AHL Game Recap: Blumel & DiPietro Shut Down Monsters

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | By Chris Lavallee | Last updated Jan 17, 2026 10:50 PM ET

The Providence Bruins had a battle tonight at home against the Cleveland Monsters for the first of two. The Bruins are coming off a loss to the Penguins on Wednesday night 4-1. The Monsters came into tonight’s game off a 3-2 overtime win over the Bears on Sunday. The Bruins lead the season series 2-0. Michael DiPietro got the net for Providence, bringing in a 14-5-0 record with a 1.83 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage. He entered the game leading the AHL in goals-against average and is second in save percentage. DiPietro won his first start against Cleveland this year stopping 43 of the 44 shots he faced. Ivan Fedotov got the start for the Monsters, bringing in a 12-8-3 record, with a 2.49 goals-against average, a .901 save percentage, and two shutouts. He took the loss in his appearance against Providence earlier this season giving up two goals on 25 shots.

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Cleveland Monsters vs. Providence Bruins

First Period

Cleveland started the game out with two shots on goal but Providence was the one who wasted no time. On their first shot of the game, Riley Tufte scored his 14th of the year to make it 1-0. Following the goal Cleveland put five shots on goal to Providence’s one. The Bruins then got the man advantage as James Malatesta went to the box for interference. Providence on their first shot of the man advantage scored as Matej Blumel scored his fifth of the season. The period would end with each team taking a roughing penalty. Cleveland outshot Providence 8-4 in the opening period.

Second Period

In the middle period, Michael Callahan and Luca Pinelli started in the box for their actions to close out the first period. The two teams went back and forth but Cleveland got the first power play of the game. They couldn’t capitalize on the man advantage. Just under 12.5 minutes into the period Providence added to their lead as Fabian Lysell scored his 12th of the year. Less than a minute later tensions rose as Georgii Merkulov got a ten-minute game misconduct and a roughing penalty. Tate Singleton took a roughing penalty as well. Each team had another power play chance in the period but couldn’t put the puck home. Providence outshot Cleveland in the period 9-7.

Third Period

In the final period, Providence started with a shot on goal then Cleveland answered with two shots on goal before taking a penalty. Caleb MacDonald went to the box for interference. Cleveland killed off the penalty but Providence found the back of the net over two minutes later as Brett Harrison scored his fifth of the season to make it 4-0. Cleveland took two more penalties but Providence couldn’t convert. They would however get another goal as Blumel scored again with 3:11 left in the game to make it 5-0. That would be the final. Providence dominated the period outshooting Cleveland 16-5.

Wrap Up

DiPietro stopped all 19 shots he faced finishing as the first star of the game. Fedotov finished with 22 saves on 26 shots. Blumel was the second star with his two-goal game, and Tufte was the third star with his goal and assist.