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With five games remaining in the current calendar year, the Boston Bruins are virtually set in a state where reformation comes recommended for 2015. They entered Sunday night’s tilt with Buffalo in a 2-5-2 slump so far in December.

Dating back to Nov. 21, when they nabbed a 4-3 shootout decision in Columbus, they have not won consecutive games in the last month. Going 4-6-3 in that span, they only finished one of those victories in regulation.

Odds are they are not going to turn this trend 180 degrees right away. The status quo is tried and true for the worse. At 16-14-3 overall third season, the Bruins need to pursue new arrangements to merely ensure their 2015 playoff qualification.

If the situation is appropriate, it might also not hurt to take a few glimpses at the more distant future. This means giving a few looks to some Providence mainstays later this regular season.

Whether it entails internal shuffling, dangling trade bait or honing the appeal of potential trade bait, here are five changes the Bruins should look into within the next three-plus months.

Unless otherwise indicated, all statistics for this report were found via nhl.com