THIS WEEK IN PROVIDENCE: A MONSTROUS WEEK AHEAD

The Providence Bruins (25-7-1-0) have a monstrous week ahead in the middle section of January. After jumping the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (23-10-1-2) for first place in the Atlantic Division, the P-Bruins will host them on Wednesday in a battle between two teams separated by two points. Then, the Cleveland Monsters (17-12-4-1) visit Providence for two games on Saturday and Sunday.  

The P-Bruins took the first of the three previous matchups against the Penguins 3-1 on the road back on October 29, before falling 1-0 at home on November 22 and 2-1 in overtime back in Pennsylvania on December 13. Providence was victorious twice in Cleveland by scores of 2-1 and 3-2 in overtime on November 7 and 8 respectively.

Goal scoring has come by committee for the P-Bruins this season. Four forwards are tied for the team lead with 13 goals this season. Riley Tufte and Patrick Brown found the back of the net in a 4-2 victory over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms last Sunday. Dans Locmelis scored his 13th in a 4-1 win over the Bridgeport Islanders last Friday. Georgii Merkulov’s 13 tallies have helped bring him within three points of Andy Hilbert’s all-time scoring record for the franchise (210). 

Tufte has tallied a goal in each of his last two games. The forward totals 13 goals and 12 assists through 26 games this season, on pace for a new career-best. The Coon Rapids, Minnesota, native has also recorded three game-winning goals.

Brown and Billy Sweezey rank one and two in the AHL for plus/minus rating. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, native, Brown, is first with a plus-24 rating. The Hanson, Massachusetts, native, Sweezey, is second with a plus-23 rating, while also tying a career-best 11 points on the season. 

Blueliners have been lending a hand in the goal scoring department as well. Providence defensemen accounted for four of the nine P-Bruins’ tallies last weekend. Christian Wolanin and Victor Soderstrom found the back of the net in the 4-1 victory over Bridgeport last Friday, while Ty Gallagher and Frederic Brunet found the scoresheet in the 4-2 win over Lehigh Valley on Sunday.   

BRUINS AND PEGUINS BY THE BOOK

BRUINS

Record: 25-7-1-0

Division Ranking: 1st Atlantic

GF: 109

GA: 69

PP: 23.0% (23/100)

PK: 83.7% (16/98)

Goals: Brown, Locmelis, Merkulov, Tufte (13)

Assists: Brown (22)

Points: Brown (35)

GAA: DiPietro (1.82)

Save %: DiPietro (.937)

Wins: DiPietro (14)

PENGUINS

Record: 23-10-1-2

Division Ranking: 2nd Atlantic

GF: 115

GA: 193

PP: 13.3% (17/128)

PK: 83.6% (20/122)

Goals: Broz (11)

Assists: Puustinen (15)

Points: Broz (24)

GAA: Murashov (2.10)

Save %: Murashov (.922)

Wins: Murashov (12)

LOOKING AHEAD

• Bruins vs. Penguins | Amica Mutual Pavilion | Wed. Jan. 14, 7:05 p.m. | FloHockey

  • Samboni’s Arcade Night

    • 2-for-1 ticket offer providencebruins.com

• Bruins vs. Monsters | Amica Mutual Pavilion | Sat. Jan. 17, 7:05 p.m. | FloHockey

  • Rebrand Night - Hot Weiners

    • Me+3 ticket offer and more at providencebruins.com

• Bruins vs. Monsters | Amica Mutual Pavilion | Sun. Jan. 18, 3:05 p.m. | FloHockey

  • RI Lottery Big Winner Day

    • Me+3 ticket offer and more at providencebruins.com

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09.10.2025