 |
Power
Play |
9TH
- 18.3 |
Penalty
Killing |
15TH
- 83.4 |
FORWARDS |
ANDREW
EBBETT |
18-54-72
(-3) |
GEOFF
PLATT |
32-33-65
(+9) |
JASON
KING |
29-30-59
(-7) |
DEFENSEMEN |
BRIAN
SALCIDO |
11-42-53
(+11) |
BRUNO
ST. JACQUES |
8-20-28
(-6) |
JOE
CALLAHAN |
1-23-24
(+2) |
GOALTENDERS |
MIKE
McKENNA |
24-13-1
(3 SO)
2.72 GA
.908 PCT |
|
GERALD
COLEMAN |
8-7-1
(2 SO)
2.91 GA
.896 PCT |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Portland
vs Providence |
|
|
SCHEDULE |
| 1 |
APR.
26 |
PORTLAND
0 - PROVIDENCE 4 |
SEED
3 |
2 |
APR.
27 |
PORTLAND
1 - PROVIDENCE 7 |
SEED
1 |
45-26-5-4
(99) |
3 |
MAY
2 |
PROVIDENCE
3 - PORTLAND 4 (OT) |
55-18-3-4
(117) |
| |
4 |
MAY
4 |
PROVIDENCE
2 - PORTLAND 3 (OT) |
|
| |
5 |
MAY
6 |
PROVIDENCE
2 - PORTLAND 3 |
|
| |
6 |
MAY
9 |
PORTLAND
5 - PROVIDENCE
4 |
|
| |
7 |
MAY
10 |
PORTLAND
at PROVIDENCE |
|
| Portland
Wins Series 4-2 |
|
SERIES
PREVIEW
|
| by Tom Schettino - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
The Portland Pirates will have their work cut out for them as they take on the Providence Bruins who where the top team in the AHL during the regular season. Providence did not slack off in the playoffs either as they swept by the Manchester Monarchs in the first round. Meanwhile Portland held their own against the Hartford WolfPack defeating them in five games.
Portland has a chance because their strength, defense, matches up against the Bruins which is offense. Providence also has the advantage of being a better defensive team than Portland is and scoring may be at a premium for the Pirates. Fortunately for them the Anaheim Ducks were eliminated in the first round of the NHL playoffs and they sent Bobby Ryan back to Maine.
The schedule could work out for whichever team gets out to a fast start. The first two games take place in Rhode Island on Friday and Saturday and then there will be a six day wait for the next game in Maine.
Offense
As if Providence needed more help the Boston Bruins sent down Petteri Nokelainen and Vladimir Sobotka for the second round. Each of those players averaged at least a point-per-game in the AHL this year and were full-time skaters for the Bruins in their series against Montreal. The pair will be weaved into a unit which already has Jeff Hoggan and Pascal Pelletier going strong. Other top forwards include Martins Karsums, Wacey Rabbit, Matt Hendricks and Chris Collins. Nate Thompson, Zach Hamill, Jordan Knackstedt, T.J. Trevelyan, Byron Bitz and Steve MacIntyre each saw time in the first round.
Providence is worried about the skill level on the Pirates top units. In addition to Ryan the Pirates will have Jason King, Geoff Platt and Andrew Ebbett in the lineup. Tyler Bouck adds desire and experience to a mix which includes Stephen Dixon, Mike Hoffman, Michal Birner, Darryl Bootland, Simon Ferguson and Petteri Wirtanen as full-time members.
Defense
Brian Salcido had a terrific regular season, but was limited to a single point against Hartford. Salcido will be counted on for more production on the power play in this round. Joe Callahan and Bruno St. Jacques had solid first rounds as did Brett Festerling and Jay Leach who are more traditional defenders.
Providence only had 3 assists from their defensemen in the first round, but with the production up front the blue line unit mainly needs to focus on shutting the other club down. Sean Curry, Matt Hunwick, Brett Skinner, Matt Lashoff, Adam McQuaid, Jonathan Sigalet and Dwayne Zinger comprise the corps.
Goaltending
As one might expect each team’s goaltender has good stats after a first round win. But Providence’s Tuukka Rask showed the Bruins are more than just offense as he limited the Monarchs to only a six goals in four games while posting a .944 save percentage. In the unlikely event the Bruins decide to change netminders they have a choice between Kevin Regan, Adam Courchaine and/or Jordan Sigalet.
Jean-Sebastien Aubin has been a difference maker for the Pirates since he arrived to the club late in the season. Aubin took over the starting role from Mike McKenna and the club has done better since. While his numbers aren’t as glaring as Rask’s are, Aubin’s numbers are very good as he has a 2.20 GAA and a .914 save percentage.
What to expect
Providence has had a great season and they are stacked. If they can keep up their work level to match Portland’s and keep Portland’s top players from going on a tear they should win in no more than six games.
The Pirates need to take a game in Providence to put the pressure on the Bruins. They need to capitalize on special teams and get some scoring from their front lines. Should they win one in Providence this could take this series, even if they do it will probably take no fewer than six games.
|
|
| Game
1 |
Portland
0 - Providence 4 |
|
by Tom Schettino - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Providence
Leads Series 1-0 |
Providence,
RI
- The Providence Bruins flexed their muscles in Game 1 as they dominated on both sides of the ice to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Although the Bruins were helped along by a 10-4 advantage in power play opportunities it would be hard-pressed for the Pirates and/or Bruins to take too much stock in the inequity as a reason for Providence's win.
Tuukka Rask contined to impress for Providence as he posted his second shutout of the playoffs by stopping 28 shots while lowering his goals against average to 1.14.
Providence spread out their offense as four different players scored in this game. In five playoff games to date eight different players have chipped in with at least a goal.
Pascal Pelletier bagged his fourth goal of the playoffs to give the Bruins all the scoing they would need in this one in the first period. Matt Lashoff stole the puck at mid-ice and sent Pelletier away on Portland goaltender Mike McKenna for the score.
McKenna was victimized next by T.J. Trevelyan's shot from the right face-off circle. Chris Collins factored in on the game's next two goals. Collins picked up his first of the postseason when he tipped in Lashoff's shot and then set up Nate Thompson for Thompson's first of the postseason to wrap up the scoring.
Both teams lineup were in flux for Game 1. Portland played without netminder Jean-Sebastien Aubin who was banged up in the first series and were also without Bruno St. Jacques. As partial compensation the club was able to dress defenseman Brendan Mikkelson who returned from a foot injury. The club might also have to do without Bobby Ryan in Game 2 if the league decides he needs to be disciplined for his abuse of officials misconduct penalty in the third period of Game 1.
Providence integrated their ringers from Boston by making wholesale changes in the lineup. In addition to Petteri Nokelainen and Vladimir Sobotka, Jeff LoVecchio saw his first action and Steve MacIntyre was dressed just in case trouble came up. Wacey Rabbit, Jordan Knackstedt, Zach Hamill and Dwayne Zinger were removed from the lineup to facilitate the new players.
The Bruins continue to win despite the failure of their power play. Thanks to the 10 unsuccesful power plays in this game the team is scoreless in their last 34 man-advantage tries.
Even though Portland lost in Game 1 they can still achieve a split if they win Game 2 of the series which is set for Sunday afternoon in Rhode Island.
|
|
| Game
2 |
Portland
1 - Providence 7 |
|
by Tom Schettino - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Providence
Leads Series 2-0 |
Providence,
RI
- Martins Karsums registered a hat trick and Petteri Nokelainen scored a pair of goals to lead the Providence Bruins to a 7-1 smash over the Portland Pirates. The game was relatively close for two periods before the Bruins scored four times in the last frame. With the win the Bruins take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series and have outscored the Pirates 11-1.
T.J. Trevelyan and Karsums scored in the first period. Trevelyan's goal came from the slot after a nice feed from rookie Zach Hamill. Karsums followed when Pascal Pelletier (who would have three assists on the night) corralled a rebound from Sean Curry's shot and sent the puck to the wide open Karsums.
Byron Bitz scored the lone goal of the first period when Jonathan Sigalet head-manned the puck to him and he took it up ice barreling through the Pirates defense before firing a shot past Mike McKenna. Bitz's goal would end the night for McKenna, who was starting in place for the second game for Jean-Sebastien Aubin, in favor of Gerald Coleman. Coleman would initially fare better, but broke under the weight of Providence's attack in the third period.
Karsums and Nokelainen each picked up a pair of goals in the final period. Most importantly Karsums' third goal of the evening came on the power play which snapped an 0-35 skid for the Bruins. There were signs the club was ready to break the skein earlier in the period when Nokelainen scored his first goal during a delayed penalty on a feed from Matt Hunwick. Hunwick made one of the better plays of the evening when he swept the puck to Nokelainen while he was lying down on the ice.
Portland's Andrew Ebbett scored the Pirates goal in the third period to break up Tuukka Rask's bid for a second consecutive shutout. Rask was replaced by Jordan Sigalet in goal with less then ten minutes to play.
To make matters worse for the Pirates they lost captain Tyler Bouck to a leg laceration early in the game. Providence was without Jeff Hoggan who missed the contest with a wrist injury. Portland's healthy scratches included Bruno St. Jacques and Darryl Bootland while the Bruins inserted Hamill in the lineup in place of Hoggan.
The two clubs will have a chance to get healthy and regroup because due to building availability in Maine the next game of the series will take place until Friday, May 2nd.
|
|
| Game
3 |
Providence
3 - Portland 4 (OT) |
| by Tom Schettino -
PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Providence
Leads Series 2-1 |
Portland,
ME
- Brendan Mikkelson's coast-to-coast rush could have been more artistic, but no one in the Anaheim Ducks organization is going to complain. Mikkelson picked up the puck in his own end with a little more than five minutes expired and took it down the ice against the Bruins. Mikkelson finished his strong rush with a weak shot which eluded Providence netminder Tuukka Rask at the 5:20 mark of overtime for the win. The goal saved the Pirates from facing down the barrel of a 3-0 deficit and gave them renewed life heading into Sunday's Game 4 at home against the Bruins.
Portland's Bobby Ryan was the star of regulation as he picked up two goals and an assist. Ryan's last goal came in desperate times as the Pirates had goaltender Jean-Sebastien Aubin pulled for an extra attacker. With just under a minute left Ryan found the puck while he was unattended on the side of the goal and he put the game-tying goal into a wide open portion of the net.
Ryan's goal killed a Providence rally which threatened to put a damper on the Pirates season. Trailing 2-1 in the third period the Bruins picked up goals from Petteri Nokelainen and Martins Karsums to put their club ahead 3-2. Nokelainen's goal came off a rebound of a Matt Hunwick shot while Karsmums was the result of a defensive breakdown by Portland in their own zone.
Prior to the two-goal outburst Portland had put together a rally of their own to give them their first lead of this best-of-seven series. Ryan and Geoff Platt picked up goals to answer an early deflection by Providence's Pascal Pelletier. Ryan's goal came off a hard shot with an assist from Brian Salcido while Platt struck a one-timer off a Ryan pass.
Aubin played well in is return to the net for the first time in the series after missing the first two games in Providence due to injury. Portland also received the services of Tyler Bouck, although Bouck and Bruno St. Jacques both were injured during the course of the game. Geoff Peters was in action for the Pirates after a five-game absence due to injury and Darryl Bootland was inserted by coach's decision. Michal Birner and Andy Schneider were held out after appearing in Game 2 in Rhode Island.
Providence used the same lineup in Game 3 as they had in their Game 2 7-1 blowout.
|
|
| Game
4 |
Providence
2 - Portland 3 (OT) |
|
by Tom Schettino - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Series
Tied 2-2 |
Portland,
ME
- This time last week the Providence Bruins were coming off a 7-1 pasting of the Portland Pirates and had a seemingly insurmountable two games to none lead. My how things can change in the playoffs.
After scoring two overtime goals this past weekend the Pirates are back in the series and have momentum on their side heading into Game 5 on Tuesday night in Maine.
It was Simon Ferguson's turn to be the hero on Sunday when he scored with 6:30 expired in overtime. Ferguson was preparing to come off the ice for a line change when he flung the puck at the net from the left point. The puck eluded Providence netminder Tuukka Rask and suddenly the teams were tied.
The game started promisingly for the Pirates when they scored the game's first two goals, but the AHL regular season champion Bruins came roaring back to tie the contest. Bobby Ryan picked up his fourth of the playoffs when he rocketed a one-timer past Rask to open the scoring while the Pirates were on the power play. Darryl Bootland doubled the lead when he finished a two-on-one break with Drew Miller.
But Providence was not about to fold as they picked up scores from rookie Zach Hamill and T.J. Trevelyan. The goals could not be further apart in style from each other. Hamill's goal came when the puck came to him in an open spot all alone after the puck deflected off a Portland defender. All the Bruins' 2007 first round pick had to do was tap it into an open net to put his club on the board. Trevelyan's goal was born from hard work. Trevelyan labored the puck out from the corner, put a shot on Portland netminder Jean-Sebastien Aubin and banged home the rebound given up by Aubin.
Perhaps Sunday's win was even more impressive considering the Pirates are not playing with all of their top players. Jason King, Bruno St. Jacques, captain Tyler Bouck and Geoff Peters were all out of the lineup for Game 4. They were replaced by two players from Augusta (ECHL) and two players who have not played in every game for the Pirates. Ryan Dingle, who was playing in his first game since being recalled from Augusta, picked up an assist on the game-winning goal. Dingle was joined in the lineup by Lynx teammate Adrian Veideman and Pirates spare parts Michal Birner and Andy Schneider. Providence kept the same lineup from Game 3 for this contest.
|
|
| Game
5 |
Providence
2 - Portland 3 |
|
by Tom Schettino - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Portland
Leads Series 3-2 |
Portland,
ME
- For a team given up for dead after losing the first two games of this series the Portland Pirates are putting a pretty good scare into the Providence Bruins, who were the AHL's top regular season club. Portland's resurgence can be tied to the play of Bobby Ryan and Jean-Sebastien Aubin.
Portland's three-game winning streak began when Ryan started to score and Aubin returned from bumps and bruises suffered in the club's opening series against the Hartford WolfPack. Ryan's last minute goal against the Bruins in Game 3 forced overtime which the Pirates went on to win. Portland has been unstoppable since, winning Game 4 in overtime last Sunday and Game 5 on Tuesday when Aubin saved the Pirates.
Providence opened and closed the scoring, but allowed three goals in between as they lost the contest. Providence had a decided advantage in shots on goal, but Aubin made enough stops to give his team a chance to cash in on chances of their own.
After a scoreless first period Petteri Nokelainen started the scoring in the second frame when his shot deflected off a defender in front of the goal past Aubin. Portland went on to receive goals from three different players to separate themselves from the Bruins. Joe Callahan tied the game when he beat Providence netminder Tuukka Rask from the point to send the clubs to their locker rooms knotted after 40 minutes of play.
Ryan notched his fifth goal of the playoffs by converting a touch pass from Drew Miller to give the Pirates their first lead of the game. Geoff Platt doubled the lead when he scored the eventual game-winner when he finished off a scramble in front of the Bruins net by roofing the puck over Rask.
Martins Karsums would pull Providence to within a single score when collected a fine pass from Pascal Pelletier and beat Aubin with the Bruins on a power play. Providence would try to muster the tying goal down the stretch but were denied by Aubin time and time again.
The two clubs will return to Providence at least for Game 6 which is slated for Friday. Should the Bruins hold serve, Game 7 will be played the next day.
|
|
| Game
6 |
Portland
5 - Providence 4 |
|
by Tom Schettino - PROHOCKEYNEWS.COM |
Portland
Wins Series 4-2 |
Portland,
ME
- Two weeks ago the Providence Bruins were on a roll. They won the first two games of the series, their young netminder Tuukka Rask was showing why he was expected to be a star netminder in the NHL someday and the Boston Bruins had just sent down a few ringers to help them finish off the Portland Pirates.
However the Bruins never could finish off the scrappy Pirates and now people are wondering if Rask is going to be a big-game goaltender or not after he was washed away by Portland.
At the start of the game it did appear order had returned in the universe as the AHL's top regular season team took a 2-0 lead in front of their home fans on goals by Pascal Pelletier and Nate Thompson. Pelletier scored when he knocked the puck in off Portland netminder Jean-Sebastien Aubin and Thompson doubled the lead with a shorthanded breakaway.
But Portland fought back and got into the game when Drew Miller scored on the same Matt Hendricks penalty in which Thompson had notched his shorthanded score. The Pirates then took control of the contest as they scored four of the game's next six goals.
Jason King had the lion's share of the scoring after returning from missing the last couple of games due to an injury. Andy Schneider evened the contest when he directed the puck in from the slot off a Bobby Ryan feed. It was Providence's turn to knot up the game when Martins Karsums scored from in close, but that would be it until late for the Bruins as the Pirates scored the game's next three scores.
King started the outburst and finished it, and Rask's season, with two blasts past the Bruins netminder sandwiched around a Geoff Platt score early in the third period. After King's second goal Providence coach Scott Gordon pulled Rask and inserted Jordan Sigalet into the affair. Providence controlled the rest of the contest and narrowed the lead to a single goal on a T.J. Trevelyan score with just over six minutes to play, but they would never score the equalizer.
Providence knew it was imperative to stop the Pirates top line and allow their better depth to shine through. But they could not do so as Portland's top line of Miller, Ryan and Andrew Ebbett (three assists) combined for six points in this game alone.
The series turned when Aubin went back into goal in Game 3 and the Bruins could never beat him. Aubin is 8-1 in the playoffs and his only loss came in the first round against the Hartford WolfPack. Ryan has also been a key for the club as his late goal in Game 3 forced overtime and turned the series around with his fine play in the series' other games.
The Pirates will move on to play the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Eastern Conference championship round. The best-of-seven series will start in Pennsylvania on May 14.
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
Power
Play |
15TH
- 16.8 |
Penalty
Killing |
8TH
- 84.4 |
FORWARDS |
PASCAL
PELLETIER |
37-38-75
(+20) |
MARTINS
KARSUMS |
20-43-63
(+25) |
JEFF
HOGGAN |
29-31-60
(+39) |
DEFENSEMEN |
BRETT
SKINNER |
7-40-47
(+13) |
SEAN
CURRY |
13-25-38
(+28) |
MATT
LASHOFF |
9-27-36
(+11) |
GOALTENDERS |
TUUKKA
RASK |
27-13-2
(1 SO)
2.33 GA
.905 PCT |
|
JORDAN
SIGALET |
12-5-1
(0 SO)
2.52 GA
.903 PCT |
|
|
|
