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

1/24/18 Providence (24-12-3) @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms (24-13-2) 7:05 PM

Goalies: Zane McIntyre, 20 of 23 shots, 0.869 SV%* (0.906 SV%); Alex Lyon, 30 of 32 shots, 0.938 SV%

Box Score W/Scoring Summary:

Team Period Goal Assist(s) LV 1st A. Krushelnyski C. McDonald, W. O’Neill LV 1st G. Carey* M. Lamarche, N. Aube-Kubel LV 3rd M. Vecchione C. Connor, M. Lamarche PRO 3rd K. Agostino A. Czarnik, P. Cehlarik PRO 3rd J. Forsbacka Karlsson J. Szwarz, K. Agostino

PVD 3-2 Regulation L, drops to (24-13-3); LHV improves to (25-13-2)

1/26/18 Providence (24-13-3) vs. Hershey (17-19-7) 7:05 PM

Goalies: Zane McIntyre, 27 of 29 shots, 0.931 SV%; Vitek Vanecek, 23 of 28 shots, 0.821 SV%

Box Score W/ Scoring Summary:

Team Period Goal Assist(s) PRO 1st R. Fitzgerald (PP) A. Czarnik, T. Cross PRO 2nd J. Zboril J. Szwarz, R. Fitzgerald HER 2nd T. Graovac (PP) W. Simpson, M. Bau PRO 3rd T. Cross (PP) A. Czarnik, R. Fitzgerald PRO 3rd J. Hennessy C. Breen, J. Hickman HER 3rd Z. Sill C. Hobbs, A. Ness PRO 3rd A. Czarnik J. Szwarz, R. Fitzgerald

PVD 5-2 Regulation W, improves to (25-13-3), HER drops to (17-20-7)

1/27/18 Providence (25-13-3) @ Springfield (20-24-2) 7:05 PM

Goalies: Jordan Binnington, 28 of 33 shots, 0.848 SV%; Evan Cowley, 0.944 SV%

Box Score W/ Scoring Summary:

Team Period Goal Assist(s) PRO 1st K. Agostino J. Forsbacka Karlsson, SPR 1st A. Greco (SHG) R Horvat SPR 1st A. Grenier (PP) J. Lammiko, M. Mamin SPR 1st C. Balisy A. Greco, L. Bystrom SPR 2nd A. Grenier (PP) M. Mamin PRO 3rd A. Czarnik (PP) J. Szwarz, J. Zboril SPR 3rd B. Farnham (PP) I. McCoshen, M. Mamin

PVD 5-2 Regulation L, drops to (25-13-3); SPR improves to (21-24-2)

Game Summaries:

Providence Bruins @ Lehigh Valley Phantoms (1/24/18)

In their first matchup of the 2017-2018 season, the Providence Bruins suffered from an early deficit they could not overcome and dropped the contest to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Zane McIntyre made his 26th start of the season, and through the first 5 minutes looked poised for another shutout performance. However, almost the entire Providence line combined to give McIntyre his first goal against in 6 periods. The Phantoms’ Willie O’Neill sprung Colin McDonald out by the Providence blue line, and McDonald walked into the zone on the middle of a sloppy Providence line change, with only an out of position Tommy Cross and Jakub Zboril defending McDonald and two other Phantoms skaters. McDonald attempted a pass to his teammates that instead skittered across the slot while McDonald raced behind the net. This drew the attention of almost 4 Providence skaters who seemed to be caught chasing the puck. Meanwhile McDonald picked up the undefended, loose puck, and sent a snapshot at McIntyre who made the left pad save at the left goal post. Alex Krushelnyski was cruising into the offensive zone and picked up the rebounded puck left uncleared and unguarded by Cross and Zboril, completely faked out Zboril, and roofed it high blocker side on McIntyre who didn’t look square or poised for the shot. The Phantoms struck again in the first period, however I put an asterisk next to this goal, as it was redirected off a skate with what the Phantoms play-by-play team and I agreed could be a “kicking motion”. Zane McIntyre immediately begun protesting after the goal, but upon review, the goal stood, and Providence sunk to an early two goal deficit. After managing only 6 official shots on goal in the first period, Providence found a little bit of life and managed to get 13 shots on the Phantoms goal in the second period with no change on the scoreboard to show for it. Early in the third, Providence sunk to its biggest deficit of the game as Mike Vecchione put the Phantoms up by 3. After the puck was dropped in the Providence end of the ice, the Phantoms controlled the puck. Vecchione won the puck back to teammate Maxim Lamarche by the blue line, who fired a shot wide of the net. Lamarche’s shot was recovered by Chris Conner behind the goal line, passing out to Vecchione left unguarded in the faceoff dot to the left of McIntyre. Vecchione sent a quick one timer toward the Providence goal pulling the Phantoms ahead by 3. Late in the game, Providence rallied twice. With Zane McIntyre pulled, Austin Czarnik won the faceoff to Cehlarik who shoveled a short pass out to extra attacker Kenny Agostino out by the blue line. Agostino walked into the slot and short-side sniped Phantoms goaltender Alex Lyon. A minute and change later, Providence was scrambling to keep the puck out of their empty net with players blocking shots left and right, finally managing a long outlet stretch pass to Kenny Agostino. Kenny dished off to Jordan Szwarz who sent a quick cross-crease pass out to Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson. The latter caught the puck clean and ripped it past Alex Lyon to put the Bruins within one. However, Providence’s rally would end there as they failed to capture the equalizer. Credit to the Bruins, the Phantom’s play by play lauded their never-quit attitude, even when they were having the worst puck luck early in the game.

Providence Bruins vs. Hershey Bears (1/26/18)

In the only home game of this week, Providence donned special jerseys for Military Appreciation Night. After they thrashed the Hershey Bears 5-2, wouldn’t be surprised to hear them clamor to wear those jerseys every night. The fun started 4 minutes into the 1st period on just the third shot on goal for Providence. On the powerplay, Tommy Cross and Austin Czarnik played badminton with the puck, passing back and forth between the left faceoff dot and the blue line. Finally, as Ryan Fitzgerald was in position, Czarnik fired a low shot. Fitzgerald was camped out in front of Hersehy’s Vitek Vanecek, and redirected the puck past the Hersehy netminder. McIntyre continued to improve his first period starts by stopping all 8 shots, and the period ended 1-0. 10 minutes and change into the second, Providence doubled their score. Ryan Fitzgerald was wrapped up with a Hershey defenseman behind the Hershey net, but managed to battle the puck free to Jordan Szwarz along the right-wing boards. Szwarz made a smart cross-ice pass to Jakub Zboril streaking into the left faceoff circle. Zboril sniped the puck short side on Vanecek to put the Bruins up 2. Hershey responded 5 minutes later. Tyler Graovac and Wayne Simpson had a 2-0 separation on Providence skaters; the latter passed cross crease to Graovac, who tapped the puck by McIntyre stick side. Early in the third, Providence regained their two-goal lead thanks to a late second period penalty on Hershey that carried over into the following period. 28 seconds into the third, Austin Czarnik and Ryan Fitzgerald had passed the puck toward the net with speed, however quickly made a drop pass to Tommy Cross walking into the slot area. Cross’ booming slap shot beat Vanecek cleanly stick side for the 3-1 lead. 5 minutes later, Providence struck again on a goal that almost deserves an asterisk next to it. Justin Hickman won the puck along the Hershey goal line, and filtered the puck down to Chris Breen at the blue line. Breen fired a slap shot toward the Hershey goal and a juicy rebound was left in the slot. Providence skaters and Hershey skaters mobbed the puck and slot area, and the knot of people moved behind the goal stripe, pushing the net forward over the Hershey goaltender somewhat. As Providence’s Josh Hennessy came out of the pile with the puck, the net resumed regulation position, but goaltender Vanecek paused expecting a whistle. The whistle never blew, and Hennessy wrapped the puck around the net and beat a stunned Vanecek. Hershey rightfully argued the goal, but it was determined the goaltender was not impeded from making a save and the net resumed its regulation placement before the goal was scored. Definitely a flukey sequence that even I question the validity of. Hershey responded to this goal with a tally by Zach Sill, however Providence’s powerplay brought the score to 5-2. Jordan Szwarz fired a shot on Vitek Vanecek leaving a juicy rebound amidst a lack of penalty killers. Austin Czarnik walked into the slot where the rebound was and sniped the puck top corner for the third powerplay goal and a comfortable lead heading into the final minutes of the game. Zane McIntyre had a strong outing, turning aside 27 of 29 shots, and 15 of 16 in the third period alone.

Providence Bruins vs. Springfield Falcons (1/27/18)

After a commanding win over Hershey the night before, the Bruins dropped a game by the same score they had won previously. Kenny Agostino scored the first goal of the game merely 11 seconds into the tilt; the fastest the Bruins have scored all season. JFK won the faceoff; Peter Cehlarik entered the offensive zone and passed to Agostino at the left dot, beating Evan Cowley on the game’s first shot. Springfield dominated the remainder of the period. Anthony Greco scored shorthanded off a feed from Ryan Horvat, Alex Grenier scored his first powerplay goal off a perfect passing play, and Chase Balisey made it 3-1 off a one-timer from the left wing boards before the 1st period expired. 5 minutes into the 2nd, Alex Grenier again beat Jordan Binnington on the powerplay to increase the Thunderbirds lead to 4-1. As the 3rd period began, Austin Czarnik cut the lead to 4-2 on a Providence powerplay, however Bobby Farnham tipped a shot from Ian McCoshen for the third Springfield powerplay goal. Regulation would end before any more goals were scored and a decisive 5-2 victory for the Thunderbirds.

Plus / Minus

Plus: + Friday night Providence’s powerplay went 3/7, the highest powerplay % of any game this season. They added a 4th PPG Saturday night in Springfield.

+ Ryan Fitzgerald had a 3 point night Friday (1-2-3); Austin Czarnik and Tommy Cross both had 2 point nights. Fitzgerald won a key board battle that would eventually set up Jakub Zboril’s goal.

+ Jakub Zboril notched his first professional goal of his career Friday night. He has come close several times in previous games, but hit several posts. Jay Leach has really been letting the leash out offensively for the young D-man and it’s paying off. This weekend he notched two points (1G, 1 A)

+After a series of games in which they could barely get 2 goals, the Providence offense exploded for 5 on Friday night.

+ Zane McIntyre continues to redeem himself with another win, and > 0.900 SV% this weekend. (On Wednesday, he officially had a sub 0.900 SV%, but I’m disqualifying the goal that was soccer-kicked in.)

+ Providence took a remarkably low 4 penalties in their two losses this week. Wednesday, they took no penalties at all; a feat they last accomplished 158 games ago.

Minus: – In his last 4 starts, All-Star Jordan Binnington has dropped all 4 decisions.

– On Sunday, Springfield converted on 3 of 4 powerplay chances, and worse, got a shorthanded marker from Anthony Greco early in the 1st period.

– Providence shooting % improved slightly, but still could not convert consistently (Hershey game excluded) consistently.

– Zach Senyshyn was a healthy scratch on Sunday vs. Springfield. I’ve seen a rash of scratches like this from him lately. He’s learning being a first round selection will only get you so far.

– This week, the Bruins only mustered 2 points. January as a whole has been unkind to the Baby B’s, going 4-7-1-0 thus far in the new year.