Blog.WBRU

The 1-0-0 Providence Bruins captured their season opener with a 4-3 shootout win over the Lowell Devils. All three regulation goals were scored on powerplays. It seems shocking but there were 19 total power plays in the game.

The game started with a ceremony comemorating the success of last season with the unveilling of two new banners. The new yellow and white banners honored the 2007-08 regular season domination (league leading 117 points) and the championship of the Atlantic Division.

However, this year’s Bruins are different. Having lost key players like Nate Thompson, Chris Collins, Jeff Hoggan and Matt Hendricks, the PBruins consist of several new, young players. In fact, only seven of last night’s players had played in Providence last season.

Key new additions making an impact last night included D Johnny Boychuk, who netted the first of three powerplay goals, RW Mikko Lehtonen, who scored the first shootout goal, and newcomer and highly touted  C Matrin St. Pierre, who scored the second shootout goal for Providence and earned an assist. Second year veterans C Vladamir Sobotka and RW Byron Bitz netted the other two powerplay goals and also earned an assist each.

With the arrival of LW Jeremy Reich from Boston training camp, I was interested to see what the lines would be for the game. Head Coach Rob Murray had two solid lines and mixed the third and fourth line up throughout the game.

Offense:

Marchand - Sobotka - Bitz

Marquadt - St. Pierre - Karsums

Reich - Classen - Lehtonen / Riech -  Rabbit - Bombersback

Defense:

Lashoff - Boychuk

Penner - Bodnardchuk

Hunwick - McQuaid

RW Martins Karsums, St Pierre and Marquadt got the nod for the powerplay line while C Wacey Rabbit saw plenty of action on the penalty kill.

And a lot must be credited to D Ryan Stokes who went toe-to-toe with two heavy hitters(LeBlond and Jay Leach) when dirty hits were placed on his teammates.

Post-game interview with Head Coach Rob Murray will be posted shortly.

-Kit