AHL Providence Bruins

Bruins look to clinch this week

Published on April 11, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


The Providence Bruins begin the week in fourth place in the Atlantic Division standings with their 39-28-3-7 record (88 points), coming on the heels of Sunday's gritty 2-1 victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack. The win, coupled with a Worcester IceCats loss to the Springfield Falcons, reduced the Bruins' "magic number" to clinch a berth in the Calder Cup Playoffs to two. Any combination of Bruin points captured and Worcester points missed equaling two will put Providence in the playoffs for the 11th time in the 13-year history of the franchise.

The Bruins and IceCats will kick off a home-and-home series at the Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence this Friday, April 15 at 7:05 p.m., as the Black and Gold takes its first crack at nailing down its playoff spot. The teams also face off on Saturday night in Worcester at 7:05 p.m. The home-and-home series marks the final games the Route 146 rivals play against one another, as the IceCats will relocate to Peoria, Illinois for the 2005-06 season. The Bruins are 46-50-16 in the all-time series.

Friday's game will be Team Photo Night. All fans in attendance will receive a free autographed Providence Bruins Team Photo, courtesy of ABC-6, University Orthopedics and True Value Hardware.

The Bruins conclude the regular season on Sunday, April 17 at 4:05 p.m., when they host the Portland Pirates. Prior to the game, the Bruins will hand out their annual team awards.

Providence center Brad Boyes has been keying the team's attack lately, posting points (4-5-9) in seven of his last eight games. Boyes, who turns 23 on Sunday, is having the finest season of his three-year career. He has established new career-highs in goals (33), assists (42) and points (75), as well as power play goals (20) and game-winning goals (9). Boyes is tied for eighth in AHL scoring, while leading the league in power play goals and being tied for fourth in game-winners. His power play goal total is a new Bruins single-season franchise record, and is seven short of the AHL's all-time single-season record. He and left wing Andy Hilbert are the only Bruins to play in all 77 games this season. Boyes, who was originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs with the 24th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Draft, was acquired by Boston from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Jeff Jillson on March 9, 2004.

On Tuesday, April 12, Bruin co-captain Jay Henderson and goaltender Hannu Toivonen will be at the Warwick Mall from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for another "Beat the Goalie" event. Donations can be made at this event to take shots on Toivonen, enter raffles for Bruins souvenirs and for discounted game tickets. The event will raise money for "Cure Kids Cancer" at Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence. This event is part of a special Radio-thon from April 28-30, co-sponsored by 92 PRO-FM, LITE 105 and HOT 106.

Both home games this weekend will be "McDonald's Family 4-Pack" nights, 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.

Playoff tickets for Games 3 and 4 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals are on sale now. Playoff tickets can be purchased online at www.providencebruins.com, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center box office and all TicketMaster outlets (401-331-2211; 508-931-2000). Game 3 will be played on Monday, April 25 at 7:05 p.m., and Game 4 will be played on Wednesday, April 27 at 7:05 p.m. Season ticketholders should used tickets marked "Home Games 1 and 2". Round 1 of the Calder Cup Playoffs is sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts, The Martone Group and National City Mortgage.

THIS WEEK
(ALL GAMES EST)

Friday, April 15 vs. Worcester, 7:05 PM, Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence
Saturday, April 16 @ Worcester, 7:05 PM, DCU Center
WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com
The Bruins and IceCats conclude their 10-game season series and all-time series...The Bruins are 3-3-1-1 in the season series, and 46-50-16 in the all-time series...The teams have also met in three playoff series (1997, 1999, 2001), with the Bruins winning all three...Bruin LW Andy Hilbert has 4-4-8 totals in eight games against Worcester...IceCats LW Peter Sejna has 5-1-6 totals against the Bruins in seven games, including a hat trick on March 12...G Curtis Sanford is 4-2-0 with a 1.73 GAA and .937 save percentage against the Bruins...C Jay McClement leads the team with 16-34-50 totals in 76 games...McClement and Sejna are tied for third in the AHL with five shorthanded goals apiece...Former Providence College standout RW Jon DiSalvatore leads the team with 21 goals...D Dennis Wideman is tied for seventh among AHL rookies and 11th among defensemen with 13-30-43 totals...The IceCats rank fourth in the AHL on the penalty kill (87.4%) and are tied for second with 17 shorthanded goals...Worcester is in fifth place in the Atlantic Division, with its 38-32-4-3 record (83 points), five points behind Providence.

Sunday, April 17 vs. Portland, 4:05 PM, Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence
WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com
The Bruins and Pirates wrap up their 10-game season series, in the AHL's regular season finale...The Bruins are 4-4-0-1 in the season series, and 50-56-15 in the all-time series...The game will be the 122nd all-time between the teams, the most either has played an opponent in each other's history...Bruin LW Andy Hilbert has 6-10-16 totals in nine games against Portland, while C Keith Aucoin has 4-9-13 totals and C Patrice Bergeron has 2-11-13...Portland RW Brian Willsie has 6-4-10 totals in eight games against the Bruins, while C Trent Whitfield has 2-8-10 totals in seven games...Whitfield leads the team with 15-37-52 totals...Willsie leads the team with 23 goals...C Chris Bourque, the son of Boston Bruins legend and Hockey Hall of Fame member Ray Bourque, signed an ATO with Portland on April 7...Bourque, a second round pick of the Washington Capitals in 2004, notched his first professional point, an assist, in Sunday's 3-2 win over Lowell...Portland is in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with its 32-33-6-6 record (76 points).


Providence Bruins Schedule:
Tuesday 4/12 10:30 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence
Wednesday 4/13 10:30 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence
Thursday 4/14 10:30 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence
Friday 4/15 10:00 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center; Game vs. Worcester, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday 4/16 Game @ Worcester, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday 4/17 10:00 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center; Game vs. Portland, 4:05 p.m.
Monday 4/18 OFF


LAST WEEK
Date Opp. Score B's goal scorers (#, type) Goaltender (saves; record)
4/8 Lowell L, 3-1 Samuelsson (7) Toivonen (12; 27-16-3)/Madden (13)
4/9 @ Hartford L, 4-1 Kurka (7) Toivonen (22; 27-17-3)/Madden (4)
4/10 Hartford W, 2-1 Boyes (33; PPG); LaCouture (12; SHG; GWG) Toivonen (25; 28-17-3)

IN THE BOOKS
Records Leaders Goaltenders
Overall Record 39-28-3-7 Andy Hilbert 37-41-78 Hannu Toivonen, 2.04 GAA, 28-17-3, .932%
Home Record 25-9-2-2 Brad Boyes 33-42-75 Chris Madden, 1.63 GAA, 5-3-0, .942%
Road Record 14-19-1-5 Keith Aucoin 20-44-64
Overtime 0-3 Patrice Bergeron 20-40-60
Shootout 4-7 Kevin Dallman 8-25-33
Power Play 69-364, 19.0%, 2nd David Gove 12-18-30
Penalty Killing 319-380, 83.9%, t-16th Dan LaCouture 12-14-26


Slap Shots: Bruin penalty killers were 10/10 over the weekend, and are 121/134 (90.3%) over their last 29 games, dating back to February 4...The Bruins rank second in the AHL on the power play (19.0%) and first on home ice (23.0%)...LW Andy Hilbert is tied for second in the AHL with 37 goals and ranks sixth with 78 points...LW Tomas Kurka has scored three goals in his last five games...G Hannu Toivonen's 28 wins are the second-most in a season in franchise history, behind only John Grahame's 37 in 1998-99...Toivonen ranks sixth in the AHL with a 2.04 GAA and fifth with a .932 save percentage...C Keith Aucoin ranks ninth in franchise history with 93 assists in 148 games...He ranks 12th with 138 points, one behind former Bruins Lee Goren and Brandon Smith, each of whom played 190 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.

Thursday, April 14 WNAC Fox-64 Sports Wrap 10:45 p.m. TBA

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

Tuesday, April 12 Warwick Mall; "Beat the Goalie" 5 – 7:00 p.m. Jay Henderson, Hannu Toivonen

Tuesday, April 12 Iorio Arena; Foxboro, MA 5:00 p.m. Chris Madden, Yorick Treille


Tickets: Information on individual game tickets for April 15 and 17, and Home Playoff Games 1 and 2, 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 April 11, 2005


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