Providence Defeats Worcester Again

Providence Takes 2-0 Series Lead
May 7, 2009
by T. Chace Jr.

After a long break between games, Providence triumphed again, this time on Worcester ice. Providence won 4-2 on Wednesday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. The Bruins now lead the best of seven series two games to none as they return to Providence for a game on Friday night.

The Bruins took the lead at the end of the first period on a goal by Martin St. Pierre with just 57 seconds left in the period. The period featured high tempo hockey, with alot of intensity and physical play. The assists on St. Pierre's goal went to Vladimir Sobotka and Brad Marchand. It was the third goal of the playoffs for St. Pierre. The Bruins led 1-0 at the end of one period.

The second period saw the Sharks Riley Armstrong score on a bang-bang play in front of Bruin goaltender Tuukka Rask. Rookie Logan Couture sent the puck in front to Armstrong from behind the net and he wristed it home for his first playoff goal. Providence however, regained the lead with just 19 seconds into a 5 on 3 power play. Defenseman Johnny Boychuck blasted a shot past Thomas Greiss for his third goal of the playoffs and giving Providence the lead back at 2-1 at the 7:36 mark. Boychuck's goal came with assists to St. Pierre and rookie Mikko Lehtonen. Providence outshot the Sharks in the second period by a 14-6 margin with Greiss making many big saves.

Providence took a 3-1 lead, about five minutes into the third period on a goal by Kirk MacDonald with assists to Wacey Rabbit and captain Jeremy Reich. The Sharks would not give up though and cut the deficit to one goal on Dan DaSilva's tally at 11:31 of the final period. DaSilva got the puck just under the crossbar with assists to Andrew Desjardins and Frazer McLaren. The Bruins and Rask held the fort for the remainder of the period. Rabbit scored an empty net goal with 40 seconds remaining in the game to finish it off for a 4-2 final. After the goal, Sobotka and Jamie McGinn were assessed misconduct and unsportmanlike conduct penalties. Then with 13 seconds remaining a donnybrook broke out all over the ice with fists flying. Fighting majors were given to MacDonald of Providence and McLaren of Worcester along with misconduct and unsportmanlike conduct penalties to Bruins' St. Pierre and Brendan Buckley. The Sharks' Brett Westgarth and Bruins' Andrew Bodnarchuck received roughing minors along with misconduct and unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. All setting the stage for Game 3, a must win for Worcester.

Providence outshot the Sharks 33-24 and was 1 for 3 on the power play. Worcester was 0 for 1 on their lone power play opportunity. St. Pierre was named first star followed by Rask and Greiss. A small crowd of only 1419 attended the game. The series returns to Providence for Game 3 on Friday May 8th.