Bruins double up Sharks for 2-0 series lead

PROVIDENCE 4, WORCESTER 2
Providence took 28 of its 33 shots over the second and third periods and doubled up Worcester by a 4-2 count on Wednesday at the DCU Center in Game 2 of the Atlantic Division Finals. Martin St. Pierre and Wacey Rabbit each posted a goal and an assist to help the Bruins claim a 2-0 series lead.

St. Pierre opened the game’s scoring at 19:03 of the first period with his third tally of the playoffs. Vladimir Sobotka picked up loose puck in right circle and fed it to St. Pierre between the hash marks, and the three-time AHL All-Star sent a wrist shot past Sharks goaltender Thomas Greiss.

The Sharks tied it 3:42 into the second frame when rookie Logan Couture sent a backhand pass from behind the net to Riley Armstrong in the slot, and Armstrong wristed it by Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask for his first playoff goal after registering a team-high eight assists.

Providence took the lead for good on a 5-on-3 power play goal less than four minutes later, as defenseman Johnny Boychuk one-timed a feed from St. Pierre.

Kirk MacDonald then made it a 3-1 game at 5:15 of the third period, and that proved to be necessary insurance when the Sharks’ Dan DaSilva snapped home a shot from the left circle with 9:29 to play.

Rabbit, who assisted on MacDonald’s game-winner, added an empty-net tally in the closing minute.

Rask earned the victory with 22 saves in net, helping the Bruins to their sixth consecutive win overall. Greiss was solid for the Sharks, making 29 saves in the losing effort.

Game 3 is set for Friday in Providence. If the Sharks are to move on, they will need to rally from a 2-0 series deficit for the second consecutive round.