By: Tim A Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter @TimARichardson
Week 22 of the AHL season is here, and the Providence Bruins skate into it 28-15-3-3 (62 points). That is good for first in the Atlantic Division and second in the Eastern Conference. Our boys in black and gold are coming off a week where they beat Springfield 5-1 before beating Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 5-4 in overtime. They would also defeat Toronto 3-1 before falling to Belleville 4-1. Providence has two big games coming up that you will not want to miss.
The weekend starts on Saturday, March 12, 2022, when the Bridgeport Islanders travel to Providence, Rhode Island, to battle the Bruins at the Dunk. The weekend wraps on Sunday, March 13, 2022, when the same Bridgeport Islanders take on the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Don’t miss the action.
Saturday, March 12, 2022, and Sunday, March 13, 2022, Providence Bruins vs. Bridgeport Islanders (HOME)
The Saturday and Sunday battles mark the ninth and tenth of 12 the two teams will have this season. In the first meeting between Bridgeport and Providence, the Bruins won 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 shots in the loss.
The third game saw the Bruins win 3-2. Jesper Froden, Zach Senyshyn, and Joona Koppanen were the goal scorers for Providence. Troy Grosenick got the win in goal, stopping 28 shots. The Fourth game saw the Providence Bruins win 2-1 in a shootout. Alex Olivier-Voyer scored for the Bruins. Troy Grosenick made 27 saves in the win.
The fifth game between the two clubs saw the Bruins fall 4-3. Samuel Asselin, Jesper Froden, and Cameron Hughes scored for Providence. Troy Grosenick made 33 saves in the defeat.
The sixth game between Bridgeport and Providence saw the Bruins win 6-3. Zach Senyshyn, Matt Filipe, Samuel Asselin (3), and Steven Fogarty scored goals for Providence. Jeremy Swayman made 22 saves in the victory.
The seventh matchup between the two teams saw the Bruins fall 3-1. Eduards Tralmaks had the lone goal for Providence. The eighth installment of the season series saw the Bruins win 5-3. Justin Brazeau, Samuel Asselin, Jack Ahcan, Eduards Tralmaks, and Jesper Froden scored for Providence.
The Bridgeport Islanders skate into the matchup 21-24-5-4 (51 points). That is good for seventh in the Atlantic Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference. The Islanders have not had much luck this season. They boast one of the worst defenses in the AHL, giving up 3.09 goals a game. On top of that, they are scoring 2.74 goals a game. The Bruins are scoring 3.18 goals a game while giving up 2.65. The key to beating them is getting an early lead and keeping it. The Islanders are 8-10-1-2 when trailing after one period and 2-13-3-2 trailing after two.
My Players To Watch This Weekend
Up Front
Jack Studnicka: Jack Studnicka is having an excellent bounce-back season for Providence. The young forward went into last season as one of the top prospects in the organization, and he didn’t have the year he wanted. This season, however, Studnicka looks like his old self. In 35 games, he’s netted ten goals while dishing out 20 assists for 30 total points. That includes 14 points in his last 12 games. Look for him this weekend.
On The Blue Line
Aaron Ness: Aaron Ness has been fantastic since returning from the Olympics. Ness has recorded five points in his eight games since returning from Beijing. Overall in 39 games, he’s netted two goals while dishing out 12 assists for 14 total points. He’s also provided excellent defense for Providence. Look for him this weekend.
In Net
Kyle Keyser: Kyle Keyser continues to have an up and down season for the Providence Bruins. In 24 games, he is 9-9-5 with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage. The young netminder has played better as of late look for him this weekend.
The Providence Bruins continue to play their best hockey of the season. Our boys in black and gold are 8-2 in their last ten games and find themselves in first place in the Atlantic Division. They are cementing themselves as Calder Cup contenders. I hope everyone is enjoying their play as of late as much as I am. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!
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