MERKULOV’S THREE POINTS PUSH P-BRUINS PAST PENGUINS IN SHOOTOUT

Feb 10, 2023

Providence, RI - Georgii Merkulov netted two goals, including one to force overtime with 1:33 remaining, and an assist as the Providence Bruins defeated the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4-3 in a shootout on Friday night at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Fabian Lysell tallied the other goal for the P-Bruins. Goaltender Kyle Keyser stopped 30 shots in the victory. 

 

How It Happened

• 1:50 into the second period, Lysell collected the puck in the slot, turned and snapped a shot that was deflected and sent through the goaltender’s legs to give the P-Bruins a 1-0 lead. Justin Brazeau and Merkulov were credited with assists on the tally. 
• Tyler Sikura caught a feed from the point at the top of the left circle, walked it down to the dot, and snapped a shot through traffic that beat the goaltender on the glove side for a power play goal, tying the game at 1-1 with 10:23 remaining in the second period. 
• Creeping down from the point, Jon Lizotte collected a feed in the left circle and found the upper corner of the short side of the net to give Wilkes-Barre/Scranton a 2-1 lead with 7:31 to play in the second period. 
• While on the power play, a one-timer from Valtteri Puustinen at the top of the left circle beat the goaltender on the blocker side to give the Penguins a 3-1 lead with 4:33 remaining in the second period. 
• A stretch pass from the far right dot off the stick of Anton Stralman found Merkulov off the bench, sending him on a breakaway, where he wristed the puck under the goaltender’s pads to cut the Penguins lead to 3-2 with 3:38 left in the second period. Patrick Shea received the secondary assist. 
• With the net empty and an extra attacker on the ice, Merkulov hammered a one-timer from the right circle off a pass from Jack Ahcan, beating the goaltender on the glove side to tie the game at 3-3 with 1:33 remaining in the third period. Chris Wagner was also credited with an assist. 
• Mike Reilly ended the game in the seventh round of the shootout. Lysell also scored in the second round. 

 

Stats

• Merkulov has goals in four straight games and has six in as many games. 
• Wagner is riding a four-game point streak. 
• Lysell has goals in two straight contests and has points in four consecutive games. 
• Keyser made 30 saves. Providence totaled 34 shots in the contest.
• The P-Bruins power play went 0-for-2, and the penalty kill was 0-for-2.

 

Next Game

The P-Bruins travel to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to take on the Penguins on Saturday, February 11 at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Puck drop is set for 6:05 p.m. ET.

 

#02/10/23#