By: Tim A Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter @TimARichardson
Week 19 of the AHL season is here, and the Providence Bruins skate into it 19-13-3-3 (44 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 where they beat Rochester 3-2 in a shootout before losing to Springfield 5-1. Providence has three games coming up you don’t want to miss.
The action starts Friday, February 18, 2022, when the Hershey Bears travel to Providence, Rhode Island, to take on the Bruins at the Dunk. The action continues Saturday, February 19, 2022, when the Providence Bruins travel to Hartford, Connecticut, to take on the Wolf Pack at the XL Center. The weekend ends on Sunday, February 20, 2022, when the Hershey Bears come to Providence, Rhode Island, to take on Providence at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Don’t miss it.
Friday, February 18, 2022 and Sunday, February 20, 2022, Providence Bruins vs. Hershey Bears (HOME)
The Friday and Sunday matchups mark the third and fourth of six that 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 second game saw the Bruins fall 4-3. Cameron Hughes, Steven Fogarty, and Jack Ahcan scored for the Bruins.
The Hershey Bears skate into the matchup 24-15-3-3 (54 points). That is good for third in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference. The two games against Hershey will be challenging for Providence. The Washington affiliate has one of the most well-rounded teams in the AHL. They score 3.13 goals a game while giving up 2.77. Don’t miss these games.
Saturday, February 19, 2022, Providence Bruins vs. Hartford Wolf Pack (AWAY)
The Saturday game marks the seventh of 10 the two teams will have this season. The Hartford Wolf Pack skates into it 23-13-4-2 (52 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 sixth game saw the Bruins fall 5-4 in a shootout. Andrew Peski, Joona Koppanen, Jack Ahcan, and Samuel Asselin scored for Providence. Kyle Keyser made 29 stops in the loss.
The Hartford Wolf Pack poses an uphill battle for the Providence Bruins. Over the past five seasons, our boys in black and gold are 23-18-4-2 against the New York affiliate. The Wolf Pack also boasts one of the best offenses in the AHL, scoring 3.02 goals a game. The good news is the Bruins have one of the best defenses in the league, only giving up 2.78 goals a game. Do not miss this one!
My Players To Watch This Weekend
Up Front
Steven Fogarty: Steven Fogarty has been excellent in his first season with Providence. He’s provided scoring and leadership ability. In 30 games, he’s found the back of the net eight times while dishing out 16 assists for 24 points. The veteran forward has also registered 11 points in his last 12 games. He will need to be on his game for Providence to have a successful weekend.
On The Blue Line
Victor Berglund: Victor Berglund is having a successful first season in Providence. In 20 games, he’s netted one goal while dishing out seven assists for eight total points. With Jack Ahcan up in Boston and Aaron Ness with team USA in Beijing, Berglund is one of those players who will have to step up for the Providence defense. Look for him this weekend.
In Net
Troy Grosenick: Troy Grosenick is another player who’s been excellent in his first season with Providence. He’s provided veteran leadership and stability in goal. In 15 games, he’s 9-3-1 with a 2.44 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage. Look for him this weekend.
The Providence Bruins are 4-4-0-2 in their last ten games. They have to pick up their play if they want to make the playoffs. I still believe that this team is way too talented to miss the playoffs. Every game counts a little more as the season goes on. Hopefully, our boys in black and gold can come away with six points this weekend. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!
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