PROVIDENCE 5, PORTLAND 1
Vladimir Sobotka tallied a goal and three assists for a game-high four points as Providence took back home-ice advantage in its Atlantic Division semifinal with a 5-1 road win at Portland on Sunday afternoon. Defenseman Johnny Boychuk (2-1-3) and Martin St. Pierre (1-2-3) posted three points apiece for the Bruins.
Game 4 of the series isn’t until Thursday in Portland, and Providence will host Game 5 back at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center on Friday.
St. Pierre tallied the lone goal of the first period at 13:58, with rookie Brad Marchand picking up the lone assist.
Sobotka then figured into all three Providence goals in the second period as its lead bulged to 4-0. He scored one of his own and assisted on markers by Marchand and Boychuk, the latter on the power play.
Boychuk added another power play tally early in the third period to make it 5-0, and the Pirates finally got on the board when Derek Whitmore scored at the 11:57 mark.
Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask stopped all 25 other shots that he faced to pick up the victory.
Portland suffered its first Game 3 loss in three postseason appearances under head coach Kevin Dineen (6-1).
