Providence, R.I. – The Providence Bruins defeated the Springfield Thunderbirds 5-1 Sunday afternoon to win their best of three first round playoff series and advance to the next round. The two teams opened the game playing a timid first period either team wanting to make the early mistake. The Thunderbirds Corey Schueneman opened the scoring late in the period with a wrist shot from the slot that beat Bruins goalie Micheal DiPietro between the legs for the only goal in the first. The Bruins came out in the second with more intensity that pushed the tempo. Special teams would be the Thunderbirds downfall as the Bruins scored three on the power play with the first of two by Matthew Poitras late in the period to tie the score. The Bruins dominated the third period scoring four unanswered goals. Ian Mitchell notched the game winner on the power play with a point shot the dinged in off the inside left post. A few minutes later Riley Tufte picked up a loose puck in the right circle and crashed the net poking home the puck through Thunderbirds goalie Colten Ellis pads. Tufte would strike again snapping a shot upper right corner off a two on one break. Matthew Poitras would put the dagger in the Thunderbirds heart with his second power play score of the game. The Bruins outshot the Thunderbirds 36-17 for the game. They will open the next round at home versus the Charlotte Checkers in the best of five series.
See my gallery of game photos by Brian Stone Sr for The Calder Times
