RICHARD, CALLAHAN LEAD P-BRUINS TO VICTORY OVER ISLANDERS

Dec 27, 2023

Bridgeport, CT – Forward Anthony Richard scored a power play goal and a short-handed goal while adding an assist, leading the Providence Bruins to a 5-4 victory over the Bridgeport Islanders on Wednesday night at Total Mortgage Arena. Defenseman Michael Callahan netted two goals in the win, while forward Georgii Merkulovrecorded a goal and an assist. 

How It Happened

• Merkulov skated the puck from the left corner around the back of the net, wrapped it around the right post, and flipped a shot over the far shoulder of the goaltender, giving the P-Bruins a 1-0 lead with 5:08 remaining in the first period. Justin Brazeau and Alec Regula were credited with the assists. 
• Cutting down the slot, Brian Pinho found a rebound off the goaltender’s pads and backhanded it across the goal line, tying the game at 1-1 with 1:57 to play in the first period. 
• Karson Kuhlman rushed the puck up the middle of the ice, took the defender one-on-one, deked through his stick and flicked a backhand shot past the blocker of the goaltender, giving the Islanders a 2-1 lead with 13:38 left in the second period. 
• From the point, Fabian Lysell fed a pass to Callahan at the right circle, who snapped a wrist shot above the glove of the goaltender, tying the game at 2-2 with 10:15 remaining in the second period. Jayson Megnareceived an assist as well. 
• While on the power play, Frederic Brunet dove to keep the puck in the offensive zone and sent a pass down the wall to John Farinacci, who zipped the puck across to Richard for a one-timer at the right circle that whistled inside the far post, giving the P-Bruins a 3-2 lead with 6:40 to play in the second frame. 
• 26 second after the providence tally, Dennis Cholowski wristed a shot from the left point that snuck through traffic and past the goaltender, tying the game at 3-3. 
• 1:01 into the third period, Richard left the puck at the right point for Callahan, where he wristed a shot that snuck through traffic and inside the near post, giving Providence a 4-3 lead. Merkulov was credited with a secondary assist. 
• While short-handed, Megna poked the puck ahead for Richard in the neutral zone before he walked it into the right circle and snapped a shot that ricocheted off the goaltender’s blocker and across the goal line, extending the P-Bruins’ lead to 5-3 with 9:45 left in the third period. 
• With 1:22 remaining in the third period, Robin Salo’s shot from the…