Olympic Highlights, Bruins Prospects Shine, and a Curious Pairing in Pittsburgh
It may be the NHL’s quiet season, but there’s no shortage of action for Bruins fans and hockey diehards. With the Olympics in full swing and prospects making noise across leagues, there's plenty to unpack-from Dans Locmelis lighting the lamp in Milan to Providence extending its dominance in the AHL. Let’s dive into what’s been happening on the ice.
Locmelis Breaks Through in Milan
Latvia needed a spark, and Bruins prospect Dans Locmelis delivered. The 19-year-old forward netted his first two Olympic goals on Saturday-both coming on the power play-in a 4-3 win over Germany.
It was a breakout moment for the youngster, who’s been steadily climbing through the Bruins' pipeline. Latvia’s win puts them at 1-0-0-1 in the tournament standings, and if Locmelis keeps this up, he could be one of the stories of the Games.
Bruins at the Olympics: Around the Roster
While Locmelis grabbed the spotlight, several other Bruins and Bruins-affiliated players were active-or at least present-on the Olympic stage:
- Jeremy Swayman (USA): Backstopping Team USA to a 6-3 win over Denmark, Swayman turned aside 18 of 21 shots. Two goals came from deep, but the Bruins netminder stayed composed and helped secure the W.
- Charlie McAvoy (USA): Logging 21:35 of ice time, McAvoy finished with a plus-one rating and held down the top pair.
His presence continues to be a steadying force for the American blue line.
- Henri Jokiharju (FIN): Chipped in an assist, two shots, and a plus-one rating in under nine minutes of ice time.
- Hampus Lindholm (SWE): Dressed but didn’t see the ice, serving as the seventh defenseman.
- Elias Lindholm (SWE): Scratched.
- Joonas Korpisalo (FIN): Dressed as the backup and did not play.
Finland, meanwhile, put up an 11-goal performance-the largest Olympic win by any team in the NHL era-but still finished second in Group B. Go figure.
Slovakia, on the other hand, pulled off a dramatic finish. With just 39 seconds left, Dalibor Dvorsky scored a clutch goal against Sweden that vaulted the Slovaks to the top of their group, thanks to the tiebreaker rules.
Prospects on the Rise: Providence Stays Hot
Back stateside, the Providence Bruins just keep rolling. After falling behind 2-0 early to Bridgeport, they stormed back with four unanswered goals to notch their 11th straight win. That streak now has them five points clear of second-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the AHL’s Eastern Conference-and Providence still has four games in hand.
The rematch with Bridgeport comes today at 3:05 PM, and Providence has a chance to sweep the home-and-home.
Maine Mariners Win in a Nailbiter
In the ECHL, the Maine Mariners edged out the Florida Everblades 1-0 in a shootout. It was a defensive battle all night, and while there weren’t many fireworks, it’s the kind of gritty win that builds confidence in a young group.
More Prospect Performances Across the Ranks
Several Bruins prospects made their mark in college and junior action:
- Elliott Groenewold (Quinnipiac): The defenseman scored a goal and added an assist against Princeton. That’s two goals in two games for Groenewold, who’s showing a knack for jumping into the play.
- Ryan Walsh (Cornell): Picked up an assist against Union.
- Cooper Simpson (Youngstown): Also added a helper in USHL action against Muskegon.
Looking ahead, three Bruins prospects are in action today:
- QMJHL: Shawinigan vs. Moncton - 2:00 PM ET
- NCAA: Quinnipiac vs. Princeton - 4:00 PM ET
- USHL: Youngstown vs. Muskegon - 4:05 PM ET
(Note: Chris Pelosi is not in the lineup for Quinnipiac today.)
Penguins Find Chemistry in an Unlikely Duo
In Pittsburgh, head coach Dan Muse might have stumbled onto something. The pairing of Ben Kindel and Anthony Mantha has quietly become one of the more productive duos on the team.
Kindel, a surprising draft pick at the time, is proving he belongs in the NHL. Mantha, in a very different stage of his career, has found new life alongside the rookie.
It’s a pairing that’s working-and one that’s giving the Penguins a little extra juice as they look to stay competitive.
Dougie Hamilton to Toronto? There’s a Catch
Could Dougie Hamilton be heading back to Ontario? The Maple Leafs are reportedly interested, but there’s a major financial hurdle: Hamilton’s $9 million AAV.
For any deal to happen, Toronto would likely need New Jersey to retain a significant chunk of that salary. And even then, the Leafs are short on draft capital-no firsts this year or next, and their second-rounder is also gone.
One thing’s clear: Easton Cowan isn’t going anywhere.
Olympic Schedule: What’s Ahead
Today’s Men’s Games:
- Switzerland 4, Czechia 3 (OT) - Already in the books
- **Canada vs.
France** - 10:40 AM ET (USA Network)
- **Denmark vs.
Latvia** - 1:10 PM ET (CNBC)
- **USA vs.
Germany** - 3:10 PM ET (USA Network)
Tomorrow’s Women’s Game:
- USA vs. Sweden - 10:40 AM ET (NBC) - Semifinal matchup
Final Thoughts
No football? No problem.
Between the Olympics, the AHL playoff push, and Bruins prospects making waves across every level of hockey, there’s still plenty to follow. From Milan to Moncton, it’s a busy time for the Bruins’ organization-and fans should be paying attention.