With the postseason finally approaching, the Redsox have a tough first round against the the Angels. The Angels have the best record in the American league right now but I strongly beleive that the Bosox have what it takes to win four! Would love to see a Redsox vs Cubs final! I love the postseason, can't wait for the first of October! + Comment
P-Bruins Power Play Packs a Potent Punch
Written by Matt Zhe
From the first day of the season, Providence has rolled out a deadly quintet when given the man advantage. To AHL aficionados, the names roll right off the tongue; St. Pierre, Karsums, Sobotka, Boychuk, and Lashoff. In their season opening shootout win against Lowell, all three of the goals came with an extra skater. Through the seasons first four games the attack has not waned, despite the fact that Vladimir Sobotka has already earned a recall to Boston, and rookie Zach Hamill is out with an injury.
The 4-0-1 Bruins have scored 11 power play goals thus far in 36 chances, operating at a blistering 30.6% efficiency. In fact, more than half of the teams total goals thus far (20) have come with an opponent serving time in the box. While 10 different Bruins have accounted for the 11 PP goals, the two key members of the unit are Martin St. Pierre and Johnny Boychuk. St. Pierre is the distributor down low, often trying a pinpoint cross-crease pass to Martins Karsums. Boychuk, on the other hand, quarterbacks from up top, deciding when to dish the puck low to forwards or unleash a booming slap shot from the point.
Martin St. Pierre and Johnny Boychuk are both among the AHL leaders in scoring, thanks in large part to their power play production, but the similarities between the two do not end there. Both players are in their first season with the Baby B’s. Both were acquired this off-season via trade for a popular member of last year’s club (St. Pierre came from Chicago for Pascal Pelletier, Boychuk from Colorado for Matt Hendricks). And unfortunately, both have yet to get a real shot in the NHL despite several successful years in the minors.
St. Pierre, listed at 5’9”, is still staring up at the ‘You Must Be This Tall To Play In the NHL’ sign that many thought was permanently knocked over by Daniel Briere. He has been a star in the AHL since day one, totaling 74 goals and 192 assists for 266 points in 216 games over parts of four seasons. He has also played in three AHL all star games. After not making the Boston Bruins out of training camp, it is unlikely he will be called up over the course of the season, as that would expose him to the waiver wire and give every team in the NHL a chance to claim him. St. Pierre did dress for 21 games with the Chicago Blackhawks in his career, tallying a total of 1 goal and 3 assists.
Johnny Boychuk’s hot start may have put him on the radar of the Boston Bruins brass. Boychuk, who never tallied more than 28 points in a single AHL season prior to 2008, has already has scored 2 goals and added 8 assists in just 5 games this year. With Boston having already traded defenseman Andrew Alberts and recalled Matt Hunwick, Boychuk is competing with Matt Lashoff in Providence to be the next defensive call up to the big club. Boychuk’s great start may have already allowed him to leapfrog Lashoff, who is taking longer to develop than was probably planned. Boychuk played in 4 games for the Colorado Avalanche last season without scoring a point.
In Slap Shot, Coach Dunlop ultimately decides against using the power play to turn his team’s fortunes around, choosing instead to ‘goon it up’ and intimidate his opponent into submission. That strategy would not work for the 2008 Providence Bruins. You will be far more likely to see the P-Bruins light up their opponent than beat them up.
BRUINS NOTES: The Boston Bruins have signed forward Jordan Knackstead and assigned him to Providence… Wacey Rabbit has the lone P-Bruins shorthanded goal this season… Former Bruin T.J. Trevelyan has signed on with the AHL’s Iowa Chops (Anaheim)… The Boston Bruins received forward Ned Lukacevic from Philadelphia in the Andrew Alberts deal and assigned him to Providence… Four Month old Emiliene Sophie Zhe attended her first P-Bruins game on Sunday, October 12th, a 4-3 OT win over the Springfield Falcons.
