By: Tim A Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter @TimARichardson
Week 12 of the AHL season is here, and the Providence Bruins skate into it 16-6-5-2 (39 points). That is good for second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference. Our boys in black and gold are coming off a tough week that saw them lose to Charlotte 2-1 in overtime and 5-2 before losing to Hershey 1-0. The Providence Bruins have two big games this weekend that you will not want to miss.
The hockey action starts Friday, December 30, 2022, when the Providence Bruins travel to Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania, to take on the Penguins at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. The action wraps on Saturday, December 31, 2022, when the Providence Bruins travel to Hershey, Pennsylvania, to take on the Bears at the Giant Center. Do not miss the final action of 2022!
Friday, December 30, 2022, Providence Bruins vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AWAY)
The Friday matchup marks the second of six that the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Providence Bruins will have this season. The first battle saw the Bruins lose 2-1. Joona Koppanen scored the lone goal for Providence.
The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins skate into the matchup 13-8-2-3 (31 points). That is good for fourth in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference. Over the past five seasons, this matchup has been favorable to the Providence Bruins. They hold an 11-5-1-1 record over that time, including 6-2-1 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Despite that record, this will be a difficult matchup for the spoked P. The Pittsburgh affiliate boasts one of the top defenses in the AHL, giving up only 2.53 goals a game. Scoring early and often will go a long way to winning this game for Providence. The Penguins are 4-3-2 when trailing after the first period and 2-5-1 when down after two. Expect a closely contested matchup in this one.
Saturday, December 31, 2022, Providence Bruins vs. Hershey Bears (AWAY)
The Saturday game marks the second of six that the Providence Bruins and Hershey Bears will have this season. The first game saw the Bruins lose 1-0. Brandon Bussi was excellent for Providence.
The Hershey Bears skate into the matchup 22-6-2-1 (47 points). That is good for first the Atlantic Division and first in the Eastern Conference. Over the past five seasons, this matchup has been favorable to the Providence Bruins. They held a 13-4-1-1 against the Washington affiliate, including a 5-4-1-1 record at Hershey. Hershey has a tough defense, giving up only 2.29 goals a game. Despite the fantastic record in the past, this should be a tough matchup.
My Players To Watch This Weekend
Luke Toporowski is having an excellent rookie season for the Providence Bruins. In 26 games, the young forward scored nine goals while dishing out nine assists for 18 total points. Toporowski came to the Providence Bruins on an AHL deal, but he’s playing his way into more than that. Look for him this weekend.
Jack Ahcan is having another fantastic season for the Providence Bruins. The young defenseman started slow, but he has come on strong as of late. In 28 games, he netted two goals while dishing out 13 assists for 15 total points. Nine of those points have come in his last 12 games. Look for him this weekend.
Brandon Bussi is having an excellent rookie season for the Providence Bruins. In 13 games, he’s 8-2-3 with a 2.06 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage. The young netminder has looked superb this season. Look for him this weekend.
Despite the rough stretch, the Providence Bruins still look great this season. They are playing an exciting brand of hockey. I hope everyone enjoys the games this weekend and has an excellent New Year! Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. GO BRUINS!
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