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May 2009 Archives
3:18 PM Thu, May 21, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Mark Divver  Email
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By MARK DIVVER
Assistant Sports Editor
PROVIDENCE -- Tuukka Rask's verbal reflexes are every bit as sharp as the physical reflexes he displays when guarding the Providence Bruins' net.
After practice on Thursday morning, discussing his season, his outstanding playoff run and his future, Rask answered quickly and confidently when asked if he's ready for the NHL.
"I've felt ready for a long time. Everybody can think what they want, they've seen me play. I feel I'm ready,'' said Rask.
The Hershey Bears, the Bruins' opponent in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals Friday night at the Dunkin Donuts Center, would probably agree.
Rask helped bail the Bruins out in Game 1, making several tremendous saves in the final minutes and preserving a 3-2 victory.
In Game 2, Rask stopped the first 26 shots by the Bears before being beaten in the third period on a tip-in and then a centering pass that may have bounced in off a Providence defenseman. Hershey won, 2-1, but without Rask's 37 saves the game would not have been close.
The 22-year-old from Finland has been Providence's best player in the playoffs, leading them to series wins over Portland and Worcester so far.
After a stellar regular season, with 33 wins in 57 games -- tied for second in the league -- Rask has ramped up his game at the most important time of the season. He owns the best playoff stats in the AHL among goalies that are still playing -- a 1.76 goals-against average, .943 save percentage, and a 9-4 record.
Coach Rob Murray says that Rask's focus is sharper than ever, and Rask agrees.
"I'm trying to be reliable every night, consistent, that's what it's all about. Up in the NHL or in the AHL, you've got to be consistent. The better the players are, you better be, too. I've managed to do that this season maybe better than last year. I'm trying to keep it up the rest of the year,'' Rask said.
"Last year I had times when I really . . . wasn't trying in practice, and just playing the games. Once you get older you realize you can't just switch it on and off in practice and games. You have to practice hard and from there you can get the groove on in the game, too. That's something I've realized this year, you have to practice hard.''
Rask made a splash in the hockey world and beyond in February when he smashed his goalie stick and hurled a crate onto the ice after a referee's bad call cost the Bruins a shootout loss.
Asked about the meltdown -- which drew hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube -- Rask answers matter-of-factly: "Emotions are a part of the game. That happens sometimes, it's the AHL and you don't have video review, so it's kind of a tough thing to take, but it happens.''
Rask showed more maturity during the playoff series with Worcester when he kept his composure even while the Sharks were running at him, trying to knock him off his game. "I didn't let that get in my head, I battled through it,'' he said.
Rask got his feet wet in the NHL two years ago, playing four games in Boston and recording his first NHL win, in Toronto. This season, he played one game in Boston, and it was a beauty, a 1-0 shutout of the Rangers.
With the expected departure of Manny Fernandez via retirement or free agency, Rask appears to be a lock to step in as Tim Thomas's backup in Boston next season. AHL shooters won't be sorry to see him go.
*****
Jason Lawrence is in, Dan Ryder is out.
Ryder, the younger brother of Boston Bruin Michael Ryder, was released from his tryout contract. He scored one assist in eight playoff games, and one goal and five assists for six points in 20 games in the regular season.
Lawrence, a right wing who was the leading goal-scorer on Boston University's NCAA championship team this season with 25, joined the team this week on a tryout.
Murray said that Lawrence's agent, Jerry Buckley of Warwick, called to ask if the P-Bruins were interested in looking at Lawrence. Murray said that he was and after clearing it with Don Sweeney, Boston player personnel director, Lawrence was signed.
Murray said that he coached Lawrence last summer in the Bridgewater, Mass., college league. "I remembered him from there, and I kind of kept tabs on him'' during the college season, Murray said.
With Byron Bitz not able to play for the P-Bruins because of a rib injury, and the release of Ryder, Lawrence provides some insurance. "You can never be too safe,'' Murray said.
Lawrence, 22, is a native of Saugus, Mass. He is 5'10'', 185 pounds. Undrafted, he scored 46 goals in 158 career games at BU.
*****
Hershey and Providence both have two players in the top 10 in playoff scoring. The Bears' Alexandre Giroux (6-8-14 in 13 games) is fourth. The Bruins Martin St. Pierre (5-9-14 in 13 games) is fifth. Brad Marchand (6-7-13 in 13 games) is sixth. Hershey's Chris Bourque (2-11-13 in 13 games) is 10th.
*****
Special teams continue to be a strong point for Providence. The power play, which was 3 for 6 in Games 1 and 2, is second in the league at nearly 25 percent. The penalty kill is fourth. Hershey's power play, which is fifth in the league, was 1 for 12 in Games 1 and 2. The Bears' penalty kill is ninth in the AHL.
*****
Hershey's Quintin Laing was believed to be lost for the season in March when he suffered a lacerated spleen while playing for the Washington Capitals. But Laing traveled with the Bears from Pennsylvania and apparently has a shot at getting into the lineup.
2:27 PM Thu, May 21, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Mark Divver Email
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If you watch any hockey at this time of year, one thing that sticks out -- literally in some cases -- is the players' scruffy facial hair and, in some cases, crazy hair styles.
Hockey players don't shave once the playoffs start.
They keep their beards until the team either wins a championship or is eliminated.
On a team like the Providence Bruins, where so many of the players are so young, growing a respectable playoff beard can be a challenge. But -- from the grizzled veterans to the fresh-faced rookies -- you have to give them credit for trying.
In this video, some of the Bruins talk about their playoff beards, and in Wacey's Rabbit's case, his playoff Mohawk.
12:54 PM Wed, May 20, 2009 | Permalink |
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By MARK DIVVER
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
PROVIDENCE -- Byron Bitz won't be finishing the season in Providence after all.
Rob Murray, the coach of the Providence Bruins, said Wednesday morning that a rib injury that Bitz suffered during the Boston Bruins' playoff series with Carolina was more serious than originally thought.
"He was banged up a little bit, and I don't think they realized how bad he was,'' Murray said.
"He needed medical attention in order to play the last two games up in Boston . He would have had to continue doing that here. (Boston general manager) Peter (Chiarelli) told me and Bitzy told me his ribs were sore. They did more research into it (on Tuesday) and he was hurt more than he was letting on. They would prefer that he not play, rather than playing with this injury and continue to get shot up every game.
"Bitzy was happy to be here and willing to do it, but they don't want to jeopardize his future, and I don't blame them,'' Murray said.
Bitz was on the ice for the team's optional skate on Tuesday.
On the phone Tuesday afternoon, Bitz said he was looking forward to playing in Providence again, instead of going home for the summer. "I'd rather be playing. I'm excited to get back into it,'' he said.
*****
The news out of the Bears camp is that they hope to use their depth to grind down the Bruins this weekend.
"We've got to get it deep on them and punish them when they're out there," Hershey's Chris Bourque told Dan Sernoffsky of the Lebanon, Pa., Daily News, "because hopefully it will get them tired and wear them down. They've got a solid team but the more we punish them, the better it is for us."
Said coach Bob Woods: "We're gonna roll four lines. It's his (Providence coach Rob Murray) choice of what he wants to do. We're just gonna play and try to beat the guys we're playing against. That's all you can do."
The Bears had poor first periods in both of last weekend's game, and Woods is hoping things are different in Providence.
''I didn't like our starts in either game," Woods told Sernoffsky. "I think Game 2 was more cautious. Both teams, you've got two very good goaltenders, and everybody knows, you get that lead and it's a big part of what's gonna happen. The second game we were a little bit cautious. Once we got going, we got a lot of shots. It's gonna take a lot of shots to beat that guy (Providence goalie Tuukka Rask)."
Hershey captain Bryan Helmer points to Hershey's depth and the short turnaround between Sunday's game (7 p.m.) and Monday's (4 p.m.) could be an advantage. "It should," Helmer told Tim Leone of the Patriot-News of Harrisburg, Pa. "But if you look at their top two lines, they're pretty young. They've got a young team. We're hoping that they wear down, but their top two lines are pretty competitive.
*****
Woods tore into enforcer Kip Brennan for an open-ice hit in practice Tuesday that dropped Chris Bourque. "It was an open-ice hit that you don't like to see those type things against some of our guys,'' Woods reportedly said afterward. "I just wanted to make sure that he knew that wasn't permitted.''
Brennan and his Providence counterpart Jonathan Trembley don't figure to dress during this series.
****
Providence's Rob Murray said that when he was nearly at the end of his playing career and was thinking about getting into coaching, he nearly took a job as a player/assistant coach with Bob Woods, who at the time was the head coach of the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the East Coast Hockey League.
While Murray was weighing the job offer, he got an offer to play one more year, with Springfield, and he took it. After that season, 2002-03, Murray retired as a player and took a job as Scott Gordon's assistant in Providence.
12:39 PM Tue, May 19, 2009 | Permalink |
By Mark Divver Email
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By MARK DIVVER
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
PROVIDENCE -- After the Boston Bruins were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes last Thursday, Byron Bitz thought he was headed to Saskatchewan to help an uncle plant wheat, barley and canola on his farm.
Peter Chiarelli had other ideas.
On Monday, the Boston general manager talked to Bitz about finishing the season in Providence, where the Bruins are playing Hershey in the Calder Cup semifinals.
"He said he thought it would be good for me to come down here,'' Bitz said.
That was fine with Bitz.
"I'd rather be playing,'' he said. "I'm excited to get back into it,''
The 24-year-old right winger, who played all of last season and 37 games in the first half of this season in Providence before spending the rest of the year in Boston, skated Tuesday morning at the team's optional practice.
"It was kind of fun to walk into the room and see all the guys again,'' Bitz said.
Providence coach Rob Murray, as you might expect, is delighted to have him.
"He's definitely, in my eyes, established himself as an NHL player,'' Murray said.
The Cornell grad has never been known as a scorer. In college, Bitz never scored more than 10 goals in a season. In his rookie year with Providence in 2007-08, he had 13 goals and 14 assists for 27 points in 61 games.
In Boston this year, Bitz scored 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points in 35 games. Games 6 and 7 of the Carolina series were two of his better games all season.
The 6'5'' 215 pounder has developed into a dependable player who uses his size to protect the puck and move it out of the defensive zone, and to keep possession in the offensive zone.
"He did what he needed to do when he went up,'' Murray said. "He earned the time that he got to play up there. It's a good chance for him to continue on here and get more ice time, and hopefully help us out.''
******
Murray said that Wacey Rabbit's availability Friday night will be a game-time decision. Rabbit left Game 1 with a lower-body injury after three or four shifts, and did not dress for Game 2.
Rabbit's injury is not serious, Murray said. "We've been careful with him. Right now, I expect him to play Friday. I talked to him this morning, he's feeling a lot better. It'll come down to how this week progresses for him. Obviously, having four or five days between games helps anybody that's banged up on both teams. I'm pretty confident he'll be able to play this weekend.''
*****
In Rabbit's place, Jamie Arniel, in just his fourth pro game, did a good job on Saturday.
Centering Jeremy Reich and Kirk MacDonald, Arniel went head to head with Hershey's explosive line of Alexandre Giroux, Keith Aucoin and Graham Mink, and helped hold them to a combined 7 shots and no goals.
"I like Jamie Arniel. He's ahead of the curve. He's a very good skater, he works hard, and I find him to be a very intelligent hockey player. For me, it was advantageous to have him in the lineup when Wacey went down,'' Murray said.
Arniel, 19, was one of several young, unsung Bruins who made major contributions on Saturday. Matt Marquardt, 21, scored the winning goal. Zach Hamill, 20, had two assists. Jordan Knackstedt, 20, had a goal. David Kolomatis, 20, was steady on defense.
*****
How important is goaltending in the playoffs?
The starting goalies for three of the four AHL teams that are still playing are among the league leaders: Cory Schneider, Manitoba, 1.76; Tuukka Rask, Providence, 1.76; Michal Neuvirth, Hershey, 1.92.
The only goalie with better numbers is Drew MacIntyre of the Milwaukee Admirals, who finished with a 1.65 goals-against average.
Both Providence and Hershey got superb goaltending in Games 1 and 2. "Tuukka played very well, and their goalie played very well, too. You're not going to get to where we are without goaltending. You're not gonna do it with smoke and mirrors,'' Murray said.
Of Rask, Murray said: "He's been good all year. Right now, he seems really focused and engaged. He's interested in doing well and playing well and it shows not only in his games but in practice. He's really on in practice. He's doing the job he needs to do for us in order for us to be successful.''
*****
Brad Marchand, the leading rookie scorer in the playoffs, will answer questions from fans in the AHL Chat Room on Thursday. To participate, go to theahl.com.
7:42 PM Sun, May 17, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Mike McDermott Email
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HERSHEY, Pa. -- Goals by Andrew Joudrey and Alexandre Giroux two and half minutes apart early in the third period lifted the Hershey Bears to a 2-1 win over the Providence Bruins before 7,460 fans at the Giant Center.
Hershey's win evened the Eastern Conference finals at one. Games Three, Four and Five will be Friday, Sunday and next Monday at the Dunkin Donuts Center.
Hershey outshot Providence, 39-26, and controlled play for long stretches in the Providence end of the ice. The Bears had a 7-2 advantage in power plays.
Brad Marchand scored Providence's only goal with 36 seconds left in the game, and goalie Tuukka Rask on the bench. Marchand had a chance to tie it with seconds left but shot the puck over the net.
12:08 AM Fri, May 15, 2009 | Permalink |
By Mark Divver Email
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By MARK DIVVER
Assistant Sports Editor
PROVIDENCE - Bright and early Thursday morning, not even 12 hours after eliminating the Worcester Sharks in the Atlantic Division finals, Rob Murray did what any good coach would do.
He called Todd Reirden, the coach of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, to talk about the Hershey Bears, the Providence Bruins' next opponent. Reirden's Penguins lost to Hershey in six games in the East Division finals, which ended Tuesday night.
There's no time for days off when you're halfway to a Calder Cup.
And while Murray wasn't about to disclose the specifics of his conversation with Reirden, he was quick to say that the Bears -- who finished first in the East Division with 49 wins and 106 points -- are a formidable opponent.
"They've got as well-balanced a lineup as you're going to find in the American Hockey League. Four good lines," Murray said. "They've got Oscar Osala playing on the fourth line. Here's a guy that going to play in the NHL eventually.''
The key to Hershey's offensive game is the trio of Alexandre Giroux, Keith Aucoin and Graham Mink, the best in the league.
Giroux (60-37-97 in 69 games) and Aucoin (25-71-96 in 70 games) finished first and second in scoring in the AHL. Mink chipped in with 32-27-59 totals, along with 101 penalty minutes.
Though it will be difficult in Hershey, where the Bears will get the last change, Murray will try to get the Wacey Rabbit, Jeremy Reich, Kirk MacDonald line and the shutdown defense pairing of Adam MacQuaid and Andrew Bodnarchuk on the ice against the Aucoin line as much as possible. The Rabbit line and MacQuaid and Bodnarchuk have been outstanding in the playoffs, neutralizing the top lines for Portland and Worcester.
Making it tougher for Providence is the fact that Hershey's other lines are potent, too. Chris Bourque, Kyle Wilson and Mathieu Perreault all scored 50 points or more.
"There's not much of a drop off as far as their secondary guys go,'' Murray said.
Hershey has a deep, well-seasoned defense corps, which includes 36-year-old Bryan Helmer. "He's a crafty veteran, along the lines of a John Slaney,'' said Murray, referring to the two-time winner of the Eddie Shore Trophy as the AHL best defenseman.
"Helmer's been around a long time, and had some success. He's not maybe the offensive threat he was years ago, but he's still a quality player and a real cagey veteran.''
Other quality defensemen are Sami Lepisto, Karl Alzner and Steffan Kronwall. "They've got a real good group of defensemen,'' Murray said.
In goal, Hershey's Michal Neuvirth shut out Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Games 6 and 7. After backing up Simeon Varlamov for most the season, Neuvirth has come into his own in the playoffs.
The Bruins and Bears met twice during the regular season. In Providence on Jan. 2, the Bruins peppered Neuvirth in a 7-2 win. On March 1 in Hershey, the Bears won, 6-4.
After being a clear favorite in its first two series against Portland and Worcester, Providence is the underdog in this series.
"We've got our work cut out for us, but we're playing some good hockey ourselves, so we've just got to ride what we're doing and continue doing it well,'' Murray said.
*****
Prediction: Murray and assistant coach Bruce Cassidy have done a masterful job, and will continue to push the right buttons with a very young team. Buzzsaws Vladimir Sobotka and Brad Marchand will get under the Bears' skin, and Tuukka Rask will steal a couple of games. Bruins in six.
*****
The Bruins will bus to Pennsylvania Friday after practice. The team will stay in Reading Friday night, then hop on a bus to Hershey Saturday morning. Hotel rooms are scarce because of a Bruce Springsteen concert in Hershey on Friday night, Murray said.
*****
The Providence Bruins have never played Hershey in a playoff series. The Providence Reds and the Bears played in the Calder Cup finals in 1974, with Hershey winning in five games. Rookie Rick Middleton was the leading scorer on that Reds team.
*****
With goals from five different players, the Bruins were clearly the superior team in Worcester in Game 6. "We dominated,'' said Murray.
The Sharks targeted Rask, but were whistled for two goaltender interference penalties in the first 15 minutes. On the first penalty, (Worcester's Jason) "Demers just ran Tuukka right through the net. Didn't even slow down,'' Murray said.
"Koho (referee Terry Koharski) did a great job,'' Murray said.
To make sure that no Sharks player could take a run at Rask late in the game, Murray lifted him with a minute to go and inserted Kevin Nastiuk.
"I wanted to get Tuukka out earlier than I did, but from the five-minute mark to the one-minute mark there was no whistle,'' Murray said.
"Their game plan (in the series) was to try to outmuscle us. To our guys' credit, it didn't work.''
*****
The Sharks worked up a good hate for Providence's Brad Marchand. Murray said he was told that the Sharks' Dan DaSilva wouldn't shake Marchand's hand after Game 6.
*****
Ryan Stokes is still day to day with an undisclosed injury, Murray said. Andrew Bodnarchuk, who was on the receiving end of a vicious hit from behind by Worcester's Riley Armstrong, was shaken up but should be ready for Game 1 in Hershey, Murray said. Armstrong received a game misconduct for boarding. After leaving the penalty box, Armstrong speared Johnny Boychuk of the Bruins in the midsection, drawing a second game misconduct.
*****
The playoffs are an education for young players, Murray said.
"Learning how to win in tough conditions. That's what the playoffs are about. Winning breeds winning. You learn how to win. It's a learned thing. You can't just say, 'I'm a winner.' You have to learn how to get it done, so I think it's great for our younger guys especially to have this experience and have the opportunity to move on. You go through an 80-game season and, yeah, there's a certain amount of development there. By winning a couple of rounds, these guys learn how fun it is and how important it is to win games and to be good teammates. These guys are getting closer every day. This doesn't come along very often.''
4:22 PM Thu, May 14, 2009 | Permalink |
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First, the news: Marc Savard was on the ice at the morning skate today at The Garden and will play tonight.
Second, the opinion: No exaggeration, for the future of the Bruins franchise, this is nothing less than the most important game the team has played since Game 1 of the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals vs. Edmonton. If the Bruins had won that game -- if Glen Wesley had hit that open net in OT -- they might have gone on to win the Stanley Cup. Instead, they lost in triple overtime and the series slipped away. For the better part of the last 19 years, they've been an afterthought on the New England sports scene.
If the Bruins win tonight, they advance to the semifinals against Pittsburgh and the transcendent Sidney Crosby and Evgeny Malkin. Lose, and this Bruins season goes down as another in a long line of disappointments.
Here are a few factoids on the Bruins and Canes, courtesy of TSN.ca:
*** Boston has played in just three game 7's in the past 15 years, all against Montreal.
*** Boston has failed to score in their last two game 7's, losing 5-0 in 2008 and 2-0 in 2004
*** Carolina is 3-0 all-time in game 7's, Hartford was 0-3
*** Boston is looking for their first franchise series win, when trailing a series 3-1 (0-21)
*** This is just the second time that Boston has forced a game 7 when trailing a series 3-1 (2008 vs Montreal)
*** Boston has gone 2 for 31 on the PP over their past 8 games
*** Carolina has scored just 2 goals in their last 2 games, going 0 for 8 on the PP
*** Cam Ward is 3-0 in game 7's, .927sv%
*** Notable Player Record's In a Game 7: Yelle 5-6, Recchi 4-2, Whitney 5-1, Brind'Amour 4-1
*** Staal has 9G, 3A in Carolina's 7 playoff wins and 0G, 1A in their 6 playoff losses
*** Savard 2G, 3A and Recchi 3G, 2A both have 4- game point streaks
1:57 PM Wed, May 13, 2009 | Permalink |
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By MARK DIVVER
Assistant Sports Editor
PROVIDENCE -- If Brad Marchand is bothered by the nasty things the Worcester Sharks are saying about him, he doesn't show it.
After reading derogatory quotes from Sharks coach Roy Sommer -- "a freakin classless act'' -- and center Andrew Desjardins -- "He's a joke'' -- in the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, the feisty rookie smirked and said he's just doing his part to help the Providence Bruins win.
"If it's getting in the papers, I'm doing my job,'' Marchand said after the morning skate Wednesday at the Dunkin Donuts Center. "We're up in the series, 3-2, we're going back to their rink. I'm obviously doing something right. Two guys took penalties on me (Monday) night. They're always yapping at me, so I'm doing my job.''
One thing that Marchand will not do is back off on his in-your-face style of play.
"I like playing that game, it's fun to play. I have to do it if I'm going to have a career. It really gets my game going and I play a lot better, so I'm going to keep doing it,'' he said.
At the same time, Marchand knows he has to be careful.
"I've gotta make sure I don't cross the line. I got a couple of penalties (Monday night), and they capitalized on both of them. So I have to make sure I stay on the right side of the line, do what I can to help the team.''
*****
Providence coach Rob Murray said he will go with the same lineup in Game 6 Wednesday night. If Game 7 is necessary, it will be played Thursday at The Dunk at 7 p.m. Game 7 of the Boston-Carolina series is at 8 o'clock the same night.
*****
It's looking like Bruins management made a shrewd move by signing Drummondville center Yannick Riendeau to a free-agent contract in early April instead of waiting until after the season.
Riendeau, 20, the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League scoring champ this season, is in the midst of a playoff scoring run for the ages, and his price undoubtedly would have escalated.
Riendeau has an incredible 29 goals and 23 assists for 52 points in 19 playoff games. He was awarded the Guy Lafleur Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in the QMJHL playoffs.
Bruins fans can get a look at Riendeau starting this weekend when Drummondville plays in the Memorial Cup. The NHL Network is televising the tournament.
Marchand played against Riendeau for the past few seasons in the Q. Here's his take:
"He's a great player. I've had the opportunity to play against him quite a few times. He's very dangerous every time he gets the puck. He's got very good skill, sees the ice really well. He's a great power-play player. He's very good at threading the needle. He's always dangerous in tight areas. I know when he comes in next year he's going to make a difference.''
*****
The winner of the Providence-Worcester series will play Hershey in the Eastern Conference finals. Hershey beat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 3-0, in Game 7 of the East Division finals on Tuesday. Former Providence Bruin Keith Aucoin had the game-winning goal and an assist.
10:01 AM Wed, May 13, 2009 | Permalink |
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The Boston Bruins won't have history on their side Thursday night when they meet the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7 at the Garden.
Not once in their 85-year existence have the Bruins rallied to win a series in which they've trailed 3-1. They've lost all 21 times.
The Bruins are 9-8 in seven-game series.
Boston's last seven-game series was last season when the B's rallied to push the series to the limit after Montreal went up 3-1. But the Bruins were routed in Game 7, 5-0.
The last time the Bruins played a seventh game at home was in 2004, when they lost to Montreal. That was the infamous series in which an injured Joe Thornton failed to register a point.
The last time the Bruins won a seventh game at home was against Montreal in 1994.
4:35 PM Tue, May 12, 2009 | Permalink |
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By MARK DIVVER
Assistant Sports Editor
PROVIDENCE -- The Worcester Sharks had a few things to say to Brad Marchand during Game 5 Monday night, and even more to say about him afterward.
Happy birthday wishes weren't included.
Because when Marchand -- who turned 21 Monday -- wasn't scoring a goal and being slapped with penalties for roughing, interference and tripping, he was yapping, jabbing and even gesturing the Sharks into a state of exasperation.
"That's him,'' Sharks coach Roy Sommer told the Worcester Telegram & Gazette's Bill Ballou after Providence's 4-3 win. "A freakin' classless act. But what are you gonna do?''
Sommer was referring to Marchand's celebration after his power-play goal midway through the second period put the Bruins ahead, 3-1.
The rookie winger skated to the center red line, about 10 feet from the Worcester bench, and cupped his hand to his ear. The meaning of the gesture looked to be along the lines of "I can't hear you.''
To see Marchand's celebration and highlights from the game, click here.
"He doesn't bother me,'' Worcester's Andrew Desjardins told Ballou. "I just laugh at him. He's a joke. I'm not gonna let him get under my skin.''
Providence coach Rob Murray -- who played an in-your-face style during his 16-year career -- shook his head when asked about Marchand's game on Monday night. "He's relentless, that kid,'' he said.
There is more to Marchand's game than driving opponents nuts. After a solid rookie season (18-41-59 in 79 games), he has turned it up in the playoffs with 5-5-10 in 10 games, good for 10th in the league.
Marchand was not at Tuesday morning's optional practice, so he wasn't available to respond to Worcester's comments.
*****
Providence assistant coach Bruce Cassidy said he did not trade insults with Worcester assistants David Cunniff and Brian Marchment in the first period, as reported in the Telegram.
"I was yelling at the linesman. I've got no beef with their coaching staff at all,'' said Cassidy.
On the play in question, Providence was whistled for icing, although the coach's DVD of the game clearly showed that Johnny Boychuk had gained the red line before shooting the puck in.
*****
The coaching staff's decision to insert Levi Nelson into the lineup paid off when the 21-year-old rookie potted the eventual game-winner Monday night, slapping a rebound into an open net at 10:42 of the third.
After not dressing for the first nine playoff games, and coming off a regular season in which he scored only twice in 59 games and spent time in the East Coast League, Nelson added some jump to the lineup.
"One of the things we were lacking in (Game 4) was the ability to get in on the forecheck,'' Murray said. " If Levi can do anything it's skate, and he's fearless as far as getting in and making hits. He got the chance and he buried it. It's nice to see a guy step in like that and bring the energy and get rewarded with a game-winning goal.''
*****
Providence defenseman Ryan Stokes is day to day after missing Games 4 and 5 with an undisclosed injury, Murray said.
*****
Worcester is the most penalized team in the league at 22.7 minutes a game. Providence is second at 20.7.... Aaron Downey of Grand Rapids leads the league in PIMs with 44, followed by Worcester's Brett Westgarth and Frazer McLaren with 40 and Providence's Vladimir Sobotka with 37. ... Riley Armstrong (3-10-13 in 11 games) of the Sharks is third in the league in playoff scoring. Providence's top scorer is Martin St. Pierre (4-7-11 in 10 games). St. Pierre is eighth in the AHL. . . . Worcester's Andrew Desjardins, Mike Moore, Patrick Traverse (all plus-7) and Brendan Buckley (plus-6) are among the league leaders in plus-minus. Providence's best are Jeremy Reich (plus-5) and Stokes (plus-4). . . . Providence went 1 for 4 on the power play Monday night. The P-Bruins are fourth in the league in both power play and penalty killing. ... Worcester was 2 for 5 on the PP. The Sharks are ninth on the PP and 10th on the PK.
11:48 AM Tue, May 12, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Mark Divver Email
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Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward participated in the morning skate today in Carolina and general manager Peter Chiarelli said that Ward will play tonight in Game 6, according to Boston.com.
Ward did not wear any facial protection this morning.
Ward was punched by Carolina's Scott Walker near the end of Boston's 4-0 win in Game 5. Ward was examined for possible fractures around the eye, but none were found.
Walker was fined $2,500 for the punch, but was not suspended.
7:56 PM Mon, May 11, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Art Martone Email
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The Bruins issued a statement Monday night about the NHL failing to suspend Scott Walker for his punch of Aaron Ward in Game Five Sunday night:
"We respectfully disagree with the NHL's ruling to rescind the automatic suspension to Scott Walker, but we will abide by the League's ruling."
7:28 PM Mon, May 11, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Art Martone Email
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2:29 PM Mon, May 11, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Mark Divver Email
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RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- Carolina Hurricanes forward Scott Walker was fined $2,500 but will not be suspended by the NHL for throwing a punch that may have broken a bone in Boston defenseman Aaron Ward's face.
Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford told The Associated Press on Monday that the automatic suspension given to Walker was rescinded during a hearing with league disciplinarian Colin Campbell. It was determined that the hit was not a "sucker punch."
Tempers flared in the final minutes of Boston's 4-0 victory Sunday in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals when Ward and Carolina's Matt Cullen began shoving in front of the Bruins' net. Walker skated in and hit Ward with a right cross, and was given a misconduct, a fighting major and an instigator penalty.
1:46 PM Mon, May 11, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Mark Divver Email
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Both the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald report that Boston Bruins defenseman Aaron Ward will travel with the team to Raleigh this afternoon for Tuesday night's Game 6 against Carolina.
Ward was punched by the Canes' Scott Walker late in Sunday night's game and underwent tests to determine if he suffered a broken orbital bone.
Meanwhile, there is still no word on whether Walker will play on Tuesday night. Because he drew an instigator penalty in the last five minutes of a game, he was automatically suspended pending a league review. However, that doesn't mean he won't play in Game 6. He could be reinstated by the NHL before the game.
11:44 AM Mon, May 11, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Mark Divver Email
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PROVIDENCE -- The American Hockey League's best defenseman, Johnny Boychuk, and the rest of the Providence Bruins' defense corps were present and accounted for at the team's morning skate at the Dunkin Donuts Center before tonight's Game 5 against Worcester.
Of course, Game 6 between the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh is still roughly 30 hours away, so there is plenty of time for GM Peter Chiarelli to pluck a defenseman -- Boychuk would appear to be the likely choice -- off the Providence roster in case Aaron Ward can't play.
The Bruins are reportedly waiting to hear whether Ward suffered a broken orbital bone when punched by Carolina's Scott Walker in the waning moments of Sunday's night's game.
Providence coach Rob Murray, for one, isn't expecting a call. "They haven't called, and they would have called by now,'' he said late this morning.
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The P-Bruins are planning a couple of lineup changes for tonight's game. Defenseman Kevin Schaeffer and center Levi Nelson will play in place of defenseman Matt Stephenson and forward Matt Marquardt. It's the first playoff action this season for both.
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Center Jamie Arniel, who joined the team last week, was impressive in his first pro game, Saturday night's 1-0 loss in Worcester. "He played very well,'' Murray said.
Arniel is a 5'11'' 183-pound center who doesn't turn 20 until November. Murray said that Arniel "is a better skater than I remembered'' from last summer's rookie camp and Boston's training camp.
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Murray wasn't dissatisfied with his team's play on Saturday, despite the loss.
"We're not coming home limping,'' he said. "We should have confidence that we're coming home and we're gonna do well.''
Providence started slowly on Saturday -- Worcester had a 14-2 advantage in shots in the first period and Tom Cavanagh tallied the game's only goal. "Tuukka (Rask) was great in the first. He gave us a chance to be in the game,'' Murray said.
After an even second period, the Bruins dominated the third, outshooting the Sharks, 13-3. "We just couldn't score,'' said Murray. As good as Rask was in the first, Worcester goalie Thomas Greiss "was equally as good in the third.''
"We were able to establish our forecheck in the third period. We weren't getting to spots quick enough in the first. We have to do it in all three periods tonight,'' Murray said.
10:45 PM Thu, May 07, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Mark Divver Email
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By MARK DIVVER
Assistant Sports Editor
PROVIDENCE -- Since losing the opener, the Providence Bruins have ripped off six straight playoff wins heading into Game 3 of the Atlantic Division finals Friday night against Worcester.
There are many reasons for the streak -- timely scoring, solid defense, strong special teams, overall team discipline -- but there's no question the team's backbone has been 22-year-old top goalie prospect Tuukka Rask.
The second-year pro has the best stats in the league for goalies who have started the majority of their teams' games: a 1.41 goals-against average, .952 save percentage and a 6-1 record.
For the P-Bruins, it's a welcome change from last spring.
After running away from the rest of the league with 117 points in 2007-08, Providence beat Manchester in the first round, then jumped out to a 2-0 lead over Portland. But the Pirates roared back with four straight wins and, along the way, Rask was beaten on some soft goals.
Coach Rob Murray said that the long season and the first-round playoff elimination of the Boston Bruins last spring may have taken a toll on Rask.
"Last year the Boston Bruins were out by this point. He was a first-year player. It was a long season for him and it was tough, maybe he lost his focus a little bit. (This season) he knows, as long as the big team is playing, there's a chance that, as long as he's playing well, if something happens up there, he's gotta stay sharp, he's gotta be at the top of his game.''
Maturity has been a factor, too.
"He's really taken ownership of the team this year. He believes that he's a driving force, he's a leader on this team. I asked him to do that before the season started. I sat down with him and explained that this is what we're looking for from him, and he's really stepped up,'' said Murray.
"It comes with experience. He learned from last year. He doesn't want to be known as a guy that maybe can't play in the big situations. I think he's really brought his game up.''
Back to the Dunk
Providence can take a stranglehold on the series with a win Friday night at the Dunkin Donuts Center.
Murray is ready for another tough game.
"You can expect that they'll be a very desperate team. We've got to be prepared and ready to go, and take advantage of the opportunity we've given ourselves. This series is long from over and we've got to approach it that way.''
Rest for the weary
Assistant coach Bruce Cassidy ran Thursday morning's optional skate at the Dunk. Some of the veterans who saw a lot of ice time Wednesday night -- Rask, Martin St. Pierre, Johnny Boychuk, Peter Schaefer, Ryan Stokes -- took the opportunity to sleep in. "We got enough practice last week,'' said Murray, referring to the eight days between Games 1 and 2.
No target on Rask
Worcester's Riley Armstrong was called for interference after a collision with Rask in the second period. Murray said he did not believe that the Sharks were targeting the star goalie. "It was a nothing call. Armstrong kind of bumped him going through on a forecheck. I didn't feel they were going at him.''
Boychuk's bomb
Five seconds after Armstrong's penalty, Worcester's Mike Moore was penalized for shooting the puck in the crowd. The P-Bruins made quick work of the ensuing five-on-three and never trailed after Boychuk's power-play goal. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette's peerless Bill Ballou described Boychuk's 45-footer as "a 300-mph slap shot, give or take 200 mph.'' Boychuk had eight shots on goal in the game. No other player on either team had more than three.
Kill or be killed
Special teams have been a strong point for Providence.
The power play is sixth in the league at 18 percent (5 for 27), while the penalty kill is second at 92 percent (23 for 25).
"The penalty kill was a real key to our success against Portland. Those guys like (Mathieu) Darche, (Tim) Kennedy, (Nathan) Gerbe, (Mark) Mancari live off the power play. It's a lot of things: sacrifice, blocking shots, good goaltending. Staying out of the box helps a lot, too.
"(Wednesday) night we only had one penalty against and realistically I don't know that we deserved any more than the one. Playing a disciplined game has helped. When you're not continuously killing penalties, you're not taxing four or five guys the whole night long,'' said Murray.
"Our power play, we've gotten some timely goals. At the end of the season we were really struggling on it , but we're effective enough now where we're getting some goals. (Wednesday) night, five on three, ... we did a good job. We got the shot we wanted and we capitalized on it.''
No message
The Bruins and Sharks combined for 78 penalty minutes in the final 60 seconds of Game 2. When asked if he thought Worcester was trying to set a tone for the next game, Murray quickly replied, "No, I don't.''
"I think what happened was (Worcester's Frazer) McLaren lined up with Kirk MacDonald. I don't want to say (MacDonald) initiated it, but he was a willing participant. And then as the whistle was blown because of MacDonald and McLaren fighting, (Brendan) Buckley was on the rush and he kind of bumped Tuukka down the ice and it became a scrum. ... As far as sending a message, it could have escalated but it didn't. Just a lot of chatter.''
Lehtonen struggles
Providence's Mikko Lehtonen, the regular-season goal leader with 29, hasn't scored a goal in the playoffs.
"To put it politely, he's got to elevate his game. It's the playoffs. It's tougher now, it's more physical. He's got to find a way to be more productive for us,'' said Murray. "I don't think he's playing poorly. He hasn't been contributing the way he did consistently throughout the season, so it kind of throws up a red flag. But I've got confidence that he will.
Lehtonon's linemates Zach Hamill and Peter Schaefer aren't lighting it up either. Hamill is pointless, while Schaefer has one goal.
"Peter Schaefer is playing well, but Ham doesn't have a point in the playoffs. These guys have got to find a way to start contributing. I think it's no more than just elevating your game. It's that time of year.''
Attendance woes
With the Boston Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox all on TV Wednesday night, Game 2 drew a disappointing 1,419 in Worcester. Unfortunately for the P-Bruins, the TV lineup is the same Friday night.
12:56 PM Wed, May 06, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Mark Divver Email
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Vladimir Sobotka and Andrew Bodnarchuk of the Providence Bruins, both of whom missed Game 1 with injuries, will play tonight in Game 2 in Worcester, according to coach Rob Murray.
Sobotka and Bodnarchuk were injured in Game 5 of the Portland series. Sobotka's was believed to be a lower-body injury, while Bodnarchuk's was upper body.
Ned Lukacevic and Matt Stephenson will sit to make room for Sobotka and Bodnarchuk.
Murray's keys to the game:
"We've got to match their physicality, which we did (in Game 1). We played a strong game. I don't think there was any intimidation factor.
"It's great when you score in the first minute of the game, too. It takes the wind out of your opponent's sail pretty quick cause you're just so jacked up to get the game going, then you're trailing by one and it's, like, what happened?
"So we need a good start again. One of the things we ran into problems with last game is we probably didn't win enough wall battles in getting pucks out. They do a good job of forechecking; their defensemen are very aggressive down the wall on our breakouts. It's something we need to be better at. It's just gutting it out for the most part. That's all it comes down to.
"When we did come out clean and made some plays past their pinching defensemen, we had two on ones, and odd-man rushes. We showed the guys: This is the payoff right here.''
Sharks coach Roy Sommer had this to say about the game in today's Worcester Telegram:
"I think we have to be more physical than we were -- do a better job managing pucks through the neutral zone because they're a good transition team. I thought we had some turnovers through there. And the biggest thing is their best player (Tuukka Rask), we have to do a better job against him."
"The bottom line is, after you took all the fluff out of the picture (in Game 1), I had us out-chancing them, 16-15, so it was pretty close. It was closer than the shots looked. We got a lot of stuff from the outside, from the perimeter. We have to generate more second- and third-chance opportunities off our shots."
Game 3 is Friday night in Providence.
10:25 AM Wed, May 06, 2009 | Permalink |
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By MARK DIVVER
Assistant Sports Editor
PROVIDENCE -- Jeremy Reich had every reason to be sour.
After a season and a half in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, the 30-year-old winger was demoted to Providence after training camp last fall. Throughout the current season, Reich watched as some of his much younger, less experienced teammates were promoted.
At the Dunkin Donuts Center one morning several weeks ago, Vladimir Sobotka, 21, got the word before practice that he'd been summoned to Boston for that night's game. Sobotka observed from the bench in street clothes while the P-Bruins skated.
When practice was over, Reich skated over to Sobotka. Grinning broadly, Reich put an arm around Sobotka's shoulder and congratulated him. For a few minutes, Reich talked and Sobotka mostly listened, before Reich patted Sobotka on the back and went on his way.
That selfless attitude is one of the reasons that Reich is the captain of the Providence Bruins.
"There was no other choice, for me, coming into the season,'' said coach Rob Murray, who knows what it takes to be a good captain. Murray served as captain of four AHL teams -- Moncton, Springfield, Hamilton and Philadelphia -- during his 16-year pro playing career.
"A good captain has to lead by example,'' Murray said. "You've gotta have that in your pocket to approach players on the team, keep them accountable. If you're not one of the hardest workers, it's pretty hard to tell someone else they're not working hard enough. Reicher is a guy who gives you everything he's got every day.''
But there's more to Reich's game than work ethic.
The 6'1'' 195-pound native of Craik, Sask., netted a career-high 21 goals, along with 13 assists, in 76 games this season. In the playoffs, Reich has come through when it counts. He scored the game-winner in Game 2 against Portland, and his tally in overtime gave the P-Bruins a victory in Game 1 against Worcester on April 29.
"He's become a very good hockey player,'' Murray said. "Not that he wasn't before, but two or three years ago when he was here with us he was more of a role player, kind of a grinder. But his offensive touch , he's really improved on that through the years and its showing now. He's contributing in all aspects of our game.''
One part of the game in which Reich has contributed throughout his career is fighting. Reich had a team-high 15 fighting majors this season, according to hockeyfights.com.
His willingness to stick up for teammates is one of the things that earned Reich a chance in Boston midway through the 06-07 season.
Early in a game in Buffalo in late January, Dave Krejci was knocked silly by a hard check from Adam Mair of the Sabres. Krejci, who was playing in his first NHL game, suffered a concussion. No Bruin raised a hand in Krejci's defense.
Reich was summoned from Providence a few days later, and when the Bruins paid another visit to Buffalo on Feb. 17, he challenged Mair to a fight less than three minutes into the game, sending a message that at least one Bruin would stand up for his teammates.
Leading by example -- and dropping the gloves when needed -- is important when you are the captain of a team as young as the Bruins.
"It's been fun. We have a younger team. They keep the guys that are a little older on their toes in the dressing room. They keep it light. It's been pretty easy helping these guys out,'' Reich said after practice one day last week.
This is Reich's first season as a full-time captain. He shared the captaincy of the P-Bruins during the 2006-07 season. Jay Leach wore the "C'' for home games, and Reich for road games.
Reich said that as captain he tries to pattern himself after one of the game's all-time greats.
"When I was growing up I was a big Detroit fan, so I like Steve Yzerman, one of the great leaders who ever played the game,'' he said.
He's also learned from teammates.
"I played with a lot of guys who are captains who helped me out quite a bit,'' Reich said. "Jamie Pushor, Sean Pronger in Syracuse, (Zdeno) Chara's a good captain in Boston. So a lot of guys have helped me out along the way.''
Before scoring the O.T. winner in Game 1 against Worcester, Reich said he didn't really have anything inspirational to say in the dressing room before the overtime.
"I always try to talk, and keep the guys loose and focused. Keep shooting the puck . Usually overtime goals are ugly goals. They go in off something. I just wanted to make sure we kept shooting the puck. I came down the wing and I just wanted to make sure I got it on the net, and it went in.''
Reich, who earned $487,500 on a one-way contract in Providence this season, will be a free agent at the end of the season. He says it's too early to be thinking about where he'll play next season.
"I'll let my agent worry about that in the summer. Right now, I'm just focused on the playoffs.''
10:32 AM Tue, May 05, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Mark Divver Email
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The Providence Bruins have signed center Jamie Arniel to an amateur tryout agreement.
Arniel, 19, recently finished his fourth season in the Ontario Hockey League.
He had his best season offensively with 32 goals and 36 assists for 68 points in 63 games for the Sarnia Sting.
Arniel was selected by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round, 97th overall, in the 2008 NHL draft.
In four seasons between Sarnia and the Guelph Storm, Arniel collected 196 points (101g, 95a) in 252 regular-season games, plus 13 points (7g, 6a) in 33 playoff contests.
1:02 PM Mon, May 04, 2009 | Permalink |
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By Mark Divver Email
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By MARK DIVVER
Assistant Sports Editor
The Bruins bandwagon may be a bit less crowded today but, hey, it's not like the Black and Gold were going to go 16-0 in the playoffs.
You just knew that after Friday night's weak effort the Carolina Hurricanes would play better on Sunday, and they did.
So now Bruins-Canes is shaping up as a long, hard-fought series. This is what playoff hockey is all about, so sit back and enjoy. Here are a few Bruins-Canes links to pass the time:
*** Alan Muir of Sports Illustrated says that the Canes' work ethic was the difference on Sunday night.
*** Ken Campbell of The Hockey News says that the Hurricanes proved that Zdeno Chara is mortal after all.
*** Puck Daddy says that Carolina's goal that didn't count proves that the "video review system is inferior and ultimately flawed.''
*** Luke Decock of the Raleigh News & Observer says that the Canes rediscovered their game and knocked the perhaps-overconfident Bruins down a peg.
*** TSN's panel of hockey experts -- Peter Laviolette, Tom Renny and Bob McKenzie -- agree that the Bruins and Red Wings looked beatable for the first time in these playoffs.
*** Finally, this isn't Bruins-Canes related, but here's video of a younger Milan Lucic working over an opponent (no, it's not Mike Komisarek) in a boxing ring. Looch is wearing the blue trunks. His opponent is the one with the bloody nose.
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