By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter / X @KennyKaminsky
This season, the Providence Bruins have done a fantastic job drawing penalties. This roster’s speed, size, and muscle make it difficult for opponents to stay composed during the heat of the game. However, the Baby Bs have struggled to capitalize on these opportunities. Since Vinni Lettieri sniped a shot over Laval Rocket netminder Jakub Dobes on the first power play of the season, the P-Bruins haven’t been able to replicate that success, going 0-15 since.
My first observation is that Providence’s top playmakers, Georgii Merkulov and Fabian Lysell, haven’t touched the puck nearly as much as they should. The Bruins have been doing an excellent job of setting up in the zone, so it’s hard to understand why they have only been able to convert 6.3 percent of their chances this season. Merkulov is a dangerous playmaker. We saw glimpses of this during the preseason when he made some spectacular passes to create scoring chances for his teammates.
Georgii utilized his lethal snapshot one-timer extensively last season. One main difference I have seen is that teams have players committed to Merkulov when he is in that bumper position, resulting in his few shot attempts being blocked. The one attempt that went through was just barely stopped by T-Birds Goalie Colten Ellis. If this powerplay wants to succeed, Merkulov needs to do a better job of freeing himself. If he can not do this, it may be time for him to get lower.
Fabian Lysell has done a decent job on the man advantage, but we need to see more. Lysell has been moving the puck from behind the net to the low bumper position, but he seems stuck. One critique of Lysell’s game early this season has been his impulsive turnovers, and it’s no different on the powerplay. When Fabian tries to make a seam pass, it always gets deflected. The urgency for more from Lysell is clear, and his improvement could be a game-changer for the Providence Bruins’ power play.
Despite their limited role, the second unit has shown significant potential. With only around 20 seconds of ice time per power play, they created three high-end chances in the last game. The unit’s cohesion is evident, with John Farinacci and Joey Abate consistently winning battles. Even when they lose the puck in the zone, they quickly regain possession by winning wall battles. This promising performance suggests that the second unit’s role is crucial and should be noticed when considering changes to the power play strategy. This potential should give Providence Bruins fans hope for the future.
My final suggestion is to consider changing the “quarterback” for the first unit. While Ian Mitchell has been a valuable addition to the team, it might be time to switch the player at the point position. Mitchell’s responsible playstyle is well-suited to the power play Providence runs, which could lead to many shorthanded goals if not executed properly.
However, the team could benefit from a player who takes more calculated risks. It could be time to see Lysell or Merkulov take command of this power play or even a young player like Jackson Edward or Frederic Brunet, who could bring a fresh perspective. The necessity for a change in the “quarterback” position is apparent, and it could be the key to unlocking the Bruins’ potential when they are a man-up.
Providence has the 28th-ranked power play in the American Hockey League. It is very early in the season, and players are still trying to get their sea legs. These are my opinions on what the P-Bruins should do, but I’m not a coach. There could be a plethora of reasons the power play is stalling out, but it is an issue that will be addressed by Coach Ryan Mougenel in practice this week. The Baby B’s have too much skill to struggle on the man advantage long term; they might need one to go in to open the floodgates.
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