[Photo Credit: Providence Bruins / Flickr]

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

Week eight of the AHL season is here, and the Providence Bruins skate into it 12-3-3-2 (29 points). That is good for second in the Atlantic Division and second in the Eastern Conference. Our boys in black and gold are coming off a week that saw them defeat Syracuse 5-3 and 6-5 in overtime before falling to Bridgeport 4-3. Providence has two games coming up, do not miss them!

The hockey action starts on Saturday, December 3, 2022, when the Springfield Thunderbirds travel to Providence, Rhode Island, to take on the Bruins at the Amica Mutual Pavillion. The action wraps on Sunday, December 4, 2022, when the Hartford Wolf Pack travels to Providence, Rhode Island, to take on the Bruins at the Amica Mutual Pavillion. Do not miss the action!

Providence Bruins vs. Springfield Thunderbirds (HOME)

The Saturday game marks the fifth game of 12 that the two teams will have this season. The first battle saw the Bruins win 4-3. Georgii Merkulov, Josiah Didier, Vinni Lettieri, and Luke Toporowski scored for Providence.

The second battle saw the Bruins win 4-3 in a shootout. John Beecher, Luke Toporowski, and Vinni Lettieri netted goals for Providence.

Providence lost the third matchup 3-2 in a shootout. Vinni Lettieri found the back of the net for the Bruins.

The Bruins won the fourth matchup 3-2. Fabian Lysell, Luke Toporowski, and Joey Abate scored for Providence.

The Springfield Thunderbirds skate into the matchup 7-8-0-4 (18 points). That is good for seventh in the Atlantic Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference. The St. Louis affiliate went to the Calder Cup Finals in 2021-2022, losing to the Chicago Wolves. The Providence Bruins had a 5-5-1 record against Springfield last season. Over the past five years, they have a 23-13-4-2 record, including 9-7-3-1 at home. These rivalry games are usually chippy affairs. Expect a physical game between two teams who dislike each other.

Sunday, December 4, 2022, Providence Bruins vs. Hartford Wolf Pack (HOME)

The Sunday matchup marks the first of ten that Providence and Hartford will have this season. The Hartford Wolf Pack skate into the matchup 5-7-1-4 (15 points). That is good for eighth in the Atlantic Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference. Last season, Providence went 6-1-1-2 against Hartford. Over the past five seasons, Providence has a 20-15-4-2 record against the Pack, including 10-7-2-1 at home. This division should be epic!

My Players To Watch This Weekend

Up Front

Luke Toporowski is having an excellent first season with Providence. He came to the Bruins after spending the previous season in the WHL. In 19 games, he’s netted nine goals while dishing out seven assists for 16 total points. The young forward has been a bright spot in the lineup all season. Look for him this weekend.

On The Blue Line

Jack Ahcan s in his third season with the Providence Bruins. He came to Providence after four years at St. Cloud St. University. The young defenseman has been excellent for Providence this season defensively, and his offensive numbers are starting to come around. In 19 games, he dished out eight assists for eight total points. Look for him this weekend.

In Net

Brandon Bussi continues putting up solid numbers in his rookie season in Providence. The young goalie started the season in Maine with the Mariners but has played in eight games with Providence. Bussi is 5-1-2 with a 2.48 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage. Look for him this weekend.

The Providence Bruins have had an excellent start to their season. They are playing exciting hockey. If you get the chance, check out a game in Providence. It’s a great place to see a game. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Feel free to send me any questions or comments on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!