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Last Weekend
The Providence Bruins (7-5-1-2) went 0-1-1-0 last weekend, taking one out of a possible four points in two games. Despite having Saturday off, they rebounded from a Friday night loss with a Sunday afternoon overtime loss.
Niklas Svedberg played on Friday, letting in four goals in the first period and shutting the door for the remaining two periods as the P-Bruins unsuccessfully attempted to tie the game late, losing to the Norfolk Admirals 4-3.
Malcolm Subban got the start on Sunday against the Portland Pirates, but was unable to steal the game as Providence blew a two-goal lead and lost on a power play goal in overtime.
This Weekend
This is the second weekend this season in which Providence will play three games in three days. The first instance was two weekends ago, and they swept all three games with an impressive 27-9 combined score.
- Friday, 11/22: Bridgeport Sound Tigers (4-8-1-1) @ Providence Bruins, 7pm
- Saturday, 11/23: Providence Bruins @ Manchester Monarchs (11-3-1-2), 7pm
- Sunday, 11/24: Springfield Falcons (10-3-0-1) @ Providence Bruins, 3pm
Tonight: Sound Tigers @ P-Bruins, 7pm
The Sound Tigers are at the bottom of the Northeast Division, the Eastern Conference, and are second-to-last in the entire AHL (thanks Utica Comets!). If Providence wants to get off on the right foot this weekend, they need to beat a team they are clearly superior to (and has a team name that isn't a real thing). There should be no struggles tonight. If they play the way they are supposed to play, they should win. They need a win, end of story.
Lineup Notes
Mark Divver says Niklas Svedberg will get the start tonight for Providence. A decision on the healthy scratch beyond Tyler Randell and Rob Flick will be made later today, and will be either Alexander Fallstrom, Seth Griffith, or Anthony Camara. Regardless of who plays tonight among those three, chances are that each will work their way into the lineup at least once this weekend. Joe Morrow is likely out tonight after hurting his elbow colliding with his own net last Sunday, but should play sometime this weekend.
Kevan Miller, who made his NHL debut last night, is still on emergency recall to Boston.
Game Notes
- This is the first of four meetings between Providence and Bridgeport, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders.
- Last season, the P-Bruins went 6-2-0-0 against the mythical Sound Tigers.
| Bridgeport | Providence | |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 4-8-1-1 (10 pts in 14 GP) | 7-5-1-2 (17 pts in 15 GP) |
| Division | 5th in Northeast | 2nd in Atlantic |
| Conference | 15th in East | 9th in East |
| League | 29th | 18th |
| Last 10 | 3-5-1-1 | 5-3-1-1 |
| Home/Away | Away: 1-4-0-1 | Home: 3-3-1-1 |
| Goal Differential | -15 (36 GF, 51 GA) | +3 (55 GF, 52 GA) |
| Leading After 1st Period | 1-1-0-0 | 5-0-0-0 |
| Tied After 1st Period | 2-3-0-0 | 1-0-1-1 |
| Losing After 1st Period | 1-4-1-1 | 1-5-0-0 |
| Leading After 2nd Period | 2-0-0-0 | 6-0-1-1 |
| Tied After 2nd Period | 1-1-0-0 | 0-0-0-0 |
| Losing After 2nd Period | 1-5-1-1 | 1-5-0-1 |
| Record in Shootouts | 2-1 | 1-2 |
Special Teams
| Bridgeport | Providence | |
|---|---|---|
| Power Play | 26th, 13.1% (11-for-84) | 4th, 23.1% (15-for-65) |
| Home/Away PP | 17.6% (6-for-34) | 18.9% (7-for-37) |
| Penalty Kill | 22nd, 81.3% (15 GA on 80 PKs) | 30th, 72.5% (14 GA on 51 PKs) |
| Home/Away PK | 81.3% (6 GA on 32 PKs) | 77.1% (8 GA on 36 PKs) |
| Shorthanded Goals For | 2 shorthanded goals | 1 shorthanded goal |
| Shorthanded Goals Against | 7 shorthanded goals against | 0 shorthanded goals against |
League and Team Leaders
- Providence's Matt Fraser is fourth in the AHL in goals scored (11) and tied for fourth on shots (56).
- Bridgeport rookie Ryan Strome is tied for fourth in rookie scoring (16 points), is first in rookie assists (14), and has scored on all three shootout attempts this season.
- Providence rookie Alexander Khokhlachev is tied for 13th in rookie scoring (12 points).
- Providence's Joe Morrow is tied for 11th in the AHL for most points by a defenseman (11).
- Providence's top scorers are Ryan Spooner (3-13=16 points), Matt Fraser (11-2=13), Carter Camper (2-11=13), Nick Johnson (8-4=12), and Alexander Khokhlachev (4-8=12).
- Bridgeport's top scorers are Ryan Strome (4-12=16), Anders Lee (4-12=17), Mike Halmo (6-4=10), Johan Sundstrom (3-7=10), Andrey Pedan (2-3=5).
- Both Ryan Spooner and Ryan Strome lead their teams in scoring with 16 points, and 7 power play points (each has 1 goal and 6 assist on the PP).
Goaltending Matchup
- Bridgeport's goaltender Anders Nilsson, who has played 11 of their 14 games, is on recall with the Islanders.
- Backup Kenny Reiter is 1-3 in five appearances. He has a 3.11 GAA and .883 save percentage.
- Bridgeport's third goalie is Parker Milner, who has not played an AHL game but is 1-4 with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder this season, including a 3.22 GAA and .902 save percentage. He played four years at Boston College and is in his first pro year.
- Niklas Svedberg will start for Providence tonight. He is 5-2-2, with a 3.25 GAA and .902 save percentage. Svedberg is 1-2 in his last three starts, giving up 14 goals in those three games.
Key Points
- Come out strong and score first
- Saves from Svedberg
- Take advantage of power plays
- Don't take penalties, because apparently it's too hard to kill off penalties
- Other generic things.
I'll be watching/livetweeting on AHLLive tonight.