By: Tim A Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter @TimARichardson
Week 21 of the AHL season is here, and the Providence Bruins skate into it 31-11-8-2 (72 points). That is good for first in the Atlantic Division and second in the Eastern Conference. Our boys in black and gold are coming off a week that saw them beat Charlotte 6-5 in overtime before losing to Rochester 5-1. The Providence Bruins have three games on the road this weekend that you will not want to miss.
The hockey action starts Thursday, March 2, 2023, when the Providence Bruins travel to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to take on the Islanders at the Total Mortgage Arena. The action continues Saturday, March 4, 2023, when the Providence Bruins travel to Hershey, Pennsylvania, to take on the Bears at the Giant Center. The action wraps on Sunday, March 5, 2023, when the Providence Bruins travel to Allentown, Pennsylvania, to take on the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the PPL Center. Do not miss the action.
Thursday, March 2, 2023, Providence Bruins vs. Bridgeport Islanders (AWAY)
The Thursday game marks the tenth of 12 games Bridgeport and Providence will have this season. Our boys in black and gold won the first battle 3-1, getting goals from Georgii Merkulov, Fabian Lysell, and Chris Wagner.
The second matchup saw the Bruins lose 5-4 in overtime. Georgii Merkulov (2), Chris Wagner, and Luke Toporowski scored for Providence.
The third battle saw the Providence Bruins win 1-0. Connor Carrick scored the lone goal for Providence. Brandon Bussi recorded his first shutout of the season.
The fourth installment of the season series saw the Bruins fall 3-2 in overtime. Vinni Lettieri and Chris Wagner scored goals for Providence.
The fifth battle saw the Bruins fall 4-3. John Beecher, Kai Wissmann, and Chris Wagner found the back of the net for Providence.
The sixth game saw the Bruins win 3-2. Fabian Lysell (2) and Connor Carrick scored goals for Providence.
The seventh matchup saw the Bruins fall 5-2. Georgii Merkulov and Oskar Steen scored for Providence.
The eighth game had the Bruins win 5-2. Joey Abate, Georgii Merkulov, Oskar Steen, Jakub Lauko, and Joona Koppanen scored for Providence.
The ninth battle of the season series saw the Bruins win 6-3. Justin Brazeau (2), Joona Koppanen, Vinni Lettieri, Oskar Steen, and Mike Reilly scored goals for Providence.
The Islanders are 23-21-7-1 (54 points) to start the season. That is good for fifth in the Atlantic Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference. Providence went 6-6 against the New York affiliate last season. Over the past five seasons, the Bruins were 29-15-7-3 against Bridgeport, including 15-8-2-2 on the road. Bridgeport is scoring 3.23 goals a game this season while giving up 3.32 goals per game. Their prolific offense is the reason for their success this season. The Providence Bruins boast one of the top defenses in the AHL, giving up only 2.67 goals a game. This game should be fun and tightly contested!
Saturday, March 4, 2023, Providence Bruins vs. Hershey Bears (AWAY)
The Saturday game marks the third 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 second battle saw the Bruins win 4-3. Luke Toporowski, Jakub Lauko, Marc McLaughlin, and Chris Wagner scored for Providence.
The Hershey Bears skate into the matchup 32-13-5-2 (71 points). That is good for second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference. Over the past five seasons, this matchup has been favorable to the Providence Bruins. They held a 14-4-1-1 against the Washington affiliate, including a 6-4-1-1 record at Hershey. Hershey has a tough defense, giving up only 2.55 goals a game. Despite the fantastic record in the past, this should be a tough match.
Sunday, March 5, 2023, Providence Bruins vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms (AWAY)
The Sunday game marks the sixth and final game Providence and Lehigh Valley will play in 2022-2023. The first matchup saw the Bruins fall 4-2. Oskar Steen and Mike Reilly scored goals for Providence.
The second game in the season series saw the Bruins fall 3-2 in a shootout. Marc McLaughlin and Vinni Lettieri scored goals for Providence.
The third battle saw the Bruins fall 5-4 in overtime. Joona Koppanen, Fabian Lysell, Marc McLaughlin, and Samuel Asselin scored goals for Providence.
The fourth game saw the Bruins win 2-1 in overtime. Joey Abate and Vinni Lettieri scored goals for Providence.
The fifth battle saw the Bruins win 4-2. Justin Brazeau, Oskar Steen, Georgii Merkulov, and Marc McLaughlin scored for Providence.
The Phantoms skate into the weekend 26-21-3-3 (58 points). That is good for fifth in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference. The Philadelphia affiliate has a negative goal differential on the season. Meaning they give up more goals than they score. The Phantoms give up 3.07 goals a game. Lehigh Valley nets 3.01 goals a game. The Providence Bruins’ offense scores 3.05 goals a game, while their defense gives up 2.67. The Bruins were 5-1 against Lehigh Valley last season and are 13-5-1-1 against them over the past five seasons. This game is very winnable for our boys in black and gold.
My Players To Watch This Weekend
Georgii Merkulov is having an excellent rookie season with the Bruins. Merkulov came to Providence as an undrafted free agent after a successful stint with Ohio State University. In 48 games, the young forward has netted 17 goals while dishing out 23 assists for 40 total points. Merkulov has been especially good lately, scoring 16 points in his last 14 games. Look for him this weekend.
Fabian Lysell is also having an excellent rookie season. Lysell came into 2022-2023 as a top prospect for the Boston Bruins. The young forward has lived up to the hype. In 36 games, he has netted 11 goals while dishing out 17 assists for 28 total points. He has also registered seven points in his last ten games. Look for him this weekend.
Brandon Bussi is another Bruins rookie having an excellent season. After a successful stint with Western Michigan University, Bussi signed with the Bruins as an undrafted free agent. In 23 games, the young goalie is 16-2-4 with a 2.27 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage. Look for him this weekend.
Despite a rough weekend, the Providence Bruins remain atop the Atlantic Division. They have three grueling games this weekend, but they should be fun to watch. I hope everyone enjoys their weekend. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. GO BRUINS!
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