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AHL Providence Bruins

Bruins host Worcester in showdown Friday

March 21, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


The Providence Bruins begin the week in fifth place in the tightly-contested Atlantic Division standings with their 32-26-3-7 record (74 points). The Black and Gold is two points behind the fourth place Worcester IceCats for the division's final playoff spot, further highlighting the importance of this Friday's matchup between the Route 146 rivals. The teams will face off at the Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence this Friday, March 25 at 7:05 p.m. The game will be a "McDonald's Family 4-Pack" night. Fans can purchase four tickets and four McDonald's Extra Value Meals, all for just $48. "McDonald's Family 4-Packs" can be purchased only by calling the Bruins at (401) 273-5000 or by logging on to www.providencebruins.com. Please note that "McDonald's Family 4-Packs" are not sold on game days.

The Bruins will hit the road for Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania following Friday's game, where they will face off with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. All the action will be broadcast live on WDDZ AM-550 and online at www.providencebruins.com.

Friday's game will be televised live on COX Sports Television. Corey Masse will handle the play-by-play action, and will be joined by Hockey Hall of Fame member and Boston Bruins legend Gerry Cheevers (analyst).

Head coach Scott Gordon's club continues to receive significant contributions from its special teams units. The power play unit remains second in the AHL overall, clicking at a 20.1% success rate (64/319). On home ice, the rate jumps to 24.8% (39/157), the best in the league. The penalty killing unit has been among the AHL's best for almost two months. The Bruins' penalty killers have successfully defended 83 of their last 93 shorthanded situations, a rate of 89.2%. The stretch covers a 20-game span dating back to February 4.

Bruin goaltender Hannu Toivonen returned to action on Sunday, making 20 saves in a 1-0 loss to the Manchester Monarchs. The 20-year-old native of Kalvola, Finland allowed only a first period power play goal, on the first shot he had faced in a month. Toivonen sustained a knee injury on February 18, leading to arthroscopic surgery. Despite missing 13 games, Toivonen is still tied for fifth in the AHL with a 2.00 GAA, is tied for second with seven shutouts and ranks fourth with a .932 save percentage. He is 21-15-3 on the season in 43 games, building off last year's rookie campaign that saw him post a 15-16-4 record, 2.30 GAA, .921 save percentage and two shutouts in 36 games. Toivonen was the Boston Bruins' first pick (first round), 29th overall, in the 2002 NHL Draft.

Fans attending Friday's game are asked to bring unopened jars of peanut butter with them. Washington Trust Bank is running its annual PB Express during the month of March. All jars of peanut butter collected will be donated to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. The collection will take place in the Dunkin' Donuts Center box office lobby prior to the start of the game.

Bruin fans are also reminded that there are still Dunkin' Donuts warm-up jerseys for sale exclusively on the team website, www.providencebruins.com. The jerseys are the actual ones worn by Bruin players during the warm-up period prior to the start of all home games. Proceeds from the warm-up jersey sale will be donated to the Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence.

THIS WEEK (ALL GAMES EST)

Friday, March 25 vs. Worcester, 7:05 PM, Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com COX Sports Television

The Bruins and IceCats face off in the seventh game of the Atlantic Division rivals' 10-game season series...The Bruins are 1-3-1-1 against Worcester, with four of the previous meetings decided by one goal...Bruin G Hannu Toivonen posted a 27-save, 1-0 shutout over Worcester on February 6...Worcester LW Peter Sejna has scored five goals against the Bruins, including a hat trick in the third period of a 5-2 win on March 12...Former Providence College RW Jon DiSalvatore leads the team with 20 goals...DiSalvatore (20-18-38), C Blake Evans (14-24-38) and C Jay McClement (12-26-38) all share the team scoring lead...D Dennis Wideman is tied for seventh among AHL rookies and ranks 11th among AHL blueliners with 11-25-36 totals...Worcester ranks third in the AHL on the penalty kill (87.9%), but 27th on the power play (12.4%)...The IceCats are in fourth place in the Atlantic Division (35-26-4-2).

Saturday, March 26 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 PM, Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com

The Bruins and Penguins wrap up their two-game season series...The Pens took a 5-2 decision in Providence on January 30...Bruin Fs David Gove and Keith Aucoin scored for Providence in the game...Penguins LW Matt Murley notched a hat trick in that contest, while G Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 22 shots for the win...RW Michel Ouellet leads the team with 30-26-56 totals, while C Kris Beech has 10-45-55 totals...Former Bruin D Chris Kelleher has 3-15-18 totals...Former Boston University D Ryan Whitney ranks ninth among AHL rookies with 5-29-34 totals...D David Koci is tied for second among AHL blueliners with 271 PIM...The Pens are in fourth place in the East Division with their 33-20-6-6 record.

Providence Bruins Schedule:
Tuesday 3/22 10:30 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence
Wednesday 3/23 10:30 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence
Thursday 3/24 10:30 AM – RI Sports Center, Rte. 146; North Smithfield, RI
Friday 3/25 10:00 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center; Game vs. Worcester, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday 3/26 Game @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday 3/27 OFF
Monday 3/28 10:30 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence

LAST WEEK
Date Opp. Score B's goal scorers (#, type) Goaltender (saves; record)
3/18 Lowell W, 2-0 Bergeron (19; GWG); Leahy (1) Madden (37; 5-3-0)
3/20 Manchester L, 1-0 ----- Toivonen (20; 21-15-3)

Slap Shots: LW Andy Hilbert is tied for third in the AHL in goals (32), fourth in points (70) and fifth in power play goals (15)...Hilbert also leads the league with 302 shots on goal, a new career-high...C Brad Boyes ranks 10th in AHL scoring with 29-37-66 totals, and leads the league with 17 power play goals, while being tied for second with nine game-winning goals...C Patrice Bergeron has 3-2-5 totals in his last six games...D Brent Thompson ranks fifth among AHL defensemen with 228 PIM...D Darrel Scoville played in his 400th career AHL game on Sunday...C Keith Aucoin and LW David Gove will each play in his 300th career AHL game on Friday.

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 22 WSKO AM-790, "Providence Bruins Weekly Presented by National City Mortgage" Scott Gordon, Brent Thompson, Milan Jurcina, Joe McDonald

Thursday, March 24 WNAC Fox-64 Sports Wrap 10:45 p.m. Hannu Toivonen

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

Tuesday, March 22 Fall River Public Library 5:30 p.m. Ben Guite

Wednesday, March 23 Hasbro Children's Hospital; American Cancer Society "Daffodil Delivery" 3:00 p.m. Jay Henderson, Colton Orr, Chris Dyment, Brent Thompson

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.

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