PROVIDENCE — 9,093 fans packed Amica Mutual Pavilion Sunday afternoon for the Providence Bruins’ home opener versus the Charlotte Checkers, the American Hockey League (AHL)’s affiliate of the Florida Panthers. Thanks to a first career hat trick for Fabian Lysell, the Bruins “jumped all over” the Checkers and secured their first home victory of the season with a 6-3 final.
Both the Bruins and Checkers came into the contest with a 1-0-0 record, with the Bruins’ 3-2 overtime win against Bridgeport and Charlotte’s 4-3 win over Springfield on Saturday. Aside from home ice advantage for Providence, the matchup was a clean slate with no standout up or downsides for either bench this early into the season.
First Period
Providence came out the gates firing to start regulation, notching its first goal just 74 seconds into the game. For the second shot on goal (SOG), Lysell — a 2021 first-round draft pick — buried the puck for an early Bruins lead, assisted by linemates Matthew Poitras and Alex Steeves.
Charlotte, on the other hand, didn’t get a puck on net until 5:41 into the opening period — including its first power play opportunity. However, the Checkers continued to test the Bruins and shift the momentum in their favor to score two unanswered goals, put up eight shots to Providence’s seven and take a 2-1 lead into first intermission.
When asked how the Bruins reset mentally coming into the second period chasing by a goal, Lysell said, “We talked about being more structured in the d[efensive] zone and to trust our system. Our chances are going to come.”
It didn’t take long for Providence to find (what could’ve been) the equalizer, sending the puck over the red line just 2:29 into period two. But the net was off and the Bruins remained at a one-goal deficit.
Momentum stayed on Providence’s side with a delay of game penalty on Charlotte at 6:48 and the Bruins capitalized on their first man advantage. Matej Blumel fired from the middle of the dots to tie up at two, and Steeves and Georgii Merkulov were credited with the assists.
Providence fell to a power play goal (PPG) by Charlotte at 13:37, but responded on its own 5-on-4 chance roughly two minutes later in the same manner: both PPGs scored off the teams’ first shot per opportunity. Checkers’ Ben Steeves — yes, Alex Steeves’ brother — tallied for Charlotte, and Providence captain Patrick Brown scored for the Bruins.
After a very back-and-forth period, the teams headed for the locker rooms tied at three through forty minutes.
Third Period
What set up to be a close third period changed in a blink when tension took over and Charlotte’s Trevor Carrick took a cross-checking minor after 17 seconds.
While Providence didn’t score on the man advantage, its momentum propelled the offense and it was lights out from there.
Off a hard slapshot by defenseman Jonathan Aspirot, Lysell deflected in his second goal, giving the Bruins their first lead since period one at 4:55. The go-ahead goal was also assisted by Poitras.
Providence returned to the penalty kill (PK), handing Charlotte a third opportunity to get back in the game, but killed it off and protected its lead.
In the final minutes of regulation, the Bruins shut the door on any possibility of a comeback for the Checkers. With his third goal of the game and on the season, Lysell lit the lamp for a hat trick and two-goal deficit. Steeves — who had 62 points (36G, 26A) in 59 GP last year with the Toronto Marlies — scored the empty netter (ENG), and Poitras had assists on both — making four assists and a career-high tie with four points on the night.
Providence goaltender Michael DiPietro held down the fort for the Bruins in his first start of the season, stopping 34 out of 37 shots faced. In 40 GP for 2024-25, the Ontario native held a 2.05 GAA and 0.927 SV%.
The obvious difference-maker in this match was Providence’s Fabian Lysell with his first professional career hat trick and an assist (3G, 1A).
Bruins head coach Ryan Mougenel discussed how Lysell not only produces, as shown by the box score, but practices habits that he wants for his team as the season progresses — especially for the development of the young players on the roster.
“It’s in the wall play, it’s stick detail — those are the things that give you protection and longevity in the NHL, and those are the habits we’re trying to build in a lot of our young players like [Lysell],” said Mougenel. “My favorite goal was his second goal that he went to the net — that’s what happens when you go to the net, and he got rewarded.”
In addition to Lysell’s performance and reliable goaltending, Providence also clinched the win due to its special teams. The Bruins went 2-for-3 on both the power play and penalty kill, setting themselves up for success in the big moments.
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