Providence Bruins Extend Winning Streak with Record-Breaking Victory
The Providence Bruins are on a roll, and Friday night at the Amica Mutual Pavilion was no exception. With a commanding 5-2 win over the Belleville Senators, the Bruins set a franchise record with their 13th consecutive victory.
Leading the charge was forward Brett Harrison, who found the back of the net twice. Matej Blumel added a goal and an assist, while Georgii Merkulov chipped in with two assists.
Between the pipes, Michael DiPietro was a wall, stopping 25 shots, including a crucial penalty shot.
Game Breakdown
The action kicked off in dramatic fashion, with Billy Sweezey setting up Harrison for a breakaway goal just 27 seconds into the game. Harrison's precise wrist shot put Providence up 1-0 right out of the gate.
Belleville responded while on a delayed penalty, as Arthur Kaliyev unleashed a one-timer from the right circle to even the score at 1-1 midway through the first period.
Providence wasted no time regaining the lead. Just 15 seconds later, Riley Tufte capitalized on a rebound, deftly backhanding it past the goalie, assisted by Blumel, to make it 2-1.
The Senators fought back while shorthanded in the second period. Olle Lycksell intercepted a pass at center ice and executed a slick breakaway move, tying the game at 2-2 with a nifty backhand under the crossbar.
Merkulov then showcased his playmaking skills, stealing the puck and setting up Blumel for a one-timer that rocketed into the upper-left corner, putting Providence ahead 3-2.
Harrison wasn't done yet. With just 30 seconds left in the second period, he redirected a shot from Merkulov to extend the lead to 4-2, with Victor Soderstrom assisting.
The Bruins weren't finished. A mere 24 seconds later, Jake Schmaltz sent Joey Abate on a 2-on-1, and Abate delivered, firing a shot inside the right post to seal the deal at 5-2. Christian Wolanin added a secondary assist.
Key Stats
Harrison's opening goal was the fastest for Providence this season, and it marked his first career multi-goal game. DiPietro was stellar, turning away 25 of 27 shots, while the team fired 39 shots on goal. The power play went 0-for-2, but the penalty kill was perfect at 2-for-2.
With this victory, the Bruins improved to an impressive 38-8-1-0.
Looking Ahead
Next up, the Providence Bruins head to Springfield to face the Thunderbirds on Saturday, February 21. Puck drop is at 6:05 p.m.
Fans can catch every moment of the action on AHLTV via FloHockey, offering comprehensive coverage of regular season and Calder Cup Playoff games across the league, along with a vast array of other hockey content.