By picking up three of a possible four points, the P-Bruins are now 8-6-2-1 for 19 points, fifth in the Atlantic Division but a mere five points behind Manchester for second. More impressive, after a sluggish 2-5-1-1 October, Providence is 6-1-1-0 in November, including points in each of its last four games at 3-0-1-0.
"For the most part, systematically, we're playing a pretty sound game," said P-Bruins head coach Rob Murray, who likes what he's seeing from his club of late. "We're starting to play with a little more poise overall. I don't know if it's going on the road, but we play a calmer game, or it seems like it at least.
"It is getting to a point in the season where, for the most part, everybody has been the same in the lineup. We've added a couple guys, but we really haven't deleted many and for that reason I think there is starting to be a little more camaraderie and a little more of a team feel that I'm starting to get from the guys. They're playing hard for each other, sticking up for each other and starting to care about each other."
Defenseman Joe Penner's two goals and two assists led a dozen Providence point-producers over the weekend, while Penner's partner on the blueline, Steve Kampfer, followed closely with his three points. Jamie Arniel, Zach Hamill and Jeremy Reich each added a goal and an assist, and David Ling registered a pair of helpers playing alongside Hamill and Reich.
Rob Murray's Player of the Week: Jeff Penner
"Jeff Penner played two outstanding games Friday and Sunday. He had the game-tying goal with 20 or so seconds to go on Friday and got a goal on Sunday. Overall, he had three points on Friday, but Sunday's game he was just as good and just as solid. He really stepped up his game this weekend."
We're Going Streaking
Several P-Bruins have been fixtures in the box scores lately, most notably former first round pick Zach Hamill. With his two points last weekend, Hamill now has points in six straight games dating back to Nov. 7, including his only goal of the season and nine assists.
Along with Hamill, fellow forward Jamie Arniel has points in four consecutive contests, showing two goals and three helpers since Nov. 13. Meanwhile, linemates Reich and David Ling each have three-game point-streaks, during which each player has four points. The captain Reich has three goals and an assist, while Ling's points have all been helpers.
In net, while veteran Nolan Schaefer has been a force on the road with three straight wins since Oct. 23, rookie Michael Hutchinson has been virtually unstoppable wherever he's played. Dating back to Halloween, Hutchinson is a perfect 4-0-0 in six appearances, including 2-0-0 marks both at home and on foreign ice.
As a team, along with their 5-0-1-0 six-game road point-streak and overall four-game run of success at 3-0-1-0, the P-Bruins have also won two straight outings at The Dunk for the first time all season.
On the Mend
Max Sauve, out the last 13 games since suffering a wrist injury at Manchester on Oct. 16, has been cleared to play, according to Rob Murray. However, he remains day-to-day as the wrist is still a little too sore to complete a full practice.
Jordan Smotherman, meanwhile, who has missed Providence's last five games with a lower body injury, resumed skating with the team and could play as soon as Friday.
Milestones
It may not jump off his bio, but second-year forward Lane MacDermid tied a career-high in assists with three after tallying a helper in Providence's overtime loss last Friday. The enforcer reached the total in his 16th game of the season after settling on three in 65 contests as a rookie.
Veteran defenseman Nathan McIver is just three games shy of 300 for his six-year professional career. McIver is scheduled to hit the plateau on Sunday, assuming he plays the two prior games this week. It has taken McIver longer to reach the milestone than most, battling several injuries during his time in Manitoba. He also missed significant time as a healthy scratch in NHL stints with both Vancouver and Anaheim.
Leaders
Goals: Jamie Arniel (8)
Assists: Zach Hamill, Steve Kampfer (11)
Points: Arniel, Kampfer (14)
Plus/Minus: Kampfer (+9)
PIM: Lane MacDermid (47)
Power Play Goals: Arniel, Joe Colborne (2)
Short-Handed Goals: Kampfer, Kirk MacDonald (1)
Shots: Arniel (54)
Wins: Michael Hutchinson (5)
GAA: Hutchinson (2.97)
Save Percentage: Hutchinson (.903)
This Weekend
The P-Bruins play their standard three games this week, albeit in an unconventional way due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Providence opens its week on Wednesday night in Bridgeport, the P-Bruins' first of five trips to the Arena at Harbor Yard. So far, the P-Bruins are 1-0-1-0 on the season against the Sound Tigers, who rank sixth in the Atlantic at 8-11-0-0 with 16 points.
"We need to go into Bridgeport and play another strong road game," said Murray. "Assert ourselves early, get the lead and play with the lead."
After giving thanks on Thursday, Providence returns home to The Dunk to host Worcester on Friday, already the clubs' fourth match-up on the year. The P-Bruins are 1-1-1-0 versus the Sharks, the only Rhode Island match-up resulting in a 6-1 Worcester win on Oct. 31, an "embarrassment," according to the coach.
Worcester is 8-5-1-3 for 20 points, just one ahead of Providence.
Then, with another Saturday off, the P-Bruins will wait until Sunday to get back into action against Portland, the team with the third-best record in the AHL at 13-4-1-0 and 27 points. Providence took the only meeting between the squads this year, 5-4 in overtime at the Cumberland County Civic Center on Nov. 6.
"We played Portland well the first time we played," remembered Murray. "There should be a confidence level within the room this week that, I think, now with the way that they've started to play, they should have confidence and trust that you're going to win every game that you're in. Whether you do or not, you have to approach every single game like that."
Providence's games at The Dunk this weekend will provide fans with extra incentive to root on the home team as Friday is Kids Hat Night and Sunday is Silly Band Night. Each giveaway is free to the first 1,000 kids age 12 and under.
