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.
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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.
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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.''
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Providence defenseman Ryan Stokes is day to day after missing Games 4 and 5 with an undisclosed injury, Murray said.
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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.
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