Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
Past or present, the Providence Bruins’ offensive image has long been secure.
For the past three decades, Providence has been home to such Bruins prospects John Grahame, Andrew Raycroft, Tim Thomas, Tuukka Rask again Dan Vladar.
These days Brandon Bussi has become one of the NHL’s best stories of the early season. Bussi, now with the Carolina Hurricanes, became the first to win 10 in NHL history. But Bussi spent parts of four seasons developing with the P-Bruins before ending up in Carolina this season.
It’s in Providence Michael DiPietrowho won last season’s Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial award as the AHL’s top goaltender.
And joining DiPietro this season Simon Zajicekis the latest addition to the promising goaltending in Providence, where the Bruins are off to a 19-5-1-0 start.
“I think the first thing is that both are good for each other,” the head coach Ryan Mougenel said. “Michael did a great job teaching.”
The Boston Bruins have long shown an ability to find and protect underserved talent. Last season with Czech team HC Litvinov, Zajicek went 15-13-0 in 29 games to go with a 2.12 goals-against average and a league-high .930 save percentage.
Boston testing staff – goal development coach Mike Dunham – identified 24-year-old Zajicek as a target to improve the organization’s depth in goal. It stands as a low-risk plan for both parties – a one-year, entry-level deal.
The Bruins have also long had a pipeline of successful Czech talent at all positions, especially stars David Krejci again David Pastrnak. Signing with Boston allowed Zajicek to make the often-challenging journey overseas to an area that could provide a solid foundation for the next phase of his career.
“It’s always been my dream to come to the US,” Zajicek explained, “I’m glad I’m here with the Bruins.”
Zajicek’s performances have continued to confirm what Boston sees in him to the extent that Mougenel is now comfortable putting any of his goals into the net. DiPietro is 10-4-0 with a 1.97 GAA and a .933 save percentage in 15 games; Zajicek is 9-1-1 with a 2.02 GAA and a .932 save percentage. And the two hit it off in their first months working together.
Last weekend, Zajicek started Friday night in Hershey and silenced the Bears with 29 saves in a 4-1 win. The next night, it was DiPietro’s turn in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and he took care of the first 14 shots he faced in the first half. But with 12:29 left in the game, DiPietro left with an undisclosed injury. The Bruins went back to Zajicek, who had the best effort of his season so far, stopping 34 of 36 shots to help Providence earn a point in a 2-1 overtime loss — despite being outshot, 50-25.
DiPietro’s status remains unclear, too Luke Cavallin was called up to the ECHL Maine. But there is no doubt that the team is comfortable with Zajicek taking over. This has been a union that works all around – for the organization, for Providence, and for both the beneficiaries of the goals.
“I feel good,” said Zajicek. “We’re winning, and the boys are helping me a lot.”
Said Providence’s Mougenel after scoring the last goal, “He was very good.”
