Bad News Bears - PBruins Shutout Penguins 4-0 in Game One

Ex-Penguin Joe Morrow celebrates with Niklas Svedberg following a 4-0 win in Game One tonight. Photo credit: @ItsJacki.

If you told me before the game that the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins would hold the Providence Bruins to 1-for-8 on the power play tonight, I'd have liked the Penguins' chances.

Not tonight. The PBruins put up four goals in the first 8:03 of the first period, including three goals in 60 seconds, to coast to a 4-0 victory in the first game of the best-of-seven series.

The Penguins couldn't get anything going offensively and Niklas Svedberg's 20-save shutout couldn't have come much easier. Alexander Khokhlachev tallied two goals and added an assist, Matt Lindblad added two primary assists on both of Khokhlachev's goals and the PBruins used a strong offensive effort in the first period and a tight defensive effort in the final 40 minutes to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

The Penguins and Bruins are back at it in Game Two Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. ET.
The first period couldn't have gone much worse for the Penguins, who spotted the PBruins a 4-0 lead in the first 8:03 of the hockey game, including three in a 60-second span from 7:03-8:03.

Alexander Khokhlachev started the PBruins assault, beating Mannino 1:33 into the contest to put his team out in front.

After a Scott Harrington hold, the PBruins power play wasted no time, using a series of tic-tac-toe passes to set up Craig Cunningham on a backdoor one-timer to extend the PBruins lead to 2-0.

Then it got ugly. Just 45 seconds later Andrew Chernichwan finished off a 2-on-1 from center ice in and Khokhlachev finished off another feed from Matt Lindblad 15 seconds after that and just like that it was 4-0 Providence.

The Penguins played much better in the 2nd period, getting back to playing their game. Get pucks down low, forecheck, create turnovers and cycle in the offensive zone. It didn't result in any goals, but a late 5-on-3 power play turned 4-on-3 by a Simon Despres slash gave the Penguins some life heading into the third period.

But the 3rd period went much like the first 40 minutes, with the Penguins unable to generate much offensively. They were held without a shot through the first 15 plus minutes of the final frame and were outshot 12-4, largely aided by five PBruins power plays.

There aren't any positives to take away from tonight's game for the Penguins, but you forget about this one and look forward to evening the series tomorrow night in Game Two.
ROSTER NOTES

Peter Mannino got the start in net for the Penguins, backed up by Matt Murray.

Andrew Ebbett (upper body) did not take the warmups and was scratched. This allowed Spencer Machacek - who had been the team's veteran scratch - to return to the WBS lineup.

Anton Zlobin (upper body) took the warmups but was scratched. He should be nearing a return to game action, possibly as soon as tomorrow night.

Jayson Megna, back from Pittsburgh, made his return to the WBS lineup after appearing in one NHL playoff game with Pittsburgh.

Lines

Sheary - Drazenovic - Kobasew
Zolnierczyk - Megna - Payerl
Machacek - Rowney - Kostopoulos
Uher - Sill - Farnham

Despres - McNeill
Harrington - Mikkelson
Dumoulin - Goers

Scratches: Eric Hartzell, Jeff Deslauriers (lower body - out for season), Philip Samuelsson (lower body - will be re-evaluated next week), Mike Carman, Anton Zlobin (upper body), Nick D'Agostino, Harrison Ruopp, Andrew Ebbett (upper body), Pierre-Luc Leblond, Bryan Rust, Josh Archibald and Scott Wilson.