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

11/17/17 Providence (7-4-2) vs. Hershey (7-7-0) 7:30PM

Goalies: Zane McIntyre, 21 of 24 shots, 0.875 SV%; Phoenix Copley, 31 of 32 shots, 0.986 SV%

Box Score:

Providence: 1st: 0 Goals for 2nd: 0 goals for 3rd: 1 goal for OT: N/A Hershey: 1st: 2 Goals for 2nd: 1 goal for 3rd: 1 goal for OT: N/A

Scoring Summary: HER, R. Barber, PPG, Assist: C. Borque, L. O’Brien; HER, M. Bau, Assist: R. Barber; HER, M. Bau (2), Assist: A. Peluso; PVD, J. Hickman, unassisted; HER, T. Graovac (ENG), unassisted.

Hershey W, improve to, (8-7-0); PVD drops to (7-5-2).

11/19/17 Providence (7-5-2) vs. Hershey (8-7-0) 1:05 PM

Goalies: Jordan Binnington, 17 of 18 shots, 0.944 SV%; Phoenix Copley, 16 of 20 shots, 0.800 SV%

Box Score:

Providence: 1st: 1 Goal for 2nd: 2 goals for 3rd: 1 goals for OT: N/A Hershey: 1st: 1 Goal for 2nd: 0 goals for 3rd: 0 goals for OT: N/A

Scoring Summary: PVD, J. Forsbacka Karlsson, unassisted; HER, L. O’Brien, Assist: R. Barber, C. Borque; PVD, C. Cave, Assist: Z. Senyshyn; PVD, A. Czarnik, Assist: M. Grzelcyk, A. Payrl; PVD, C. Hargrove, Assist: Z. Senyshyn.

PVD W, improves to (8-5-2); Hershey drops to (8-8-0).

X’s and O’s:

PVD vs. Hershey pt. I (11/17)

Despite being outshot 32 to 25, the Hershey Bears topped the Providence Bruins on Friday night to hand the latter its 4th consecutive loss, stretching back to Sunday, November 5th. In this matchup with familiar division foe Hershey, the visitors struck first, only two and a half minutes into the first period. Riley Barber jumped on a loose puck in the crease during a Providence penalty kill. Three minutes later, Barber would assist on the second goal of the night for the Bears, passing from Gretzkey’s office into a waiting Mathias Bau in the high slot. During the first and second periods, Providence was given two individual 5 on 3 PP chances, however failed to convert on either of them. Building on already favorable momentum, Hershey needed no prompting to rack up a 3-0 lead in the second. At 12:19, Anthony Peluso, after wheeling and dealing in the left wing corner, found Mathias Bau off a strong centering pass. Bau fired in his second of the game and his team left the ice up 3-0 at the second intermission. Two minutes into the third, Justin Hickman killed Phoenix Copley’s shutout streak. On a breakaway, Hickman went high glove to cut the deficit to two. However, this would be the only time Providence hit twine as an empty net goal suffocated any chance at a comeback.

PVD vs. Hershey pt. II (11/19)

In a complete role reversal from Friday, the Providence Bruins came out strong. Less than 2 minutes into regulation, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson intercepted Hershey netminder Phoenix Copley’s outlet pass. Wasting no time, JFK drove the net and roofed one as Copley struggled to get back into position unsuccessfully. After killing off one penalty, the Bruins went right back on the kill. Liam O’Brien crashed the Providence net as Riley Barber fired a shot on Binnington. The goalie expected a whistle, as the shot looked like it went off his chest and into his pads, but O’Brien tapped the puck into the net for the equalizer. The first period ended tied. Providence would score the next three goals unanswered on their road to victory. Puck luck off a point shot following an offensive zone faceoff put Colby Cave into a perfect scoring position eight minutes into the second period. Phoenix Copley was discombobulated in front of his own net as Cave finished off the chance to break the tie. After Hershey took a penalty with 22 seconds remaining in the middle period, Austin Czarnik rifled a shot past Copley short-side-high six seconds before the buzzer sounded. Colton Hargrove put the game out of reach for Hershey with 5 minutes remaining in the third period. A quick thinking Senyshyn made an outlet stretch pass to Hargrove who snuck by retreating Bears defender Paul Geiger. Hargrove dangled the puck in front of Phoenix Copley before roofing it for his first of the season and the 4-1 lead. This was the first game since October 22nd the Bruins have had a multi-goal game, and it snapped a three game Hershey road win streak.

Plus / Minus

Plus:

+ Providence secondary scoring came alive in the form of goals from Cave (Bruins FA prospect) and Hargrove.

+ JFK is displaying immensely high hockey IQ; cleanly picked off Phoenix Copley’s pass and capitalized immediately.

+ Providence Penalty kill has been much better since last weekend’s poor showing against Springfield. (0-4 on the kill). This weekend they were a much more respectable 9 of 11 total penalties killed off.

+ Boston Bruins prospect Justin Hickman (Undrafted Free Agent) pots his first of the season on a great individual effort.

+ Providence had a strong forecheck on Sunday afternoon, turning several pucks over, and taking advantage of an unusually distracted Phoenix Copley (Who usually gives the Providence offense fits).

+ Zach Senyshyn is quietly making a name for himself on the score sheet with another 2 assists. He is 1g-6a-7pts in last 6 games, more than a point per game.

Minus:

– Providence’s Powerplay continues to struggle; only one goal on 9 total chances with the man advantage.

– Ryan Fitzgerald participated in warmups Sunday afternoon, however was scratched for the game. May suggest an injury.

– Jakub Zboril’s condition is still unknown after taking a high hit from WBS Penguins defenseman Andrey Pedan last weekend.

-Providence was in a losing slump till Sunday afternoon when they finally recorded a win and two huge points to move them up to 3rd in the division.

– Zane McIntyre has continued to struggle after his flurry of call-ups a couple weeks ago. He has lost his last three starts, with one of those being an overtime loss. SV % continues to hover around the mid .800’s.

Thanks to the P-Bruins’ and Hershey Bears’ websites for filling in missing data; also Mark Divver via twitter for some other stats. Go give him a follow.