AHL Providence Bruins

Bruins continue road swing this week

Published on January 3, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


The Providence Bruins begin the week in third place in the Atlantic Division, with their 18-11-2-5 record (43 points). Head coach Scott Gordon's club had a string of 12 games without a loss in regulation snapped on New Year's Day, in a 5-3 loss at Manchester. The loss was the Bruins' first in regulation since December 4. In between, the Black and Gold posted a 9-0-0-3 record, taking 21 of a possible 24 points.

The Bruins continue a stretch of six consecutive road games this weekend, beginning on Friday, January 7, when they visit the Springfield Falcons at 7:35 p.m. The road swing continues on Saturday night in Portland (7:05 p.m.) and on Sunday afternoon in Lowell (4:00 p.m.) All games can be heard live on WDDZ AM-550 and online at www.providencebruins.com.

The Bruins return home to host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday, January 14 at 7:05 p.m. and the Worcester IceCats on Sunday, January 16 at 4:05 p.m. The first 4,000 fans in attendance at Friday's game will receive a free Providence Bruins hat, courtesy of the Rhode Island Lottery and WPRI CBS-12. Sunday's game will be televised live on COX Sports Television.

Bruin forwards Andy Hilbert and Keith Aucoin have been on offensive tears as of late, with both players establishing new career-high point streaks. Hilbert had a team season-high seven-game streak (3-8-11) snapped on Saturday night in Manchester, while Aucoin's six-game streak (5-7-12) was snapped on the same night. Hilbert leads the team and is tied for seventh in AHL scoring with 16-22-38 totals in 36 games, and leads the league with 154 shots on goal. Aucoin ranks fourth on the team with 9-14-23 totals in 29 games.

Providence center Patrice Bergeron will try to help Canada to the gold medal at the 2005 World Junior Championships on Tuesday, when the Canadians face off against Russia in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Bergeron, a 19-year-old native of Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec, is the tournament's leading scorer, having posted 4-7-11 totals in five games for the undefeated Canadians. The gold would be his second of the year, as he won with Canada at the 2004 World Championships last spring. Bergeron, who left the Bruins on December 13, ranks third on the club with 10-17-27 totals in 25 games.

The Providence Bruins will be hosting their third post-game autograph session of the season on Sunday, January 23, following the Bruins-Portland Pirates game at 4:05 p.m. Bruin goaltender Hannu Toivonen and defenseman Milan Jurcina will be signing autographs on the Dunkin' Donuts Center concourse behind Section 110. The autograph session is free of charge.

The Providence Bruins are proud to continue offering their FlexTix Special. Fans purchasing a book of 10 FlexTix will also receive a free Providence Bruins hat. Providence Bruins game-worn jerseys are also currently available to fans, and can be purchased online at www.providencebruins.com. Information on the FlexTix Special and game-worn jerseys can be obtained on the team website, or by calling the Bruins at 401-273-5000.

Tickets for January 14 and 16, as well as all regular season P-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)

Friday, January 7 @ Springfield, 7:35 PM, Springfield Civic Center
WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com
The Bruins and Falcons play the sixth game of their 10-game season series...The Bruins are 4-1-0-0, and won the last meeting, 4-2 in Springfield on December 30...Bruin C Keith Aucoin figured in all four goals, posting a hat trick and an assist...RW Yorick Treille potted the other goal...LW Andy Hilbert has 3-5-8 totals against Springfield, while C Brad Boyes has 1-6-7 totals...Springfield LW Adam Henrich has 3-1-4 totals against the Bruins...RW Shane Willis leads the team with 13-13-26 totals...C Ryan Craig leads the team with 15 goals...The Falcons are in seventh place in the Atlantic Division (11-20-2-2).

Saturday, January 8 @ Portland, 7:05 PM, Cumberland County Civic Center
WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com
The Bruins and Pirates face off in the third game of their 10-game season series...The Bruins have taken 7-1 (November 20) and 3-0 (December 31) decisions in the previous two contests, both in Portland...Bruin G Hannu Toivonen won both games, stopping 61 of the 62 shots he faced, for a 0.50 GAA and .984 save percentage...LW Andy Hilbert has 1-6-7 totals against Portland, while C Patrice Bergeron had 2-3-5 totals on November 20...Portland C Trent Whitfield leads the team with 8-14-22 totals in 27 games...G Maxime Ouellet leads the AHL in games played (30) and saves (840)...The Pirates are in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with their 13-16-3-4 record.

Sunday, January 9 @ Lowell, 4:00 PM, Tsongas Arena
WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com
The Bruins and Lock Monsters meet in the fifth game of their 10-game season series...The Bruins are 3-0-0-1 against Lowell, winning the last game, 3-2 on December 26...G Hannu Toivonen is 3-0-0 with a 1.67 GAA and .950 save percentage against Lowell...C Brad Boyes has 4-5-9 totals in four games against Lowell, including a hat trick on October 22...Lowell LW Ryan Bayda has 2-2-4 totals against the Bruins...RW Chuck Kobasew leads the team with 17-16-33 totals, while LW Colin Forbes (13-18-31) and C Eric Staal (9-22-31) are right behind...Forbes ranks fourth in the AHL with a +21 rating, while Staal is tied for fifth at +19.

Providence Bruins Schedule:
Tuesday 1/4 10:30 AM – RI Sports Center, Rte. 146; North Smithfield, RI
Wednesday 1/5 10:30 AM – RI Sports Center, Rte. 146; North Smithfield, RI
Thursday 1/6 10:30 AM – RI Sports Center, Rte. 146; North Smithfield, RI
Friday 1/7 10:00 AM – RI Sports Center, Rte. 146; Game @ Springfield, 7:35 p.m.
Saturday 1/8 Game @ Portland, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday 1/9 Game @ Lowell, 4:05 p.m.
Monday 1/10 OFF

Slap Shots: Bruin players recorded hat tricks twice last week, giving the team three on the season...C Keith Aucoin posted his second career hat trick in Thursday's 4-2 win at Springfield, while LW Dan LaCouture notched his first career hat trick in Saturday's 5-3 loss at Manchester...G Hannu Toivonen's 35-save hat trick in Portland on Friday was his third this season, and the fifth of his young career...Toivonen ranks fifth in the AHL in wins (15) and GAA (2.00), while ranking second in minutes played (1,648:57) and third in saves (794)...Toivonen has allowed two or fewer goals in each of his last nine starts...C Brad Boyes has points (0-7-7) in four of his last five games...C/RW Brendan Walsh ranks fourth in the AHL with 173 PIM.

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, January 4 WSKO AM-790, "Providence Bruins Weekly Presented by National City Mortgage"
Scott Gordon, Hannu Toivonen, Joe McDonald

Thursday, January 6 WNAC Fox-64 Sports Wrap 10:45 p.m. Ben Guite

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



American Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2005


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