AHL Providence Bruins

Big week ahead for Bruins

Published on March 28, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


The Providence Bruins begin the week in fourth place in the tightly-contested Atlantic Division standings with their 34-26-3-7 record (78 points), as they come off a weekend in which they won two crucial games. The Bruins entered last weekend in fifth place in the division, before pulling even with the Worcester IceCats following Friday's 4-1 victory over their Route 146 rivals. The Black and Gold followed up with a gritty 2-1 shootout win in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton the next night. The win over the Penguins, coupled with Worcester's loss to Lowell, moved head coach Scott Gordon's club into sole possession of the fourth spot.

The Bruins continue to receive significant contributions from their special teams units. The power play unit remains second in the AHL overall, clicking at a 19.7% success rate (65/330). On home ice, the rate jumps to 23.9% (39/163), the best in the league. The penalty-killing unit has continued its stifling work for nearly two months. The Bruins have killed off penalties at a rate of 90.4% (95/105) over the last 22 games, dating back to February 4.

The Bruins have a busy week ahead, playing four games in five nights against Atlantic Division opponents, three of which will be on the road. The action begins on Wednesday, March 30 at 7:05 p.m., when the Bruins and IceCats have another showdown, this time in Worcester. The Bruins visit the Manchester Monarchs on Friday, April 1 at 7:35 p.m., and the Lowell Lock Monsters on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.

The Bruins close out the week on Sunday, April 3 at 4:05 p.m., when they host the Manchester Monarchs. Sunday's game will be a "McDonald's Family 4-Pack" night, with fans being able to purchase four tickets and four McDonald's Extra Value Meals, all for just $48. "McDonald's Family 4-Packs" can only be purchased by calling the Bruins at (401) 273-5000, or by logging on to the team website, www.providencebruins.com. Please note that "McDonald's Family 4-Packs" are not sold on game days.

Bruin goaltender Hannu Toivonen continued his stellar play over the weekend, making his second and third starts since returning from his 13-game absence due to knee surgery. The 20-year-old native of Kalvola, Finland stopped 59 of the 61 shots he faced on Friday and Saturday, leading the team to the 4-1 and 2-1 victories. Since his return, Toivonen is 2-1-0, while allowing just one goal in each start, for a 0.98 GAA and .963 save percentage. In Saturday's 2-1 shootout win in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Toivonen stopped 32 of the 33 shots he faced, and stopped all five shots he faced in the shootout. Toivonen is now 23-15-3 on the season, while ranking third in the AHL with a 1.95 GAA and being tied for third with a .933 save percentage and seven shutouts.

Tickets for Sunday, as well as all remaining regular season Bruins games, are available online on the Bruins' website, www.providencebruins.com, at all TicketMaster outlets (401-331-2211 or 508/617-931-2000) and the Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence box office. Information on individual game tickets and Providence Bruins season ticket packages can be obtained by calling the Bruins ticket office at (401) 273-5000 or by logging on to the team website.

THIS WEEK
(ALL GAMES EST)

Wednesday, March 30 @ Worcester, 7:05 PM, DCU Center
WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com
The Bruins and IceCats face off in the eighth game of the Atlantic Division rivals' 10-game season series...The Bruins are 2-3-1-1 in the season series, but won the most recent meeting, 4-1 on Friday...G Hannu Toivonen made 27 saves in the win, and is 2-3-0 with a 1.60 GAA and .939 save percentage in five games against the IceCats...Worcester G Curtis Sanford is 4-2-0 with a 1.73 GAA and .937 save percentage in six games against the Bruins...RW Jon DiSalvatore leads the team with 20 goals, and with 40 points, shares the overall team scoring lead with C Jay McClement (13-27-40)...McClement and LW Peter Sejna are tied for third in the AHL with five shorthanded goals apiece...D Dennis Wideman ranks ninth among AHL rookies with 11-25-36 totals...The IceCats rank third in the AHL on the penalty kill (88.0%), and are tied for the league lead with 17 shorthanded goals...The Worcester power play ranks 27th in the league (12.2%)...The IceCats are in fifth place in the Atlantic Division, two points behind the Bruins (35-28-4-2; 76 points).

Friday, April 1 @ Manchester, 7:35 PM, Verizon Wireless Arena
Sunday, April 3 vs. Manchester, 4:05 PM, Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence
WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com
The Bruins and Monarchs play the final two games of their 10-game season series...The Bruins are 2-6-0-0 in the previous eight meetings...The Monarchs took the last game, 1-0 in Providence on March 20, despite the Bruins outshooting Manchester, 35-20...LW Dan LaCouture has scored five goals against the Monarchs in six games...G Hannu Toivonen is 1-3-0 in four games against Manchester, but has a 1.52 GAA and .947 save percentage...Manchester C Mike Cammalleri has 5-7-12 totals against the Bruins in eight games this season...Cammalleri leads the league in goals (41), is tied for the lead in power play goals (17) and rank second in overall scoring with 94 points...Gs Adam Hauser (1.98 GAA) and Mathieu Garon (1.99 GAA) rank sixth and seventh among AHL goaltenders, respectively...Garon is tied for the league lead with eight shutouts...D Denis Grebeshkov is tied for sixth among AHL blueliners with 4-38-42 totals...D Mike Weaver leads all AHL defensemen and is tied for fourth in the league overall with a +27 rating...Manchester has scored the second-most goals in the AHL (226), while allowing the second-fewest (148)...The Monarchs lead the Atlantic Division (45-17-4-3), and are one of two teams in the AHL to have clinched a playoff berth.

Saturday, April 2 @ Lowell, 7:00 PM, Tsongas Arena
WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com
The Bruins and Lock Monsters face off in the ninth game of their 10-game season series...The Bruins are 5-1-0-2 in the season series, and took the last meeting, 2-0 in Providence on March 18...LW Andy Hilbert (7-4-11) and C Brad Boyes (5-6-11) lead the team in scoring against Lowell...G Hannu Toivonen is 3-0-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .950 save percentage against Lowell this season...G Chris Madden made 37 saves in the 2-0 win on March 18, for his second shutout of the season...Lowell C Eric Staal leads the team and ranks ninth in the AHL with 23-45-68 totals...RW Chuck Kobasew is tied for 10th in the AHL with 34-33-67 totals...Kobasew is tied for second in the AHL in goals (34), tied for first in game-winning goals (10) and leads the league with a +35 rating...Staal is tied for the league lead with six shorthanded goals and ranks second with a +33 rating...LW Colin Forbes ranks third in the AHL with a +31 rating...G Cam Ward leads the AHL with a .937 save percentage, and ranks fourth with a 1.96 GAA...The Lock Monsters are in third place in the Atlantic Division with their 39-23-1-5 record.


Providence Bruins Schedule:
Tuesday 3/29 10:30 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence
Wednesday 3/30 10:00 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence; Game @ Worcester, 7:05 p.m.
Thursday 3/31 10:30 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence
Friday 4/1 10:00 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center; Game @ Manchester, 7:35 p.m.
Saturday 4/2 10:00 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center; Game @ Lowell, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 4/3 10:00 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center; Game vs. Manchester, 4:05 p.m.
Monday 4/4 OFF

LAST WEEK
Date Opp. Score B's goal scorers (#, type) Goaltender (saves; record)
3/25 Worcester W, 4-1 Bergeron (20; Kurka (4; GWG); Hilbert (33); Toivonen (27; 22-15-3)
Henderson (6)
3/26 @ W-B/Scranton W, 2-1 (SO) Aucoin (20; PPG); Guite (shootout winning goal) Toivonen (32; 23-15-3)



IN THE BOOKS
Records Leaders Goaltenders
Overall Record 34-26-3-7 Andy Hilbert 33-40-73 Hannu Toivonen, 1.95 GAA, 23-15-3, .933%
Home Record 23-8-2-2 Brad Boyes 29-38-67 Chris Madden, 1.76 GAA, 5-3-0, .938%
Road Record 11-18-1-5 Keith Aucoin 20-40-60
Overtime 0-3 Patrice Bergeron 20-36-56
Shootout 3-7 Kevin Dallman 8-23-31
Power Play 65-330, 19.7%, 2nd David Gove 12-18-30
Penalty Killing 293-351, 83.5%, t-17th Dan LaCouture 11-13-24


Slap Shots: LW Andy Hilbert is tied for fourth in the AHL in goals (33), and fifth in power play goals (15), while ranking sixth in points (73)...Hilbert also leads the league with 305 shots on goal...C Brad Boyes ranks 10th in AHL scoring with 29-38-67 totals, and is tied for the league lead with 17 power play goals, while ranking fourth with nine game-winning goals...D Brent Thompson ranks fourth among AHL defensemen with 232 PIM...Thompson, Boyes and Hilbert are the only Bruins to play in all 70 games this season...D Kevin Dallman will play his 200th career AHL/Bruins game on Friday...Dallman (8-23-31) is on his way to leading all Bruin blueliners in scoring for a second consecutive season, and has reached new career highs in goals, assists and points...C Ben Guite scored the shootout winning goal on Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the first time he had participated in a shootout this season...C Keith Aucoin is tied for 19th in AHL scoring with 20-40-60 totals in 63 games...Aucoin tallied his 20th goal of the season on Saturday, while Bergeron notched his on Friday, becoming the third and fourth players on the team to reach that mark this season...LW Jay Henderson has a +5 rating over his last five games.

Bruins Radio & Media: All 80 Providence Bruins games will be broadcast on WDDZ AM-550 and on the team website, www.providencebruins.com. Corey Masse brings you the action for home games, while Adam Alper calls the action on the road. Please contact Adam Alper for all interview requests.

Tuesday, March 29 WSKO AM-790, "Providence Bruins Weekly Presented by National City Mortgage"
Scott Gordon, Hannu Toivonen, Joe McDonald

Thursday, March 31 WNAC Fox-64 Sports Wrap 10:45 p.m. TBA

Bruins In the Community: Please contact Adam Alper for any player appearances.


Tickets: Information on individual game tickets and Providence Bruins season ticket packages can be obtained by calling the Bruins ticket office at (401) 273-5000 or by logging on to the team website, www.providencebruins.com.

Check out the Providence Bruins Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2005


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