Tl;Dr Recap for those who just want the stats:

11/11/17 Providence (6-2-0) @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (3-5-0) 7:30PM

Goalies: Zane McIntyre 25 of 29 shots; SV%: 0.862. Casey DeSmith 33 of 36 shots, SV%: 0.916

Box Score:

Providence: 1st: 1 Goal for 2nd:1 goal for 3rd: 1 goal for OT: 0 goals for WBS: 1st: 0 Goals for 2nd: 1 goal for 3rd: 2 goals for OT: 1 goal for

Scoring Summary: PVD, R. Fitzgerald, Assist: M. Grzelcyk; PVD, C. Cave, Assist: S. Acolatse; WBS: K. Czuczman, Unassisted; WBS:J. Tinordi, Assist: R. Haggerty; WBS A. Pedan, T. DiPauli; PVD: R. Fitzgerald, Assist: M. Grzelcyk; WBS, R. Haggerty, Assist: Jean-Sébastien Dea.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton OTW, improve to (9-2-1), PVD drops to (7-4-1).

11/12/17 Providence (7-4-1) @ Springfield (3-11-0) 3:05 PM

Goalies: Jordan Binnington, 32 of 36 shots, 0.888 SV%. Harri Sateri, 34 of 37 shots, 0.918 SV%.

Box Score:

Providence: 1st: 0 Goals for 2nd: 3 goals for 3rd: 0 goals for OT: 0 goals for Springfield: 1st: 1 Goals for 2nd: 1 goal for 3rd: 1 goal for OT: 1 goal for

Scoring Summary: SPR, B. Byron, Assist: A. Grenier, C. Valk; PVD, R. Fitzgerald, Assist: Z. Senyshyn; PVD, J. Forsbacka-Karlsson, Assist: S. Acolatse, Z. Senyshyn; PVD, E. Johansson, Assist: J. Forsbacka-Karlsson, Z. Senyshyn; SPR, J. Lammiko, unassisted; SPR, C. Balisey, Assist: A. Greco; SPR, A. Grenier, Assist: D. Malgin.

Springfield OTW, improve to (4-11-0), PVD drops to (7-4-2).

X’s and O’s:

PVD @ Wilkes-Barrie/Scranton (11/11)

Providence and WBS begun a back and forth game between conference rivals with a heavyweight scrap between Chris Breen and infamous tough guy on skates, Tom Sestito. Providence, sparked by their teammate, would score about a minute later. Ryan Fitzgerald, off a feed from defenseman Matt Grzelcyk, split the WBS defense, and scored on a breakaway to put the Bruins on top. Before the period ended, Bruins prospect Jakub Zboril took a high hit from Andre Pedan, and seemed to be disoriented; he would not return for the night. Kenny Agostino scrapped with the lanky Russian after the hit. In the second period, Colby Cave and Sena Acolatse connected on an impressive keep by the latter along the boards as Acolatse was mobbed by three different Penguns before his centering feed found Cave in the low slot. Cave’s shot fluttered by DeSmith to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead. Two minutes after the Cave goal, Kevin Czuczman’s first goal as a Penguin cut the deficit in half; the Penguins would pull even six minutes into the 3rd period off a point shot from Jarred Tinordi, who also scored his first as a Penguin. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton scored the go-ahead goal off a deflection from Thomas DePauli, who redirected Andre Pedan’s initial shot. Late in the 3rd, Providence opted to pull Zane McIntyre, and the gamble paid off. Ryan Fitzgerald scored the equalizer, his second of the night, off a double deflection originating from defenseman Matt Grzelcyk. In OT, Ryan Haggertey punched home a one timer from teammate Jean-Sébastien Dea, just 20 seconds into the frame. Bruins would come out of this one with an overtime loss and only one point.

PVD @ Springfield (11/12)

Providence began the afternoon tilt on a strong note, despite short rest from the road trip from the middle of Pennsylvania the night before. Forchecking well, they earned four powerplay chances, including a minute and change of 5-on-3 however through 4 man advantage situations in the first period, could not find the back of the net. Peter Cehlarik had the best chance of the first, as he swated a puck out of midair, past Springfield netminder Harri Sateri, clanging off the far post, and rolling along the goal line before finally being scooped up by a sprawling Sateri. On the only powerplay for Springfield, Curtis Valk made an initial shot attempt on Providence goaltender Jordan Binnington, however Blaine Byron backhanded the rebound into the roof of the Providence net. Ironically, the Thunderbirds scored during a penalty to former Thunderbird Sena Acolatse. Providence would come out strong again in the second period, this time capitalizing on their chances. Fitzgerald would score his third of the weekend, while Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson scored, and defenseman Emil Johansson would score his first of his professional career. All three goals came within five minutes of each other, and Zach Senyshyn, using a combination of speed, creativity, and good vision assisted on all three Providence goals. Juho Lammiko would pull the Thunderbirds within one goal during a powerplay, and in the third, the special teams of Springfield punished Providence for taking a penalty by typing the game. The third Springfield goal would go to review before finally being confirmed. An exhausted Providence team fell early in the Overtime frame during a Providence bench minor.

New Section: Plus / Minus

I’ll be adding this section on to each weekend report to give some positive and negative takeaways from each game, and to add more of a personal voice rather than a straight recap of the game.

Plus:

+ Providence scored 3 goals in both games, after struggling to find offense in two of last weekend’s three games.

+ Ryan Fitzgerald explodes for 3 goals, played a strong, up-tempo game both days.

+ Zach Senyshyn’s speed continues to turn defensemen into statues, even at the professional level, additionally, assisted on all three goals Sunday to double his point total for the season.

+ Peter Cehlarik returned to the lineup after missing several games with an upper body injury.

+ Took a point in what I initially feared was a scheduled loss Saturday night; ended the weekend with two points of a possible four during a difficult road trip. (Left Wilkes-Barre/Scranton around 11 at night, arrived in Springfield in the early morning hours and had to be up early for a 3:05 game.)

+ Providence was perfect in the penalty kill against the Penguins and only ended with 16 true PK minutes for the entire weekend; seem to be tightening up and becoming more disciplined.

Minus:

– Providence went for a combined 1-for-11 on powerplay chances, including wasting an impressive 1:15 of 5 on 3 opportunity against Springfield.

– Providence’s penalty kill was an abysmal 0 for 4 against Springfield who won on special teams alone.

– Providence blew 2 goal leads in both games this weekend.

– Zane McIntyre’s progress has been hampered by his emergency recalls to parent club Boston; the drives up and down I-95 have resulted in a 4.5 GAA in his last 2 starts. Doesn’t look like the confident starter from the 2016-2017 campaign.

– Jakub Zboril will be out for the forseeable future after Pedan’s headshot more than likely concussed the young defenseman.

– Providence is now on a losing streak, having dropped their past three games, albeit both in overtime this weekend. Out of a possible 4 points on this road trip, the Bruins mustered only two points, instead of a completely attainable three given the way they started against the Penguins.