By: Tim A Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter @TimARichardson
Week 15 of the AHL season is here, and the Providence Bruins skate into it 22-8-5-2 (51 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 lose to Hartford 3-1 before defeating the Wolf Pack 3-2. The Providence Bruins have two games against a division rival this weekend that you will not want to miss.
The hockey action starts Friday, January 20, 2023, when the Providence Bruins travel to Hartford, Connecticut, to take on the Wolf Pack at the XL Center. The action wraps Sunday, January 22, 2023, when the Hartford Wolf Pack travels to Providence, Rhode Island, to take on the Bruins at the Amica Mutual Pavillion. Do not miss the hard-hitting action.
Friday, January 20, 2023, and Sunday, January 21, 2023, Providence Bruins vs. Hartford Wolf Pack (AWAY, HOME)
The weekend series marks the fourth and fifth of ten games that Providence and Hartford will have this season. The first battle saw the Bruins win 3-1. Josiah Didier, Jack Ahcan, and Jakub Lauko scored for Providence. Keith Kinkaid was superb; he stopped 46 of the 47 shots he faced.
The second battle saw the Providence Bruins lose 3-1. Joona Koppanen scored the lone goal for Providence with assists from Jack Ahcan and Michael Callahan.
The third matchup saw the Bruins win 3-2. Justin Brazeau, Marc McLaughlin, and Vinni Lettieri scored goals for Providence.
The Hartford Wolf Pack skates into the matchup 14-13-3-6 (37 points). That is good for seventh in the Atlantic Division and 12th in the Eastern Conference. Last season, Providence went 6-1-1-2 against Hartford. Over the past five seasons, Providence has a 22-16-4-2 record against the Pack, including 12-8-2 at home. The Hartford Wolf Pack gives up a whopping 3.05 goals a game while only scoring 2.75. They have a -11 goal differential on the year. The Providence Bruins give up 2.64 goals a game, boasting one of the better defenses in the AHL. Providence also scores 2.94 goals a game while having a +11 goal differential. Despite that, division matchups are always taxing, and this one should be no different.
My Players To Watch This Weekend
Justin Brazeau is in his second season with the Providence Bruins, and the young forward is playing excellent hockey. In 33 games, Brazeau has netted ten goals while dishing out 11 assists for 21 total points. He’s come on particularly strong as of late, netting five goals while dishing out five assists over his last eight games. Look for him this weekend!
Connor Carrick is playing in his first season for the Providence Bruins. The veteran defenseman is playing great hockey for the Bruins. In 31 games, he’s netted three goals while dishing out 14 assists for 17 total points. Carrick has done that while playing excellent defense. Look for him this weekend.
Brandon Bussi is having a fantastic rookie season for the Providence Bruins. In 17 games, the young goaltender is 12-2-3 with a .935 save percentage and a 2.16 goals-against average. As a result of his superb play, Bussi will be heading to the AHL All-Star game this season. Look for him this weekend.
The Providence Bruins have been playing some excellent hockey this season. They look primed to make a deep run in the playoffs later in the year. Let’s hope they can sweep this tough division series over the weekend. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. I hope everyone enjoys the games this weekend. GO BRUINS!
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