With several top players missing, the Providence Bruins split their two games over the weekend. They lost 4-2 (with an empty netter) in Springfield on Saturday. Then they finished on a positive note, spanking Bridgeport, 6-1, on Sunday. They’ve earned 5 out of 8 points in their last 4 games.
Here’s the good, bad and ugly.
GOOD
*** With 3 goals and an assist against Bridgeport, rookie Cameron Hughes doubled his point total for the season. He completed his hat trick by scoring on a penalty shot. He now has 4-4-8 in 9 games.
*** Zach Senyshyn had a strong game on Sunday, scoring two goals.
*** Tanner Pond handed out punishing hits all over the ice against Bridgeport.
*** The P-Bruins have the AHL’s best penalty kill at 93.9 percent. They’ve killed 18 in a row and have given up only 2 power play goals through 9 games.
*** Colby Cave, recalled by Boston on Monday, has points in 7 straight games.
*** Dan Vladar made 28 saves on Sunday and recorded his first victory of the season.
*** Peter Cehlarik made a pretty pass to Jan Kovar for a power-play goal in Springfield.
BAD
*** The P-Bruins were without 3 of their top 6 forwards on Saturday and 4 of 6 on Sunday. Jordan Szwarz and Mark McNeill are injured. Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson was in Sweden tending to a personal matter. Cehlarik played on Saturday but sat out on Sunday with an upper body injury.
*** Kovar was on the ice for all 4 Springfield goals on Saturday. Peter Cehlarik and Cody Goloubef were on ice for 3 against.
*** They gave up the decisive goal in Springfield with under 5 minutes left in regulation time.
*** Providence has given up 3 shorthanded goals.
*** The P-Bruins have had 32 power play opportunities. That’s 28th in the league.
*** A big test awaits the P-Bruins in Charlotte this weekend. The 8-1 Checkers are second in the AHL with 16 points.
UGLY
*** Zane McIntyre and Vladar have a combined save percentage of .866.
*** Injured: Jordan Szwarz, Mark McNeill, Peter Cehlarik, David Broll.
