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

11/22/17 Providence (8-5-2) @ Binghamton (6-8-2) PM

Goalies: Zane McIntyre, 27 of 28 shots, 0.964 SV%; Mackenzie Blackwood, 22 of 24 shots, 0.916 SV%

Box Score:

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

Scoring Summary: BNG, Kevin Rooney (SHG), unassisted; PVD, Chris Porter (SHG), Assist: J. Forsbacka Karlsson; PVD, Colton Hargrove, Assists: E. Johansson, C. Cave.

PVD W, improves to, (9-5-2); Devils drop to (6-8-3).

11/25/17 Providence (9-5-2) @ Charlotte (11-8-0) 6:05 PM

Goalies: Zane McIntyre, 35 of 43 shots, 0.813 SV%; Alex Nedeljkovic, 15 of 17 shots, 0.882 SV%

Box Score:

Charlotte: 1st: 0 goals for 2nd: 1 goal for 3rd: 1 goals for OT: N/A Providence: 1st: 0 goals for 2nd: 3 goals for 3rd: 5 goals for OT: N/A

Scoring Summary [In order to keep this concise, only Providence goals will be addressed]: PVD, Ryan Fitzgerald, Assist: Z. Senyshyn; PVD: Kenny Agostino (PPG), Assist: A. Czarnik.

CHA W, improves to (12-8-0); PVD drops to (9-6-2).

11/26/17 Providence (9-5-2) @ Charlotte (11-8-0) 6:05 PM

Goalies: Jordan Binnington, 17 of 18 shots, 0.944 SV%; Jeremy Smith, 35 of 36 shots, 0.972 SV%.

Box Score:

Charlotte: 1st: 1 goal for 2nd: 0 goals for 3rd: 0 goals for OT: 0 goals for Providence: 1st: 1 goal for 2nd: 0 goals for 3rd: 0 goals for OT: 1 SOG

Scoring Summary: CHA, Nick Roy, Assist: R. Foegele; PVD, Colton Hargrove, Assists: K. Agostino, A. Czarnik. Shootout goals scored by: Colby Cave and Ryan Fitzgerald.

PVD W, improves to, (10-6-2); CHA drops to (12-8-1).

X’s and O’s:

PVD @ Binghamton 11/22/17

In a pre-Thanksgiving Day matchup, the Providence Bruins faced off against the Binghamton Devils, while the parent clubs Boston and New Jersey faced off at exactly the same time. Both games wound up headed to overtime with exciting finishes. Things looked bleak early on for Providence, as they surrendered a shorthanded goal midway through the first frame. With great individual effort, Ex-PC Friar Kevin Rooney swiped the puck in his defensive zone and broke in all alone on McIntyre, beating the netminder with a superb wrist shot. This aggressive PK seemed to mimic the mantra of the NHL Devils who like to play an up tempo kill that employs turnovers in all three zones as shorthanded scoring opportunities. Providence power forward Sena Acolatse and captain Tommy Cross attempted to spark their teammates with fights in the second period. Their efforts were rewarded late in the second when on the PK, Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson fed a breakout pass to Chris Porter. The latter raced in alone on MacKenzie and slipped a backhand shot five hole to tie the game. During a scoreless third, Providence and Binghamton traded chances but the game headed to overtime tied 1-1. A minute and change into OT, Emil Johansson took a feed from Colby Cave in the offensive zone; the former fired a shot that was initially saved, however Colton Hargrove tapped home the rebound for the win.

PVD @ Charlotte part I. 11/25/17

In their first meeting since 2011, the Charlotte Checkers (Carolina AHL affiliate) routed the Providence Bruins by a final score of 8-2 winning by a touchdown. Through the first 20 minutes, Charlotte outshot the Bruins 12-5 and outchanced them with a strong forecheck. Though the Bruins struck first in the second period off a tip in shot by Ryan Fitzgerald, the Checkers responded with three unanswered goals. Continuing a lazy, uninspired effort, the Checkers put up five more goals to add insult to injury. Without the services of key prospects Gryzelcyk, Heinen, Cehlarik et. al., the Bruins had no pushback or answer until the waining minute of the third where Kenny Agostino scored a powerplay goal to give a final score of 8-2. In order to keep this short, I’m not going to discuss all the goals against suffice to say Zane McIntyre looked tired in the third after facing 26 shots. The final frame would prove to be the ugliest period of the 2017-2018 season to date, as the Checkers dumped in 5 goals before Agostino’s late tally. For a full breakdown of the massacre, check out the AHL Summary here.

PVD @ Charlotte part II. 11/25/17

After a spirit-deflating loss the night before, the Providence Bruins came out of the gate on short rest at 1 PM, looking to even the score. Throughout the game, they held the Charlotte Checkers to a pedestrian 18 shots on goal. Only one of those found its way past Jordan Binnington; the lone Charlotte goal came with 5 minutes and change left in the first frame. Former B’s prospect Colton Hargrove evened the score a few minutes later on a powerplay goal fed by Kenny Agostino and Austin Czarnik. Providence and Charlotte would trade chances and scoring opportunities through the next two periods, but remained scoreless. Even with the P-Bruins all over the Checkers in the OT frame, the game came down to a shootout. Colby Cave and Ryan Fitzgerald would both score to seal the win and some redemption for Providence who ends the road trip 2-1-0.

Plus / Minus

Plus:

+ Boston prospects continue to have their fingerprints all over the scoresheet: Ryan Fitzgerald, Zach Senyshyn, Austin Czarnik, Emil Johansson, and JFK all had points or goals this weekend.

+ Despite no help from his team, Zane McIntyre managed to make some incredible saves on 11/25, keeping his SV% above .800 even with 8 goals against.

+ Jakub Zboril returned to the lineup on Nov. 22nd against the Devils. He was out with what was termed “UBI” but was probably a concussion after a high hit from Wilkes-Barre Scranton’s Andrey Pedan on November 11th.

+ Providence earns 4 of possible 6 points on a lengthy road trip; rally after a blowout to beat the team that stepped on their throats the night before on short rest.

+ Colby Cave and Ryan Fitzgerald both scored in a shootout Sunday afternoon displaying crafty hands and creativity.

+ As of Sunday, Nov. 26, Providence holds a (shaky) 3rd place in the Atlantic Division. However, they have 3 games in hand over the Charlotte Checkers who end the weekend in 4th place.

Minus:

– Special Teams continue to be a mixed bag for Providence. Wednesday they gave up a shorthanded goal, and never scored on the powerplay, however did kill off a lengthy 5-on-3 PK successfully. Saturday night, they gave up a season high 3 powerplay goals against but did manage to score a late PPG. Sunday they killed all 4 penalties, and managed to squeak out

– Saturday night, Zane McIntyre was the only member of the team to show up. In front of him, Providence looked sloppy, lazy, and succumbed to a heavy Charlotte forecheck without any resistance. The resulting score spoke for itself.

– On 11/26, Providence flipped the shot totals on Charlotte from the previous night with a total of 36 to 18 in favor of PVD, but could only muster 1 goal out of all that rubber.

– During the end of the 2nd period, Providence’s top line hemmed the 4th line of Charlotte into its own zone for two minutes and change but came up empty. Charlotte blocked several shots to help this feat.

– By going to OT on Sunday, Providence gave a division opponent a useful point in a tight Atlantic Division.

– Both Providence wins came in overtime; need to lock down a win in regulation to keep opponents from piling up “loser points”.