By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky
After securing a hard-fought win over the Springfield Thunderbirds on Sunday afternoon, the Providence Bruins are looking to build on that victory as they prepare to face the number-one-ranked team in the Atlantic Division, the Hershey Bears. The Bears have started the season with a 3-1-1 record, notching wins against the Chicago Wolves, Bridgeport Islanders, and Cleveland Monsters. This week’s games will be played at the Amica Mutual Pavilion. Providence has had strong starts in their games at the AMP this season, taking early 2-0 leads in both matchups.
Players to watch in this series include Fabian Lysell, Michael DiPietro, Vinni Lettieri, and Jordan Oesterle. Lysell had a rough start to the season but has recently improved offensively in the last two games. He still needs to work out some issues on the defensive side and in his decision-making, but once he does, he should be able to return to his previous form of scoring 50+ points in no time.
Michael DiPietro will likely play in at least one of the games this weekend. He has been sharing starts with another Bruins goalie, Brandon Bussi. DiPietro has had two impressive wins and currently holds a 1.00 Goals Against Average and a .962 Save Percentage to start the season. The Canadian Goalie is ranked in the top five in the American Hockey League.
Vinni Lettieri has been scoring goals early in the season. He is currently leading the team with three goals in four games. Lettieri has been using his powerful shot to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. In a recent game against Springfield, he positioned himself in front of the net, allowing John Farinacci to pass the puck through two defenders before scoring. If Vinni can continue this strong performance, the P-Bruins will have a better chance of winning against Hershey.
Jordan Oesterle has been outstanding this season. He has scored five points in four games, leading the team. He looks much better than in the preseason in Boston and appears to be much more confident. Oesterle has excelled at opening up passing lanes from the point position and has earned a spot on the second power-play unit due to his improved offensive performance. Like Lettieri, Oesterle must maintain his excellent offensive play if the Bruins want to continue winning.
This upcoming game will test the P-Bruins’ early season form. The Hershey Bears have kept most of their core players from last season and are considered one of the most well-rounded teams in the AHL. They have the former Goalie of the Year winner, Hunter Shephard. Three players, Ethen Frank, Ivan Miroshnichenko, and Alex Limoges, have each registered seven points this season, putting them all tied for fourth in the league in points. While Hershey has a high-powered offense, they have also given up many goals. Providence must capitalize on every mistake the Bears make to be victorious.
The Providence Bruins are aiming to continue their excellent performance. Last week, Coach Mougenel stressed the importance of getting shots on goal, and the Bruins responded by taking 30 shots in the loss on Saturday and 34 shots in the win on Sunday. Creating high-quality shots will be crucial as the Baby B’s attempt to sweep the Bears this week. I’m looking forward to seeing if one of the rookies takes the initiative and makes a significant impact.
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