The Charlotte Checkers present a more formidable challenge than the Springfield Thunderbirds did in round one, their excellent goalie (Colten Ellis) notwithstanding.
Tonight at the AMP, the Checkers are winning the 180 feet of ice between the nets, leading 3-1 at second intermission of Game 1 of the second-round series against the Providence Bruins.
A few impressions:
While it’s hard to compare TV to live hockey, Rink Rap gets the unmistakable impression that this hockey is categorically faster than the game as it was played in the opening round of the Calder Cup playoffs. Thus, the P-Bruins are more prone to missed passes.
There is also an element of scary, open-ice collisions in this game, the latest bringing about a slash on Oliver Wahlstrom, who is the P-Bruins’ goal scorer.
Michael DiPietro, the AHL Goalie of the Year, has had a frustrating start to this series after putting up a brick wall to shut down Springfield in Round One. He was victimized for two short-handed goals on the same, first-period penalty, then let a long shot from Mike Benning trickle through his pads as the Checkers padded their lead midway through the second period,
The P-Bruins desperately need the next goal, down two at second intermission. Game 2 is here on Sunday night (7 pm), but next week the series shifts to Charlotte for the duration of the best-of-five series.
The Checkers are a polished bunch and move the puck in the attacking zone with precision and never look rushed.
The Checkers got a not-so-funny deflection off Michael Callahan to make it a 4-1 game, meaning the P-Bruins are henceforth playing a more-open style and leaving it to DiPietro to keep them within range as they play the game entirely on their front foot.
Ty Gallagher was tripped up carrying over the Charlotte blue line but will also go to the box for embellishment 6:47 into the third period. It’ll be 4v4 in front of the goalies.
Tyler Pitlick reached back to tip a Patrick Brown shot on Kaapo Kahkonen, but the Charlotte goalie made a fine save.
Charlotte penalty, P-Bruins must score here to make the final nine minutes of regulation more than an exercise in short shifts and smart dumps.
Tobias Bjornfot exits the box.
We’re down to seven minutes in regulation.
The P-Bruins have a handful of developing forwards that bear close attention: Dans Locmelis, who is skating LW on a line with Matt Poitras and Vinni Lettieri, Poitras, and Fraser Minten, who is centering a line between Riley Tufte and Fabian Lysell.
Locmelis, who played this past season as a center with UMass, has shown a foxy ability along the boards. Poitras people have seen plenty of, and the experience he has gotten this season in the AHL will pay off in ways that are not yet apparent.
Minten does all things well and has sneaky speed and physicality for a player who won’t turn 21 until July 5. The former Maple Leafs prospects who came over in the Brandon Carlo deal reminds Rink Rap of a left-shot Patrice Bergeron. Before waving your arms and screaming, “Wait a minute!” recall that Bergeron at age 20 was playing his first NHL shifts at center, and that only happened after Joe Thornton was traded to San Jose. No one was predicting a Hall of Fame career for Bergeron at the time, but like Minten he had a subtlety about his game that kept Boston management and coaching looking to incrementally ask for more. Time will obviously tell what the ceiling is for Minten, but his game is compelling because his defensive instincts and ability to compete right now in the hard areas of the game are evident. It would be a mistake, in my opinion, to pigeon-hole him into a checking role and leave it at that. He certainly can do that well right now, so that will be how his NHL career will start out.
Charlotte gets the ENG to make it 5-1 with 2:12 remaining.
Have a safe night, and see you Sunday night for Game 2.
Rink Rap with Mick Colageo 