BRIDGEPORT, Ct. – It was a matchup of two top teams in the Atlantic Division and the American Hockey League as the Bridgeport Islanders played host to the Providence Bruins at Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport. Both teams were desperate for points to stay afloat in the standings race, but a big game from Fabian Lysell proved to be the difference as he scored late in the third period to lift the Bruins to a 3-2 win in regulation. Brandon Bussi earned the win with 28 saves while Jakub Skarek took the loss with 24 stops.
The tight-knit standings extended to play on the ice as the teams traded goals in regulation, starting with a power play goal from sniper Chris Terry. Terry set up in his office at the top of the right-wing circle and fired a laser past Bussi to open the scoring. However, the Bruins responded with Lysell’s first of the game by potting a rebound past the outstretched Skarek to even the count at one apiece. Lysell missed Providence’s last three games, but made his presence known on the ice for this game as he continued a strong rookie season with his first of two goals.
Fabian Lysell returns to the lineup for Providence and bangs home a loose puck for a powerplay goal. I love his willingness to continuously attack the high-value areas of the ice. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/le7gU35HZg
— Bruins Network (@BruinsNetwork) December 11, 2022
The teams traded goals again in the third period, as Bridgeport tallied with Paul Thompson’s third goal of the season on a deflection from Arnaud Durandeau’s shot. The assist is Durandeau’s 12th of the season as one of the team’s top point contributors. This time, Connor Carrick responded with his second goal of the season on a combination play between the two top scoring defenders on the Bruins as he ripped a shot past the goaltender on a feed from Jack Ahcan. The pair of blue liners combine for 26 points and three in this contest to even the count at two.
THOMPSON 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/x5BQ24r8ic
— Bridgeport Islanders (@AHLIslanders) December 11, 2022
The game appeared to be destined for overtime, but Lysell scored his second goal of the game on a feed from behind the goal line from Georgii Merkulov that the Bruins made stand up for a 3-2 final score. The pair of goals give Lysell 16 points in 18 games as the team’s third best goal scorer, trailing fellow rookie Luke Toporowski.
It’s a two-goal night for Fabian Lysell thanks to a slick feed from Merkulov and an even better shot from Lysell. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/0O27qhJRWd
— Bruins Network (@BruinsNetwork) December 11, 2022
The win helps the Bruins keep pace with the Hershey Bears, who won a decision on Saturday over the Cleveland Monsters to stay one point ahead of Providence in the standings while simultaneously extending the team’s lead over the Islanders to five points heading into the back half of a home-and-home set with Bridgeport at home. It’s been a worst-case scenario for the Islanders in this set of three games in as many nights, as they dropped Friday’s game to Hershey in regulation and see their stock dropping in the Atlantic Division with two losses at home. It makes Sunday’s game a must-win to prevent any further ground lost to the Bruins.
