1 week Ago By The Providence Journal
PROVIDENCE ‒ That’s how you end an eight-year stretch without a postseason series win.The Providence Bruins did it emphatically on April 27. An early deficit was brushed aside thanks to some strong special teams play and a pair of two-goal scorers.
Matthew Poitras and Riley Tufte helped give the Bruins a feeling that had been absent at Amica Mutual Pavilion since the 2016-17 campaign. Providence surged to a 5-1 victory over Springfield in this afternoon deciding matchup, clinching a best-of-3 affair in the Eastern Conference by a 2-1 count.The Bruins scored four times in the third period, with Ian Mitchell’s rocket from the point at 7:41 snapping a 1-1 tie.
Tufte added an unassisted goal just 54 seconds later and the Thunderbirds were grounded for good. Two more tallies from Tufte and Poitras inside the final five minutes had Providence making plans for the second round and a best-of-5 matchup with Charlotte, which will begin with Game 1 here Friday night.“I felt like we kind of controlled the game from the second period on,” Poitras said.
“The third, it was just our time. We started burying our chances.”Mitchell converted on the power play with 12:19 left, and that seemed appropriate in this Game 3.
The Bruins were 3-for-5 with the man advantage while Springfield was shut out on four chances. Patrick Brown laid one on a plate from the right circle, and Mitchell ripped a slapshot off the left post and in to give the Bruins the lead for good.“There’s something to be said about guys who can teach things and make it as simple as possible,” Providence coach Ryan Mougenel said, crediting assistants Matt Thomas and Trent Whitfield.
“Those are two guys who do it extremely well.“Our special teams have been outstanding all year. Not that coaches should get credit all the time, but those two definitely should.
”Tufte doubled the lead less than a minute later with some brute strength. He barreled down the right wing, held off his man and created enough space to squeeze off a shot from below the circle. The puck slipped along the ice and into the far side, handing Providence a two-goal cushion.
“They’re a real amazing group to be around,” Mougenel said. “I can’t say enough about our leadership.”The Bruins opened the floodgates late to salt this one away.
Tufte buried his own rebound on an odd-man rush with 4:53 left and Poitras put himself in position to add his own second with 4:21 to play. Brown was waiting at the left post to play a pass in front, and the Providence captain found Poitras in the slot for a simple one-timer.“Obviously the power play, we hadn’t really been scoring on it,” Poitras said.
“We have so many great players.”The Bruins took what felt like a punch to the gut early. The Thunderbirds couldn’t convert a 3-on-2 break but regained possession in the offensive zone.
The puck came up the slot to Corey Schueneman, who fired a wrist shot past the glove of Michael DiPietro at 4:01.Springfield had the better of the chances through the opening 20 minutes, including a pair of power plays where it failed to take advantage. DiPietro made a diving save to his left to deny Hugh McGing and Providence faced just a 1-0 deficit into the dressing room.
That was the final score in Game 2, with Vinni Lettieri striking in overtime to keep the Bruins alive in the playoffs.“It’s actually one matchup we really didn’t want,” Mougenel said. “Extremely well-coached.
”The Bruins trailed for just 2:38 the rest of the way, cashing in on their first power play chance soon after intermission. Poitras came free in the right circle on a faceoff and snapped one under the arm of goalie Colten Ellis, drawing the hosts even. It stayed that way over the next 17 minutes, but Providence was already on its way to 39-16 advantage in shots on goal.
“For us, we just need to see a puck go in,” Poitras said. “Their goalie played unreal for the whole series.”The Checkers visit for a pair of 7:05 p.
m. faceoffs Friday and Sunday. The next three games – including Games 4 and 5, if necessary – will be in Charlotte, with Game 3 set for Wednesday at 7 p.
m. The Bruins dropped three of four to the Checkers this season, with the lone victory coming in a 4-0 shutout here April 4.“We’ve just got to keep playing our foundation and defend first,” Mougenel said.
“That’s what we did tonight.”Providence 5, Springfield 1First period: S, Corey Schueneman (Dalibor Dvorsky, Dylan Peterson), 4:01. Penalties – P, 2-4.
Second period: P, Matthew Poitras (Dans Locmelis, Ian Mitchell), 2:38 (pp). Penalties – S, 2-4; P, 3-6. Third period: P, Mitchell (Patrick Brown, Vinni Lettieri), 7:41 (pp); P, Riley Tufte (unassisted), 8:35; P, Tufte (Riley Duran, Fraser Minten), 15:07; P, Poitras (Brown, Lettieri), 15:39 (pp).
Penalties – S, 4-8.Shots on goal – S 6-7-3 – 16, P 8-11-20 – 39. Saves – Colten Ellis, S, 34; Michael DiPietro, P, 15.
A – 3,[email protected] X: @BillKoch25This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Bruins top Springfield 5-1 to advance in Calder Cup playoffs.
