Tl;Dr Recap for those who just want the stats:

12/13/17 Providence (16-6-2) @ Hershey (12-12-3) 7:05 PM

Goalies: Zane McIntyre, 28 of 28 shots, Shutout; Vitek Vanecek 17 of 20 shots, 0.850 SV%

Box Score:

Hershey: 1st: 1 goal for 2nd: 0 goals for 3rd: 2 goals for OT: N/A Providence: 1st: 0 goals for 2nd: 0 goals for 3rd: 0 goals for OT: N/A

Scoring Summary: PVD, C. Hargrove, Assists: (Szwarz, Czarnik); PVD, A. Blidh Assist: (Hargrove, Forsbacka-Karlsson); PVD, Z. Senyshyn, Assists: (Cave, Zboril).

PVD 3-0 regulation W, Improves to (17-6-2); HER drops to (12-13-3)

12/15/17 Providence (17-6-2) @ Syracuse (13-9-3) 7:05 PM

Goalies: Zane McIntyre, 23 of 28 shots, 0.821 SV%; Louis Domingue, 24 of 27 shots, 0.888 SV%

Box Score:

Syracuse: 1st: 4 goals for 2nd: 0 goals for 3rd: 1 goal for OT: N/A Providence: 1st: 2 goals for 2nd: 0 goals for 3rd: 1 goal for OT: N/A

Scoring Summary: PVD, A. Blidh(SHG), (Unassisted); SYR, C. Verhaeghe, Assists: (Cirelli, Masin); PVD, J. Hennessy, Assists: (Acolatse, Zboril); SYR, A. Erne, Assist: (Bodie); SYR, M. Bournival, Assists: (Masin, Peca); SYR, A. Erne, Assist(Peca, Bournival); SYR, K. Lynch, Assist: (Cernak, Bournival); PVD, Z. Senyshyn, Assists: (Blidh, Cave)

PVD 5-3 regulation L, Drops to (17-7-2), SYR Improves to (14-9-3)

12/10/17 Providence (17-7-2) @ Hershey (12-13-3) 7:05 PM

Goalies: Jordan Binnington, 4 of 4 shots (credited with win, received Misconduct for fight), Zane McIntyre, 14 of 16 shots, .875 SV%; Pheonix Copley, 15 of 19 shots, 0.789 SV% (received Misconduct), Vitek Vanecek, 11 of 12 shots, 0.916 SV%.

Box Score:

Hershey: 1st: 3 goals for 2nd: 1 goal for 3rd: 2 goals for OT: N/A Providence: 1st: 0 goals for 2nd: 2 goals for 3rd: 0 goals for OT: N/A

Scoring Summary: PVD, K. Agostino, Assists (Czarnik, Breen); PVD, A. Czarnik, Assists (Szwarz, Agostino); PVD, J. Szwarz, Assists (Czarnik, Cross), PVD, A. Payrl, Assists (Hargrove, Breen); HER, R. Barber (SHG), Assist (Sill, Ness); HER, L. O’Brien (PPG), Assists (Ness, Boyd); PVD, T. Cross, Assists (Blidh, Senyshyn); PVD Z. Senyshyn (ENG), Assists (Cave, Blidh).

PVD 6-2 regulation W, Improves to (18-7-2), Hershey drops to (12-14-3).

X’s and O’s:

PVD @ HER pt. I 12/13/17

The Providence Bruins kicked off an eight game road trip with a statement shutout against the Hershey Bears. Zane McIntyre’s best performance of the season to-date allowed the offence to settle out the first two period jitters and secure a tone-setting win. Early in the first, Providence looked to open the scoring with a Chris Porter tip-in that was later ruled to be tipped from above crossbar height (high-stick) and disallowed. However, Providence’s powerplay connected before the first intermission to secure an early lead. Austin Czarnik found Jordan Szwarz by the right post goal line, who fed the puck out in the slot to a streaking Colton Hargrove for a nifty one-timer goal. Zane McIntyre frustrated the Bears in the second period, silencing their 11 shots on goal to Providence’s 4. The Bruins also suffocated three Bears’ power plays, going a perfect 3-for-3 on the kill for the evening. Halfway through the game, Hershy Bear Riley Barber crashed the net quite literally, sending McIntyre sprawling and allowing Hershey’s Chris Borque to pivot behind the goal line and tuck the puck behind McIntyre. However, the Referee had his arms up to indicate a stoppage of play, and the goal was washed out possibly due to goaltender interference. No official explanation was offered, and neither team’s summary indicated the official rationale, however after watching the play, one can infer the stripes told the home team they either had the goal called back or a penalty assessed on them. Later in the third period, Providence added two more tallies, one each from Anton Blidh and Zach Senyshyn. The latter exhibited terrific heads up play by finishing off his own rebound.

PVD @ SYR 12/15/17

In a rematch from the 2016-2017 AHL Eastern Conference Finals, the Syracuse Crunch continued a recent tradition of frustrating the Providence Bruins, ending the latter’s 8 game win streak. Each team came into the match with long win streaks, however only the Crunch’s would be extended. Both teams were hard on the forecheck through the first period, and the offensive firepower was on display. Providence jumped out to an early lead with a shorthanded tally from Anton Blidh, but the Crunch were quick to respond. Josh Hennessey scored next for the P-Bruins, however the Crunch responded off a fortunate bounce. Adam Erne attempted a centering pass, instead it took a strange bounce off a Bruin skate and right by McIntyre. Michael Bournival and Adam Erne notched his second of the night before the period ended with a steep 4-2 hill for the Bruins to climb. After a scoreless second, the Crunch put the game almost out of reach with an early tally in the third period. Zach Senyshyn would try to rally the P-Bruins toward a comeback with a goal, however the Crunch suffocated the Bruins offence and the visitors left the ice with their win streak snapped. Overall, the game looked worse on the stat sheet than it was; McIntyre not only saw a lot of rubber, but also suffered against ice tilt in the Crunch’s favor with bounces going against the netminder.

PVD @ HER pt. II 12/16/17

Clearly looking for redemption after the previous night, the Providence Bruins returned to Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania to square off against the Bears in game 3 of the 8 game road trip. With a final score of 6-2, they tallied the most goals in a single game for this season. The pile of goals began in the first period with a three goal, unanswered onslaught that continued into the opening minutes of the second period with a tally by Adam Payerl for a 4-0 lead. Almost immediately afterward, Garrett Mitchell of the Bears charged Kenny Agostino delivering a thunderous check into the boards. Emil Johansson and Rob O’Gara then scrapped with some of the Hershey Bears while other Bruins/Bears scrums ensued after the hit. The main attraction of this near line-brawl was Pheonix Copley challenging Jordan Binnington in a goalie fight; Copley was given the decision in the fight that sent both netminders to the showers early as they were ejected for leaving the crease and secondary altercations. The conflagration sparked Hershey, who scored shorthanded as they were killing a 5 minute major for Mitchell’s charging penalty (he was also ejected). Later in the second, McIntyre, who came in in relief of the ejected Binnington, surrendered a second goal while the Bruins were killing a penalty. The Bears pulled to within two goals of tying the game going into the third. Tommy Cross stamped out the last rays of hope for this game, as he rifled a shot from the blue line halfway through the third. Nevertheless, the Bears pulled Vitek Vanecek (in relief of ejected Pheonix Copley) down 5-2, but Zach Senyshyn notched his third goal in three games with an empty-netter to seal Hershey’s fate.

(+) Plus / Minus (-)



Plus:

+ The top line of Czarnik, Szwarz, and Agostino decimated the Hershey Bears Saturday night, combining for 3 goals (9 pts. total with assists added.)

+ Also on Saturday, the Bruins held the Bears to only 4 shots on goal through almost 30 minutes of play.

+ Emil Johansson returned to the lineup Decemer 13th after being out for the past couple weeks.

+Zach Senyshyn has been on fire lately. Since Dec. 13 he has been on a 3 game goal streak, with an assist on Saturday for a 4 point stretch. He was out during the Hershey 6-on-5 Saturday night, suggesting a high level of trust from the coaching staff about his defensive abilities. He was rewarded with an empty net goal.

+ Jakub Zboril had two assists in three games, and seemed to make smarter, more responsible plays suggesting his development has been turned up a notch.

+ Providence is finding ways to win on the road, earning 4 of possible 6 points in this week’s 3 game schedule. Seem to come out with strong starts, earning goals early. They still lead the Atlantic division with a .704 win percentage (3rd overall in the AHL); Further, they are 9-1-0 in their last 10.

+ Zane McIntyre earned his first shutout of the season Dec. 13th.

+ Boston prospects Austin Czarnik and Anton Blidh were on a scoring frenzy, earning a combined 9 points in 3 games.

+ Providence PK had an impressive showing, allowing only 1 PPG on 9 shorthanded situations. P-Bruins also took the fewest penalties of the season during this 3 game stretch (as compared to other weekend wrap-ups).

Minus:

– On Saturday, Providence had a 5 minute powerplay, and not only did they fail to score, they gave up a shorthanded goal and took a minor penalty at the end to negate part of their PP time. Their powerplay continues to lack creativity and scoring opportunities.

– Providence’s long win streak came to a screeching halt on Friday night against the Syracuse Crunch (TBL Affiliate) with a 5-3 loss.

– J. Lauzon continues to sit up on Media Row with what’s officially termed an Upper Body Injury. Speculating a concussion.

– After a terrific start to the season, JFK has cooled off, and has made a few costly turnovers/ lapses in judgment. Needs to refocus a bit.

– Rumor has it Jessie Gabrielle is back to the outside looking in, and may be sent to ECHL affiliate Atlanta Gladiators to find more consistency managing the puck and point production.

– Despite a shutout in Hershey on Dec. 13th, McIntyre suffered his worst defeat in several starts against the Syracuse Crunch and let in the only Hershey goals Saturday night. Mitigating factors abound, however: On Friday against the Crunch, the Syracuse skaters benefitted from several fortunate bounces, and in Hershey the following night, he had to come on in relief after Binnington’s altercation which is tough for any goalie to come in cold.