PROVIDENCE — The Providence Bruins are taking nothing for granted. They are acting as if they have yet to accomplish anything.
Never mind that they have won six straight games since the American Hockey League playoffs began. Never mind that they have dominated Portland, the team that has eliminated them from the playoffs twice in the last four years: They’ve won the first two games of the Atlantic Division finals easily, by a combined score of 11-1.
The P-Bruins would rather talk about what is ahead of them, not behind. They insist they want to continue to work to get better.
“We have to forget about these games and focus on the next one,” said winger Martins Karsums, who scored three goals in the 7-1 victory over the Pirates on Sunday. “It doesn’t matter if we won or we lost. We have to focus on the next game.”
“It’s going to be a battle in Portland. We still have some work to do on our game,” said assistant captain Pascal Pelletier. “We’ve got some stuff to work on, but we’re on the right track.”
That attitude from two of his best players has to be music to the ears of coach Scott Gordon. His team, the best in the AHL all season, has every reason to gloat if it wants. But with a four-day break in the series, as the circus moves into the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, the schedule now has three straight games in Portland.
Gordon has the same attitude as his players. Ask him about the outstanding work so far, and his first reference is to how he wants his team to improve. He gave the squad the day off yesterday, but will have practices here today and tomorrow before heading to Portland on Thursday.
“We’ll touch on some things that we think we can get better at,” Gordon said. “There were a couple things in the second period [in Game Two) that were uncharacteristic of us with the forecheck. They’re correctable. … It’s more a position thing, the wrong guy going on the forecheck. The forecheck is there, but it can get better.”
As he speaks more about his team, though, Gordon makes it clear he is more than pleased with the way the playoffs have gone. His team has done nothing to change the feeling that it is the one to beat for the Calder Cup.
“I thought our guys did a tremendous job,” Gordon said of the overall play in Game Two. He praised his team’s consistency.
“We’ve pretty much played 60 minutes,” he said. “Over the course of an 80-game season, that’s a hard thing to do, but I’ve got to tell you, there weren’t too many off-nights for our guys, and if it was, it was minimal.
“One of the things we talk about is being relentless,” the coach added. “The more you can do that, the less time we spend in our defensive zone. I think our guys have done a great job.
“Through the playoffs, Jeff Hoggan and Pascal [Pelletier] have continued their pace,” Gordon said. “But we’ve gotten production from Wacey Rabbit. Zach Hamill steps in and gets the job done. So many guys have done it. It makes your team hard to play against when you can count on scoring from four lines.”
The team’s balance has been a strength all season. But there is more depth now. With the parent Boston Bruins eliminated from the playoffs, the team has assigned forwards Vladimir Sobotka and Petteri Nokelainen to the P-Bruins. They have fit in seamlessly, to the point where Nokelainen scored twice in the rout of the Pirates on Sunday.
The defense has been outstanding through the postseason, anchored by goalie Tuukka Rask.
With the series moving to Portland, the P-Bruins expect the challenge to become more difficult. The test will be to maintain their momentum. Gordon hopes the same thing happens on Friday that took place Sunday. He spoke to his team, before Game Two, about how Game One had been very competitive and only outstanding play by Rask and the defense had made the 4-0 final seem easier than it really was.
Gordon challenged his team to come out hard and not let the Pirates gain any momentum. The response?
“I thought the first period was the best period we’ve played so far,” Gordon said of his team’s performance in Game Two. The P-Bruins led, 2-0, and controlled the action, setting up the convincing win.
The goal on Friday, Gordon said, will be to do the same thing.
The Providence Bruins are taking nothing for granted. They are acting as if they have yet to accomplish anything.
The P-Bruins would rather talk about what is ahead of them, not behind. They insist they want to continue to work to get better.
When things have gone the way that they have, especially in the first two games vs. Portland, I know I got scared that Providence may lie low, but I'm glad that they all have the attitude of "they have yet to accomplish anything". It means that they'll continue to give their all.
What a team, and what great character in these guys!
Frank (Login Frankie100) Unmoderated 70.188.129.134
Agree
April 30 2008, 8:28 AM
Your right lori. Just look at the Boston Celtics who were 2 games up on the lowly Atlanta Hawks in their best of 7 playoff series. All of a sudden, after the celtics won the first two games,the series is now tied at 2-2. The Boston Celtics, like the Providence Bruins, finished the regular season at the top. Hopefully the P Bruins will not take thier prey for granted.
Yes, it seems that happens when people get kind of "flip". I'm so glad that the P-Bruins (and their leaders of the team) are taking a "we have everything to prove, and don't look to the past" attitudes. That is the way it should be. I know we fans (or at least I can speak for myself) are not taking anything for granted. I think it's so fantastic the way that the P-Bruins have won six playoff games in a row! But, we can't just assume it won't end. It's the playoffs, and anything can happen. I'll cheer and hope for the very best!