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By: Patrick Donnelly | Follow me on Twitter @PatDonn12
Now former Boston Bruins forward prospect Peter Cehlarik has reportedly agreed to a terms with HC Lugano of the Swiss National League. The 24-year-old was slated to become a restricted free agent this summer after his one-year deal with an average annual value (AVV) of $700,000 runs out.
Last month, Cehlarik spoke with Slovak media about his frustrations with the Bruins organization after traveling to his native country to wait out the pandemic. The left-shot forward did not seem too pleased with his usage under Boston head coach Bruce Cassidy during his stints with the big club.
“I can’t cross the line to persuade Bruins [coach] Bruce Cassidy for good,” Cehlarik said at the time. “Sometimes I felt as if he was just waiting for my mistake to send me back to the farm.
“They know what they are doing. They’ve invested years of development in me. It’s all about trust from a coach I don’t get. I still hear that I’m ready for the NHL, I have it, but when it goes like this, I need a change and a new start. It is high time.”
The left-winger has suited up in just three games with the Bruins this season, notching just one assist and posting a minus-one rating. In 48 games with the Providence Bruins, Boston’s American Hockey League affiliate, he has 16-21-37 totals in addition to a plus-three rating in 48 games.
On Nov. 2, 2019, Cassidy was candid with the media about his thoughts on Cehlarik’s performance after a matchup with the Ottawa Senators, saying: “If [Cehlarik]’s going to stay in the National Hockey League, you’ve got to play to your strengths, and I thought he had opportunities to make plays. He made a few here and there, but I thought he left some on the table. At the end of the day, the details we’ll keep getting after him about, so overall, I thought he was okay.”
Boston’s bench boss also noted he feels Cehlarik’s ideal spot in the lineup is next to a “skilled centerman.” After failing to make the team out of camp, Cehlarik was placed on waivers to be assigned to Providence, and went unclaimed.
On his career, the 90th overall pick in the third round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft has five goals and six assists for 11 points in 40 NHL games, as well as a plus-11 rating. In 185 AHL contests, Cehlarik has 59-77-136 numbers in addition to a plus-20 rating. Over nine Calder Cup Playoffs games, he recored three goals and one assist.
Bruins assistant captain Patrice Bergeron skated with Lugano during the 2012-13 lockout. In 21 games with the club before the NHL returned, Bergeron registered 29 points (11g, 18a).
Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 180 that we recorded below on 5-25-20! You can find our show on many worldwide platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Stitcher!
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With the National Hockey League and affiliated American Hockey League on this coronavirus hiatus, some players returned home to be with families as this pandemic ravages planet earth. Boston Bruins forward Peter Cehlarik returned home to his native Slovakia country as he and hundreds of other NHL players patiently wait for NHL executives to make an official call on whether a return to finish the 2019-20 campaign.
“Sometimes I felt as if [Cassidy] was just waiting for my mistake to send me back to the farm.”
In an article written by Bruins scribe Ty Anderson of the 98.5 The Sports Hub website, the 24-year-old Cehlarik wasn’t exactly thrilled with the way he’s been used in his short tenure with the Boston Bruins organization. While at home overseas he’s been speaking out loud to Slovak media members about his frustration with his inability to crack the Boston lineup for a full-time position. Cehlarik is a 6′-2″ 203-pound winger that has the ability to play both wing positions but has played a majority of his time with the organization in the AHL with Boston’s top minor-pro affiliate the Providence Bruins. With Providence, the big forward has appeared in 185 games posting 59-77-136 numbers but when called upon for NHL duties he’s only contributed 5-6-11 numbers in 40 games at the top level of hockey in the world.
Peter appeared in three games for the NHL Bruins during this 2019-20 regular season but was placed on waivers in November of 2019 for the purpose of placing him in Providence after notching only one assist in that timeframe. He would surprisingly pass though the 24-hour waiver process and reported to the AHL Rhode Island club and go onto post 16-21-37 numbers in 48 games with Providence before the regular season abruptly stopped due to the worldwide pandemic. After being selected in the third round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Cehlarik signed a three-year entry-level contract in June of 2016 and made his way to North America to start his pro career with Providence for the 2016-17 campaign. He signed a one-year extension with Boston in July of 2019 which expires whenever the current NHL season is determined over and there’s an actual offseason instead of the current pause in league operations.
Let’s go back to the mention of 40 games that Cehlarik has played in the NHL. Also, let me grab a few quotes from the aforementioned 98.5 The Sports Hub article that the talented Ty Anderson wrote.
“I can’t cross the line to persuade Bruins [coach] Bruce Cassidy for good,” “Sometimes I felt as if he was just waiting for my mistake to send me back to the farm.”
“They know what they are doing. They’ve invested years of development in me. It’s all about trust from a coach I don’t get. I still hear that I’m ready for the NHL, I have it, but when it goes like this, I need a change and a new start. It is high time.”
Well to me saying things like what he said above is certainly not going to bode well with future contract negotiations and in fact, there’s a rumor that he’s exploring options in the Swedish Hockey League. The SHL avenue might be a backup plan as soon as he becomes a free agent and no other NHL teams want to take a chance on the winger. The Bruins would still own his rights up to the age of 27 so the Boston club could also make him available via trade to possibly get an asset back before he goes pouting off elsewhere.
This reminds me of another situation that happened years ago with Bruins prospect Alexander Khokhlachev and his verbal battle with former Bruins Head Coach Claude Julien. Koko appeared in nine games for the Boston club in sporadic recalls from AHL Providence and said his piece about the limited time he was used to showcasing his skills. Julien was often accused of not playing younger players in favor of the veteran experience or seniority and Alexander spoke about his frustrations ultimately seeing him leave the Bruins organization for a seemingly better opportunity overseas in the Kontinental Hockey League first with the SKA St. Petersburg team during the 2016-17 season and has spent the last three seasons with the Spartak Moskva club. Khokhlachev is still Boston Bruins property for at least another year.
Chris Casto, Brian Ferlin, Alexander Khokhlachev, Torey Krug, Colin Miller, & Joe Morrow were the players receiving qualifying offers today.
It’s clear that Bruins management and obviously Head Coach Cassidy didn’t exactly get a warm fuzzy feeling with Cehlarik’s time in Boston and to say imply that he didn’t get enough time to show his skills for permanent NHL placement is just wrong. He had more opportunities than the organization gave previous youth players and it seems like other Bruins prospects that were getting recalls on the regular is where this frustration is coming from. Looking at the current NHL lineup and contracted players, it’s really not a big loss for Boston to walk away from the disgruntled forward but his game will be sorely missed in Providence as he did work extremely hard to get attention from the higher up’s. Peter’s always been talked about as a player that’s about to cross the threshold of an NHL career but like Cassidy mentioned in the article of discussion and quoted below…..
“If [Cehlarik]’s going to stay in the National Hockey League, you’ve got to play to your strengths,” Cassidy said back on Nov. 2. “And I thought he had opportunities to make plays. He made a few here and there, but I thought he left some on the table. At the end of the day, the details we’ll keep getting after him about, so overall, I thought he was OK. “His ideal place in the lineup is with skilled centermen, and I’d like to think we have three of them.”
Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 175 that we recorded below on 4-19-20! You can find our show on many worldwide platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.
Please subscribe to our new Black N’ Gold Hockey YouTube channel! We’d really appreciate the continued support. Click HERE for exciting Black N’ Gold online content!!
Week 24 of the AHL season has arrived. The Providence Bruins skate into it 32-18-3-3 (82 points) and 10-0 in their last 10 games. This is good for first in the Atlantic Division and first in the Eastern Conference. The Providence club is coming off a stellar week that saw them push their win streak to 12 games. Our boys in black and gold were able to beat Springfield twice before beating Hershey and Hartford. This weekend will have exciting hockey that you do not want to miss.
The weekend kicks off on Saturday, March 14, 2020, when the Providence Bruins invade Charlotte, North Carolina, to take on the Checkers at Bojangles’ Coliseum. The weekend action wraps up on Sunday, March 15, 2020, when the Providence Bruins take on the Charlotte Checkers at The Biscuit in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Saturday, March 14, 2020, and Sunday, March 15, 2020, Providence Bruins vs. Charlotte Checkers (AWAY)
The weekend series between the Providence Bruins and Charlotte Checkers will be the fifth and sixth of eight meetings the two teams will have. In the first battle, the Providence Bruins would win 4-1. Brendan Woods (2), Scott Conway, and Robert Lantosi scored goals for the Bruins. Max Lagace was excellent in net stopping 28 of the 29 shots fired his way.
The second matchup saw the Bruins shutout the Checkers 4-0. Brendan Woods, Urho Vaakanainen, Pavel Shen, and Jack Studnicka found the back of the net. Dan Vladar was a wall, stopping all 36 shots he faced. The third game saw the Bruins fall 4-0. Max Lagace would go on top stop 39 of the 42 shots he faced. The most recent matchup wasn’t much better. The Bruins would be beaten 4-1. Robert Lantosi scored the lone goal for Providence.
Last season, the Charlotte Checkers were dominant. They would beat the Bruins in four games in the first round of the playoffs on their way to their first Calder Cup Championship. This season has been a bit of a different story. The Hurricanes’ affiliate skate into the match up 34-22-5 (73 points) and 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. This is good for third in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference.
Something that led to their dominant season last year was their defense. Their defense only surrendered 189 goals, while they scored 255. That’s a +66 goal differential. This season has been a little different. The Charlotte club on the year has scored 202 goals while giving up 172. That’s a +30 goal differential. That means they’re scoring 3.31 goals a game while giving up 2.81.
To put those numbers into perspective, the Providence Bruins have played in one more game than Charlotte. They’ve scored 197 goals while giving up 154. That’s a +43 goal differential. This means they’re scoring 3.17 goals a game while giving up only 2.48. The Providence Bruins are 8-7-1 against Charlotte over the past five seasons. This includes 5-3 at the Checkers.
Who’s Hot and Who’s Not
Hot
Jack Studnicka: Jack Studnicka finds himself in the hot category once again. The young forward is having a stellar season. In 60 games, he’s netted 23 goals while dishing out 26 assists for 49 total points. This includes netting nine goals while dishing out 14 assists for 23 total points over his last 18 games. Studnicka also finds himself registering a point in six of his last seven games. He’s netted three goals and dished out 5 assists for eight total points during that time. Studnicka is also becoming an elite penalty kill weapon. He’s registered seven shorthanded goals on the year. This is the most in the AHL.
Peter Cehlarik: Peter Cehlarik has fallen out of favor with the Boston Bruins in recent years. He’s had a few players jump ahead of him on the depth chart when it comes to callups. Despite this, the veteran forward has played well this season. In 48 games, he’s netted 16 goals while dishing 21 assists for 37 total points. This includes netting three goals and dishing out six assists for nine total points in his last nine games. Cehlarik has been a large part of the Bruins’ win streak.
Not
Robert Lantosi: Robert Lantosi is in his first full season with the Providence Bruins. Overall, it’s been a successful first season. In 50 games, he’s netted 11 goals while dishing out 20 assists for 31 total points. Despite these numbers, he’s only dished out two assists in his last six games. The young forward came to Providence after spending the previous season in his native Slovakia.
Brendan Woods: Brendan Woods came to Providence after spending the last two seasons in the Vancouver Canucks organization. In 49 games this season, he’s netted eight goals while dishing out 12 assists for 20 total points. This includes dishing out two assists in his last 10 games. Despite this, the 20 points did eclipse his total of 17 from last season. Hopefully, the veteran forward’s offense game is back soon.
Jack Studnicka scored his seventh short-handed goal of the season and it was a beauty. Studnicka flew the zone to separate and Steen delivered a picture-perfect pass. Studnicka received the pass, did the curl-and-drag and roofed it on his backhand. Special player. #NHLBruinspic.twitter.com/pfFO6xOrQR
Jakub Lauko: Jakub Lauko came into this season with a lot of publicity. The young forward came to Providence after having a stellar season in the QMJHL with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. This season was derailed because of injuries before and during the World Junior Championships. In 22 games this season, he’s netted five goals while dishing out four assists for nine total points. He’s played in four games since returning from injury, netting a goal. Look for him this weekend.
On The Blue Line
Jakub Zboril: Jakub Zboril has had an up and down season with Providence. He’s also a player that has caused many different arguments amongst Bruins’ fans. In 58 games this season, he’s netted three goals and dished out 16 assists for 19total points. This includes netting one goal and dishing out four assists for five total points in his last four games. The young defenseman has also been playing better defense recently. Look for him this weekend.
In Net
Dan Vladar: Dan Vladar has had a superb season for the Providence Bruins. On the year, he’s 14-7-1 with a 1.79 GAA and a .936 save percentage. The young netminder has also registered three shutouts on the year. Vladar is also 1-1 with 1.51 GAA and a .956 save percentage against Charlotte this season.
Jakub Zboril is having himself a great night in his own end, but he also added this goal. Received the pass, wound up and ripped one on goal. His shot has always been a great asset, but he hasn’t always utilized it. He’s ready for a shot in Boston, IMO. #NHLBruinspic.twitter.com/HfRDtYulFA
The Providence Bruins are playing excellent hockey right now. Earlier in the year, I hammered home the point that this team was one of the most talented teams in the league. We are seeing that tenfold right now. The Providence club looks primed to make a deep run in the playoffs. I hope you enjoy the games this weekend. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!
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By: Tim A. Richardson | Follow Me On Twitter @TimARichardson
Week 22 of the AHL season has arrived. The Providence Bruins skate into it 32-18-3-3 (70 points) and 7-2-1 in their last 10 games. This is good for third in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Providence club is coming off a week that saw them beat the Springfield Thunderbirds 7-4. They would then beat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 2-1 before beating the same Penguins’ team 6-2.
The Hockey action kicks off on Saturday, February 29, 2020, when the Providence Bruins travel to Springfield, Massachusetts, to take on the Springfield Thunderbirds at the MassMutual Center. The action wraps up on Sunday, March 1, 2020, when the Providence Bruins invade Hartford, Connecticut, to take on the Hartford Wolf Pack at the XL Center. It’s going to be an exciting weekend of hockey that you do not want to miss.
Saturday, February 29, 2020, Providence Bruins vs. Springfield Thunderbirds (AWAY)
The Saturday matchup will be the 10th of 14 these two teams will have. In the first meeting, the Bruins would fall 5-2, getting goals from Peter Cehlarik and Anders Bjork. Goalie Dan Vladar was subpar in net stopping 23 of the 28 shots fired his way.
The second game saw the Bruins losing 5-4 in overtime while getting goals from Robert Lantosi, Joona Koppanen, Scott Conway, and Jack Studnicka. Netminder Max Lagace stopped 30 of the 35 shots fired his way. The third meeting saw the Providence club come out on top 5-4 in overtime. They would get goals from Jack Studnicka, Trent Frederic, Robert Lantosi, Peter Cehlarik, and Paul Carey (OT). Veteran netminder Max Lagace stopped 24 of the 28 shots he faced.
The fourth battle saw the Bruins come out on top 5-0. Jeremy Lauzon, Jakub Zboril, Jack Studnicka, Paul Carey, and Oskar Steen had the goals for Providence. Dan Vladar was out of this world in net stopping all 42 shots fired his way. The fifth game saw the Bruins come out on top 4-3. Robert Lantosi, Jack Studnicka, Ryan Fitzgerald, and Pavel Shen were the Bruins goal scorers. Dan Vladar was on his game, making 31 stops out of 34 shots.
The sixth battle would prove to be a good one. The Bruins won 5-2. Trent Frederic, Brendan Gaunce, Ryan Fitzgerald, Anton Blidh, and Karson Kuhlman would score goals. Dan Vladar stopped 26 of the 28 shots he faced in net. The seventh matchup would also be a good one.
The Bruins would win 5-3. Brendan Woods (2), Peter Cehlarik, Karson Kuhlman, and Anton Blidh would net goals. Max Lagace would go on to stop 21 of the 24 shots he faced in net. The eighth battle saw the Bruins lose 6-5 in OT. Paul Carey (2), Brendan Gaunce (2), and Peter Cehlarik had goals. Martin Ouellette stopped 24 of the 30 shots he faced.
The most recent matchup saw the Bruins win 7-4. Brendan Gaunce (2), Paul Carey (2), Jack Studnicka, Peter Cehlarik, and Robert Lantosi scored goals. Dan Vladar went on to stop 19 of the 24 shots fired his way.
The Springfield Thunderbirds come into the game 30-24-2 (62 points) and 5-5 in their last 10 games. This is good for fifth in the Atlantic Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference. Despite this, this is still a favorable matchup for the Providence Bruins. Over the past five seasons, the Bruins are 29-15-5 against the Panthers’ affiliate, including 14-7-3 on the road.
The Thunderbirds have been winning with excellent defense. They’ve only given up 170 goals in 56 games while scoring 179. This is a plus-nine goal differential. This also means they are only giving up 3.03 goals a game while scoring 3.19. The Springfield club is 8-3 when leading after the first period. They are also 20-2 when leading after two periods. On the flip side, they are 6-10 when trailing after one period. They are also 2-18-1 when trailing after two periods.
To give some perspective to those numbers, The Bruins have given up 145 goals in 56 games while scoring 179. That is a +34 goal differential. That means they are only giving up 2.58 goals a game while scoring 3.19. The Providence club is 18-0 when leading after one period and 27-0 when leading after two. However, they are 3-11-1-1 when trailing after the first period and 1-14-1-2 when trailing after two. These two teams are evenly matched and getting and sustaining an early lead, are imperative to winning.
Sunday, March 1, 2020, Providence Bruins vs. Hartford Wolf Pack (AWAY)
The Sunday matchup will mark the eighth of 10 meetings the two teams will have this year. In the first meeting, the Bruins would fall 2-1. Providence got their lone goal from Jack Studnicka. Goalie Kyle Keyser was up to the task in net stopping 23 of 25 shots that were fired his way. The second battle saw the Bruins win 4-3 in a shootout. They got goals from Scott Conway, Jack Studnicka, and Robert Lantosi. Max Lagace was able to stop 35 of the 38 shots he faced.
The third game saw the Bruins fall 5-2. They received goals from Ryan Fitzgerald and Jack Studnicka. Netminder Kyle Keyser was able to stop 24 of 28 shots he faced. The fourth battle saw the Providence Bruins fall 4-1. They got their lone goal from Cameron Hughes. Goalie Max Lagace stopped 18 of 22 shots he faced.
The fifth matchup was a bad one, the Bruins would lose 3-0. Goalie Max Lagace was up to the task in net stopping 18 of the 20 shots he faced. The sixth game saw the Providence Bruins lose 4-1. They got their lone goal from Joona Koppanen. Max Lagace had a rough night in net stopping 26 of 30 shots fired his way. The most recent matchup saw the Bruins lose 3-1. Paul Carey had the Bruins lone goal. Dan Vladar stopped 28 of the 30 shots he faced.
The battle with the Hartford club is going to be challenging. The Rangers’ affiliate comes into the game 30-14-6-5 (71 points), including 4-4-2 in their last 10 games. This is good for second in the Atlantic Division and third in the Eastern Conference. Even though it’ll be a tough game, there is hope for the Bruins.
Over the past five seasons, our boys in black and gold have gone 22-17-4-2, including 8-10-3-1 on the road. The Wolf Pack has seen success this season thanks to a stifling defense. They’ve given up only 152 goals in 55 games. That means they are only giving up 2.76 goals a game. Providence, on the other hand, has scored 179 goals in 56 games. That’s 3.19 goals a game. It’ll be a tough battle between two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
Who’s Hot and Who’s Not
Hot
Jack Studnicka: Studnicka has found himself in the hot category quite often this year. The young center has had an excellent first full season in Providence. He’s firmly grasped the title of the top prospect in the Bruins’ system. In 54 games this season, he’s netted 20 goals while dishing out 22 assists for 42 total points. This includes netting six goals while dishing out seven assists for 13 total points over his last 12 games. Let’s hope he keeps it up.
Brendan Gaunce: Brendan Gaunce is another guy that has been in the hot category a lot recently. He is also in his first season with the Providence Bruins. The veteran forward spent the beginning of his career in the Vancouver Canucks organization. In 46 games this season, he’s netted 16 goals while dishing out 17 assists for 33 total points. This includes netting five goals and dishing out six assists for 11 total points in his last nine games. Let’s hope he continues his hot streak.
Not
Urho Vaakanainen: Urho Vaakanainen is one of the top Bruins prospects. Overall, he’s had a good season. His defensive ability has been strong a large part of the season. However, offensively the young defenseman has struggled of late. In 47 games this season, he’s netted four goals while dishing out nine assists for 13 total points. However, over his past 22 games, he’s dished out two assists for two total points. Let’s hope Vaakanainen can break out of his slump soon.
Cooper Zech: Cooper Zech is another guy in his first full season with the Providence Bruins. The young defenseman came to Providence after having an excellent freshman season at Ferris State University. Coming into this season, I was very high on Zech. He started off slow but recently had been playing well. In 39 games this year, he’s netted two goals while dishing out 12 assists for 14 total points. This includes netting one goal and dishing out two assists for three total point in his last six games.
Jack Studnicka completes his 200-foot shift by going backhand-forehand-backend on the break and scoring a pretty goal. Studnicka improves to 17G-18A-35PTS in 46GP. Have seen many out there knock his offense and creativity, but he’s had plenty of both this year. #NHLBruinspic.twitter.com/FJ5bPk4pxn
Peter Cehlarik: Peter Cehlarik is a guy who’s been leapfrogged by other forwards in the system. Despite this, the former third-round pick has played well this season. In 42 games, he’s netted 15 goals while dishing out 17 assists for 32 total points. The veteran forward has also played exceptionally well against Springfield. In nine games this year, he’s netted five goals while dishing out six assists for 11 total points. That means 36% of his points have come against the Thunderbirds. Look for him this weekend.
On The Blue Line
Steven Kampfer: Steven Kampfer has been a bit of an unsung hero in the Bruins’ organization the past few seasons. The veteran blueliner has been a valuable seventh defenseman in Boston. He’s also provided great leadership when in Providence for the younger players. In 16 games with Providence, he’s netted three goals and dished out five assists for eight total points. Look for him this weekend.
In Net
Max Lagace: Max Lagace has been excellent in his first full season in Providence. The veteran netminder has been a stabilizing force for the Bruins. On the season, he’s 20-7-3 with a 2.40 GAA and a .918 save percentage. He’s also recorded five shutouts on the year. Look for him this weekend.
Peter Cehlarik skates in and snipes one glove-side in the shootout and eventually wins the game for Providence. Cehlarik has had his ups and downs, but he’s looked better and more engaged on a line with Frederic and Ritchie. #NHLBruinspic.twitter.com/zbno7M967y
The Providence Bruins are coming off an excellent week. They’ve been playing their best hockey as of late. This has come at the perfect time. They’ve been to put some points between themselves and the teams below them in the standings. This weekend is not going to be easy for the Providence club. Springfield is fighting for a playoff spot, and Hartford is ahead of them in the standings. Let’s hope our boys in black and gold can come out of the weekend with four points. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!
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Week 18 of the AHL season has arrived. The Providence Bruins skate into it 25-16-2-3 (55 points) and 5-3-1-1 in their last 10 games. This is good for third in the Atlantic Division and fourth in the Eastern Conference. The Providence club is coming off a week that saw them net three of four possible points. They would beat Lehigh Valley 4-3 before falling to Hershey in a shootout 3-2. Our boys in black and gold come out of the All-Star break with two games on the road.
The hockey action starts on Friday, January 31, 2020, when the Providence Bruins invade Binghamton, New York, to take on the Binghamton Devils at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena. The action wraps on Saturday, February 1, 2020, when the Providence Bruins make their way to Syracuse, New York, to take on the Syracuse Crunch at the Upstate Medical University Arena at Onondaga County War Memorial.
Friday, January 31, 2020, Providence Bruins vs. Binghamton Devils (AWAY)
The Friday night matchup marks the second and final of two that these two teams will have this season. In the first meeting, the Bruins would win 6-2. Paul Carey (2), Joona Koppanen (2), Cooper Zech, and Peter Cehlarik had goals. Max Lagace would stop 21 of the 23 shots he faced in net.
The Binghamton Devils have had a rough season. The New Jersey affiliate skates into the game 20-19-4 (44 points) and 8-2 in their last 10 games. This is good for seventh in the North Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference. Not only have the Devils had a bad year, but they’re also facing a Providence club that has their number over the past five seasons. Our boys in black and gold are 14-5-1-1 against the Binghamton club during that time, including 8-2 on the road.
Binghamton’s defense has really let them down this season. This is why the Binghamton club is at the bottom of the conference this season. The New Jersey affiliate has surrendered 141 goals in 43 games this year. That means they’re giving up a terrible 3.27 goals a game. In comparison, the Providence Bruins have let in 123 goals in 46 games this season. That’s a stingy 2.67 goals a game given up.
If that isn’t bad enough for the Devils, their offense isn’t great either. They’ve scored 126 goals in 43 games. That means they’re scoring 2.93 goals a game. They also have a goal differential of -15. The Bruins, on the other hand, have scored 144 goals in 46 games. That means they’re scoring 3.13 goals a game. The Providence club has a goal differential of +21. This is a game the Bruins should absolutely win.
Saturday, February 1, 2020, Providence Bruins vs. Syracuse Crunch (AWAY)
The Saturday matchup will mark the second and final of two meetings the two teams will have. In the first meeting, the Bruins would fall 4-1. Trent Frederic would score the Providence club’s lone goal. Old friend Gemel Smith would score three for Syracuse. Dan Vladar would stop 20 of the 22 shots fired his way.
The Lightning affiliate skate into the matchup 20-19-3-3 (46 points) and 3-4-1-2 in their last 10 games. That’s good for sixth in the North Division and 12th in the Eastern Conference. The two clubs haven’t played each other much over the past five seasons. Providence holds a 3-4 record, including 1-2 on the road.
This has the makings of being a trap game for Providence. Even though the Syracuse club is out of a playoff spot, they’ve been a good team for the last few years. Special teams are keeping the Tampa Bay affiliate afloat. On the power play, they’ve scored 42 goals in 195 opportunities. That’s 21.5%, which is good for second in the North Division and third in the Eastern Conference. Their Penalty kill is also strong. They’ve given up 34 goals in 195 opportunities. That’s a stifling 82.6%, which is good for second in the North Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference.
The Providence Bruins’ penalty kill is also stellar. They’ve given up 32 goals in 196 opportunities. That’s 83.7%, which is good for fourth in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference. The Providence club also has a league-leading 14 shorthanded goals. The power play, on the other hand, is not good. They’ve scored 26 goals in 166 opportunities. That’s 15.7%, which is good for fourth in the Atlantic Division and 11th in the Eastern Conference.
Peter Cehlarik: Peter Cehlarik has been great so far this season for Providence. In 37 games, he’s netted 13 goals while dishing out 15 assists for 28 total points. This includes netting four goals and dishing out two assists for six total points in his last eight games. The 13 goals on the year eclipse his total from last season. Let’s hope the veteran forward can keep up his offensive game.
Trent Frederic: Trent Frederic has had an excellent season for Providence. In 43 games this season, he’s netted six goals while dishing out 19 assists for 25 total points. This includes netting two goals and dishing out six assists for eight total points in his last eight games. The 25 points on the year also match his total from last season. The former University of Wisconsin Badger has really rounded his entire game out this season. He’s playing well in every zone. Let’s hope he keeps it up.
Not
Alex Petrovic: Alex Petrovic has had a good season overall, but has been struggling a bit as of late. In 39 games this season, he’s netted two goals while dishing out 17 assists for 19 total points. This includes dishing out two assists for two total points in his last 16 games. This is the veteran defenseman’s first season in Providence. Let’s hope the former Florida Panther can turn on his offensive game soon.
Jakub Zboril: Jakub Zboril has had an up and down season for Providence. In 42 games, he’s netted two goals while dishing out 10 assists for 12 total points. This includes not registering a point in his last six games. When in the QMJHL, Zboril had offensive upside scoring at .65 points per game (28-66-94 in 144 games). That hasn’t translated much in the AHL. The young defenseman is scoring at .30 points per game (10-40-50 in 166 games). Let’s hope that changes soon.
Jack Studnicka: Jack Studnicka is arguably the top prospect in the Boston Bruins’ system. The young center has had an excellent first full professional season. In 44 games this season, he’s netted 14 goals while dishing out 16 assists for 30 total points. He also has five shorthanded goals on the season. Studnicka is coming off an excellent display at the All-Star game. Look for him to continue that confidence into the second half of the year.
On The Blue Line
Cooper Zech: Cooper Zech is a guy that came to Providence as college free agent after his freshman season at Ferris State. Coming into this season, I was really excited about his ability as a player. After a slow start in his first full professional season, he’s played well as of late. In 31 games, he’s netted one goal and dished out eight assists for nine total points. The young defenseman has a lot of offensive ability, look for him this weekend.
In Net
Dan Vladar: Dan Vladar has had an excellent season for Providence. The young netminder suffered an injury early in the year and has been a wall since returning. He’s 7-6 on the year with a 1.94 GAA and a .932 save percentage. Look for him to have a great weekend.
The Providence Bruins come out of the All-Star break third in the Atlantic Division. Three points ahead of rival Springfield, and four points ahead of Charlotte. They are currently riding a five-game point streak as they make a push for the playoffs. Only eight points separate a total of six teams battling for four playoff spots. It should be an exciting second half of the year. Feel free to send me any questions or comments on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!
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The Providence Bruins faced off against the Springfield Thunderbirds at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Sunday. The game was the second of a home-and-home series, with the Bruins defeating the Thunderbirds 5-2 in Springfield on Saturday night. The Bruins entered Sunday’s game ranked third in the Atlantic division with a record of 21-15-1-2.
Starting Lineups
Providence Bruins:
Gaunce – Frederic – Cehlarik
Breen – Zech
Lagace
Springfield Thunderbirds:
Hunt – Saarela – Tippett
Cross – Keeper
Desrosiers
Game Recap
First Period
29 seconds into the game, Chris Breen was sent to the box for roughing. Providence was able to kill the penalty and used the momentum to their favor. Just 23 seconds after the penalty expired, Karson Kuhlman beat multiple defenders and set up Brendan Woods, who scored his sixth goal of the season.
At 11:57 of the first period, Springfield’s Ryan Haggerty was called for interference. The Bruins were unable to convert on their first power play. A few minutes later, Anton Blidh and Matt Mangene got matching roughing minors. Ten seconds into the four-on-four, Brady Keeper was whistled for high-sticking.
Peter Cehlarik beat Desrosiers for his tenth goal of the season on the 4-on-3 power play. The Bruins extended their lead to 2-0.
Before the puck was dropped to re-start play after Cehlarik’s goal, Springfield’s Keeper received a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and 10-minute misconduct for abuse of officials. Providence had a brief power play before Jack Studnicka was called for slashing.
The period ended with the Bruins leading 2-0 in goals and 16-3 in shots.
Second Period
Max Lagace made some strong saves in the second period. Though Providence continued to greatly outshoot Springfield, the score could have been much closer without Lagace’s excellent play.
The Bruins went to the penalty kill with 5:44 left in the period, with Didier being sent to the box. Springfield’s Owen Tippett scored on the power play to cut the lead to 2-1.
Just a few minutes later, Kuhlman scored his second goal of the season to extend the Providence lead to 3-1. The team carried the lead into the second intermission and led 32-14 in shots.
KUHLMAN 🚨
Kuhlman buries his second goal of the season and we’re up 3-1 with just over two minutes to go in the second period.
1:24 into the third, Providence went back on the penalty kill with Paul Carey sent off for hooking. Anton Blidh was hooked on a partial shorthanded breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot. His shot made it through Desrosiers and increased the lead to 4-1.
BLIDH! 🚨
He scores a penalty shot goal giving us a 4-1 lead!
Springfield was able to convert later on in the power play. Ryan Haggerty was credited with the goal.
The Thunderbirds were given another power play when Woods and Desrosiers got into a tussle in the crease. Woods was hit with a double-minor for spearing as well as a minor for roughing. Two Springfield players were also given roughing minors. The Bruins were able to kill off the two-minute penalty.
Despite an incredible glove save from Lagace as well as plenty of chances for the Bruins, Springfield later cut the lead to 4-3 with Haggerty’s second goal of the game.
29 seconds after Haggerty’s goal, Woods countered with his second of the day.
The Bruins showed great resilience to be able to extend the lead multiple times with Springfield making a push to tie it up. Despite the wide margin in shots, Lagace had to make some big saves to secure the win.
Despite pulling Desrosiers, Springfield couldn’t get the puck past Lagace. Providence won 5-3 and finished with a 43-24 lead in shots. Lagace, who turned 27 on Sunday, was credited with his 13th win of the season. This broke a streak of three straight losses for the goaltender, who last made 39 saves in a loss against the Charlotte Checkers on January 4th.
That’ll do it from The Dunk as the P-Bruins skate to a 5-3 win! Goals from Woods (2), Cehlarik, Kuhlman and Blidh. Max Legace makes 21 saves for the win.
“Last night was a [hard]-fought win,” forward Karson Kuhlman said after the game. “It says a lot about our team to come out here and respond and play a good game on a Sunday afternoon. I thought that yesterday we did a good job of sticking up for one another and we didn’t let them push us around. We wanted to come out here and do a lot of the same this afternoon.”
“There are some confrontational players on both [teams],” commented coach Jay Leach. “When that happens, you’re gonna get those scuffles, whether it’s a fight, a punch after the whistle, or a hit. We certainly want to play the right way, and when we do that, we’re a better team.”
When asked about the close score despite the wide margin in shots, Leach emphasized eliminating mistakes. “When we make a mistake, [like] taking a penalty or losing coverage, something we can control, I think there’s some frustration with that. Those are parts of the learning process. As a group that’s learning how to win, you just have to take steps in the right direction to remedy those.”
The Bruins host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday for Military Appreciation Weekend.
Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 162 that we recorded below! You can find our show on many worldwide platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.
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Week seven of the AHL season is here, and the Providence Bruins skate into it 8-6-0-2 (18 points), including 5-4-0-1 in their last 10 games. This is good for fourth in the Atlantic Division and eighth in the Eastern Conference. The Providence club is coming off a week they would rather forget. Our boys in black and gold were able to down the Sound Tigers 4-1, before falling to Hartford 2-1 and Bridgeport 2-0. With only two games this weekend, we hope the Bruins get back to their winning ways.
The hockey action starts on Friday, November 15, 2019, when the Hartford Wolf Pack invades Providence, Rhode Island, to take on the Bruins at the Dunk. To end the weekend, Providence returns the favor and heads down to Hartford, Connecticut to take on the Hartford Wolf Pack at the XL Center on Saturday, November 16, 2019. It is going to be an exciting week of hockey that you do not want to miss.
Friday, November 15, 2019 (HOME) Saturday, November 16, 2019 (AWAY) Providence Bruins vs. Hartford Wolf Pack
This weekend’s matchups will mark the second and third of 10 meetings the two teams will have this year. In the first meeting, the Bruins would fall 2-1. Providence got their lone goal from Jack Studnicka. Goalie Kyle Keyser was up to the task in net stopping 23 of 25 shots that were fired his way.
The home and home battle with the Hartford club is going to be challenging. The Rangers’ affiliate comes into the game 10-1-0-4 (24 points), including 6-1-0-3 in their last 10 games. This is good for first in the Atlantic Division and first in the Eastern Conference. Even though it’ll be a tough few games, there is hope for the Bruins.
Over the past five seasons, our boys in black and gold have gone 21-12-4-2, including 13-5-1-1 at the Dunk. The Wolf Pack has seen success this season thanks to a stifling defense. They’ve given up only 33 goals in 15 games. This means they’re giving up only 2.2 goals a game. Only one other team in the Eastern Conference has given up fewer goals.
To add to their defense, the New York affiliate has only given up six goals in 51 penalty kill opportunities. That’s an excellent 88.2%, which is good for third in the Atlantic Division and seventh in the Eastern Conference. They’ve also only given up two shorthanded goals.
To compare, the Providence Bruins have given up 10 goals in 74 penalty kill opportunities. That’s 86.5%, which is good for fifth in the Atlantic Division and ninth in the Eastern Conference. The spoked P has also given up a league-leading three shorthanded goals.
One area the Providence club needs to work on is the number of penalties they take. They are taking 4.62 penalties a game. They cannot be giving other teams that many power-play opportunities. When a team is on the penalty kill that often, it’s difficult to build offensive momentum. It’s going to be a hard-fought weekend series. Let’s hope our boys in black and gold are up to the task.
Who’s Hot and Who’s Not
Hot
Jack Studnicka: Jack Studnicka has had an excellent start to his first full professional season. In 16 games, the young center netted four goals and dished out six assists for 10 total points. This includes netting four goals and dishing out three assists for seven points in his last 10 games. The OHL product has been a revelation on offense and is developing exactly how the team would want. Let’s hope Studnicka can keep up his high level of play.
Paul Carey: Paul Carey has been excellent for the Providence Bruins this season. The team’s captain in 16 games has netted seven goals and dished out six assists for 13 total points. This includes netting five goals and dishing out four assists and nine total points in his last 10 games. The former Boston College Eagle and NCAA champion has not only contributed to the scoresheet but also provided excellent leadership for a young team.
Not
Ryan Fitzgerald: Ryan Fitzgerald has been good overall this season, netting four goals and dishing out three assists for seven total points in 16 games. Despite this, he’s gone pointless in his last six games played. The former Boston College Eagle will hopefully break this slump soon. With players going up and down due to injuries in Boston, Providence needs Fitzgerald to pick up some slack.
Trent Frederic: Trent Frederic has had an up and down season. In 15 games, the former Wisconsin Badger hasn’t netted any goals and dished out five assists for five total points. The young forward hasn’t registered a point in his last five games. Frederic is one of the better prospects in the Bruins system. Hopefully, he can turn his season around.
Peter Cehlarik: Peter Cehlarik has been excellent in his time with Providence this season. In nine games, the native of Slovakia has netted six goals and dished out four assists for 10 total points. Also of note, in seven games against Hartford last season, he netted three goals and dished out two assists for five total points. Look for him to have a big weekend.
On The Blue Line
Alex Petrovic: Alex Petrovic has been excellent for the Providence Bruins this year. It’s his first season with the club, and in 15 games, he’s netted two goals and dished out 10 assists for 12 total points. The WHL product has also played excellent defense for our boys in black and gold this season. Look for him to continue his play against Hartford.
In Net
Max Lagace: Max Lagace has been excellent for the Providence Bruins net. The QMJHL product has gone 6-2-1 this season, with a 2.02 GAA and a .936 save percentage. He’s also had three shutouts this season. He’s provided leadership to the young goaltenders Dan Vladar and Kyle Keyser.
The Providence Bruins have had a superb start to their season. In previous years, they’ve started out slow and then came on hot the second half of the year. This year our boys in black and gold are bucking that trend. They have a wealth of talent and could go far this year. I hope everyone enjoys the games this weekend. Feel free to send me any comments or questions on Twitter. As always, GO, Bs, GO!
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The B’s opened the scoring just 1:09 into the period as Peter Cehlarik found an open David Krejci at the dot who fired in his second goal of the season past Jonathan Bernier.
David Krejci opens the scoring just 1:09 into the game. Nice feed from Peter Cehlarik.
Detroit would then go to the man advantage as David Pastrnak was whistled for hooking not even a minute after the Larkin goal. The Bruins killed off the penalty not allowing Detroit to do much on the power play. Both teams began to settle down a bit after the frenetic start but the B’s continued to skate very well, creating a few chances. The Wings would go back to the power play as Brad Marchand was called for interference with 8:48 left in the period. Robby Fabbri broke the tie on the man advantage with a wrist shot from the slot after a beautiful feed from Tyler Bertuzzi.
Robby Fabbri scored on a power play blast in his first game with the Red Wings 🚨 pic.twitter.com/U5NmXpWqLB
Moments later, the Bruins would get their first power play opportunity as Madison Bowey was called for holding. The Wings killed off the penalty despite the Bruins getting five shots on net.
Score: 2-1 Red Wings
Second Period
Pastrnak was called for his second penalty of the night just seconds into the middle period, giving Detroit a chance to double their lead. About a minute into the man advantage, Fabbri got lost in the slot and buried his second goal of the night to give the Wings a 3-1 lead.
Torey Krug was called for a delay of game penalty, giving the Red Wings yet another power play early in the second period as they looked to get a stranglehold on the game. Seconds into the man advantage, Larkin was called for tripping, resulting in a four on four. The B’s responded with a couple good shifts with solid possession and some scoring opportunities. After a small scuffle, Marchand dropped the gloves with Philip Hronek to try to get the Bruins going.
Krejci was called for roughing with 6:25 to go in the period as the Wings looked to extend their lead. The Bruins killed off the power play as Tuukka Rask made a number of gigantic saves. Immediately following the kill, the B’s would get another man advantage opportunity as Pastrnak was tripped up. Patrice Bergeron tipped in Krug’s shot with just seconds left in the power play to cut the lead in half with over two minutes left in the period.
The Bruins opened the period with a big surge as they looked to tie the game, getting some good solid scoring chances. Bowey would go back to the box early in the period as he took a slashing penalty, giving the B’s a great opportunity to tie the score. The Bruins were unable to tie the game on the man advantage as they got a few good scoring chances. The game began to open up a bit as both teams got great chances at either end but both Rask and Bernier were up to the task.
Both teams upped the intensity and it showed with a few some scuffles especially after whistles close to each team’s net. Unfortunately the Bruins couldn’t mount a good enough comeback and Anthony Mantha buried an empty net goal with 1:28 to go to clinch it.
Final Score: 4-2 Red Wings
Three Stars Of The Game
First Star: Fabbri. Cashing in on two great scoring chances, Fabbri looked fantastic in his first game with the Red Wings.
Second Star: Bertuzzi. The feisty winger was a big part of the Wings offense and got under the skin of a few Bruins players.
Third Star: Rask. The Bruin goaltender kept the team in the game despite the three goals against with a number of big saves especially late in the second period.
Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced this morning that the team has assigned forward Peter Cehlarik to Providence and recalled forward Cameron Hughes. Hughes has skated in 13 games for Providence this season, posting two goals and four assists for six points. Cehlarik has appeared in two games for Boston this season going scoreless and has appeared in seven games for Providence scoring six goals and adding four assists for ten points.
Cehlarik has appeared in 39 career games at the NHL level, posting five goals and five assists for ten points. Cehlarik skated in 20 games with Boston last season, posting four goals and two assists for six points. The Zilina, Slovakia native was originally drafted by the Bruins in the third round (90th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.
Hughes appeared in 52 games for Providence last season, posting 13 goals and 15 assists for 28 points. Hughes also played four seasons at the University of Wisconsin, posting 23 goals and 69 assists for 92 points in 139 career games. The Edmonton, Alberta native was originally drafted by Boston in the sixth round (165th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.
Hughes suffered a facial injury during the Prospects Tournament in training camp which cost him ice time during the preseason but did impress the coaching staff. With the recent spate of injuries the Bruins have had there’s a very strong chance that Hughes makes his NHL debut tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins playing on the fourth line. It’ll be interesting to see what’s next for Cehlarik who has had a hard time sticking in Boston but has proved he belongs at the NHL level.
By: Max Mainville | Check me out on Twitter @tkdmaxbjj
While most Boston Bruins fans were asleep, the CapFriendly Transactions Twitter page, (@CF_Transactions) announced that forward Joakim Nordstrom has been placed on the injured reserve and forward Peter Cehlarik has been recalled from the American Hockey League affiliate, the Providence Bruins.
“He [Nordstrom] had an infection in his elbow. I don’t know what the timeline is, to be honest, but they have to let it calm down, so I’ll doubt we see him Saturday. After that, I’ll probably be able to give you a better update.” Cassidy goes on to say that he won’t necessarily rule Nordstrom out, “I shouldn’t even rule him out for Saturday, but I think that it was similar to what [David] Backes went through a few years ago.” – Bruce Cassidy via @nhlbruins on Twitter
Nordstrom has only played in four games so far in the 2019-2020 campaign after missing the first few games due to a broken foot sustained in the Stanley Cup Finals against the St. Louis Blues back in June. In those four games, the Stockholm, Sweden native has one goal and an even plus/minus rating averaging 13:33 minutes-per-game.
In practice on Friday, defenceman Connor Clifton was skating as the third-line right-wing while forward Brett Ritchie was absent. Cassidy later revealed that Ritchie’s absence in Friday’s practice was due to a maintenance day and he believes that the 26-year-old will play against Ottawa on Saturday, although, there was “some level of concern” with him missing practice.
Also on Friday, freelancing writer, Mark Divver (@MarkDivver on Twitter) tweeted that forward Peter Cehlarik had been recalled by Boston on a loan to the National Hockey League according to the AHL Transactions. The report of Nordstrom being placed on IR makes Divver’s report of Cehlarik’s arrival in Boston more understandable.
Peter Cehlarik recalled by Boston, per AHL transactions
Cehlarik, 24, has one game under his belt for the NHL Bruins this season, playing 12:05 against the New York Rangers on Sunday night. Cehlarik finished the night with zero shots and a -2 rating before being sent back down to Providence due to the return of Chris Wagner against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
With the P-Bruins, Cehlarik has been lighting it up, scoring six goals and four assists for ten points in six games played. Cehlarik’s last game was a two-assist night against the Rochester Americans on Wednesday – a game Providence won by a final score of 4-3. Cehlarik re-signed with the Bruins organization this past offseason on a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 ($125,000 in minors) and will need a new deal come July 1st, 2020.
As of 2:00 am EST on Saturday, November 2nd, the Boston Bruins have not officially confirmed these transactions, they are strictly from the sites and sources provided above. The Boston Bruins play the Ottawa Senators in Boston. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm EST from the TD Garden.
Check out the new Black N’ Gold Hockey Podcast episode 151 that we recorded below! You can find our show on many worldwide platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, SoundCloud, and Stitcher.
Please subscribe to our new Black N’ Gold Hockey YouTube channel! We’d really appreciate the continued support. Click HERE for exciting Black N’ Gold online content!!
