December 27, 2008
by Thomas Chace Jr.
The purpose of this franchise is to develop players in a system that will allow them to perform seamlessly when and if the parent club, the Boston Bruins, suffer injuries or need players to fill in voids on their NHL roster. That being said, this Providence team has performed above and beyond what could have been expected of them thus far. The fact that they also lead the Atlantic Division is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole Providence organization. The Boston Bruins are the top team in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, and Providence has undoubtedly helped them get there. Start with the call up of defenseman Matt Hunwick, who is now one of Boston’s top four defensemen. Follow that with successive recalls of defenseman Matt Lashoff and Johnny Boychuk, forwards Vladimir Sobotka, Martins Karsums, and most recently Marty St. Pierre. Boychuk and Karsums have since been returned to Providence and are scoring at a feverish pace. The call ups have also had a positive impact on other players who have stepped up their game and are now contributing in the scoring department. Mikko Lehtonen, Wacey Rabbit, and NHL veterans, Jeremy Reich and Peter Schaefer are starting to carry the load. Defensively, rookie Jeff Penner has made huge strides since opening night.
Both Bruins franchises would not be having their success without their greatest asset right now, goaltending. Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez have provided the best goaltending tandem in the NHL. Waiting in the wings is 21 year old Finnish sensation, Tuuka Rask, who is off to a great sophomore season. His GAA is near the top of the AHL, despite playing in at least seven more games than those ahead of him. His three shutouts are already a personal best in the regular season. Asked to take on a leadership role by head coach Rob Murray, he has held up his end of the request with his positive attitude, work ethic, and stellar play.
With the new year approaching and teams on their tail, the Providence Bruins have found success in the standings and more importantly are fulfilling their purpose. This Providence team recognizes that when Boston comes calling, they have the tools and direction to be successful in the show.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Providence Still Finding Their Way
November 18, 2008
by Thomas Chace Jr.
Who are these guys? They lost their top scorer; they lost perhaps the league’s best enforcer. Their head coach headed off to the NHL. What style of hockey are they playing? This Providence team is not like the team from a year ago when losses were few and far between.
On the weekend before last, the Providence Bruins took an unbelievable 141 shots on goal in three games and came away with only one win in three tries. They scored a total of only five goals. In the first game they were beaten by Chicago for the second time this season, in a rematch, on Providence’s home ice, 4-1. That was followed by a wild game in Albany where they were losing 3-1 with less than five minutes remaining. Goals by Brad Marchand, Martins Karsums, and an overtime game winner by Vladimir Sobotka preserved a 4-3 victory. Providence was helped by ten power play opportunities and outshot Albany 59-17. The last game over the weekend saw the Philadelphia Phantoms shut out the Bruins 2-0, as Scott Munroe preserved a Philly victory despite facing 46 shots. Head coach Rob Murray stated, “We did a lot of really good things, we got a lot of shots; the fact that we scored just one goal in our two home games was disappointing, but we’re doing the right things.”
This past weekend went much better from a point gathering perspective. Providence got eight goals on Friday night against division opponent Worcester, and won going away in the third period by an 8-3 margin. Commenting after last weekend’s shotfest, Coach Murray claimed that “you don’t know you’re going to get an eight goal performance, but you know it’s just a matter of time before the puck starts going in. We’re not doing everything right, but the effort is there, there was lot of good things we did last weekend despite the two losses, that you can take the positives out of. One of the positives obviously was that we were outshooting teams by a 3 to 1 or 2 to 1 margin.” A loss on the road to bitter rival Portland on Saturday night was not one of their better games. Providence did not generate enough offense and turnovers created opportunities for the first place Pirates. Portland is a very good team and very quick and Providence’s defense was taken advantage of most of the night. Portland, in first place, with only one loss all season, at the hands of Providence, has won nine games in a row. On Sunday back at home in Providence the Bruins were solid on their power play, scoring on three of seven opportunities. They showed great resiliency time after time throughout the back and forth affair. Ironically, the P-Bruins were outshot in all three games but won two out of three and gathered four of six points. Go figure. Certainly the more shots you take, the more opportunities you have. Spectacular goaltending can thwart those chances though.
Who are these guys? We don’t know yet. This team is still finding their own identity. Right now their leading scorer is a defenseman, Johnny Boychuk. The teams plus/minus is down from last year. They are a team in transition and each game has been a learning experience. One common thread, however, with last year’s team is the effort put forth by everyone in the organization. Effort and hard work usually result in victories as the season progresses.
by Thomas Chace Jr.
Who are these guys? They lost their top scorer; they lost perhaps the league’s best enforcer. Their head coach headed off to the NHL. What style of hockey are they playing? This Providence team is not like the team from a year ago when losses were few and far between.
On the weekend before last, the Providence Bruins took an unbelievable 141 shots on goal in three games and came away with only one win in three tries. They scored a total of only five goals. In the first game they were beaten by Chicago for the second time this season, in a rematch, on Providence’s home ice, 4-1. That was followed by a wild game in Albany where they were losing 3-1 with less than five minutes remaining. Goals by Brad Marchand, Martins Karsums, and an overtime game winner by Vladimir Sobotka preserved a 4-3 victory. Providence was helped by ten power play opportunities and outshot Albany 59-17. The last game over the weekend saw the Philadelphia Phantoms shut out the Bruins 2-0, as Scott Munroe preserved a Philly victory despite facing 46 shots. Head coach Rob Murray stated, “We did a lot of really good things, we got a lot of shots; the fact that we scored just one goal in our two home games was disappointing, but we’re doing the right things.”
This past weekend went much better from a point gathering perspective. Providence got eight goals on Friday night against division opponent Worcester, and won going away in the third period by an 8-3 margin. Commenting after last weekend’s shotfest, Coach Murray claimed that “you don’t know you’re going to get an eight goal performance, but you know it’s just a matter of time before the puck starts going in. We’re not doing everything right, but the effort is there, there was lot of good things we did last weekend despite the two losses, that you can take the positives out of. One of the positives obviously was that we were outshooting teams by a 3 to 1 or 2 to 1 margin.” A loss on the road to bitter rival Portland on Saturday night was not one of their better games. Providence did not generate enough offense and turnovers created opportunities for the first place Pirates. Portland is a very good team and very quick and Providence’s defense was taken advantage of most of the night. Portland, in first place, with only one loss all season, at the hands of Providence, has won nine games in a row. On Sunday back at home in Providence the Bruins were solid on their power play, scoring on three of seven opportunities. They showed great resiliency time after time throughout the back and forth affair. Ironically, the P-Bruins were outshot in all three games but won two out of three and gathered four of six points. Go figure. Certainly the more shots you take, the more opportunities you have. Spectacular goaltending can thwart those chances though.
Who are these guys? We don’t know yet. This team is still finding their own identity. Right now their leading scorer is a defenseman, Johnny Boychuk. The teams plus/minus is down from last year. They are a team in transition and each game has been a learning experience. One common thread, however, with last year’s team is the effort put forth by everyone in the organization. Effort and hard work usually result in victories as the season progresses.
Coach Rob Murray Gets AHL’s First Victory
October 9, 2008
By Thomas Chace Jr.
The Providence Bruins played the American Hockey League’s first game of the 2008-09 season last night at the newly renovated Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI. On opening night, new head coach, Rob Murray, was given the game puck by another newcomer, center Marty St. Pierre, after the P-Bruins beat the Lowell Devils 4-3 in an overtime shootout. St. Pierre scored along with Mikko Lehtonen on their shootout opportunities while goaltender Tuukka Rask thwarted all of Lowell’s chances. For Coach Murray it was a somewhat nerve-racking day as he approached his first game as head coach of the very successful Providence Bruins franchise. “It was great. I was real nervous standing there during all the introductions, which probably made it worse because it seemed to take forever. I was pretty pumped up. I was very nervous when I woke up this morning, but once you get in the confines of the rink and get around the guys that nervousness subsides.”
Murray, an assistant coach for five years with the P-Bruins, is getting his first opportunity to be a head coach at any level. Yesterday, he found out before his first game that his roster was still in flux. Jeremy Reich and Peter Schaefer both cleared waivers and reported to the team. The Boston Bruins also assigned forward Vladimir Sobotka to the P-Bruins. Returning captain, Nate Thompson, did not clear waivers. He was claimed by former Providence coach Scott Gordon, who now coaches the New York Islanders. In regards to Thompson, Murray said, “he was disappointed not to get Thompson back, but I believe Nate is an NHL caliber player and so does Scott Gordon, and that was the problem with that scenario. We all saw it coming, it was not surprising and I wish him all the best. I know he’ll do well.”
Murray’s first win was not pretty by any stretch, but a win is a win, especially in your coaching debut. The game was pretty sloppy and lacked any real flow due to poor ice conditions and an inordinate number of infractions called. The game was chippy at times, especially after several Bruins were hit from behind on two different occasions. With the loss of true heavyweight Steve Macintyre, the P-Bruins will rely on team toughness as evidenced in their response to the incidents. Murray was impressed with the response from his team, and praised Ryan Stokes for taking on several Devils after those hits.
Providence led 3-1 early in the second period, but Lowell’s creative Russian rookie Vladimir Zharkov scored halfway through the second, and again in the third period to tie the score at 3-3. Providence goaltender, Tuukka Rask, made several big saves with less than five minutes left in regulation and stoned all four chances by Lowell in the shootout. Rask was perhaps the best goalie in Boston’s training camp this year and was disappointed in being assigned back to Providence. However, Murray says, “he has come down with a real good attitude. I like the way he has approached it and I’ve talked to him about taking on the onus of a leadership role; he has embraced that and I believe that will help him to be very successful.” The Providence Bruins have a tough act to follow after last years AHL best record, but they have one of the greatest AHL players in history to show them how to be successful in hockey and in life.
Good Luck Flash
Good Luck “Flash”
August 18, 2008
By Thomas R. Chace
Last Tuesday, after a rigorous and exhaustive search, the NY Islanders named AHL coach of the year, Scott Gordon, as their new head coach. Scott “Flash” Gordon has been the head coach of the Providence Bruins for the last five seasons. Gordon, who won the 2007-08 Louis A.R. Pieri Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach, was named head coach of the NY Islanders by GM Garth Snow. The Islanders held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon and introduced Gordon to the Long Island media. The 45-year-old Massachusetts native, Gordon, led the Providence Bruins to their second best record in team history last year, compiling an AHL best regular season record of 55-18-3-4. Providence was surprisingly upset by the Portland Pirates in the second round of the AHL playoffs.
Providence’s 1998-99 team garnered 56 regular season wins and a Calder Cup championship and was led by head coach Peter Laviollette, who ironically has already coached the Islanders himself. Laviolette was unceremoniously let go by the Isles after ownership and team management showed very little patience with the coach who rose through the ranks in similar fashion as Gordon has now. Laviolette went on to coach and win the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. I’m sure the Islanders realize the error of their ways and will give Gordon a longer leash to prove he is capable of winning on the Island. The Islanders are soon to be in a brand new arena, part of a larger project referred to as The Lighthouse on Long Island. They are trying to regain the glory and redeem the values of the great NY Islander Stanley Cup years. The future looks bright; Scott Gordon has proven he can lead young players. Scott Gordon can definitely win hockey games, the numbers are there. Scott Gordon earned this opportunity. Trust the Gordon’s Fisherman to steer the Islanders ship through the storm ahead, with help from an enthusiastic crew who can see a lighthouse and good times ahead. Good luck “Flash”.
August 18, 2008
By Thomas R. Chace
Last Tuesday, after a rigorous and exhaustive search, the NY Islanders named AHL coach of the year, Scott Gordon, as their new head coach. Scott “Flash” Gordon has been the head coach of the Providence Bruins for the last five seasons. Gordon, who won the 2007-08 Louis A.R. Pieri Award as the AHL’s outstanding coach, was named head coach of the NY Islanders by GM Garth Snow. The Islanders held a press conference on Wednesday afternoon and introduced Gordon to the Long Island media. The 45-year-old Massachusetts native, Gordon, led the Providence Bruins to their second best record in team history last year, compiling an AHL best regular season record of 55-18-3-4. Providence was surprisingly upset by the Portland Pirates in the second round of the AHL playoffs.
Providence’s 1998-99 team garnered 56 regular season wins and a Calder Cup championship and was led by head coach Peter Laviollette, who ironically has already coached the Islanders himself. Laviolette was unceremoniously let go by the Isles after ownership and team management showed very little patience with the coach who rose through the ranks in similar fashion as Gordon has now. Laviolette went on to coach and win the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. I’m sure the Islanders realize the error of their ways and will give Gordon a longer leash to prove he is capable of winning on the Island. The Islanders are soon to be in a brand new arena, part of a larger project referred to as The Lighthouse on Long Island. They are trying to regain the glory and redeem the values of the great NY Islander Stanley Cup years. The future looks bright; Scott Gordon has proven he can lead young players. Scott Gordon can definitely win hockey games, the numbers are there. Scott Gordon earned this opportunity. Trust the Gordon’s Fisherman to steer the Islanders ship through the storm ahead, with help from an enthusiastic crew who can see a lighthouse and good times ahead. Good luck “Flash”.
Providence Season Ends Abruptly
May 10, 2008
By Thomas Chace Jr.
As I walked away from the Providence Bruins locker room for the last time this season, I realized I had made so many new acquaintances, that the sadness I felt for the boys in losing the series, was tempered by my experience this season covering the team. This team was like a distant cousin right here in the greater Providence area. The lack of coverage by our only newspaper saw to that. This Providence team was the best in the American Hockey League during the regular season, yet they received little attention throughout the season. The team who won seventy-five percent of their games during the season and won their first six playoff games in dramatic fashion has now suffered defeat at the hands of their arch rival, the Portland Pirates. The four games in a row in which they were defeated were decided by four goals, all one goal losses, including two in overtime. They were one minute away from winning game three in Portland that would have, in all likelihood, been the game that would have propelled the Bruins into the next round on their quest to win the Calder Cup. Even when they were down by two goals with minutes to play in game six, I felt they would win and force a game seven. I had the same feeling when the Patriots played Oakland in the playoffs in the amazing snow game where the infamous “tuck rule” took place. But on this night it was not meant to be. The resiliency the boys showed all year was present, but they just couldn’t get that tying goal. There is no doubt that the Pirates benefited from the return of their goaltender in game three, Jean-Sebastien Aubin, a 30 year-old NHL veteran, but it could be argued that the Bruins outplayed the Pirates in every phase of the game, yet still lost the series. These things happen in sports and it is surely disappointing and hard to swallow. The team perhaps deserved a better fate but it was not for lack of effort or costly mistakes; they played the same way they played all year. They fore-checked you to death, were aggressive in the neutral zone, and with few exceptions, out shot and out chanced opponents.
They are a very, very good team who were led by two extremely talented coaches in Scott Gordon and Rob Murray. Many of the Bruins players had their best years ever as professionals. It started when they bought into the system that was presented to them in training camp; their resulting record is proof that it was a success. More proof existed in the call ups of so many Providence players to the parent club in Boston; no player looked out of place when pressed into service in the NHL. So yes, I am saddened by the loss to the Pirates, but the team should hold their heads high. They were the best team in the AHL and despite their playoff loss to Portland; they have become better hockey players and are much more prepared to advance in their own professional careers. They are a class act and it was a pleasure to be around an organization that fosters such goodwill in the community and humility on and off the ice. There is so much to be proud of and that is what I’ll take away from this season after the disappointment ends.
By Thomas Chace Jr.
As I walked away from the Providence Bruins locker room for the last time this season, I realized I had made so many new acquaintances, that the sadness I felt for the boys in losing the series, was tempered by my experience this season covering the team. This team was like a distant cousin right here in the greater Providence area. The lack of coverage by our only newspaper saw to that. This Providence team was the best in the American Hockey League during the regular season, yet they received little attention throughout the season. The team who won seventy-five percent of their games during the season and won their first six playoff games in dramatic fashion has now suffered defeat at the hands of their arch rival, the Portland Pirates. The four games in a row in which they were defeated were decided by four goals, all one goal losses, including two in overtime. They were one minute away from winning game three in Portland that would have, in all likelihood, been the game that would have propelled the Bruins into the next round on their quest to win the Calder Cup. Even when they were down by two goals with minutes to play in game six, I felt they would win and force a game seven. I had the same feeling when the Patriots played Oakland in the playoffs in the amazing snow game where the infamous “tuck rule” took place. But on this night it was not meant to be. The resiliency the boys showed all year was present, but they just couldn’t get that tying goal. There is no doubt that the Pirates benefited from the return of their goaltender in game three, Jean-Sebastien Aubin, a 30 year-old NHL veteran, but it could be argued that the Bruins outplayed the Pirates in every phase of the game, yet still lost the series. These things happen in sports and it is surely disappointing and hard to swallow. The team perhaps deserved a better fate but it was not for lack of effort or costly mistakes; they played the same way they played all year. They fore-checked you to death, were aggressive in the neutral zone, and with few exceptions, out shot and out chanced opponents.
They are a very, very good team who were led by two extremely talented coaches in Scott Gordon and Rob Murray. Many of the Bruins players had their best years ever as professionals. It started when they bought into the system that was presented to them in training camp; their resulting record is proof that it was a success. More proof existed in the call ups of so many Providence players to the parent club in Boston; no player looked out of place when pressed into service in the NHL. So yes, I am saddened by the loss to the Pirates, but the team should hold their heads high. They were the best team in the AHL and despite their playoff loss to Portland; they have become better hockey players and are much more prepared to advance in their own professional careers. They are a class act and it was a pleasure to be around an organization that fosters such goodwill in the community and humility on and off the ice. There is so much to be proud of and that is what I’ll take away from this season after the disappointment ends.
Providence: First To 100
March 21, 2008
By Thomas Chace Jr.
In my last article I opined about the Providence Bruins road trip to face several Western Conference teams. I wondered how they would hold up physically and mentally as they tried to hold onto the best record in the American Hockey League. This team has been holding the best record in the league all year and that trip was going to challenge them in many ways. They did not fare very well out west, winning in Milwaukee to start the trip, but then losing four straight, including a 4-1 loss to Chicago. They are battling Chicago for the overall best record and home ice throughout the Calder Cup playoffs.
But once again the Bruins have rebounded and shown tremendous resiliency. Upon returning, Providence has gone 5-0-2. They have a ten point lead in their division, they lead Chicago by four points in the overall race, and are the first team to reach 100 points in the 2007-08 AHL season. All year, this team has shown that no matter what the circumstances, they are united to overcome any adversity. Earlier in the year, their team’s best players were called up to the parent club in Boston. Centers Vladimir Sobotka and David Krejci had nearly 50 points between them in limited time with Providence. Right wing Petteri Nokelainen played in only eight games for Providence but averaged a point a game. Their present leading scorer, Pascal Pelletier, was also called up for a time, yet Providence still managed to play stellar hockey. Their goaltender, Jordan Sigalet, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, actually collapsed during a game earlier in the year. He had to be transported to the hospital by rescue, and after several weeks of testing and a hospital stay, was returned home to recuperate and to begin to get back into game shape. His return to the team and his subsequent game efforts somewhat symbolizes what this Bruins team is all about. These guys never give up and they want to hold onto what they have.
In recent days there has been more good news regarding the team. The Boston Bruins have agreed to an eight year agreement with Providence to be their farm club through the 2015-16 AHL season. The playoff rosters were submitted in late February and Providence will enjoy the services of Sobotka, Krejci, and Nokelainen again after all. Another player who is eligible for Providence in the playoffs is Boston RW Phil Kessel. Tuukka Rask, the young Finnish goaltender, got his first shutout the other night and has proven he is a star in the making. The Providence Bruins may fall short of the record for wins or points this season, but their season could become one for the ages. Stay tuned.
By Thomas Chace Jr.
In my last article I opined about the Providence Bruins road trip to face several Western Conference teams. I wondered how they would hold up physically and mentally as they tried to hold onto the best record in the American Hockey League. This team has been holding the best record in the league all year and that trip was going to challenge them in many ways. They did not fare very well out west, winning in Milwaukee to start the trip, but then losing four straight, including a 4-1 loss to Chicago. They are battling Chicago for the overall best record and home ice throughout the Calder Cup playoffs.
But once again the Bruins have rebounded and shown tremendous resiliency. Upon returning, Providence has gone 5-0-2. They have a ten point lead in their division, they lead Chicago by four points in the overall race, and are the first team to reach 100 points in the 2007-08 AHL season. All year, this team has shown that no matter what the circumstances, they are united to overcome any adversity. Earlier in the year, their team’s best players were called up to the parent club in Boston. Centers Vladimir Sobotka and David Krejci had nearly 50 points between them in limited time with Providence. Right wing Petteri Nokelainen played in only eight games for Providence but averaged a point a game. Their present leading scorer, Pascal Pelletier, was also called up for a time, yet Providence still managed to play stellar hockey. Their goaltender, Jordan Sigalet, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, actually collapsed during a game earlier in the year. He had to be transported to the hospital by rescue, and after several weeks of testing and a hospital stay, was returned home to recuperate and to begin to get back into game shape. His return to the team and his subsequent game efforts somewhat symbolizes what this Bruins team is all about. These guys never give up and they want to hold onto what they have.
In recent days there has been more good news regarding the team. The Boston Bruins have agreed to an eight year agreement with Providence to be their farm club through the 2015-16 AHL season. The playoff rosters were submitted in late February and Providence will enjoy the services of Sobotka, Krejci, and Nokelainen again after all. Another player who is eligible for Providence in the playoffs is Boston RW Phil Kessel. Tuukka Rask, the young Finnish goaltender, got his first shutout the other night and has proven he is a star in the making. The Providence Bruins may fall short of the record for wins or points this season, but their season could become one for the ages. Stay tuned.
Providence Road Odyssey
February 25, 2008
By Thomas Chace Jr.
The Providence Bruins, the American Hockey League’s best team so far this year, are about to embark on a fast and furious road odyssey. They will be playing five games in six nights far away from their home rink in Rhode Island. On Thursday the P-B’s will fly into Milwaukee and face the Admirals on their home ice on Friday night. They will then bus to Rockford to play the IceHogs on Saturday night and then head off to the red hot Western Conference leading Chicago Wolves Allstate Arena for a Sunday afternoon showdown of the top two teams in the AHL. A flight to Houston follows with a game on Tuesday night against the Aeros and finally, on Wednesday, they finish their trip at San Antonio as they face the Rampage for the first time this year. The Bruins have already beaten Rockford, Chicago, Houston and Milwaukee back in Providence, so those teams will certainly be looking for payback. In regard to the Bruin’s opponents they’ll face on the road trip, Assistant Coach Rob Murray said “We have played them, all these teams, except San Antonio, this will be our first look at San Antonio…We’ve got a really good road record; there’s no reason to think that we won’t play well…We are 18-6 on the road.” They are now actually 20-6 thanks to two victories last weekend over Atlantic Division rivals Hartford and Springfield.
When Providence returns home from their frenetic road trip they will have no time to rest. They have three more games in three nights, a grand total of eight games in ten days. Will Providence be able to hold it together physically and mentally? Will they still lead the league in points in the race for home ice throughout the playoffs? Will Hartford make another run at them in the division race? What about the trade deadline deals, will they positively influence this young close knit group? Providence is having a tremendous season, a great group of young talent that has made winning a habit. They will surely be tested over the next two weeks. When they return to Providence, they will have nineteen games remaining; eleven will be at home in the Dunkin Donuts Center. I’m sure, to a man, they would like to go west one more time, at the very end of this special Providence Bruin season, in the Calder Cup finals. Stay tuned for previews.
By Thomas Chace Jr.
The Providence Bruins, the American Hockey League’s best team so far this year, are about to embark on a fast and furious road odyssey. They will be playing five games in six nights far away from their home rink in Rhode Island. On Thursday the P-B’s will fly into Milwaukee and face the Admirals on their home ice on Friday night. They will then bus to Rockford to play the IceHogs on Saturday night and then head off to the red hot Western Conference leading Chicago Wolves Allstate Arena for a Sunday afternoon showdown of the top two teams in the AHL. A flight to Houston follows with a game on Tuesday night against the Aeros and finally, on Wednesday, they finish their trip at San Antonio as they face the Rampage for the first time this year. The Bruins have already beaten Rockford, Chicago, Houston and Milwaukee back in Providence, so those teams will certainly be looking for payback. In regard to the Bruin’s opponents they’ll face on the road trip, Assistant Coach Rob Murray said “We have played them, all these teams, except San Antonio, this will be our first look at San Antonio…We’ve got a really good road record; there’s no reason to think that we won’t play well…We are 18-6 on the road.” They are now actually 20-6 thanks to two victories last weekend over Atlantic Division rivals Hartford and Springfield.
When Providence returns home from their frenetic road trip they will have no time to rest. They have three more games in three nights, a grand total of eight games in ten days. Will Providence be able to hold it together physically and mentally? Will they still lead the league in points in the race for home ice throughout the playoffs? Will Hartford make another run at them in the division race? What about the trade deadline deals, will they positively influence this young close knit group? Providence is having a tremendous season, a great group of young talent that has made winning a habit. They will surely be tested over the next two weeks. When they return to Providence, they will have nineteen games remaining; eleven will be at home in the Dunkin Donuts Center. I’m sure, to a man, they would like to go west one more time, at the very end of this special Providence Bruin season, in the Calder Cup finals. Stay tuned for previews.
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