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Both the AHL and NHL Bruins had incredible Decembers

It’s always nice to have the majors and minors on the same page — and it’s even better when it’s a winning page.

By Dan.Ryan
Boston Bruins v New York Islanders Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

One of the hallmarks of sustained success in pro sports is having a solid working relationship between the main club and the feeder clubs. In the case of the NHL, that means a good relationship between the AHL and the NHL.

The Bruins are one of the more geographically blessed NHL franchises, with their farm team just an hour south on 95. They also benefit from having a head coach (Bruce Cassidy) who also coached the AHL affiliate, and from having a number of players who have bounced back and forth in recent years, including Danton Heinen, Austin Czarnik and Kenny Agostino.

In December, the rapport between the big club and the farm team paid off in a big way: the Bruins went a combined 21-4-3 at the AHL and NHL levels.

NOT BAD.

Let’s take a look.

Overall

  • In Boston, the Bruins barnstormed their way through the last month of 2017, including points in eight consecutive games (a run that included five wins in a row as well).
  • Providence fared similarly well, starting December with seven wins in a row before going 4-2-1 in their last seven.

At home

  • The Bruins went 6-1-1 at TD Garden in December.
  • The Providence Bruins went 5-0-0 at the Dunkin Donuts Center in December.

On the road

  • The big club went 4-1-1 on the road.
  • The P-Bruins missed their hometown cooking, but still went 6-2-1 on the road.

As an organization, the Bruins played a combination of 28 AHL and NHL games in December; that means there were 56 points in the standings up for grabs.

The teams took 45 of those 56 points, for a points percentage of 80.3%.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

(Sadly, the ECHL’s Atlanta Gladiators had a really rough December, dropping eleven games. Looks like the December success may have been limited to New England.)