By: Tim A Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter @TimARichardson

Week five of the AHL season is here, and the Providence Bruins skate into it 4-4-1-1 (10 points). That is good for seventh in the Atlantic Division and 12th in the Eastern Conference. They are coming off a week that saw them beat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 6-2 and Hershey 3-0 before falling to Springfield 3-1. After a stellar week, our boys in black and gold have two big games coming up!

The hockey action starts on Friday, November 12, 2021, when the Lehigh Valley Phantoms travel to Providence, Rhode Island, to take on the Bruins at the Dunk. The action wraps up on Saturday, November 13, 2021, when the Hartford Wolf Pack make their first visit to Providence, Rhode Island, to take on our boys in black and gold at the Dunkin Donuts Center. It’s going to be hard-hitting action you don’t want to miss.

Friday, November 12, 2021, Providence Bruins vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms (HOME)

The Friday matchup marks the first of six these two teams will have this season. The Lehigh Valley Phantoms skate into it 3-6-2 (8 points). That is good for eighth in the Atlantic Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference. The Flyers’ affiliate provides a perfect opportunity for the Bruins to keep their excellent play rolling.

Unfortunately for Lehigh Valley, both their offense and defense have provided problems this season. They are only scoring 2.36 goals a game while giving up 2.90. On top of that, the Bruins are 8-7 over the past five seasons against the Phantoms. That includes 5-3 at home. It should be an exciting game you do not want to miss.

Saturday, November 13, 2021, Providence Bruins vs. Hartford Wolf Pack (HOME)

The Saturday game marks the second of 10 the two teams will have this season. The Hartford Wolf Pack skates into it 7-3-1 (15 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 Hartford Wolf Pack will pose a tough challenge for the Providence Bruins. The Rangers’ affiliate is scoring 3.09 goals a game while giving up only 2.18. Our boys in black and gold, on the other hand, are only scoring 2.50 goals a game while giving up 3.00. On top of that, the Bruins are 20-18-3-1 against the Wolf Pack over the past five seasons. It’ll be a trying game, but don’t miss it!

My Players To Watch This Weekend

Up Front

Jesper Froden: Jesper Froden came to the Bruins this season as an undrafted free agent. He spent each of the last two seasons playing in the Swedish Hockey League. Over the past two years, he’s played in 101 games, netting 34 goals while dishing out 35 assists for 69 points. He’s started his first professional season in North America on fire. In his first ten games with Providence, the young forward has netted two goals while dishing out five assists for seven total points. Look for him this weekend!

On The Blue Line

Jack Ahcan: The players to watch section will continue to be Jack Ahcan’s real estate until someone knocks him off. The young defenseman has been arguably their best player this season. In ten games, he’s netted one goal while dishing five assists for six total points. Not only that, he’s played superb defense as well. Whenever Ahcan is on the ice, your eyes immediately focus on him and his play. He’s been that good. Watch for him this weekend.

In Net

Jon Gillies: Jon Gillies is a name you might recognize. The veteran netminder has spent time in the NHL with the Calgary Flames and the AHL with the Stockton Heat and Utica Comets. Recently, Gillies signed a contract with the Maine Mariners, the Bruins’ ECHL affiliate. With injuries mounting in Providence, the Mariners loaned Gillies to Providence. He played very well in two games, going 2-0 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .968 save percentage, which included one shutout. Our very own Mark Allred wrote about Gillies, which can you can read here.

After starting slow, the Bruins had an excellent week that they can build on going forward. The last three games, they’ve looked like the team we thought they would be all along. I expect their play to continue and for them to compete for a playoff spot. I hope everyone is enjoying the season so far. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!