Chris Bourque had a three-point night, but Providence fell to Worcester 5-4 on Friday. He had two goals and an assist, and he now has 23 points in 26 games. Bourque is a bit of a tweener right now -- he's good enough to thrive in the AHL but there's question marks about how he'd fare in the NHL, where he has four points in 33 contests. His size (5-foot-8, 180 pounds) is another factor that's worrisome. He could get the chance with the Bruins in a bottom-six role once the lockout ends.

Chris Bourque has been an excellent playmaker in AHL Providence this season. "Every night he makes a couple of high end plays," coach Bruce Cassidy said. "He does some high-end things that our guys are getting used to. He'll take some high-risk plays, but they work out a lot more than they don't when it's him making them. He's competitive, he cares, he battles and he wants to be out there all the time. I'd like to see his goal total being a little higher, but that's a part of the issue with our team right now." Bourque leads the Baby Bruins with 16 assists and 18 points in 22 game this year. He picked up two helpers in Sunday's 3-2 overtime win against Adirondack to put his minor-league team one point behind Worcester for top spot in the Atlantic Division.

Chris Bourque leads an offensively-challenged Providence Bruins team in scoring with 15 points in 20 games. That ties him for 63rd in overall league scoring. The P-Bruins have scored the second least amount of goals in the AHL this season with 47 (Albany has only 40), and but for their strong defense and the brilliant play of rookie netminder Niklas Svedberg the team would be struggling for a playoff spot. As it is, Providence is only two points out of first in the Atlantic Division.

Chris Bourque has scored just two goals in 14 contests with the Providence Bruins this season. He has added eight assists over that span, but his output this year has been a far cry from the 27 markers and 93 points he scored in 73 games with Hershey in 2011-12. Still, Providence coach Bruce Cassidy sees Bourque as a player with the potential to succeed at the NHL level. "He makes high end plays and I'm not sure that some of the guys around him have been ready for the plays he makes," said Cassidy. "You've got to judge him a little different. If you throw him in with some NHL skill, I wonder what you'd get. I'm curious for that reason. If you throw him in there with say, (Rich) Peverley and (Chris) Kelly, is he going to make plays that are NHL caliber? Because here he looks like he's capable of that."

Chris Bourque continues to lead the offensively-challenged Providence Bruins in scoring. Bourque, who is the son of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, is trying to nail down a third or fourth line spot in Boston. In nine games in the AHL thus far he has registered seven points. If Bourque does succeed in earning a roster spot in the NHL, he will have no fantasy value.

Chris Bourque registered two assists in a 6-3 loss to the Connecticut Whale at the XL Center on Saturday night. Bourque has only participated in 33 NHL games and hasn't played in the show since the 2009-10 campaign. It appears he will get plenty of playing time in the minors once again this season after he was expected to challenge for a roster spot with the big team at training camp.

Chris Bourque and Ryan Spooner each had assists in Providence's 3-1 win versus Springfield on saturday night. Bourque, now 26, has had no problems piling up the points in the AHL during his career. However, he's struggled in his short time (33 games) in the NHL. The undersized forward is going to have to really impress in the AHL to get a look with the Bruins once the lockout ends. He has two points on the year, and Spooner's assist gives him four.

Chris Bourque did not have a very auspicious beginning with the Bruins' AHL affiliate in Providence Friday night. He was guilty of two costly giveaways in the Baby Bruins' 3-1 loss to Manchester. Bourque, the son of Hall of Fame Bruin rearguard Ray, is looking to catch on with the Boston once the lockout ends. Friday night's performance didn't help him much in that regard.

Chris Bourque is looking forward to helping some of the younger players in AHL Providence. "I'm more excited about teaching [the young players] things about becoming a pro that other guys helped me out with. Now it's time for me to play the other role and put them on the right path," said Bourque. He excelled at the AHL level last season with 27 goals and 93 points in 73 games. Things will be tougher this time around because the lockout has resulted in an influx of talented heading to the minors. Still, if he can continue to dominate in the AHL, then he will have a much better shot of making the Boston Bruins once the lockout finally ends.

Chris Bourque made his debut with the Boston Bruins organization last Saturday, but because of the lockout it came with AHL Providence in an exhibition game. He finished with an assist on the team's only goal in a 4-1 loss to the Springfield Falcons. Still, he was excited to finally wear the team's black and gold colors. "This is definitely something I've been looking forward to since I got traded to Boston," said Bourque, who is the son of former Bruins defenseman and Hall of Famer Ray Bourque. "Playing in a game for the first time since last April it was good to simply knock the rust off and compete against somebody other than my own team." He has been skating alongside Boston prospect Ryan Spooner on the club's top line. It appears he will get plenty of playing time in the minors after he was expected to challenge for a roster spot with the big team at training camp.