People who say hockey is boring don’t appreciate the sport enough, especially when a team makes a dramatic comeback coming from a 4-1 deficit to win 5-4 in overtime. The P-Bruins on Sunday night (Feb. 23) sent Providence fans home happy after scoring four unanswered goals to steal the win from the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins.
What stood out in the dramatic come-from-behind win?
First Bite: Turn It Up to the Max
What a Sunday night for Max Jones scoring two goals to turn the game on its head. The Rochester, MI native made the Penguin see their 4-2 erased to a 4-4 tie after scoring in the second and third periods. Jones’ 11th of the season came 11:46 into the second period in part of a great setup from Chris Ortiz and Marc McLaughlin. In his first season back in the American Hockey League (AHL) since 2019-20 (San Diego Gulls – eight games), he has 12 goals and 18 points. Jones is only three goals and 12 points away from new career highs.
His 12th of the season, and second of the game, came at 10:54 into the third period. Great puck moving from Frederic Brunet and John Farinacci to set up the tying goal which forced overtime.
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After being outshot 33-18 after 40 minutes and seeing the lone goal in the third period go in your favor, P-Bruins fans appreciate that effort. It showed the no-quit mentality in the team who had to claw their way back into the game. Get it, cause their Bruins and one of their logos is a bear? Either way, Jones was a big contributor to the win to help solidify a playoff spot for the P-Bruins.
Second Bite: Georgii Markulov is Clutch
What else is there to say about Ryazan, Russia native Georgii Merkulov? The P-Bruins leader in points (42 and tied with Vinni Lettieri) came up clutch with the overtime winner. He capped off the four-goal unanswered run at the 4:59 mark to save everyone from a shootout.
Talk about saving the theatrics to the last second. It was Merkulov’s 13th of the season and it came when it mattered most. The goal came on the P-Bruins’ 32nd shot of the game, and it was the most important. Despite being outshot 43-32 (21-9 after the first period) that shows how locked in they were to erase the deficit and win big.
Merkulov has been a huge staple to the P-Bruins’ success this season and why they’re 29-17-4-1 (63 points). They have 21 games remaining and are tied with the WBS Penguins – points percentage going to WBS – and are looking to catch the Hershey Bears. The Bears only have 67 points and have 22 games left.
Despite playing one more game, the P-Bruins are within striking distance to dethrone the Bears for the top spot in the Atlantic Division. When you have guys like Merkulov and Lettieri each having 42 points on the season, you feel pretty good about yourselves.
Third Bite: No Quit in the P-Bruins
When you get outshot 33-18 after 40 minutes and win, you did something right. Furthermore, a team that erases a 4-1 deficit to win in overtime, is a sign of a team that is bought in. The P-Bruins cashed in on a power play goal in part to Jones’ two-goal night effort. It marks a great team that does not let a game get away and takes advantage when presented with an opportunity.
There is no doubt that there could be something special with this group. Especially, when pulling themselves up from a 4-1 hole, and sticking with netminder Michael DiPietro who’s mainly been lights out for you all season.
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The P-Bruins have a long way to go if they want to catch up with the Bears for the Atlantic Division. Furthermore, it won’t be an easy battle with the Penguins in the middle of that fight as well. However, this 2024-25 team is destined for the 2025 Calder Cup Playoffs. Games like this prove who the great teams are compared to the good ones.
Up Next for P-Bruins
The P-Bruins’ next game is on Wednesday, Feb. 26 against the Bridgeport Islanders. The game is set for a 7 p.m. Eastern puck drop in Bridgeport. Providence looks to avenge a 4-2 loss to the Islanders on Feb. 16.
