By: Tim A Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter @TimARichardson
Week six of the AHL season has arrived. The Providence Bruins skate into it 5-4-2-1 (13 points). That is good for fifth in the Atlantic Division and ninth in the Eastern Conference. Our boys in black and gold are coming off a week that saw them beat Lehigh Valley 6-3 before falling to Hartford 2-1 in overtime. The spoked P has three exciting games coming up that you won’t want to miss.
The hockey action starts on Friday, November 19, 2021, when the Hartford Wolf Pack travels to Providence, Rhode Island, to battle the Bruins at the Dunk. The hockey action continues on Saturday, November 20, 2021, when the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins come to town to play the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Finally, the hockey action wraps up on November 24, 2021, when the Providence Bruins head out on the road to Hershey, Pennsylvania, to play the Hershey Bears at the Giant Center.
Friday, November 19, 2021, Providence Bruins vs. Hartford Wolf Pack (HOME)
The Friday game marks the third of 10 the two teams will have this season. The Hartford Wolf Pack skates into it 9-3-1 (19 points). That is good for second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference. In the first meeting, the Bruins fell 4-3 in overtime. Jack Studnicka, Samuel Asselin, and Chris Wagner found the back of the net for Providence. Kyle Keyser stopped 22 of the 25 shots he faced. The second battle saw the Bruins fall 2-1 in overtime. Jakub Lauko scored the lone goal for our boys in black and gold. Kyle Keyser stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced.
The Hartford Wolf Pack poses an uphill battle for the Providence Bruins to climb. The Rangers’ affiliate has one of the best offenses and defenses in the league. They score 3.23 goals a game. While they only give up 2.3 goals a game. The Bruins are only scoring 2.46 goals a game while giving up 2.91 goals a game. The key for the Bruins is scoring early and often. Hartford is 3-0 when leading after the first period. They are 5-0 when leading after the second. It should be a fun game, don’t miss it.
Saturday, November 20, 2021, Providence Bruins vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (HOME)
The Saturday matchup with be the second of six these two teams will have this season. In the first battle, the Bruins won 6-2. Oskar Steen (2), Steven Fogarty, Zach Senyshyn, Chris Wagner, and Eduards Tralmaks scored goals for Providence. Jon Gillies stopped 29 of the 31 shots he faced. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins skate into the game 6-6-0-1 (13 points). That is good for sixth in the Atlantic Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference.
The Bruins are catching the Pittsburgh affiliate on a downward trajectory. The Penguins started the year 5-1, and since they are 1-5-0-1. Both their offense and their defense have let them down in a big way. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is only scoring 1.92 goals a game, and they are giving up 3.00 goals a game. That is not a recipe for success. Providence has an 11-3-2-2 record against the Penguins over the past five seasons. I expect our boys in black and gold to be victorious.
Wednesday, November 24, 2021, Providence Bruins vs. Hershey Bears (AWAY)
The Wednesday matchup marks the second of six these two teams will have this season. In the first battle, the Bruins came out on top 3-0. Steven Fogarty (2) and Chris Wagner had goals for Providence. Jon Gillies was superb between the pipes, stopping all 31 shots he faced. The Hershey Bears skate into the matchup 6-4-2-1 (15 points). That is good for third in the Atlantic Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference. The Washington affiliate also gives up a lot of goals. They’ve given up 39 in their 13 games. Providence has a record of 13-5-0-1 against Hershey over their past five seasons.
My Players To Watch This Weekend
Up Front
Zach Senyshyn: Zach Senyshyn has been the topic of many debates amongst Bruins fans. Coming into this year, it seemed like his last chance to prove he’s worth something. After starting the year slow, he finally broke out against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, netting a hat trick and dishing out an assist in the win. Overall in 12 games, he’s scored four goals while dishing out two assists for six total points. Let’s hope the game against the Phantoms propels him for the rest of the season.
On The Blue Line
Jack Ahcan: Jack Ahcan continues to impress each game he plays. I have not seen any time on ice reports, but it seems like he’s always on the ice. He’s been spectacular both offensively and defensively for Providence. I think he has a bright future in Boston with the big club. In 12 games this season, Ahcan has scored one goal while dishing out seven assists for eight total points. Keep an eye out for him this weekend.
In Net
Troy Grosenick: 2021-2022 is Troy Grosenick’s first season in Providence. He spent last season in the Los Angeles Kings’ organization. He also spent time in the Nashville Predators and the San Jose Sharks organizations. The veteran goalie has played 259 career games in the AHL, going 133-85-34 with a 2.55 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. He started the first game of the season for Providence but, after one period, was injured. In his one period of play, he stopped 14 of the 15 shots he faced. He’s healthy now, so look for him this weekend!
After starting the season off slow, the Providence Bruins have played much better over the past few weeks. There’s a lot of talent on this team, and I still expect them to contend for a playoff spot. I hope everyone enjoys the games this weekend! Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!
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