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Bruins stay alive with 4-1 win.

By Aaron McCracken
Date: 5/11/2001

The Providence Bruins keep their AHL season alive for at least one more game with a strong 4-1 win over the Saint John Flames. It was the Bruins sixth consecutive win when facing playoff elimination, while the Flames took just their second loss of the 2001 Calder Cup playoffs.

Joe Hulbig had a pair of goals, while John Grahame made 31 saves for his 8^th playoff win in net. Martin Brochu made just 14 saves in a losing effort.

Providence dominated the game early and took a 1-0 lead when Eric Manlow burst down the wing and threw a beautiful pass out front to Peter Ferraro, who redirected past Brochu. Midway thought the period, Andre Savage made it 2-0 when he redirected a Brandon Smith pass, while Hubig made it 3-0 late in the first off of a redirection of his own. Providence managed just six shots in the first period, but went to the dressing room with a 3-0 lead.

The Flames started strong in the 2^nd, and managed to get on the board when Sergei Varlamov scored on his own rebound. It was Varlamov's 12^th goal of the playoffs. Jason Botterill seemingly cut the lead to one shortly thereafter, but his goal was immediately waved off as referee Chris Rooney assessed a tripping penalty against Botterill, negating his goal. This seemed to deflate the Flames, who had but a few legitimate chances during the remainder of the game. Brochu kept the game close, but the combination of John Grahame and a hard-hitting Bruins team proved too much for the Flames, who ended up losing 4-1 after Hulbig scored an empty-net goal late.

Game five is Saturday night at 7:00 EST.

• Coach Jim Playfair's comments on the Flames' effort "We just weren't ready to play,". "The goals they got were three tap-ins. Our defense was standing around. They were no where near those shots. Tonight they made the bounces go their way, they outplayed us."

• Bruins' defenseman Brandon Smith logged more than 35 minutes of icetime.

1. Varlamov (Botterill, Murray)

3. Jeremy Brown.

2. Joe Hulbig

Murray – Varlamov – Botterill

Tkaczuk – Begin -- Clark

Betts – Roche – Fata

Doull – Royer

Walser – Martin

Montador – Scoville

Mrozik – Dupont

Scratches: Chris St. Croix (healthy), Bobby Russell (healthy), Jeff Mitchell (healthy), Jamie Ling (healthy), Miika Elomo (out), Kenny Corupe (out), Jason Morgan (out), Dany Sabourin (healthy).