Three in 2:22: Providence postgame

An OK first 40 turns into something that, as Aaron Ness said, “just can’t happen.”

One goal cascaded quickly. The Bruins got traffic in front of Kevin Poulin and used it to their advantage. They took advantage of a broken little neutral-zone faceoff, broke in and scored on a two-on-one. And then soon enough, one more goal with traffic — this one off the traffic and in.

Three goals, 142 seconds, ballgame, a game they’d given themselves a chance to win, lost.

“It’s frustrating,” Ness said. “We’re getting better. We were better in the first two. We need to come out and play a full 60.”

The first 20 were not bad, though they were down a goal at the end. The next 20 were OK enough, though they got the tying goal on a Providence fumble that Chris Langkow took full advantage of.

And then came those 142 seconds. And they’re still seven points out, but there are still a lot of teams in their way. One, Providence, vaulted up to seventh tonight, now eight ahead of them.

“We need to play consistent, which will in turn generate those points,” Brent Thompson said. “We can’t have games like this. It’s not acceptable.

“You can’t win in the playoffs (like this). You won’t even get in the playoffs. That’s the bottom line.”

……

Write about how they’re staying out of the box, and boom, it takes 25 seconds to take a penalty. Write about how the penalty kill is clicking, and boom, two power-play goals against. I blame myself. (Or coincidence. But more myself.)

First Bridgeport goal for Matt Lashoff; first AHL point for Lukas Sutter. That kind of got lost.

Breaking news from outside: It is cold. (Heck, it was cold at 5. I am not sure I want to go out there now.) There is snow coming. (Because it’s a day ending in ‘y’ and stuff.) Providence already postponed Sunday’s game to Monday; it’s supposed to be way worse here than back home.

Prescout. Brian O’Neill’s second in the league in scoring. Sean Backman’s racking up some points. Colin Miller with six shots. J.F. Berube gave up two goals and his goals-against average went up (barely). They’re OK. David Van der Gulik even played with a broken stick, maybe to up the degree of difficulty. (No last trip to Manchester for me, so liveblog here tomorrow afternoon, 3 p.m. start.)

Sacred Heart’s unbeaten streak came to an end at second-place Bentley.

And RIP, David Carr and Alison Gordon.

Michael Fornabaio