with a goals-against average of 3.24 and an .877 save percentage. Although he’s allowed ten goals in his last two starts, Zajicek has now registered back-to-back wins for the first time this year.
The Bruins continue their six-game road trip tonight with a matchup against the Belleville Senators in Ontario, before wrapping up the swing with two games against the Atlantic Division-leading Charlotte Checkers in North Carolina. The Senators are currently ranked fifth in the AHL’s North Division, with a 6-5-2 regular-season record and 3-3-2 at CIBC Place (formerly CAA or Yardman Arena).
Providence completely blanked Belleville in four games played last season. In the battles between both teams in the last five years, the AHL B’s own a 6-0-0 record against the NHL’s Ottawa Senators’ top minor-pro affiliate. Tonight’s road game up in Belleville will finish the weekend action for Providence as the team embarks south to face the Charlotte Checkers, a team they’ve beaten 6-2 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, earlier this season. The two-game set against the Checkers kicks off on Tuesday night at 7pm and wraps up on Wednesday with another puck drop at 7pm.
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