THIS WEEK IN PROVIDENCE: HEADING SOUTH FOR A HEATED RETURN

The first place Providence Bruins (30-8-1-0) will return to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the first time since last year’s Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The P-Bruins won two straight games at Bojangles Coliseum to force a winner-take-all game five, eventually falling 5-2 after two empty-net goals. The Checkers are 24-12-3-0 this season.

The Bruins defeated the Checkers twice at the Amica Mutual Pavilion by scores of 6-3 and 5-2 back on October 12 and November 2 respectively. Providence is on a five-game winning streak and is 8-2 in its last ten games, while Charlotte has points in its last seven games and is 6-3-1 in its last ten contests. 

Fabian Lysell posted two goals and an assist in Providence’s three wins last weekend. The forward scored the game-winning goal in overtime and added an assist, helping the P-Bruins take down the Belleville Senators 2-1 last Friday. The Gothenburg, Sweden, native, then tallied the opening goal in Sunday’s 4-3 overtime win over the Toronto Marlies. Lysell has scored two of Providence’s seven overtime goals this season and totals 14 goals and 20 assists through 35 games this season.

Matthew Poitras recorded three points last weekend. The forward scored the game-tying goal late in the third frame of the P-Bruins’ 2-1 overtime victory over the Senators on Friday, before scoring a power play goal and adding an assist in the 4-3 overtime win over the Marlies on Sunday. The Whitby, Ontario, native is tied for the team lead with five power play goals and totals eight goals and 16 assists through 39 games this season.

Georgii Merkulov notched a goal and an assist in the 4-3 overtime victory over the Marlies on Sunday. The forward tallied a goal in the middle frame and recorded the primary assist on Jordan Harris’ overtime tally. Merkulov’s assist was the 209th point of his career, ranking him second all-time in Providence Bruins scoring. He trails Andy Hilbert (2001-05) who totaled 210 career points. The Ryazan, Russia, native totals 14 goals and 16 assists through 37 games this season.

BRUINS AND CHECKERS BY THE BOOK

BRUINS

Record: 30-8-1-0

Division Ranking: 1st Atlantic

GF: 131

GA: 82

PP: 22.7% (27/119)

PK: 83.8% (18/111)

Goals: Tufte (16)

Assists: Brown (27)

Points: Brown (41)

GAA: DiPietro (1.76)

Save %: DiPietro (.938)

Wins: DiPietro (17)

CHECKERS

Record: 24-12-3-0

Division Ranking: 3rd Atlantic

GF: 134

GA: 110

PP: 18.1% (23/127)

PK: 84.9% (23/152)

Goals: Skoog, Steves (15)

Assists: Devine (17)

Points: Devine (29)

GAA: Black (2.55)

Save %: Black (.900)

Wins: Black (16)

LOOKING AHEAD

• Bruins at Checkers | Bojangles Coliseum | Sat. Jan. 31, 4:00 p.m. | FloHockey

• Bruins at Checkers | Bojangles Coliseum | Sun. Feb. 1, 1:00 p.m. | FloHockey

• Bruins at Islanders | Total Mortgage Arena | Wed. Feb. 4, 7:00 p.m. | FloHockey

• Bruins vs. Wolf Pack | Amica Mutual Pavilion | Fri. Feb. 6, 7:05 p.m. | FloHockey

  • Women in Sports Night

    • Save $10 ticket offer and more at providencebruins.com

• Bruins at Wolf Pack | PeoplesBank Arena | Sat. Feb. 7, 6:00 p.m. | FloHockey

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01.27.2026