Providence Wins First Game of Season

Johnson Scores In OT, Svedberg 40 Saves
October 4, 2013

Providence Press Release:


 The Providence Bruins won their season opener 4-3 in overtime over the St. John’s IceCaps Friday evening at the Mile One Centre.  The P-Bruins got a goal from Matt Fraser and Jared Knight and two goals, including the game-winner in overtime from Nick Johnson. Niklas Svedberg made 40 saves in the winning effort.The IceCaps came out strong in the first period, outshooting Providence early, but it was the P-Bruins taking the 1-0 lead at the 14:28 mark of the opening period.  Fraser scored off his backhand, his first goal of the season, while Johnson and Ryan Spooner recorded the assists.  The P-Bruins led 1-0 going into the first intermission.

The P-Bruins doubled their lead at the 13:13 mark of the second period.  Johnson tallied his first goal of the game and of the season with help from a behind the back pass from Spooner.  Fraser picked up the second assist.  Providence led 2-0 going into the second intermission. 

St. John’s got on the board at the 9:18 mark of the third period.  Adam Lowry scored his first goal of the season, while Patrice Cormier and Jordan Hill had the assists.  Providence retook their two-goal advantage at the 12:47 mark, when Knight notched his first goal of the season, with Alexander Khokhlachev grabbing the lone assist.  The IceCaps battled back with two goals in less than a minute.  At the 18:11 mark, J.C. Lipon tallied his first goal of the season, while Brenden Kichton and Jason Jaffray had the assists.  It was Eric O’Dell tying the game at three at the 19:03 mark, his first goal of the season.  Kael Mouillierat and Jerome Samson picked up the assists on the goal.  The game went into overtime tied at three.

At the 2:04 mark of overtime, Johnson’s second goal of the game gave the P-Bruins the victory as he skated in on a breakaway and beat St. John’s net minder Eddie Pasquale on the backhand.  Khokhlachev recorded his second assist of the night and the lone assist on the game winning goal.  Providence went onto the 4-3 victory.

Svedberg stopped 40 of 43 shots he faced for the P-Bruins, while Pasquale made 26 saves for the IceCaps.  The P-Bruins were 1-for-2 on the power play and 1-for-1 on the penalty kill.