Chris Casto scored in the first period and Alexander Khokhlachev got the winner early in the second period Saturday night as the Providence Bruins earned a 3-1 win over the Portland Pirates at Cross Insurance Arena.

Providence peppered Pirates goalie Mike McKenna with 20 shots in the first period and took the lead on Casto’s goal 14:10 into the game. Khokhlachev made it 2-0 with his 14th goal of the season just 31 seconds into the second period.

Portland outshot the Bruins 16-5 in the second period but couldn’t break through until the final minute of the period when Greg McKegg got his eighth goal of the season, assisted by Connor Brickley and Josh Brown.

Frank Vatrano’s empty-net goal with 34 seconds remaining clinched the victory for Providence.

Mike McKenna finished with 36 saves. Bruins goalie Zane McIntyre stopped 35 shots.


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