The Dunk is rocking following two intense Atlantic Division matchups this past weekend in Providence. The two games were split amongst the Providence Bruins and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Games 3 and 4 are taking place next Friday and Saturday in Allentown at the PPL Center. If the Providence Bruins continue to play the way they are plying, this is going to be a quick series. Going out to Allentown is going to bring some new challenges to the team. Not to mention the last two times the Providence Bruins played at the PPL Center, the Phantoms shut them out.
Game 1
The Providence Bruins are playing well enough to reflect a 2-0 series lead. However, as we all know, the puck does not lie. Sometimes breaks do not always go your way. Phantoms’ goalie Alex Lyon has been playing some of the best hockey of his young career. Former Boston College Eagle Ryan Fitzgerald got the game going with a late first period, power play goal. However, Lehigh Valley did not give up and quickly scored, ending the first period with a score of 1-1. Notably, Ryan Fitzgerald got the Providence Bruins going quickly again, scoring early in the second period.
Multiple penalties continued to prove costly for Providence. The Phantoms were able to score twice on a 5-3 power play, giving Lehigh Valley the 3-2 lead. No scoring occurred during the third period. Despite out shooting the Phantoms 15-2, Lyon was able to smoother up everything and secure a Game 1 victory. In the end, Lyon stoned 39 out of 41 shots. However, if the Providence Bruins keep putting shot totals like that, good things will happen. Zane McIntrye played well, stopping 21 of 24 shots. However, one weak goal seemed to make the difference. Danick Martel’s blue line shot jumped over McIntrye’s glove. How can some one blame Zane for the two power play goals?
Game 2
The Providence Bruins kept the trend of starting off strong in Game 2. This time it is Anton Blidh and Peter Cehlarik who scored quickly. Five minutes and eight seconds into the game the Providence Bruins secured a 2-0 lead. Again, the Phantoms did not going down quietly. Lehigh Valley scored twice in the second period. Both goals occurred within one minute and eleven seconds of each other. Momentum continued to swing in this series, as Jordan Szwarz scored a short-handed goal to give the Providence Bruins the 3-2 lead. Peter Cehlarik continues to light the lamp this series. The Providence Bruins went on to win this one 5-3, evening out the series.
Austin Czarnik is the unsung hero so far of this playoff matchup. Czarnik currently leads the Calder Cup Playoffs with four assists. Both he and Ryan Fitzgerald have two goals this series. Zane McIntyre mysteriously did not play in Game 2. Rumors were flying that he would be the third goalie in Toronto, but Daniel Vladar was on the practice lines. Not to mention Jordan Binnington played out of his mind in Game 2, stopping 23 of 26 shots. It is unclear who is going to be manning the pipes for Game 3. All the Providence Bruins need to do is keep playing the way they are and things will work out.
Watch the Providence Bruins preparing for their run here:
Follow Matt McGurn on Twitter: @MickGurn @TA_CawHawkey
