When I’m leaving Providence, Rhode Island, nine times out of ten I will take the wrong ramp onto I-95, and wind up heading south instead of north. It’s pretty sad, considering the fact that I lived there for four years, and I should pretty much know my way around. (Or at least, which way I need to be heading on the highway and how to get there.) That aside, I made the trek this past Sunday to watch the Providence Bruins play the final game of their three game weekend, and while I didn’t take any detours on the way to or from the game this time, I did leave the arena feeling a little disoriented.

The P Bruins have gone all high-tech with a brand new scoreboard, one of many changes as the result of ongoing renovations at the Dunkin Donuts Center. I probably could’ve used a booster seat in the temporary press box, but the Bruins made the trip worthwhile, when they capped off their weekend with a win over the Binghamton Senators. Providence is now riding on five straight wins with a 7-2-1 record, and a tie for the top spot in the AHL’s Atlantic Division, with the Portland Pirates.

The team looked a little sluggish during the first period, while Binghamton controlled the puck and went up two-zip before the first intermission. The tide began to turn when Providence scored two back-to-back goals by the same line near the midpoint of the second period. Second year pro Ben Walter struck first, followed by Petr Tenkrat, and the entire team was energized. The P Bruins would add three more before the night was through, with goals coming from rookie Martins Karsums, defenseman Ryan Glenn, and a second from Ben Walter. One more puck would slip through the Providence net before the game was through, but they held on for a 5-3 win over the Senators.

Weekend Highlights & Top Performers for Providence

So far Providence seems to be on the right track. Although very much a work in progress, they are beginning to see offensive contributions across the board, and you get the feeling they’ve just barely scratched the surface with what this team can do.

Rookie David Krejci leads the team with 10 points in 10 games. The 20 year old native of the Czech Republic was a second round draft pick of the Boston Bruins (2004) and is coming off an 81 point season (in 55 games)in the QMJHL.

Ben Walter was one of the AHL’s three stars of the night on Sunday for his two goals and two assists in the Binghamton game. Ben got off to a slow start this season, and missed a couple games due to injury, but has scored 5 of his total 8 points since returning from injury two games ago.

Rookie Kris Versteeg had a 4 point weekend (2goals, 2 assists). Versteeg is a small but skilled right wing who hasn’t grabbed nearly as much attention as some of Boston’s other prospects, but he’s a hard working kid who has become a consistent contributor, and will be one to watch as the season progresses.

Second year defenseman Jonathan Sigalet had a two goal night against Hartford on Friday. Sigalet packed on a few extra pounds in the offseason, and appears to withstand the physical play better than in his rookie season.

A Long way to Long Beach

The Bruins recently signed an affiliate agreement with the Long Beach Ice Dogs (ECHL). With more prospects playing at the pro level this season, the agreement will ensure that they get plenty of ice time and hopefully gain some valuable professional experience. Recent free agent acquisitions Chris Collins and TJ Trevelyan were among the first players assigned to the team, along with goaltender Mike Brown and left wing Mark Tobin. Ice Dogs GM and Head Coach Rick Adduono has ties with the Bruins (he was a Bruins draft pick back in 1975) and knows Providence Head Coach Scott Gordon from coaching against him in the ECHL. The Ice Dogs began the season with new faces in ownership, coaching staff and a new roster. The bad news: Eight games into the season, and they are still looking for their first win. The good news: Before the season Coach Adduono said he expected to see contributions from the players Boston assigned, and so far they’ve answered the call. Rookies TJ Trevelyan and Chris Collins currently lead the team in scoring with 7 and 6 points respectively.

Other Noteworthy Performances

When I spoke with Boston College Associate Head Coach Mike Cavanaugh before the season began, he said the one thing he’s like to see from forward Brock Bradford in his sophomore year is more offense. The Bruins 2005 draft pick (7th round, 217 overall) is a highly intelligent player with a quick, accurate shot. So far this season, Bradford is off to a good start with a total 9 points (3 goals, 6 assists) in BC’s 7 games.

Brad Marchand is lighting up the Q with 14 goals and 24 assists in 21 games with the Val d’Or Foreurs. Marchand is a former teammate of Bruins prospect Martins Karsums from the 2005-06 QMJHL Champion Moncton Wildcats team and a 2006 draft pick of the Boston Bruins. He will join fellow Bruins prospect and 2006 draft pick, defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk, at this year’s ADT Canada-Russia Challenge, which takes place starting November 20th.