PROVIDENCE - It's been a long time just getting on the ice after a broken thumb put Zach Hamill on the injured list for the first six weeks of the AHL season for the Providence Bruins.

The first round draft pick by the Boston Bruins in 2007, the eighth player selected overall, has pedigree written all over him, but 2008-09 will be his first full-time season of professional hockey.

"The first goal is always nice," said Hamill, who returned to the ice Friday for the P-B's and scored his first goal (at 9:47 of the first period) in his three-game comeback Sunday during a 6-3 verdict over the Hartford Wolfpack.

"There was a couple of weeks there of not doing much with my hands, just some skating," said Hamill, who scored the second of two Providence goals within a 54-second span of the first period. "I came back making sure that I can do everything."

Vladimir Sobotka scored a pair of goals for Providence (11-6-1), which won for the third time over the past four outings. Providence scored a pair of third-period goals within a 30 second span, Sobotka scoring his second of the game (No. 8 on the season) on a nifty breakaway at 6:28, then Peter Schaefer scoring his first goal of the season at 6:58 with the Bruins having a sixth skater on the ice with a delayed penalty being whistled against Hartford. Defenseman Jeff Penner broke a 2-2 tie in the second period, regaining the lead for Providence at 11:50, while Martin St. Pierre scored his fifth goal of the season, at 16:21 of the third period, the final tally.

"That was a really good effort," said P-B's coach Rob Murray of his club allowing Hartford just one goal in eight power play chances and goalie Kevin Regan making 27 saves to extend his unbeaten skein on home ice to five games. "We're making cleaner plays, the tape to tape passes, good looks up the middle, with patience and poise."

That's what Hamill had to have before beginning the road to the NHL. He had scored 79 goals during his three previous seasons with the WHL's Everett Silvertips and got a taste of pro hockey in the spring, playing seven games (with five assists) in Providence.

On the smallish side at 5-11, Hamill is currently centering Brad Marchand and Schaefer. "You've got to get used to it (timing) after the setback, but every time I step onto the ice I'm battling for my teammates."

PENALTY SHOTS - Schaefer, who had 26 points in 63 games with Boston last year before being dispatched to the AHL this year, had just two assists during his first 11 games. "He's doing the little intangible things," said Murray. "He's making hits, he's getting more engaged The P-B's are 7-2 at home thus far Penner's goal was his first of the season, ending a 14-game pointless streak too Sobotka, who put the P-B's ahead with a power play gaol at 8:53 of the first period, now has five goals and four assists over the past six games Defenseman Johnny Boychuk had two assists, boosting his team-best point total to 21 Both Brad Marchand (three assists) and St. Pierre (one goal, two assists) had three-point games, the latter now having a six-game point streak.