By: Tim A Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter @TimARichardson
The final week of the AHL season is here, and the Providence Bruins skate into it 36-23-5-6 (82 points). That is good for third in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference. Our boys in black and gold are coming off a tough week where they lost 4-1 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 2-1 to Charlotte, and 4-0 to Springfield before losing to Syracuse 2-1 in overtime. The Providence Bruins had two games left in the regular season coming up.
The hockey action starts Friday, April 29, 2022, when the Springfield Thunderbirds travel to Providence, Rhode Island, to take on the Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The weekend ends on Saturday, April 30, 2022, when the Utica Comets travel to Providence, Rhode Island, to battle the Bruins at the Dunk. Do not miss the action.
Friday, April 29, 2022, Providence Bruins vs. Springfield Thunderbirds (HOME)
The Friday battle marks the 12th 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.
The sixth chapter of the season story saw the Bruins fall 3-2 in a shootout. Jack Studnicka and Chris Wagner had goals for Providence. The seventh matchup saw the Bruins fall 5-1. Zach Senyshyn scored the lone goal for Providence.
The eighth game saw the Bruins win 5-1. Jack Studnicka, Eduards Tralmaks, Chris Wagner (2), and Cameron Hughes scored for Providence. The ninth battle saw the Bruins come out victorious 3-2. Justin Brazeau, Steven Fogarty, and Victor Berglund scored for Providence. Providence would lose the tenth game against Springfield 1-0 in overtime. The Providence Bruins would lose the most recent battle 4-0.
Springfield comes into the matchup 41-24-6-3 (91 points). That is good for third in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The St. Louis affiliate is one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. The Thunderbirds score an incredible 3.04 goals a game while giving up 3.98. On the other side of the equation, the Bruins net 2.81 goals a game while giving up 2.64. Over the past fives seasons, Providence’s record is 29-16-5-1 against Springfield. Division matchups are always a grind, and this game will be no different.
Saturday, April 30, 2022, Providence Bruins vs. Utica Comets (HOME)
The Saturday matchup with the Utica Comets is the fourth of four that the two teams will play this year. The first battle saw the Bruins fall 2-1 in overtime. Oskar Steen scored the only goal for Providence. Kyle Keyser made 29 saves in the loss. The Bruins generally do not play them much during the regular season because they are in a different division. The second battle saw the Bruins fall 4-0. The Bruins lost the third game in the season series 4-1. Eduards Tralmaks scored the lone goal for Providence.
The Comets skate into the matchup 42-19-8-1 (93 points). That is good for first in the North Division and first in the Eastern Conference. Over the past five seasons, this has been a favorable matchup for our boys in black and gold. Providence is 8-3-1 against Utica in that time frame. This year the matchup could be a little different. Last season Utica was affiliated with Vancouver, and this season they are with New Jersey.
Despite the favorable record over the past five seasons, this game will be an absolute battle. The Devils’ affiliate boasts one of the best offenses and defenses in the AHL. Utica scores 3.44 goals a game while only giving up 2.80. Providence scores 2.81 goals a game while giving up only 2.64.
My Players To Watch This Weekend
Up Front
John Beecher: John Beecher was a first-round draft pick of the Boston Bruins in 2019. He spent each of the last two seasons playing at the University of Michigan before coming to Providence. In six games with the Bruins, the young forward scored two goals while dishing out two assists for four total points. Beecher is a big body with excellent offensive ability. Look for him this weekend.
On The Blue Line
Jack Ahcan: Jack Ahcan has had an excellent season with the Providence Bruins. The young defenseman has showcased his offensive and defensive ability. In 45 games, Ahcan scored six goals while dishing out 17 assists for 23 total points. Look for him this weekend.
In Net
Troy Grosenick: Troy Grosenick has had an excellent first season in Providence. The veteran goalie has been an anchor for the defense. In 29 games, he is 16-6-4 with a 1.99 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage. Look for him this weekend.
The Providence Bruins ended the season as one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference. They were carried all year by their excellent defense. Now our boys in black and gold gear up for their first-round playoff matchup. It should be exciting hockey all around. I hope everyone has enjoyed the regular season. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!
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