PB's Preview: Bruins at Thunderbirds
Written by Chris Krenn
Mar 5, 2022One vs. Two
Springfield and Providence enter tonight’s game with the Thunderbirds sitting in first place in the Atlantic Division and the Bruins trailing right behind in second place. Providence can take sole possession of first place with a win in regulation tonight. Any other result will keep Springfield at the top of the division.
Heating Up
Both teams have been hot over the past few weeks with Providence recording an 8-2-0-0 record over their last 10 contests and Springfield going 7-2-0-1 over their last 10.
The P-Bruins have recorded a plus-14 goal differential over their last 10 contests and outscored their opponents by a combined score of 36-22. Cameron Hughes has led the way for Providence, scoring three goals and adding 10 assists for 13 points during that span. The P-Bruins has also gotten big contributions from some big bodies in Justin Brazeau and Joona Koppanen. Brazeau (6-5, 245 lbs.) has picked up nine points (4G, 5A) in his last 10 games while Koppanen (6-5, 210 lbs.) has recorded nine points (5G, 4A) of his own.
Springfield has recorded a plus-seven goal differential of their last 10, outscoring their opponents by a combined score of 32-25. Sam Anas has led the way for the T-Birds with two goals and eight assists for 10 points over his last 10 games. Anas’s linemate, Matthew Peca is scoring at the same pace with three goals and seven assists for 10 points during the same span. Swedish defenseman Calle Rosen has been hot for Springfield as well with nine points (1G, 8A) over his last 10 while ‘The Real Deal’ James Neal has been a welcomed addition to the T-Birds lineup with seven goals and one assist over that span.
Clash of Rivals
The P-Bruins and T-Birds have had some exciting games this season with Springfield winning four of the seven matchups with one win coming in the shootout. The teams have combined for 40 goals during the season series - a perfect split with each side scoring 20 goals apiece.
Hughes has led the way for Providence in the seven matchups against Springfield this season, scoring two goals and adding four assists for six points. Koppanen is not far behind, scoring two goals of his own and picking up three assists for five points. Alex-Olivier Voyer has quietly been a heavy contributor in the season series with four points (1G, 3A).
Springfield’s top players have shown up for the matchups against the Bruins. Peca leads the T-Birds with eight points (5G, 3A) against Providence and Anas is right behind him with seven points (2G, 5A) of his own. The first Australian to ever win the Stanley Cup, Nathan Walker, has scored three goals and picked up two helpers for five points against Providence.
Home and Away
Providence enters tonight’s game at MassMutual Center facing a Springfield team that has performed extraordinarily well at home. The T-Birds have recorded a 19-6-2-0 record at home this season, equating to a .741 points percentage. The P-Bruins have lost five of their 25 road games this season in overtime or the shootout, recording a 12-8-2-3 overall record for a .580 points percentage.
In terms of special teams, Providence has gone 22/94 (23.4%) on the power play on the road this season while Springfield has recorded a 22/93 (76.34%) mark on the penalty kill at home this year. The P-Bruins have killed off 73-of-90 (87.5%) penalties on the road this year and Springfield has scored 22 goals on 117 (18.8%) power-play chances at home.
Overall, Providence’s power play comes into tonight’s game clicking at 20.54% with a penalty killing success rate of 84.12%. Springfield has recorded a 22.82% success rate on the power play this year and killed off 77.25% of their shorthanded opportunities.