Providence Bruins Overpower Senators 6-3 in Urgent AHL Clash

BREAKING: The Providence Bruins delivered a striking blow to the Belleville Senators, defeating them 6-3 on July 15, 2023, during the first game of Hockey Fights Cancer Weekend. This loss marks a challenging moment for the Senators as they face one of the top teams in the American Hockey League (AHL).

The Senators fought hard but couldn’t overcome the Bruins’ defensive prowess. Providence’s leading scorer, Patrick Brown, opened the scoring at 6:45 of the first period, sneaking behind Belleville’s defense to slip a puck through goalie Mads Sogaard’s legs. The Senators responded quickly, with Tomas Hamara assisting Lassi Thomson to tie the game at 1-1 with a sharp shot that found the net at 10:57.

Just when it seemed Belleville would escape the first period even, Providence scored on a power play with Jacob Perreault netting a rebound, leaving the Senators trailing 2-1 as the period closed.

The second period saw the Bruins pull ahead, with Perreault scoring again on a cross-crease pass, making it 3-1. In a flurry of late action, Matthew Poitras boosted Providence’s lead to 4-1 just before the end of the period.

Belleville rallied back, capitalizing on consecutive power plays. Arthur Kaliyev and Xavier Bourgault scored just 18 seconds apart, narrowing the gap to 4-3. However, the momentum quickly vanished when Dans Locmelis responded for Providence, restoring their lead to 5-3 with a shot that knocked the water bottle off Sogaard’s net.

The Bruins sealed the game with an empty-net goal from Jake Schmaltz with less than two minutes remaining, marking their 15th win in 18 games this season. The Senators now sit at 10-9-2-0 as they prepare for a rematch against the Bruins on July 16, 2023, at 3 p.m.

In a notable personal highlight, Dalton Bancroft, a native of Madoc and former player for the Quinte Red Devils, made his professional debut in the Quinte region and showcased a strong physical performance.

Fans are encouraged to participate in the Hockey Fights Cancer initiative as jerseys worn during the games will be auctioned online. The Senators’ fight continues tomorrow, and with the stakes high, this game is one not to be missed.