(Photo Courtesy of Providence Bruins)
By: Jen Stasio Coombe | Follow Me On Twitter @hockeygirl2976
And they’re off… no, not the Providence Bruins well, not all of them anyway. The additional injuries with the big club have led to Donato and Kovar both heading that way for the weekend, and with both of them out of the lineup, the baby bruins are currently down to twelve healthy forwards. If I count, correctly that is exactly four full shifts. My guess is we may see some more visitors from Atlanta over the weekend, but one can never tell. The limited substitution power up front could make this weekend’s agenda just a little more challenging for our boys in Black and Gold, but with the improvement, we have seen lately I have no doubt they will be giving it their all to take home as many of those six points as possible.
IT’S FRIDAY AND THE SEASON OF GIVING, PLUS THE PROVIDENCE BRUINS FAN CLUB WANTS TO GIVE BACK TO YOU! DON’T FORGET TO BRING IN YOUR GENTLY USED CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD GOODS AND DONATE TO THE PBFC’S FALL CLOTHING DRIVE! IT’S THE LAST NIGHT TO DONATE, AND EVERYONE WHO DOES WILL BE ENTERED TO WIN A PAIR OF GLASS SEATS FOR A HOME GAME IN JANUARY! STOP BY THEIR TABLE BEHIND SECTION 104, SAY HI AND TELL THEM JEN SENT YOU!
Friday, November 30, 2018, Providence Bruins vs. Charlotte Checkers (HOME)
(Photo Courtesy of Providence Bruins)
Only facing the Charlotte Checkers twice a year usually in two game weekends leaves very little room for error if you don’t want a losing record. Last year the Checkers moved from the central division to the Atlantic, so it was the first time we had the opportunity to play them. Last year the games were evenly split, two for the Bruins and two for the Checkers. The teams have already met for their first round of games this year on November 2nd and 3rd in Charlotte. Both of those games ended with a loss for Providence only by one point, but still, it was a pointless weekend for the B’s.
The teams have already met three times on Fridays and this week will bring that total to four. Charlotte has taken two of the three W’s available on those nights. One of the wins for Charlotte came in Providence and one at their home arena. The one win the Bruins had, came at home. With all of this in mind, Providence will need to take this game in order to have any hope of getting a Friday head-to-head record of .500.
Saturday, December 1, 2018, Providence Bruins vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AWAY)
(Photo Courtesy of Providence Bruins)
The Providence Bruins welcome in December by traveling to Bridgeport to take on the Sound Tigers. Games between these two teams are never boring. The rivalry is real. These two teams have a fifty-fifty split going for the past five years running. Last year Providence took five wins in regular time and one in a shoot-out, and as if to make it comical the Sound Tigers did the same. This year it has not been quite so even with game results, but each team is tied with two wins apiece. The two-game that Providence won were by three or more goals. The two games they lost were by one goal that was scored in overtime.
Currently, the Sound Tigers are ranked second in the division directly below the Bruins another foe of the weekend, the Checkers. One thing is for sure, the Baby-B’s don’t do anything the easy way. Friday night and Sunday afternoon meeting the first ranked team and sandwiching an “easier” game with the second-ranked team in between just to mix it up. It should be a fun weekend to be a Providence Bruins fan.
Sunday, December 3, 2018, Providence Bruins vs. Charlotte Checkers (HOME)
(Photo Courtesy of Providence Bruins)
Charlotte returns to Providence Sunday perched at the top of the division staring down at the Providence Bruins and Hershey Bears forming the solid base. Looking to get out from that base position and climb nearer the ranks of the Checkers, the Bruins will no doubt be using every ounce of their newly found coordination and chemistry to try and win both matches this weekend to bring not just the season record but the historical record of these two teams to .500.
The teams have only met once before on a Sunday. That Sunday fell on November 26, 2017, and the game was played in Charlotte. Regular time ended with a level score of 1-1 and overtime yielded no goals either. The game came down to the shoot-out and a long one at that. Both goaltenders stopped the first three shots and allowed the fourth shot in. This sent them into sudden death, Jordan Binnington stopped the first shot from Charlotte and then it was Providences turn with the puck. Ryan Fitzgerald took a hard line and nailed a solid shot right past the Charlotte goaltender to score the game-winning goal and take home the two-points for Providence. No matter how this Sunday’s matinee shapes up, there is no doubt that the Bruins are playing for the same outcome as that Sunday.
My picks to watch this weekend:
Up Front:
Everyone – Seriously, the team is down to twelve, possibly 13 is Bjork in the line-up. Take some time to check out the chemistry they have built through the first month and how much they have grown together.
On The Blue Line:
Wiley Sherman – The Wall of Sherman will be a critical piece of defense this weekend against these two tough competitors. Keep an eye on how well Wiley positions himself and reads the plays coming his way.
In Net:
Zane McIntyre – Zane had two nights in goal last week, and one of those nights he stood on his head to get Providence the victory. Can he repeat this or will he repeat his up and down pattern of previous seasons?
Cheers to week nine and best of luck to our Baby B’s. Welcome to the season of giving. I will catch up with you next week and until then, feel free to message me on twitter with any questions or comments and as always, take some time to check out the other great articles by the incredible team here at Blackngoldhockey.com. Now Go Get Hockey With It!
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