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

Week 16 of the AHL season is here, and the Providence Bruins skate into it 17-11-3-1 (38 points). That is good for fourth in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference. Our boys in black and gold are coming off a week that saw them lose to Bridgeport 3-1 before beating the Islanders 5-3 and falling to the Comets 4-0. Providence has two big games coming up that you won’t want to miss.

The weekend starts on Friday, January 28, 2022, when the Providence Bruins travel to Hartford, Connecticut, to take on the Wolf Pack at the XL Center. The weekend wraps on Saturday, January 29, 2022, when the Providence Bruins travel to Springfield, Massachusetts, to take on the Thunderbirds at the MassMutual Center. Don’t miss it!

Friday, January 28, 2022, Providence Bruins vs. Hartford Wolf Pack (AWAY)

The Friday game marks the sixth of 10 the two teams will have this season. The Hartford Wolf Pack skates into it 18-11-3-2 (41 points). That is good for second in the Atlantic Division and fourth 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 shots in the loss.

The third game saw the Bruins win 2-1 in overtime. Jesper Froden and Oskar Steen scored for Providence. Troy Grosenick stopped 23 of the 24 shots fired his way.

The fourth matchup saw the Bruins come out victorious 4-0. Jesper Froden, Oskar Steen, Steven Fogarty, and Cameron Hughes scored for Providence. Troy Grosenick stopped 17 shots in the shutout victory.

The fifth game saw the Bruins win 5-1. Zach Senyshyn, Eduards Tralmaks, Jesper Froden, Chris Wagner, and Justin Brazeau scored for Providence. Jeremy Swayman was excellent, stopping 19 of the pucks fired his way.

The Hartford Wolf Pack poses an uphill battle for the Providence Bruins. Over the past five seasons, our boys in black and gold are 23-18-4-1 against the New York affiliate. The Wolf Pack also boasts one of the best offenses in the AHL, scoring 3.00 goals a game. The good news is the Bruins have one of the best defenses in the league, only giving up 2.65 goals a game. Do not miss this one!

Saturday, January 29, 2022, Providence Bruins vs. Springfield Thunderbirds (AWAY)

The Saturday battle marks the sixth of 12 these two teams will have this season. In the first game, Providence fell 4-1. Jack Ahcan scored the only goal for the Bruins. Jakub Lauko and Steven Fogarty assisted on the goal. Kyle Keyser stopped 28 of the 31 shots he faced.

The second game also saw the Bruins lose 4-1. Urho Vaakanainen scored the only goal for Providence. Keyser stopped 29 of the 33 shots he faced. The third matchup saw the Bruins win 3-0. Justin Brazeau (2) and Keltie Jeri-Leon scored for Providence. Kyle Keyser stopped all 24 shots he faced.

The fourth game between the two teams saw the Bruins win 7-1. Alex-Olivier Voyer, Eduards Tralmaks, Cameron Hughes (2), Joona Koppanen (2), and Curtis Hall scored for Providence. Troy Grosenick stopped 26 shots in the blowout.

The fifth installment of this series saw the Bruins win 5-3. Matt Filipe, Jack Studnicka, Victor Berglund, Steven Fogarty, and Zach Senyshyn scored for Providence. Troy Grosenick stopped 27 of the pucks fired his way.

Springfield comes into the matchup 19-12-4-1 (43 points). That is good for third in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference. The St. Louis affiliate is the most well-rounded team in the Eastern Conference. The Thunderbirds score an incredible 3.25 goals a game while giving up 3.22. Over the past fives seasons, Providence’s record is 26-14-4 against Springfield. Division matchups are always a grind, and this game will be no different.

My Players To Watch This Weekend

Up Front

Eduards Tralmaks: Before coming to Providence, Eduards Tralmaks had four successful seasons at UMaine. The skilled forward has been on fire recently, recording eight points in his last 11 games played. Overall in 21 games, he’s netted six goals while dishing out four assists for ten total points. Look for him this weekend.

On The Blue Line

Jack Ahcan: 2021-2022 is Jack Ahcan’s second season in Providence. He came to the Bruins after four seasons at St. Cloud St. University, the last of which he acted as captain. The young defenseman has been excellent since coming to Providence. He’s top tier both offensively and defensively. In 27 games, he’s netted four goals and dished out 12 assists for 16 total points. Look for him this weekend.

In Net

Jeremy Swayman: Jeremy Swayman has played well since returning to Providence. In four games, he’s 2-2 with a 2.51 goals-against average and a .896 save percentage. The former UMaine goalie is likely the goalie of the future in Boston. Getting reps in the AHL will help his development. Look for him this weekend.

The Providence Bruins are playing great hockey as of late, going 6-4 in their last ten games. Their next two opponents are also atop the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. It should be a fun weekend of exciting hockey. Do not miss a minute of the action. I hope everyone is doing well and keeping warm. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!