Fell recalled from Providence

Veteran forward Jeffrey Viel was recalled from Providence Monday morning. The 27-year-old has scored two goals and two assists in fourteen games for the P-Bruins this season. Viel also has 49 NHL games on his resume, all with the San Jose Sharks from 2021-2023.

“It’s always a great feeling. That’s where everyone wants to be and what everyone works for. I am very happy,” said Viel. “Having played in the NHL before, I know it’s a fast-paced league, the pace and the whole game are a little different. I’ve learned to keep my playing as simple as possible. Just play physically.”

The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder is known for his rugged style, having logged 114 penalty minutes in 34 games with San Jose during the 2021-22 season.

“That’s been my job pretty much my entire career, try to walk that line,” said Viel, who dropped the gloves in a preseason game against the Kings in October. “Obviously I want to bring a lot of energy tonight. That’s what I’m going to try to do. Sometimes it is difficult, sometimes you cross the line. You try as much as possible. If I keep my game simple, play hard and play with a lot of energy, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Montgomery said that while the team didn’t see everything Viel can bring during the preseason after the Quebec native injured his oblique early in camp, the energy he brought to the bench was noticeable.

“He’s a guy where you know what you’re getting,” Montgomery said. “He’s a difficult player to play against, he has an attacking ball in and around the net. He’s scored more than 20 goals in the American League and he’s someone who has really good energy. That’s what I remember on the bench, someone he felt the excitement of playing the game with.

“We’re hopeful that that will happen, that it will bring more energy to our bench…the energy for someone who comes in and has a smile on their face and it’s like Christmas morning, that’s contagious. If you come back to the couch and slump forward like that, what does that do to you?