Providence Bruins race past Hartford in Game 2 to even semifinal series
PROVIDENCE — Providence Bruins coach Ryan Mougenel wasn’t worried after falling in Game 1.
Hartford went into the Amica Mutual Pavilion and earned the opening win of the Atlantic Division semifinals, but the Providence bench boss liked his club’s effort.
“I think for the most part, I actually really liked our game. I’d take some of the goals back if we could but there was some real good things,” Mougenel said after the loss.
Providence showed its resolve in Game 2 on Friday night downtown, and proved its coach's statements true, with three first-period goals as the Bruins dusted Hartford, 6-0, in front of 3,765 to knot the series at one-all.
Game 3 of the best-of-five series is set for Wednesday in Hartford. Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m.
Game 1: Hartford denies Providence Bruins in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division semifinals
“I think for us what I liked is just that we had a simplicity to our game,” Mougenel said. “We're a [simple] team and we've talked about it all year — it just works for us. And you see when guys go up, there are a lot of transferable skills with the way we play.
“And that's a message for all our guys — it's important to play the right way. And when you have an opportunity to climb forechecks and keep it simple, you have to make those plays.”
Providence took a 1-0 lead as Vincent Arseneau redirected Jared McIsaac’s shot from the point just 2:43 into the contest. And similar to Game 1, Providence forced a turnover on the forecheck and Jayson Megna cleaned up the loose puck at the slot for a 2-0 advantage with 6:16 left in the first period.
Providence used less than a minute to revel before matching its Game 1 scoring as Brett Harrison, on a 3-on-1 rush, redirected Arseneau’s helper.
“You try to win the game in the first period, especially in the playoffs,” Mougenel said. “You see how important those first goals are for us. Our mindset is just play and let the momentum kind of take over. Find those moments when you can create [momentum], and when you lose it, find a way to get it back.”
Providence goalie Brandon Bussi earned his first career playoff shutout with 34 saves. His three-save sequence two minutes into the second period allowed Providence to build its advantage further. The 6-foot-4-inch netminder denied Hartford’s Brennan Othmann with a pad save on a close-range shot.
Five minutes later, with a 5-on-3 advantage, Georgii Merkulov circled the puck to Ian Mitchell at the top of the slot for a one-timer that found the net. Before the second period horn sounded, Arseneau added his second goal, this time from the left circle for a 5-0 lead.
“Everybody was on board and everybody was pulling the rope,” Mougenel said. “Bussi was a lot sharper and made the saves he needed to make.”
After not playing in Game 1, Harrison, on the fourth line, finished with a goal and two assists with just two shots taken.
“He's a young pro and is finding his way and that's kind of what he does,” Mougenel said of Harrison. “He's got a great nose for the net, great offensive mind and he's getting stronger and better and we're real happy for him.”
Mitchell capped the scoring with his second goal of the contest just 50 seconds into the third period.
The margin of victory was the largest in a playoff game for the Bruins since April 27, 2008, when Providence defeated Portland, 7-1.
jrousseau@providencejournal.com
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Bruins dust Hartford in Game 2 to even semifinal series
