PROVIDENCE -- Kris Versteeg 's second professional hockey season is turning out to be very rewarding.

Versteeg scored two goals last night for the P-Bruins and now has a team-high nine for the season. Versteeg, a winger from Lethbridge, Alberta, barely got a taste of the pros last year. He was drafted by the Bruins in 2004 but stayed home and played junior hockey in the Western Hockey League for Lethbridge. He began the 2005-06 season with Kamloops and finished in Red Deer, scoring a combined 16 goals with the two teams.

At the conclusion of the WHL season, Versteeg signed a tryout agreement with Providence and made his AHL debut on March 25 at Manchester. In 13 games with Providence, Versteeg scored two goals, had four assists and made enough of an impact to earn another deal with the Bruins for this season.

Versteeg clearly is enjoying the hottest stretch of his pro career. He has scored a goal in each of his last three games and has had a point in eight of the last nine games.

"All in all, it's been a pretty good season individually," said the 20-year-old, "but I don't look at the stats page. I just want to help my team win. My teammates have really helped me out. Tonight I was with Pascal Pelletier and (David) Krejci and they made it a lot easier on me."

Providence coach Scott Gordon said from the first time he saw Versteeg he knew the Bruins had a potential scorer on their hands.

"At training camp two years ago we looked at him as a good prospect," said Gordon. "Last year he showed me the same things. Now he's getting the opportunity and he's showing what he can do."

Gordon said Versteeg actually was shifted to defense for a spell in the WHL but he's thriving on the right wing now.

"He's a very skilled guy," Gordon said.

Up-and-down season

Yan Stastny has been on the Providence-Boston-Providence shuttle this week. He was recalled by Boston on Wednesday and traveled to the team's game in Pittsburgh against the Penguins. Statsny did not dress for the game and was returned to Providence's roster on Thursday. Last night, Stastny registered one assist and put four shots on net.

The Bruins acquired Statsny last March in a trade with Edmonton. Boston gave up scorer Sergie Samsonov in exchange for Statsny, Marty Reasoner and a second-round draft pick.

Help for Food Bank

The P-Bruins chipped in over the Thanksgiving holiday by collecting 600 pounds of food for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank at two games last weekend. The P-Bruins partnered with Wings To Go, which gave chicken wings to fans who donated food in the drive. The P-Bruins collected six times more food than they did a year ago.

Busy weekend

Last night began a busy three-game weekend for the P-Bruins. Tonight they'll play at Portland, then travel to Lowell for a game tomorrow afternoon. The team returns home for a game next Friday against Lowell.

kmcnamar@projo.com / (401) 277-7340