Last night, the Providence Bruins gave Hartford Wolfpack’s goalie Matt Zaba the night off as no offense was generated in a 6-0 embarrassing loss. The Bruins were presented with another opportunity to clinch a playoff spot and a bid at the Atlantic Division title but instead produced an uneventful showing at the Dunk. However, the Bruins did managed to escape with a new franchise record. . .
Up against a division rival and in the midst of a playoff race, the Providence Bruins were presented with the scenario that all teams hope for: Win and they are in. However, someone forgot to remind the Bruins as they were demolished by the Hartford Wolfpack 6-0 at the Dunkin Donuts Center, and have essentially lost all opportunity to win the Atlantic Division.
The Providence Bruins lacked all effort and mental sharpness last night. The team fell behind 1-0 with just 5 minutes into the game. They continued their lackadaisical play in the 1st period when they could not capitalize on a 3-on-1 breakaway. Only two minutes afterward, the Bruins surrendered another goal to Wolfpack’s Mike Oullette. Oullette’s goal came when Johnny Boychuk’s stick broke on a powerplay and he was unable to retain possession in the zone. Hartford’s Jordan Owens scooped up the puck, drove down ice and shot to give Oullette a rebound in front of the net. After the game, Coach Rob Murray felt Boychuk delayed on getting off the ice and that it was a defensive error which allowed for the goal…
And in case you did not catch that, Oullette’s goal was shorthanded, one of three shorthanded goals by the Wolfpack last night.
Furthermore, there were two franchise records set last night:
Hartford franchise record for most shorthanded goals scored in a game (3)
Providence franchise reccord for most shorthanded goals against in a game(3)
Both former records were set at 2-a-piece on the Providence-Hartford game on December 17th, 2008.
Perhaps most indicative, and most disappointing, of the team’s level of play is that they were 0/10 on powerplays. The Bruins had opportunity after opportunity and they failed to capitalize; whether it was due to lack of aggressiveness or costly mental mistakes. The Bruins were given two 5v3 man advantages in which they could not capitalize. In the 2nd period, there was a span of 41 seconds where the Bruins had a 5 on 3 powerplay in which they did not attempt a shot, lost possession, and Mikko Lehtonen made a stupid holding penalty that cut their advantage to 4 on 3. Murray explains the stale powerplay…
There was also no execution on the ice.There were plenty of open net shots in which the puck rang off the back board. As someone mentioned in the press box in relation to the open net, “it was like shooting into the ocean”.
So why the poor performance? Were the Bruins tired? Was it a tough week of practice? Murray shed some light on the week leading up to the game…
During the second period, I was left thinking to myself, “where is Reich?!?!” Where are the leaders who will take action and create some kind of spark??? I asked Murray about the leadership and the attitude of the team…
And the timing could not be worse, the Bruins may not be able to take advantage of the last few games of a great season…
Pissing it away. . . Providence needs to wake up because like Murray said, other teams are winning and the Bruins are playing like they have a playoff spot already…
On the other hand, enough could not be said of the effort the other team on the ice delivered. The Hartford Wolfpack skated all over the ice as they were constantly beating their opponent to the puck and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. As a result the Wolfpack forced a franchise record 3 shorthanded goals.
The bright side for the Bruins is that they have another game to play tonight and consequently have no time to dwell on their poor showing. They will be playing the Portland Pirates, who are now 7 points behind the second place Bruins.
(UN)NOTABLES
PBruinsare now 2/42 on powerplays in their last 7 games.
PBruins are now 5-20-1-2 when trailing after 2; last night they surrendered 4 goals in the 3rd period.
Tuukka Rask allowed 5 goals before being pulled out with 5:22 left in the game.
[...] After some, er, false starts, the Providence Bruins finally showed up in full force last night for a thrilling shootout with the [...]