Providence goalie Jordan Sigalet stops a shot in yesterday’s game against the Sharks. At right is the P-Bruins’ Sean Curry.

The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

PROVIDENCE — Byron Bitz scored two goals and T.J. Trevelyan, Pascal Pelletier and Aaron Slattengren also found the back of the net as the Providence Bruins held off the Worcester Sharks, 5-3, yesterday in front of 7,477 fans at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

The victory kept Providence six points ahead of the second-place Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League’s Atlantic Division.

The P-Bruins took a 1-0 lead at the 7:34 mark of the opening period while on the power play. Defenseman Matt Hunwick dumped the puck into the zone and it went around the boards to Pelletier, who sent a centering pass to Bitz, and Bitz scored his 11th goal of the season, from the top of the slot.

Worcester tied it at the 11:37 mark when Tom Walsh netted his sixth goal of the season, with Graham Mink and Tom Cavanagh, the former Toll Gate High star, getting the assists.

Providence regained the lead at the 16:07 mark while on the power play. Matt Hendricks held the puck halfway up the right boards before passing it to Slattengren in the corner. Slattengren found Trevelyan backdoor, and Trevelyan tallied his 17th goal of the season.

Providence made the score 3-1 at the 1:18 mark of the second period. Bitz pushed the puck from halfway up the left boards to Pelletier at the left point. Pelletier shot the puck past Worcester netminder Thomas Greiss and into the back of the net for his team-leading 35th goal of the season.

The Sharks pulled within one at the 3:58 mark of the period while on the power play. Derek Joslin netted his 10th goal of the season while Walsh and Mink had the assists.

In the third period, the P-Bruins added an insurance goal at the 11:18 mark. Pelletier took a shot from the left boards and the rebound went to Martins Karsums. Karsums put a shot on net, and once again Greiss made the save, but the rebound went to Bitz, who scored his second goal of the game and 12th of the season.

Worcester once again cut the lead to one at the 12:56 mark. Matt Jones tallied his second goal of the season, while Patrick Traverse had the assist.

Providence added an empty-net goal at the 19:15 mark. Slattengren netted his 10th goal of the season, with Nate Thompson getting the assist.

Jordan Sigalet stopped 25 of 28 shots for the P-Bruins while Greiss made 22 saves for the Sharks. The P-Bruins went 2-for-4 on the power play and were 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.

•In other news, the P-Bruins announced that they have signed goaltender Adam Courchaine to an Amateur Tryout Agreement from the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League. With the move, the P-Bruins now have 21 players on their roster — 11 forwards, seven defensemen and three goaltenders.