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AHL Providence Bruins

Lettieri's First Period Hat-Trick and Five Point Night Leads P-Bruins to Victory over Bears

March 12, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


Providence, RI - Vinni Lettieri posted a hat-trick in the first 10:20 of the game and added two assists as well, leading the Providence Bruins to a 5-3 victory over the Hershey Bears on Sunday evening at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. John Beecher and Chris Wagner potted a goal and an assist a piece, while Connor Carrick recorded three assists in the victory. The P-Bruins extended their first-place lead in the Atlantic Division to three points over the Bears.

How It Happened

While on the power play, Georgii Merkulov won the face-off back to Connor Carrick, who danced around a defender and dished the puck to Lettieri at the right circle, where he fired a wrist shot into the upper left corner 1:36 into the first period to give the P-Bruins a 1-0 lead.

From behind the cage, Justin Brazeau fed Lettieri at the bottom of the right circle for a one-timer that beat the goaltender top shelf to extend the Providence lead to 2-0 with 15:42 remaining in the first period. Carrick was credited with the secondary assist.

48 seconds after Lettieri's second goal, he found Beecher at the bottom of the left circle for a one-timer that flew above the goaltender's left shoulder, giving the P-Bruins a 3-0 lead. Wagner received a secondary assist.

Mike Vecchinoe's one-timer on the power play from just inside the right circle zipped inside the far post, cutting the Providence lead to 3-1 with 11:08 left in the first period.

Lettieri completed his first period hat-trick after collecting a rebound below the left circle and putting it back into the net with 9:40 remaining in the first period, extending the P-Bruins lead to 4-1. Carrick and Beecher were credited with assists.

Aaron Ness crashed the net for a rebound goal, shrinking the Providence lead to 4-2 with 1:57 to play in the first period.

From the left circle, Shane Gersich fired a shot that rebounded to Henrik Rybinski above the blue paint, who put back the rebound, cutting the P-Bruins lead to 4-3 with 18:01 remaining in the third period.

Wagner scored an empty-net goal with 50 seconds left, assisted by Brazeau and Lettieri.

Stats

Lettieri's hat-trick (10:20) was the fastest recorded by a Providence player since Randy Robitaille scored three 14:14 into the game on November 25, 1998 at Syracuse.

Lettieri's five points matches a season-high of any Providence skater.

Brazeau's two assists extended his point streak to three games.

Kyle Keyser stopped 32 of 35 shots faced. Providence totaled 38 shots.

The P-Bruins power play went 1-for-6, and the penalty kill was 1-for-2.

Next Game

The P-Bruins host the Hershey Bears on Wednesday, March 15 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.

Check out the Providence Bruins Statistics

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