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

Week seven of the AHL season has arrived, and the Providence Bruins skate into it 6-5-3-1 (16 points). That is good for fourth in the Atlantic Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference. Our boys in black and gold are coming off a week that saw them beat Hartford 2-1 in overtime and lose to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 3-1 before losing to Hershey in overtime 4-3. The Bruins have two games this Thanksgiving week that you won’t want to miss!

The hockey action starts on Friday, November 26, 2021, when the Providence Bruins travel to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to take on the Islanders at the Webster Bank Arena. The action wraps up on Saturday, November 27, 2021, when the Providence Bruins travel to Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania, to take on the Penguins at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Friday, November 26, 2021, Providence Bruins vs. Bridgeport Islanders (AWAY)

The Saturday battle marks the third of 12 the two teams will have this season. In the first matchup, the Bruins came out on top 2-1 in a shootout. Taylor Lewington scored for Providence. Jack Ahcan and Matt Filipe added the helper on the goal. Bruins forwards Jesper Froden and Jack Studnicka scored in the shootout for the win. The second meeting saw Providence fall 6-4. Oskar Steen (2), John Moore, and Chris Wagner netted goals. Kyle Keyser stopped 19 of the 24 shots he faced.

The Bridgeport Islanders skate into the matchup 5-10-1-2 (13 points). That is good for seventh in the Atlantic Division and 14th in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders’ haven’t had much luck this season. They boast one of the worst defenses in the AHL, giving up 3.33 goals a game. On top of that, they are only scoring 2.44 goals a game. The key to beating them is getting an early lead and keeping it. The Islanders are 2-6-0-1 when trailing after one period and 1-6-0-1 when trailing after two.

Saturday, November 26, 2021, Providence Bruins vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AWAY)

The Saturday matchup with be the third 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 second meeting between the two teams didn’t go as planned. The Bruins lost 3-1. Jakub Lauko scored for Providence, while Kyle Keyser stopped 30 of 32 shots he faced between the pipes.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins skate into the game 8-7-0-2 (18 points). That is good for sixth in the Atlantic Division and tenth in the Eastern Conference. This matchup has been favorable for Providence over the past five seasons, going 11-4-2-2 in that time. Like Bridgeport, the Bruins scoring early and keeping the lead will be essential to winning this game. The Pittsburgh affiliate is 0-5 when trailing after the first period. They are 1-6 when down after two. On the flip side, the Penguins are 4-0-1 when leading after the first or second period.

My Players To Watch This Weekend

Up Front

Jesper Froden: Jesper Froden is a fun player to watch. 2021-2022 is his first year playing in North America. He spent the beginning of his career playing in his home country of Sweden. In 14 games with Providence, the young forward has found the back of the net three times while dishing out seven assists for ten total points. Froden has been one of Providence’s best players this season. Look for him this weekend.

On The Blue Line

Aaron Ness: 2021-2022 is Aaron Ness’ first year in Providence. If you recognize his name, it’s due to his previous NHL experience with the New York Islanders, Washington Capitals, and the Arizona Coyotes. The veteran defenseman has played well for Providence. In 13 games, he’s dished out three assists for three total points. He’s also on a two-game point streak. Look for him this weekend.

In Net

Troy Grosenick: Troy Grosenick made his second start for Providence last weekend. His first start was game one of the season, but he got injured after the first period. His second start went much better. The veteran netminder stopped 23 of the 24 shots he faced in a 2-1 overtime win over Hartford. He’s played four periods with Providence, stopping 38 of the 40 shots he’s faced. Look for him this weekend.

The Providence Bruins have played much better as of late, going 5-3-2 in their last ten games. I expect our boys in black and gold to make the playoffs this season. One thing that must get better is their scoring. They still have a negative goal differential. If they can start putting more pucks in the net, the rest of the league better watch out. I hope everyone enjoys the games this weekend. My American readers, I hope you have a marvelous Thanksgiving. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!