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New year, same outcome.
Much like last February, the Providence Bruins are sweeping through opponents again, skating to a pair of victories over Bridgeport and Hartford in the team’s first Connecticut road trip of the year.
On Friday afternoon, Providence needed a late third-period tally from Zach Senyshyn and a 24-save shutout from Dan Vladar to knock off the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Vladar, who started the season on the Boston taxi squad and served as a backup for a game, has been alternating with Jeremy Swayman through five games this year. The two could be in line to take over between the pipes at the NHL level in the near future with both Tuukka Rask (turning 34) and Jaroslav Halak (turning 36) entering contract years.
Swayman took his place between the pipes on Sunday afternoon at Hartford, stopping 34 of 36 Wolfpack shots en route to a 5-2 win. Providence struck twice in the opening minute of the second period and never looked back, cruising past Hartford.
Senyshyn scored for the second time in as many games — an empty-netter — to ice the game while Paul Carey added a pair of assists after recording the lone helper on Friday.
Samuel Asselin also notched two assists on Sunday as the forward seems to be assimilating quickly to the AHL level. Rookie Brady Lyle has also showed signs of adjusting to a higher level quickly, and saw production with a goal and an assist in Sunday’s win.
Player of the Week: Paul Carey — The veteran played a major part in both victories, leading the team in points for the weekend while factoring in six shots and a plus-two rating. Honorable mentions to Brady Lyle for earning his first-career points and Zach Senyshyn for finding his scoring touch once again.
Up next: You’ll never guess who Providence plays next? That’s right, it’s Bridgeport and Hartford again. Get used to seeing these teams all year long as Providence hosts Bridgeport on Thursday afternoon in Marlborough, Mass. before returning to Hartford for a Saturday afternoon tilt. Both games are set to begin at 1 p.m.