By: Tim A Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter @TimARichardson
Week 16 of the AHL season is here, and the Providence Bruins skate into it 23-8-6-2 (54 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 week that saw them defeat the Wolf Pack 5-3 before falling to Hartford 4-3 in overtime. The Bruins have four games this weekend that you will not want to miss.
The hockey action starts Friday, January 27, 2023, when the Hartford Wolf Pack travel to Providence, Rhode Island, to take on the Bruins at the Amica Mutual Pavillion. The action continues Saturday, January 28, 2023, when the Providence Bruins travel to Utica, New York, to take on the Comets at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. The weekend continues on Sunday, January 29, 2023, when the Syracuse Crunch travel to Providence, Rhode Island, to take on the Bruins at the Amica Mutual Pavillion. The hockey action wraps on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, when the Providence Bruins travel to Hartford, Connecticut, to take on the Wolf Pack at the XL Center. Do not miss the action!
Friday, January 27, 2023, and Wednesday, February 1, 2023, Providence Bruins vs. Hartford Wolf Pack (HOME, AWAY)
The weekend series marks the sixth and seventh 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 fourth game saw the Bruins win 5-3. Jakub Lauko, Vinni Lettieri, Luke Toporowski, Marc McLaughlin, and Oskar Steen scored goals for Providence.
The fifth battle saw the Bruins fall 4-3 in overtime. Vinni Lettieri (2) and Connor Carrick scored goals for Providence.
The Hartford Wolf Pack skates into the matchup 16-14-3-6 (41 points). That is good for sixth in the Atlantic Division and tenth in the Eastern Conference. Last season, Providence went 6-1-1-2 against Hartford. Over the past five seasons, Providence has a 23-16-5-2 record against the Pack, including 12-8-3 at home. The Hartford Wolf Pack gives up a whopping 3.05 goals a game while only scoring 2.79. They have a -9 goal differential on the year. The Providence Bruins give up 2.69 goals a game, boasting one of the better defenses in the AHL. Providence also scores 3.00 goals a game while having a +12 goal differential. Despite that, division matchups are always taxing, and this one should be no different.
January 28, 2023, Providence Bruins vs. Utica Comets (AWAY)
The Saturday matchup marks the fifth of six that the Providence Bruins and Utica Comets will have this season. The first game saw the Bruins win 2-1. Vinni Lettieri and Samuel Asselin scored for the Bruins.
The second matchup saw the Bruins win 4-3 in a shootout. Luke Toporowski, Vinni Lettieri, and Chris Wagner scored for the Bruins.
The third battle saw the Bruins fall 2-1. Justin Brazeau scored the lone goal for Providence. Keith Kinkaid played well in goal, stopping 24 of the 26 shots he faced.
The fourth game saw the Bruins win 3-2. Jakub Lauko, Marc McLaughlin, and Justin Brazeau scored for Providence.
The Utica Comets skate into the matchup 21-12-5-1 (48 points). That is good for second in the North Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Providence Bruins went 0-3-1 against the New Jersey affiliate last season. Over the past five seasons, Providence has a 7-5-1 record against Utica. The Comets have a high-powered offense, scoring 3.15 goals a game. The problem is they also give up 2.92 goals a game. The Providence Bruins must score early and often. If they can do that, they will win.
Sunday, January 29, 2023, Providence Bruins vs. Syracuse Crunch (HOME)
The Sunday matchup marks the third game of four that Syracuse and Providence will play this season. The first battle saw the Bruins win 5-3. Michael Callahan, Samuel Asselin, Justin Brazeau (2), and Luke Toporowski scored for Providence.
The second battle saw the Bruins win 6-5 in overtime. Luke Toporowski (3), Justin Brazeau, Marc McLaughlin, and Chris Wagner scored for Providence.
The Tampa Bay affiliate skates into the matchup 18-13-3-3 (42 points). That is good for third in the North Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference. The Syracuse Crunch has a fast-paced, high-scoring offense. Syracuse nets 3.64 goals a game. The problem is they give up 3.32 goals a game. Over the past five seasons, Providence has had a 5-2-0-1 record against them, including 1-2 at home. Do not miss this one!
My Players To Watch This Weekend
Fabian Lysell has had an excellent rookie season for the Providence Bruins. In 26 games, he’s netted eight goals while dishing out 13 assists for 21 total points. The young forward has done that while showing off his elite offensive ability. Look for him this weekend.
Jack Ahcan is having a superb season for the Providence Bruins. In 37 games, he’s scored two goals while dishing out 19 assists for 21 total points. The young defenseman has come on strong as of late; he has a five-game point streak. Ahcan has done all that while playing top-notch defense. Look for him this weekend.
Brandon Bussi is having an excellent rookie season with the Providence Bruins. In 18 games, he’s 12-2-4 with a .933 save percentage and a 2.27 goals-against average. The young goalie will also be heading to his first AHL All-Star Game this season. Look for him this weekend.
The Providence Bruins are playing some exciting hockey this season. They have four games on the horizon, and it will not be an easy week for our boys in black and gold. Let’s hope they can come out with eight points! Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. GO BRUINS!
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