P-Bruins making a move for playoffs

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Bruins captain Trent Whitfield returned to the lineup on Jan. 7, fully recovered from a serious Achilles tendon injury in his off-season workouts.   After practicing hard with the team for three weeks , he was cleared to return to face the Atlantic Division leading Manchester Monarchs at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The game was meaningful on several levels. The Bruins’ home record was abysmal to this point. The Bruins had lost four of five games and were coming off a 7-3 loss to Manchester the week before.
 
The daunting task was to be followed by a road trip to face the best team in the AHL, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton

Penguins and the talented Binghamton Senators.   The return of Whitfield and the solid goaltending of rookie Matt Dalton enabled Providence to shut out the Monarchs, 3-0. Head Coach Rob Murray asked his team to “approach every game as the biggest of the year. We’ve got to be more consistent and approach each game with a little bit of desperation.   This was a huge game; you’ve got the second best team in the AHL coming in here and they embarrassed us last week.”  
 
Following the big win against Manchester, the team bused right out for a five hour ride to Pennsylvania. The ride actually took seven hours due to inclement weather, but the Bruins garnered a point that night, losing in overtime, 2-1.   Goaltender Nolan Schaefer made 50 saves and was named the second star of the game. After another ride to Binghamton for an afternoon game, the weary Bruins suffered a 5-3 loss. However, the three point weekend was considered a success.
 
Wilkes-Barre arrived in Providence for a rematch on the following Friday and registered a 2-0 victory in a well played game in front of 9,300 fans.   Despite the loss, Schaefer was announced as the third star for his solid performance in net. Providence traveled to Connecticut the next day to face The Whale and held on for a 3-2 victory. Max Sauve scored the game winning goal, adding to his league lead in that category. On Sunday, Providence’s other net minder, rookie Matt Dalton, made 45 saves as the Bruins shut out the Worcester Sharks on home ice, 2-0.   Tuesday, the Bruins traveled to Bridgeport and were victorious again, winning a 3-2 shootout.
 
On Friday, Jan. 21, the Monarchs returned to Providence and were beaten again, 5-2. Sauve had another game winneras the B’s extended their winning streak to four games.   A road trip to rival and  division-leading Portland resulted in a 5-2 Bruins loss.   Providence responded by winning three more games in a row including another big home win in a rematch against Portland.
 
The team now is planning with confidence, as opposed to wondering what will derail them next. (The turnaround) “comes with a little bit of success,” Murray said. “It coincides with two things; the return of Trent Whitfield and we’re getting very good goaltending. There is a different attitude, a different feel with the team now.   I feel we’re a pretty good team now. I couldn’t say that a month ago.”
 
Contact Thomas.Chace@prohockeynews.com