The Providence Bruins, the top minor affiliate of the Boston Bruins, won their second game in a row Friday afternoon with a 1-0 shutout of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in Connecticut.
Just like any year, there are a lot of eyes on what is going on with the P-Bruins in the American Hockey League. Despite having a taxi squad in Boston with players ready to go at a moment’s notice this season, things are getting interesting for the varsity team in Boston as injuries are starting to pile up.
In Friday’s victory, Zach Senyshyn scored the only goal of the game for Providence in the third period to help the P-Bruins improve to 3-1 on the young season with their second consecutive win over Bridgeport. Dan Vladar, who began the season behind Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak on the Boston taxi squad, stopped all 24 shots he faced against the Sound Tigers.
P-Bruins had a different look to their lineup Friday.
With the growing number of injuries in Boston, forward Jack Studnicka and defensemen Urho Vaakanainen were sent to Boston ahead of Friday’s matinee to head out the upcoming four-game Boston road trip.
It's officially official: AHL transactions now showing Studnicka & Vaakanainen recalled by Boston to taxi squad
— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) February 19, 2021
Providence, who was also missing Curtis Hall who suffered a lower-body injury earlier in the week, had the services of Anton Blidh, who was sent down from the Boston taxi squad. The 25-year-old Blidh played two games with Boston this season, but despite the rising number of injuries, he was sent down to get some time with coach Jay Leach and P-Bruins. He finished with three of Providence’s 37 shots on the net.
Today's Providence lineup. No Jack Studnicka today
— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) February 19, 2021
Carey-Hughes-Senyshyn
Lauko-Steen-Blidh
Filipe-Koppanen-Voyer
Shen-Asselin-Lantosi
Zech-Peski
Wolff-Messner
Ahcan-Lyle
Vladar
Swayman
Senyshyn is having a good start to the AHL season and his second goal early in the season is a positive sign for the former first-round pick in 2015. If injuries continue to mount in Boston with the forwards, look for Senyshyn to get a call up sooner or later.
Here's a look at the score by Senyshyn 🚨 pic.twitter.com/TdJRQ62YTj
— Providence Bruins (@AHLBruins) February 19, 2021
In a season where most games are spread out, Providence has a quick turnaround and will travel back to Connecticut on Sunday for a 1 p.m. game against the Hartford Wolf Pack at the XL Center in downtown Hartford. The Wolf Pack handed the P-Bruins their only loss of the season to date on Feb. 11, 4-0.
With all the injuries that Boston is starting to endure on a nightly basis, it feels like there is going to be a lot of movement from Providence to Boston this season.