The Providence Bruins finished off the month of October with three games in five days.
Last Saturday, Providence took on Laval and lost 3-2 in a shootout. Peter Cehlarik and Paul Carey had the goals, and Kyle Keyser made 25 saves in a losing effort.
Providence fell again on Sunday night, this time 4-3 in regulation to Belleville. Carey had another goal, as did Jakub Lauko.
The Baby B’s bounced back on Wednesday and defeated Rochester 4-3. Carey scored his sixth goal of the year, and Zach Senyshyn finally got his first goal of the season.
The win against Rochester brought Providence’s record to 6-3-2. The 14 points puts Providence second in the Atlantic Division.
All in all, Providence enjoyed a successful month of October, largely because of its deep forward group.
Paul Carey stands out for Providence
Boston signed Paul Carey last March to a two-year, two-way contract. The Bruins didn’t expect him to figure much with the NHL roster; rather, he’d be a veteran presence in Providence.
So far, Carey has filled his role quite nicely.
First off, take a look at the production. Carey scored a goal in each of his last three games to give himself six for the season. He also has three assists for nine total points in 11 games.
Carey’s play is one of the big reasons why Providence won six of the first 11 games. These wins are important, especially for the young players on the roster. The organization certainly wants these young, future Bruins to develop winning habits and be comfortable in competitive games.
Also, Carey’s production takes some pressure off the younger guys on the team. Providence doesn’t have to force young players like Lauko and Jack Studnicka to play in tough situations until they are ready. Because veterans like Carey are there, young players can develop at their own pace.
Then there’s the leadership factor with Carey. Carey’s the captain of the team, and since he’s a veteran with NHL experience, his young teammates can lean on him. He’s a great example for players like Studnicka.
Carey may not get a chance to play in Boston unless there’s a long string of injuries. Nevertheless, his role in Providence can have effects in Boston for years to come.