By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky
After a challenging week in which the Providence Bruins went 1-1-1, the team is looking forward to a lighter schedule this weekend with only two games. On Friday, they will travel to the XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut, to face off against the Hartford Wolfpack. They will return to the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Saturday to conclude the weekend with a matchup against the Belleville Senators.
The goaltending situation remains uncertain, as Brandon Bussi has started seven of the last ten games. The Providence Bruins have sent Nolan Maier down, which may indicate that league-leading netminder Michael DiPietro is nearing a return to game action. This is something to keep an eye on as the team approaches the Calder Cup Playoffs.
The P-Bruins are currently missing several key players, including Vinni Lettieri, Riley Duran, Ian Mitchell, Michael Callahan, Fabian Lysell, and Fraser Minten, all of whom are in the National Hockey League with Boston. Recently, the team has struggled with leadership, contributing to slow starts and blown leads in games. Despite these mental lapses, this period has provided an opportunity for other players to take on more prominent roles, and we have seen some individuals step up significantly. These evaluations will play a crucial role in building the team for next season.
The team will travel to Nutmeg State on Friday to face their rival, the Hartford Wolfpack. This season, the Wolfpack hasn’t been as much of a challenge for the Baby Bruins as they have been in previous years. Providence currently holds a record of 6-3-0, and this will be the last meeting between the two teams this season. Both teams have improved throughout the year, and it will be interesting to see who the P-Bruins choose to start in goal, especially since Hartford recently signed Callum Tung from the University of Connecticut, who made his debut last weekend. In their previous matchup, the Providence Bruins defeated the Wolfpack by a score of 2-1. This victory secured a playoff spot for the P-Bruins while significantly dimming Hartford’s playoff hopes.
The Providence Bruins will play at home against the Belleville Senators on Saturday. In their previous matchup on October 30th, the Bruins won against the Senators in a shootout 3-2. However, that encounter feels like forever ago, as both teams have made significant changes since then. Belleville is currently battling for a playoff spot in the North Division. They need to win all their remaining games and rely on some luck to have a chance at competing for the Calder Cup. Therefore, we can expect them to play aggressively, as they have nothing to lose.
This week’s storyline focuses on Michael DiPietro and the team’s efforts to build momentum as they approach the playoffs. DiPietro hasn’t played in over a week and is expected to start one of the upcoming games this weekend. I will pay attention to how the team starts and finishes the game, as they have struggled in those areas recently.
Catch the Providence Bruins as they aim to build momentum heading into the Calder Cup Playoffs. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 PM on both nights. It will be interesting to see how some newcomers perform with the extended ice time they receive.
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