Projo Bruins Blog

By MARK DIVVER
Assistant Sports Editor

PROVIDENCE -- It's been a quiet week at The Dunk. Too quiet.

About the only nugget of news is that Yannick Riendeau and Levi Nelson have been cleared to start skating. They have been told not to do any puck-handling or shooting yet.

Riendeau and Nelson were on the ice on Wednesday for the first time. Skills coach Victor Teleguine skated them hard after the team practice was over.

Coach Rob Murray said both players probably are at least a couple of months away from being cleared to play in games.

Riendeau had shoulder surgery over the summer. Nelson had surgery after breaking his collarbone during a rookie tournament in early September.

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Defenseman Drew Fata is eligible to play again on Friday at Manchester.

He was suspended for four games "as a result of his actions in a game at Portland on Oct. 10. Fata was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 29.1 (supplementary discipline)," according to the league.

That's the AHL's way of saying that he cross-checked Portland's Brad Larsen in the jaw.

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Three-games-in-three-nights weekends are a staple in the AHL, so it's surprising that a month into the season, the Bruins start their first 3-in-3 on Friday. After playing in Manchester and Hartford, the P-Bruins return home on Sunday afternoon to play Bridgeport.

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Jeff LoVecchio has been sick and hasn't skated all week, but he rode the bike on Thursday and will skate on Friday. "He'll see some action this weekend,'' said Murray.

Kirk MacDonald (groin) skated Thursday, but is questionable for the weekend.

 Tags  Boston Bruins Providence Bruins

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