HARTFORD — Brendan Gaunce and the Providence Bruins are both on a roll.
Gaunce’s power-play goal 2:40 into the third period broke a 2-2 tie and lifted the P-Bruins to a 3-2 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Sunday afternoon at XL Center.
Providence has now won eight straight games. The goal extended Gaunce’s point streak to nine games.
“I think the goal was big, especially at that time,” said Gaunce, a 25-year-old forward who was drafted 26th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2012. “They made a push in the second period and we wanted to make a statement in whatever way we could. I think for two periods we showed that our skating causes problems for a lot of teams. Even against the best teams, if we play the way that we’ve been playing, it’s a hard game for them and we’re tough to play against.”
Jack Studnicka, who got the game-winner at Springfield on Saturday night, scored Providence’s second goal on Sunday and also had an assist.
Goaltender Max Lagace made 21 saves in his 21st win of the season, which ranks second in the AHL.
The P-Bruins jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first period, outshooting the Wolf Pack, 10-3. Oskar Steen scored his seventh of the season while shorthanded at 8:19, and Studnicka made it 2-0 with his 22nd of the year at 11:32.
Hartford responded in the second period and tied it on goals by Libor Hajek, his first of the season, and Tim Gettinger, his 16th.
Gaunce’s 17th of the season came on assists by Studnicka and Peter Cehlarik.
“You don’t always control the game for 60 minutes, but we find a way to win and that’s what we’ve been doing for a while now,” said Gaunce. “It’s a big time of the year to have that happening.”
Providence 2 0 1 — 3 Hartford 0 2 0 — 2 First period — 1, Pro, Steen 7 (Frederic, Didier), 8:19 (sh.). 2, Pro, Studnicka 22 (Hughes), 11:32. Penalties — Gaunce Pro (hooking), 5:09; Senyshyn Pro (slashing), 7:22.
Second period — 3, Har, Hajek 1 (Lettieri), 8:04. 4, Har, Gettinger 16 (Newell, LoVerde), 14:05. Penalties — Woods Pro (fighting), 6:18; Ebert Hfd (fighting), 6:18; LoVerde Hfd (hooking), 10:04; Lauko Pro (roughing), 17:52; Ebert Hfd (roughing), 17:52. Third period — 5, Pro, Gaunce 17 (Cehlarik, Studnicka), 2:40 (pp). Penalties — Fogarty Hfd (tripping), 2:23; Petrovic Pro (fighting), 3:48; Beleskey Hfd (fighting), 3:48.
Shots on goal — Pro 10-7-9 — 26; Har 3-7-13 — 23. Power plays — Providence 1-for-2; Har 0- 2. Goalies — Pro, Lagace 21-7-3 (23 shots-21 saves); Har, Berube 13-14-4 (26 shots-23 saves). A — 5,100
Referees — Corey Syvret (42), Guillaume Labonte (35). Linesmen — Mike Baker (11), Derek Wahl (46).