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The Providence Bruins and Atlanta Gladiators have been matching the success of their NHL affiliate in Boston over the past two weeks. Both minor league teams have gone on extensive point streaks, lifting them closer to securing a postseason berth.
Providence Bruins
Providence extended its winning streak to eight games with a series of big road wins during the week. The most convincing came in the opening game of the week last Wednesday, a 6-2 triumph over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
That was followed up by a 3-1 win over Springfield after falling behind early in the first period.
On Sunday, Providence wrapped up the week with a 3-2 win at Hartford, overtaking the Wolfpack for second place in the division in the process. A late winner from Brendan Gaunce, who is on a nine-game point streak, lifted Providence.
Player of the Week: Jack Studnicka & Peter Cehlarik – This duo had points in all three games this weekend with Studnicka tallying two goals and three helpers while Cehlarik provided a pair of tallies and two assists.
UP NEXT: It’s three games in three days next weekend for Providence, as a home-and-home next Friday and Saturday nights against the Springfield Falcons is followed by a home matinee on Sunday against the Hershey Bears.
After a big week, Providence has moved ten points ahead of Springfield in the standings and now sits in second place, just a point ahead of Hartford and four points behind first-place Hershey. That makes Sunday’s game against the Bears a big one for playoff contention.
Atlanta Gladiators
Entering the week on a four-game point streak, Atlanta stayed hot, compiling three more victories, all in regulation.
After a slow start to the week’s first game at South Carolina – a two-goal deficit after a period – Atlanta engineered a comeback scoring a late winner in a 3-2 win over the Stingrays. All three goals in the win came from Eric Neiley, who also scored the first goal two nights later in a 6-1 win over Orlando.
The win over the Solar Bears was highlighted by a five-goal first period. The next night, Atlanta added another quintet in a 5-0 win over the Norfolk Admirals at home.
Player of the Week: Eric Neiley – Not only did he scored a hat trick on Wednesday, Neiley added a goal and an assist on Friday and another tally on Saturday night.
UP NEXT: Another three-game week for Gladiators begins with a home-and-home series against the Orlando Solar Bears on Tuesday (7 p.m., away) and Friday (7:30 p.m., home) and closes out against the Jacksonville Icemen on Saturday night at 7 p.m.
Atlanta is now just one point out of third place after 58 games, with two games in hand on fourth-place Greenville and one more game played than third-place Orlando Solar Bears. That third spot will guarantee a playoff spot in the ECHL.