Jordan Harris Delivers OT Winner as P-Bruins Edge Marlies in Thriller
Providence, RI - In a game packed with momentum swings and highlight-reel moments, it was defenseman Jordan Harris who played hero, netting his first career AHL goal in overtime to lift the Providence Bruins to a 4-3 win over the Toronto Marlies on Sunday night at the Amica Mutual Pavilion.
The win marks Providence’s third straight overtime victory, and while the extra minutes might be testing their nerves, the P-Bruins are coming out on the right side of the chaos - banking all six possible points in that stretch.
Fast Start, Even Faster Finish
Providence wasted no time setting the tone. Just under five minutes into the opening frame, John Farinacci threaded a crisp feed to Fabian Lysell slicing down the slot.
Lysell didn’t hesitate, ripping a wrist shot top-shelf to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. That tally marked his 14th of the season - a testament to his growing confidence and scoring touch.
But Toronto answered quickly. Vinni Lettieri found himself alone on a breakaway and made no mistake, snapping a shot just under the crossbar to even things at one apiece.
The Marlies kept the pressure on in the second. Matthew Barbolini pounced on his own rebound in the slot and beat the goalie blocker-side to give Toronto a 2-1 edge. It was a gritty, second-chance goal that momentarily tilted the ice in the visitors’ favor.
Providence responded with a bit of artistry. Matthew Poitras led the rush, carrying the puck across the blue line before dropping it to Dans Locmelis in the left circle.
Locmelis zipped a cross-ice pass to Georgii Merkulov, who was crashing the far post. Merkulov tapped it in with ease, tying the game at 2-2 with just under seven minutes left in the period.
With time winding down in the second - and a two-man advantage on the ice - Poitras capitalized again. After a turnover near the left post, he stayed with the puck and chipped it into the net to give Providence a 3-2 lead heading into the final frame. Patrick Brown picked up a secondary assist on the play, and the P-Bruins’ power play continued to show signs of life.
Late Drama, Overtime Magic
Toronto wasn’t done. With under four minutes to play in regulation, a loose puck found Benoit-Olivier Groulx in front of the crease. Groulx showed great patience, chipping the puck into the net to knot things up at 3-3 and force overtime.
That set the stage for Harris, who picked a perfect time to score his first AHL goal. Just 41 seconds into the extra frame, Merkulov sent a pass up-ice that sprung Harris on a breakaway.
The defenseman skated in with poise and fired a laser under the crossbar, sealing the win and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. Goaltender Michael DiPietro was credited with the secondary assist on the play - a well-earned point for a netminder who stood tall all night.
By the Numbers
- Georgii Merkulov continued his climb up the franchise record books, recording his 209th career point. He now sits just one point behind Andy Hilbert (210) for the all-time scoring lead in Providence Bruins history.
- Jordan Harris’ overtime winner marked his first career AHL goal - and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
- Fabian Lysell and Merkulov each tallied their 14th goals of the season.
- Michael DiPietro turned aside 32 of 35 shots, anchoring the Bruins through some tense stretches.
- The power play went 1-for-3, and the penalty kill was perfect at 4-for-4 - a key factor in a tightly contested matchup.
- Providence outshot Toronto 38-35 and improved to 30-8-1-0 on the season - a record that reflects both their talent and resilience.
What’s Next
The P-Bruins hit the road next, heading south to face the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday, January 31 at Bojangles Coliseum. Puck drops at 4:00 p.m.
For fans who can’t make the trip, every minute of Providence Bruins hockey is available on AHLTV via FloHockey - offering access to every regular season and Calder Cup Playoff game across the league.