Merkulov's Franchise Record Breaking Point Helps P-Bruins Shut out Checkers
AHL Providence Bruins

Merkulov's Franchise Record Breaking Point Helps P-Bruins Shut out Checkers

Published on February 1, 2026 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


Charlotte, NC - Forward Georgii Merkulov recorded his franchise record breaking 211th career point, helping the Providence Bruins shutout the Charlotte Checkers 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at Bojangles Coliseum. Forward Matej Blumel netted two goals. Defenseman Victor Soderstrom notched a goal and an assist. Goaltenders Simon Zajicek and Michael DiPietro stopped a combined 31 shots faced for a shutout.

How It Happened

Merkulov wrapped the puck around the net and zipped a pass to Soderstrom in the right circle, where his one-timer whistled into the upper-left corner to give the P-Bruins a 1-0 lead with 4:22 remaining in the first period.

Soderstrom fired a wrist shot from the right point that was redirected by Blumel in the low slot and across the goal line to extend the Providence lead to 2-0 with 8:23 to play in the second frame.

On a 2-on-1, Riley Duran slipped a pass around the defender in the left circle to Blumel at the right post, where he one-timed it into the back of the net to give the P-Bruins a 3-0 lead with 9:36 left in the third period.

Stats

Merkulov's assist was his 211th career point, passing Andy Hilbert (2001-05) to break the all-time franchise scoring record.

Blumel posted his second multi-goal game of the season.

Goaltender Simon Zajicek stopped 7 of 7 shots faced through 20 minutes played. DiPietro stopped all 24 shots in 40 minutes of relief. The P-Bruins totaled 17 shots.

The power play went 0-for-2 and the penalty kill was 0-for-0.

The P-Bruins improve to 32-8-1-0.

Providence recorded its seventh straight win, tying a season-best win streak (Oct. 11 - Oct. 29).

Up Next

The Providence Bruins travel to Bridgeport to face the Islanders on Wednesday, February 4 at Total Mortgage Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.

Every minute of Bruins hockey can be watched online with the league's streaming service, AHLTV on FloHockey. AHLTV on FloHockey provides its subscribers access to not just every regular season and Calder Cup Playoff game for all 32 AHL teams, but also more than 21,000 hockey contests from other professional and junior leagues on FloHockey, as well as access to all other live event streams and replays across FloSports.

Check out the Providence Bruins Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2026


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