[Photo Credit: Providence Bruins / Flickr]

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

Week five of the AHL season has arrived. The Providence Bruins skate into it 8-1-1-1 (18 points). That is good for first in the Atlantic Division and first in the Eastern Conference. Our boys in black and gold are coming off a successful week that saw them defeat Springfield 3-2 before blanking Bridgeport 1-0. Providence has two big games at the Dunk this weekend, do not miss them!

The weekend starts on Friday, November 11, 2022, when the Charlotte Checkers travel to Providence, Rhode Island, to take on the Bruins at the Dunk. The weekend wraps Sunday, November 13, 2022, when the Charlotte Checkers take on the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Do not miss the exciting hockey action.

Friday, November 11, 2022, and Sunday, November 13, 2022, Providence Bruins vs. Charlotte Checkers (HOME)

The weekend series marks the second and third games of eight that Charlotte and Providence play this season. The first game saw the Bruins win 2-1. Fabian Lysell and Oskar Steen scored for Providence. Kyle Keyser was superb in net, stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faced.

The Charlotte Checkers skate into the weekend 5-2-1-1 (12 points). That’s good for fifth in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference. The Florida affiliate has a good record this year despite having a negative goal differential. Meanwhile, the Bruins boast one of the top defenses in the AHL, giving up 2.18 goals a game. Providence is also scoring 2.72 goals a game. This two-game stint against Charlotte should go in Providence’s favor. The Bruins also boast a plus-six goal differential which has helped fuel their early season success. Look for the Bruins to keep their hot streak alive and come out with four points this weekend.

My Players To Watch This Weekend

Up Front

Luke Toporowski came to the Providence Bruins this season as a free agent. The young forward spent the previous few seasons playing in the WHL. Toporowski played 245 games in the WHL, where he found the back of the net 96 times while dishing out 103 assists for 199 total points. That’s .81 points per game. The young forward has had an excellent start to his AHL career. In 11 games, he’s netted five goals while dishing out four assists for nine total points. Look for him this weekend!

On the Blue Line

Connor Carrick continues to have an excellent first season with the Providence Bruins. The veteran defenseman has been one of Providence’s best players. Not only is he providing toughness and physicality, but he’s also providing superb defense. In ten games, he’s netted one goal while dishing out six assists for seven total points. Look for him to continue that this weekend!

In Net

Brandon Bussi has been in the ECHL with Maine for the majority of this season thus far. However, due to an injury with the Boston Bruins, he was called up to the Providence Bruins. In two games, he’s 2-0 with a 1.10 goals-against average and a .961 save percentage. Look for him this weekend!

The Providence Bruins have been excellent this season. If Providence can keep their play up, they could be serious contenders for the championship this year. I hope everyone enjoys the games this weekend. Feel free to send me any questions or comments on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!