The Providence Bruins took away a point this weekend but could not find the win column in any of their three games as they fell below .500.
Friday night the squad got rocked by the Springfield Falcons in a 7-2 defeat at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The Falcons controlled the shots in the first period as they outshot the home team 15 to 7 and they subsequently controlled the offense with three goals in that period alone. Providence threw a lot of pucks on net in the middle stanza where they got the edge in shots 21-9. After the score was upped to 4-0, the Bruins got on the board at 16:14 with a goal from Carter Camper for his 5th of the season. The goal did not swing the momentum too much as Springfield scored just over a minute into the final period and Michael Hutchinson (6 saves) took over for Anton Khudobin (23 saves). Jamie Tardif scored on the power play but it was not enough to spur a comeback. The penalty kill was very shaky that night as the Bruins allowed the Falcons to be a perfect 4-for-4.
Josh Hennessy had a multi point night Saturday when the Bruins fell 3-2 to the Portland Pirates. Portland scored first but Tardif scored another power play goal to even out the score as the first period came to a close. David Warsofsky and Hennessy had the helpers. The Pirates netted a pair of goals in the middle frame to gain the lead. Hennessy provided the only goal in the third period to pull Providence within a goal but they still came up short. Khudobin made 26 saves and suffered the loss.
Extra hockey was needed in Sunday afternoon’s match up against the Connecticut Whale where the Bruins fell 3-2 in a shoot out. Like he had all weekend, Tardif came up big on the power play. He scored an early power play goal in the first period and another early power play goal in the second period. Assists on both goals went to Warsofsky and Camper. The Bruins got a little too comfortable with their 2-goal lead and let it slip away in the final 20 minutes of play to allow the Whale to tie the game. Neither team scored in overtime and it went to a shootout. Jamie Arniel was the only one to score for Providence in a six round shootout and Khudobin turned away four shooters but the Whale came out on top Khudobin made 33 saves in the loss.
Providence hosts no games at the Dunk next weekend but they hit the road against the Hershey Bears on Wednesday and the Norfolk Admirals back-to-back Friday and Saturday.
The Reading Royals finished their four games in five day stretch with a dominating 6-2 win over the Elmira Jackals Sunday. The Royals took 2-of-3 from the Jackals over the weekend and the victory vaulted them back into first place in the Atlantic Division. It was also just the second win at home for Reading.
Just when it seems Karel St. Laurent makes a bid for the No. 1 spot, Joe Palmer steps his game up to a new level. His performance Sunday night was one of the best of the season as he made 39 saves to earn his fourth win.
The team as a whole also played well in front of Palmer and minus a few minutes in the second and third period, the Royals played a consistent and dominating game.
"It was a great game," head coach Larry Courville said. "I thought Ryan's [Cruthers] line was really clicking and moving the puck. I thought other guys helped out when they needed to....I thought we did a lot of little things that we need to do as a team."
The line of Cruthers, Yannick Riendeau, and Olivier Labelle combined for seven points (4G, 3A) in the game.
"Today was our best game as a team," Riendeau said. "We have to keep going on the road."
In all three games against the Jackals, the Royals were the first to open the scoring. Riendeau snapped a shot from the right circle 14:39 into the opening frame. Rob Shearer added to the lead with his third of the year. Elmira goaltender Brian Stewart made the initial save on Marvin Degon's shot, but Shearer slammed the rebound in for a 2-0 lead 53 seconds later.
The Royals weren't finished and picked up where they left off in the first. Early in the second, Reading picked up their first power play of the game and didn't waste it. Labelle needed only eight seconds to easily tap in the puck from a perfect cross-ice pass from Cruthers.
A beautiful tic-tac-toe passing play from Labelle to Cruthers to Riendeau led to a 4-0 Royals lead and Riendeau's second of the night 6:01 into the second period. Following the goal, Stewart was pulled in favor of Timo Pielmeier.
Cruthers joined his linemates in the goal-scoring category seven minutes later. He banged in a loose puck at the side of the net during a Royals two-man advantage to make give the team a commanding 5-0 lead.
Palmer's bid for the first Royals' shutout ended at the 15:52 mark of the second period. With Chad Painchaud in the box for roughing, the Royals botched a clearing attempt. Craig Rivet took a shot from the point and the Evan Barlow knocked in the rebound.
They weren't finished as they struck again early in the third. With Palmer down on the ice, Elmira's Kyle Reeds kept jamming under Palmer's pad and knocked the puck in for his first pro goal.
Dennis McCauley restored a four-goal lead while shorthanded just over four minutes later. Flying down the right-wing side, he fired a shot that beat Pielmeier to makes it 6-2. It was the first shorthanded tally for the Royals this season.
Though the Royals now own a 7-6-1-0 record, Courville sees a difference in the team that wasn't there in the first few games of the season.
"Our record is one game above .500," Courville said. "Am I happy with that? No. The last few games I think we're starting to come together and guys are starting to buy into their roles. Other guys that weren't playing well initially are actually stepping up and playing really well now."
CAMOUFLAGE JERSEYS
With Veteran's Day on Friday, the Royals honored America's military personnel during Sunday's Military Recognition Game. The players wore special purple camouflage jerseys that were auctioned off following the win. All net proceeds from the auction went to the Keystone Wounded Warriors Project.
LABELLE SCORES 54
Labelle's goal in the game was his 54th as a Royal, making him the all-time goal scoring leader in franchise history.
"It's good to score goals," Labelle said. "It's good to put up good numbers where you are...I just try to do my best to help the team out.
Labelle, in his third season with the Royals, has compiled 86 points (54G, 32A) in 107 games with the team.
"It's definitely an accomplishment – something to be proud of," Courville said. "He's earned it. He's always been a performer for us. His work ethic on our team is probably unmatched. It's a nice accomplishment for him. I'm proud of him."
INJURY UPDATE
John Scrymgeour was activated off injured reserve and was inserted in the line-up.
Matt Caruana, who has been out with an injury since Oct. 28, was cleared for physical contact Sunday. He is expected to be back in the lineup on the upcoming road trip, Courville said.
The Providence Bruins hauled themselves back to .500 after winning two of three games this weekend, beating Manchester in an exciting goalie duel on Friday, losing to Portland on Saturday, and beating Worcester 3-2 on Sunday.
It took some late-game heroics from Maxime Sauve on Friday, as well as 30 saves from an on-his-game Anton Khudobin as the P-Bruins were able to kill off three penalties. The penalty kill has climbed from the basement of the league into a respectable 11th place, although the power play remains 30th in the league, converting on only 7.4% of chances.
On Saturday, the P-Bruins weren't quite as successful. Portland took an early lead on a Nathan Oystrick power play goal, and in the second period, 2011 Hobey Baker Award winner Andy Miele fired home another shot past Providence goalie Michael Hutchinson to make it 2-0. Colin Long tallied a third, and Portland took their 3-0 lead into the final frame.
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Kingston Frontenacs forward and Boston Bruins prospect Ryan Spooner has been named OHL Player of the Week for the week ending November 13th. Spooner had four goals and six assists in ten games with a plus-minus rating of +8.
The struggling Frontenacs got help from Spooner as they won three straight games for the first time this season. The 2010 second round draft pick for the Bruins had his second career five point game in his team's 5-3 victory of the Saginaw Spirit on Sunday. In the game he had a shorthanded goal and four assists to earn first star. Friday he netted a pair of goals in the team's 7-0 victory over the Oshawa Generals and Sunday he had a shorthanded goal and two assists when Kingston defeated the Ottawa 67's 7-4.
Spooner is also taking part in the OHL Superseries this week where he will don the "A" on his jersey tonight in Sault Ste. Marie. In the first game in Ottawa on Thursday he had three assists when team OHL beat the Russian Selects 10-7.
The Reading Royals returned home for the first time Saturday night since Oct. 30 to face the Elmira Jackals for the second time in two nights. The turnout of 5,168 in the Sovereign Center were disappointed with a fourth straight home loss for the Royals. They gave up two leads in the game and lost 4-2 to the Jackals.
"I think that was our best game that we've played all year," head coach Larry Courville said. "We're starting to come together as a team and understanding the little things that we have to do."
Despite a great effort from the team, the loss has put the Royals' home record at a dismal 1-4-0-0.
"We haven't played well at home," Courville said. "I thought tonight was a night that it should have turned around...It wasn't a matter of effort. [Elmira] got a couple of lucky bounces."
The Royals struck first 5:20 into the game. Olivier Labelle only needed 19 seconds in the power play to score his ninth of the season. Labelle made it look easy with his tip-in past goaltender Brian Stewart off a pass from Denny Urban.
Unlike the previous game, however, the Royals held onto the lead in the first and were able to successfully kill off two penalties in the period.
The second period saw a flurry of goals in a short span. Three goals were scored in 1:19 – two from the Jackals and one from the Royals.
Elmira tied the game 9:43 into the second when Jean Bourbeau took a shot below the goal line to Karel St. Laurent's right. The puck hit Jordan Lane and St. Laurent and found its way in the net for Lane's first ECHL goal. Matt Schepke answered back 40 seconds later with his snapshot from the slot to give the Royals the 2-1 lead, but it was short lived.
Evan Barlow notched his eighth of the season 39 seconds after that to knot the game at 2. St. Laurent stopped Craig Rivet's shot, but the puck landed in front of the crease where Barlow was able to pounce on it.
The Royals had several opportunities to take the lead back in the third – including three consecutive power plays – but were unable to do so. Instead, the Jackals scored with 6:20 left. Maxime Gratchev notched the game winner off a bouncing puck. St. Laurent made the initial save, but was unable to stop the rebound shot from Gratchev.
The Jackals sealed the game with an empty-net goal from Riley Armstrong with 11 seconds left in the game.
"Sometimes there [are] those games you're supposed to win and you don't, and sometimes games when you're supposed to lose you win," Courville said.
LABELLE TIES RECORD
Labelle's goal marked the 53rd of his career as a Royal, tying him with Ben Gordon, Dan Rooney, Danny Roussin, and Andrew Sarauer as all-time leaders in goals with the club.
"It's not something that I really look at," Labelle said. "It's always fun to score goals – it's one of those things I try to do."
A late goal from Maxime Sauve would be all the Providence Bruins needed to edge the Manchester Monarchs 1-0 Friday night at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Anton Khudobdin made 30 saves in the victory.
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Another win in the books for the home team last night. After having the atrocious start they did, the B's are winners of 4 straight and the compete and drive many were waiting for is showing up once again. Leading the way are the top two lines who appear adjusted and back in the healthy competition to see who's the #1 line. While the bottom two lines are getting better, questions still exist about how to ensure the depth needed for this team to be a factor again in the playoffs. Along with that, many wonder if the blue line needs help moving forward. There's a chance this team waits for that help to come from their pipeline but as the season plays out, it is something to watch for.
Taylor vs Tyler
So we finally have the home game that Bruins fans have been looking for since last spring- pick 1 vs pick 2. The hype of this game appeared in the home fan's new hero early as Seguin was seen anxiously jumping the play and working a bit faster than the speedy yet smooth forward has done to date. As things moved along though he was able to get settled and closer to his normal game and results as he notched a goal and assist to make it 17 points on the year.
To his counterpart, the effects of this game seemed less significant. Hall came into this one trailing in points and would leave in the same boat, but the ability he brought to the ice was exactly the reason many Bruins fans coveted him as strongly as they did. Size, speed, hands and creativity all packaged into one of the rising stars of the game and showcased early when he came down on Rask and created space for Nugent Hopkins to walk in and net one. Late in the game his compete showed as well as he appeared to want to carry his trailing team on his back and worked to drive by the Bruins defense and get shots on goal. Overall a strong showing by both with the young guns on Boston bringing in the points and the victory.
RNH & Smyth: Leading Edmonton from Gutter to Division Lead
With the emergence of the youths, Ryan Smyth and company seem to have the right mix to put up W's this season. The veteran forward has lead this team up front along with Captain Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky after the two suffered the down times in Edmonton. Coming into this match up in Boston Smyth rode a 5 game point streak and by putting up 2 goals he made it 6 with 7 goals in the 6 games.
Helping Smyth bring these Oilers back to the tops of the west is none other than #1 overall pick and leading Calder candidate Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. RNH entered the game a point a game player and left it as one still. His immediate chemistry with Hall and Eberle has been beneficial as for such a young line, they've accomplished much to date. Creative rotations, puck control and creating space; all things this line does well already. Defensive play, making the simple play and the '6th sense' that comes from playing with guys long enough; all things that still need to be developed with the three. While it will come, it's likely to lead to some bumps in the road this season.
At the rate they're playing even with those bumps this Oilers team will be playoff bound. The lack of experience and rounding out of skills will likely leaving them chalking this up to a growing season. With the young talent that makes up both of these organizations, don't be surprised if the coming years find the two teams meeting each other for more than 1 yearly visit.
Zach Hamill: Ready for the Big Leagues?
The injuries to Paille and Peverley have left a gap in the Bruin's line up currently requiring an emergency call up in the form of Zach Hamill. Hamill has been off to his best start in Providence this season after impressing many in the B's preseason camp. Previously the work ethic and energy expected for a competing prospect was missing from his game. So while he may have ended up on the score sheets in previous NHL contests, his overall body of work never lead to him sticking.
This season has shown a change though and the change was noticeable in this match up. Hamill is moving, is playing in all 3 zones and is competing. The effort paid off tonight as he connected with fellow prospect Jordan Caron for the Bruin's 2nd goal of the game. Additionally, his compete helped the Bruins draw 2 penalties which have actually been useful for the team this season. Compared to other prospect call ups seen in previous seasons, Hamill looked well adjusted, ready for the experience and not out of place.
At this point the question is how long until Peverley and Paille return? While Hamill played well, he still is only an emergency call up and has not performed so well that he's likely to upseat Caron or Pouliot after 1 game. If he gets additional starts though against Buffalo and into next week, there's a chance that moves could be made there after to bring him up to stay. His work on the wing in the AHL makes it much more likely but only time and his effort on the ice will lead us to any changes in this roster.
Questions of the Night
With Hamill's arrival in Boston the comfort of Jordan Caron appeared to increase significantly. That said, is it time that Caron needs to fully become adjusted to this setting or is there something missing in his game (or that of his linemates)? Do you also keep Hamill up with the team over Pouliot or someone else if it leads to chemistry with Caron (and of course results that the 3rd line have been lacking)?
Joe Corvo finished tonight as the Bruin's 2nd star and with a playmaker under his belt. He has been shaky at times especially in his own end and in some decisions in the neutral zone this season. Has the move to have him paired more with Seidenberg been the fix to his early season woes or is he finally just getting comfortable? Do you feel comfortable with him being the puck mover and power play QB of this team for the potential post season?
Krejci's reemergence over the past few outings has been noticeable. Being healthy and paired again with Lucic has seemed to work wonders. What else is needed though for Horton to start putting numbers up in the goal column for that line?
If Tim Thomas were to (heaven forbid) go down tomorrow, would you feel comfortable with Tuukka Rask as the B's #1 goaltender?
With the power play clicking, the PK performing fairly well and wins finally coming, the Bruins seem to be on the rise. The only thing that doesn't seem completely there is the contribution from the 3rd and 4th lines. Can the Bruins continue to play at the pace they are with it's top 2 lines playing 17-20 minutes a night or is a change or trade needed to get the depth and prevent burn out?
Extra Credit: Which draft over the past 4 years represents the best group of NHL forwards from the 1st round at it's upper echelon? Watching this season, the past 2 seem to be making great cases with Seguin/Hall/Skinner along with RNH/Landeskog/Couturier.
The Reading Royals continued on their five-game road trip with a stop at divisional rival Trenton Titans Wednesday night. Their successful start to the trip took a turn Sunday and continued on against the Titans as they were dominated from start to finish and lost 5-2.
A poor defensive effort and turnovers in front of goaltender Karel St. Laurent led to the Titans' win.
Entering the game, the Royals penalty kill was ranked last in the league (68.6 percent) and their woes continued as Ryan Hayes scored with Yannick Riendeau in the box for slashing at 13:07.
But it was the end of the first period that really hurt the Royals. Trenton's Randy Rowe pushed the puck past Rob Kwiet and raced in and scored on a breakaway to give the Titans a 2-0 lead with 1:18 left in the period.
Only 48 seconds later, the Titans struck again – this time from Dustin Cameron on a 2-on-1. His shot hit St. Laurent and bounced off the post and into the net. The Royals skated to the locker room down 3-0 after only one period of play.
It wouldn't be the end for the Titans as they increased their lead a little past halfway through the second. Denny Kearney fed a pass across the crease to an awaiting Blair Yaworksi, who got it above St. Laurent's glove as he tried to slide from post-to-post. It was déjà vu for the Royals as they once again found themselves in a 4-0 hole for the second straight game.
The Royals broke Dave Caruso's bid for a shutout in the third period. While on the power play, Denny Urban aimed a pass towards Olivier Labelle in front of the net. The puck glanced off Labelle's skate and into the net 4:45 into the third period.
Any glimmer of hope was wiped out as Rowe scored his second of the night. A turnover in the neutral zone led to Andy Bohmbach's pass to Rowe. He fired a one-timer past St. Laurent for a 5-1 Titans lead roughly 10 minutes later.
Labelle was able to get the Royals on the board for one more time on the night 2:04 after Rowe's goal. His shot towards the net pin-balled around the crease before finding its way behind Caruso.
NOTES
Ryan Cruthers continued his point streak to four games with assists on both Royals' goals. He has now collected seven points over that span (2G, 5A).
Casey Haines was out with a lower-body injury. He is expected to return in time for the three games against the Elmira Jackals over the weekend.
David Strathman was traded to the Gwinnett Gladiators earlier in the day. He only played one game for the Royals this season.
After spending the latter half of last season and the beginning of this one still using his Houston-Aeros inspired red mask, Providence Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin has finally donned a lid that reflects his new organization.
Anton Khudobin skates in warmups against the Manchester Monarchs. | Photo by 560xls
Crafted by Dom Malerba of Pro's Choice and painted by local mask artist Ron Slater, Khudobin's new mask is a Vaughn Vision custom. Khudobin was directed to Pro's Choice by a member of the Bruins' equipment staff, he said. One of the best features that he likes about the mask is the fact that it is custom molded to his face.
"Before, I had a regular mask, and after a while, like a few months? My mask didn't fit my face anymore. [This mask is] molded to my head...there was really no problem. I put it on my head and it was ready to go. It took so long because I ordered it in training camp, that's when they molded my face, and it took pretty long to do it," said Khudobin.
Additionally, Pro's Choice makes the rest of their mask customizable as well.
"Anton could have anything done to the mask, the size of the face opening, chin length and type of cage, to name a few. The mask is made with Kevlar and carbon fiber. The cage is covered in real 24k gold. Most pros choice masks come with the signature Tri-Cat cage as seen on many pros goalies like Tuukka Rask. Anton decided to go with the standard two bar cage," said Pro's Choice's Paul Cena.
The design was a collaborative effort between Khudobin and Malerba; while Khudobin knew he wanted to go with an overall Bruins theme, he had definite requirements for the backplate - it is adorned with his parents' initials, as well as Igor Korolev's #22.
Image by 560xls
"I had angels before, and i decided I wanted something wild, like a bear with its mouth open or something and the painter actually gave me a really good idea, so it's a bear ripping skin and underneath is the boston logo. On the back is the russian eagles, the two eagles. on one side is my parents' names, and the other is my friend who I played with in Russia, who died in the plane crash."
Korolev was a veteran on the 2006-2007 Metallurg Magnitogorsk team, where Khudobin got his start. Khudobin has since also added the Lokomotiv logo to the backplate, as well.
Pro's Choice has done a great job in the past with Providence goalies, from fan-favorite Jordan Sigalet to Michael Hutchinson and Tuukka Rask, and this latest additions holds up to the standard.
Boston Bruins prospects Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Spooner will be donning more than just the OHL name on their Team OHL jerseys. Hamilton, the Bruins 9th overall first round pick in the 2011 draft, has been named captain for the game in Sault Ste. Marie while Spooner has been named as one of the assistants for the games in both Ottawa and Sault Ste. Marie.
Hamilton, a defenseman for the Niagra IceDogs, was just named OHL Defenseman of the Month for the month of October. He's 12th in the OHL for point amassing 25 through 17 games. He has 8 goals and 17 assists as well 20 PIMs and is a +4.
Spooner, a 2010 draft pick selected 45th overall in the second round, third on his team for points with 12. He has 5 goals and 7 assists through 17 games.
The game in Ottawa is set to take place on November 10th and the game in SSM will take place on the 14th against the Russian Selects.
The two Bruins prospects will be playing against fellow prospect Alexander Khokhlachev in the game in Ottawa. "Koko," from the Windsor Spitfires, has 21 points through 19 games with 6 goals and 15 assists.
