THIS WEEK IN PROVIDENCE: BATTLE OF UNDEFEATED ATLANTIC DIVISION TEAMS

The Providence Bruins (6-0-0-0) will travel down to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (7-0-0-0) for a battle between the last remaining undefeated teams in the Atlantic Division on Wednesday night at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza. Puck drop is 7:05 p.m. on FloHockey. 

In the last five seasons, the Bruins are 11-0-0-0 when facing the Penguins in Wilkes-Barre. The two teams will face-off four times this season, twice at the Amica Mutual Pavilion and twice at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza.

Providence forward Riley Tufte ranks tied for third in the AHL with 10 points in six games (4-6-10). The Coon Rapids, Minnesota, native didn’t record a point in the first two games of the season, then posted games of three, two, four, and one points in the next four contests respectively. Tufte’s four-point night in last Friday’s 5-3 victory over Springfield was a career-best for the seven-year professional. 

Georgii Merkulov scored twice in Sunday’s 4-1 win against Bridgeport, settling the Ryazan, Russia, native into sole second place on the Providence Bruins all-time point list with 188 total points. The forward ranks second on the team with nine points (4-5-9) and has posted points in all but one game this season. 

Goaltender Simon Zajicek notched his third professional victory, stopping 23 of 24 shots in a 4-1 victory over Bridgeport on Sunday. The Frydlant, Czechia, native boasts a 1.66 goals against average and a .939 save percentage, allowing just five goals in his first three starts in North American professional hockey. 

The Penguins roster the two top scorers in the American Hockey League, Danton Heinen (7 GP, 4-8-12) and Ville Koivunen (6 GP, 4-7-11) who was just recalled by Pittsburgh on Sunday. Their goaltenders have been tough to beat thus far, with Sergei Murashov posting a 1.40 goals against average and a .949 save percentage while allowing just seven goals through five wins. Murashov was awarded the AHL’s Player of the Week for last week. Filip Larson has also been stellar in two appearances, allowing just three goals. 

BRUINS AND PENGUINS BY THE BOOK

BRUINS

Record: 6-0-0-0

Division Ranking: 2nd Atlantic

GF: 28

GA: 14

PP: 33.3% (7/21)

PK: 70.6% (5/17)

Goals: Brown, Lysell, Merkulov, Tufte (4)

Assists: Blumel, Poitras, Tufte (6)

Points: Tufte (10)

GAA: Zajicek (1.66)

Save %: Zajicek (.939)

Wins: DiPietro, Zajicek (3)

PENGUINS

Record: 7-0-0-0

Division Ranking: 1st Atlantic

GF: 28

GA: 10

PP: 23.3% (7/30)

PK: 90.5% (2/21)

Goals: Broz, Calvert, Heinen (4)

Assists: Heinen (8)

Points: Heinen (12)

GAA: Murashov (1.40)

Save %: Larsson (.951)

Wins: Murashov (5)

LOOKING AHEAD

• Bruins vs. Bears | Amica Mutual Pavilion | Saturday Nov. 1, 7:05 p.m. | FloHockey

  • Beach Bears Rebrand Night presented by Cool Air Creations

    • Me+3 Ticket Packages and more at providencebruins.com 

• Bruins vs. Checkers | Amica Mutual Pavilion | Sunday Nov. 2, 3:05 p.m. | FloHockey

  • Top Gun Veterans Appreciation Day presented by Seacorp

    • Bobblehead ticket pack and more at providencebruins.com

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10.27.2025