AHL Providence Bruins

Bruins prepare for conference finals

May 16, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


The Providence Bruins prepare this week for their upcoming best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals series with the Philadelphia Phantoms, as the teams battle for the right to move on to the Calder Cup Finals. The Bruins reached the Conference Finals for the fourth time in franchise history following Saturday's 5-2 win over the Lowell Lock Monsters in Game 5 of the Atlantic Division Finals. Providence also reached the Conference Finals in 1999, 2000 and 2001, winning the Calder Cup in 1999. Philadelphia won its East Division Final against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in Game 5 on Friday. The Phantoms won in dramatic fashion, as they began the third period behind, 4-1, before setting a franchise record by scoring six goals in the period, en route to a dramatic 7-4 win. This is the Phantoms' third Conference Final appearance. The Phantoms went to the Conference Finals in 1998, on the way to their Calder Cup championship, and again in 1999.

The Bruins and Phantoms played each other twice in the regular season, with the Phantoms taking both games. The Phantoms won, 4-3 in overtime in Providence on November 21, before winning 4-1 on home ice three days later.

The series opens in Philadelphia with Games 1 and 2 on Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21, respectively. The series shifts to Providence for Games 3, 4 and 5, beginning on Monday, May 23. Game 4 will be played on Wednesday, May 25, and Game 5, if necessary, will be played on Friday, May 27. Games 6 and 7, if necessary, will be played in Philadelphia on Sunday, May 29 and Tuesday, May 31, respectively. All games in the series will be played at 7:05 p.m.

Playoff tickets for Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals 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). Season ticketholders should used tickets marked "Home Games 6 and 7". Fans attending the games will receive free Noisemaker Clappers, courtesy of Dunkin' Donuts, The Martone Group, National City Mortgage, Stanley Bostitch and Arden Engineering Constructors.

The Bruins and Phantoms currently rank as the AHL's two most potent offensive attacks in the Calder Cup Playoffs. Providence leads the league with 39 goals scored in 11 games, for an average of 3.55 goals per game. Philadelphia is right behind, having scored 37 goals in 11 games, an average of 3.36 goals per game. Both clubs have performed well defensively, with Philadelphia giving up the second-fewest goals in the playoffs (2.09 per game), and Providence ranking sixth (2.45).

Providence left wing Andy Hilbert, who was voted by his teammates as the club's Most Valuable Player after leading the team and tying for seventh in AHL scoring with career-high 37-42-79 totals in 79 games, has carried the best season of his four-year career into the playoffs. The 24-year-old native of Howell, Michigan leads all AHL players in assists (12) and points (16), as well as shots on goal (51). Hilbert has tied the franchise record for most points in a playoff game three times in this post-season. He posted 2-2-4 totals in a 6-3 win in Game 3 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals against Manchester, and assisted on all four goals in a 4-2 Game 5 victory. Hilbert then posted a goal and three assists in the Bruins' Division Finals-clinching Game 5 win over Lowell on Saturday.

The 2005 Eastern Conference Finals will feature a matchup of two Finnish goaltenders who rank among the top prospects in hockey. Bruin goaltender Hannu Toivonen, who turns 21 on Wednesday, is tied for the AHL lead with eight playoff victories, while ranking seventh with a 2.34 GAA and fifth with a .926 save percentage. Toivonen, who comes from Kalvola, Finland, leads the league in saves (326) and minutes played (667:40). Philadelphia netminder Antero Niittymaki, a 24-year-old native of Turku, Finland, ranks third in the league with seven wins and a 2.05 GAA, and ranks fourth with a .934 save percentage. He ranks second in saves (316) and third in minutes played (643:11).

THIS WEEK (ALL GAMES EST)

Friday, May 20 @ Philadelphia, 7:05 PM, Wachovia Center

Saturday, May 21 @ Philadelphia, 7:05 PM, Wachovia Center

Monday, May 23 vs. Philadelphia, 7:05 PM, Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence

WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com

The Bruins and Phantoms face off in the Calder Cup Playoffs for the first time...The teams met twice in the regular season, both wins for the Phantoms...The Phantoms took a 4-3 overtime decision in Providence on November 21 and a 4-1 victory in Philadelphia three nights later...Bruin D Brent Thompson (2), C Patrice Bergeron and LW Martin Samuelsson scored for Providence in the season series...Philadelphia LW Jon Sim posted 3-2-5 totals in the two games, including both game-winning goals...C R.J. Umberger had 2-1-3 totals...G Antero Niittymaki stopped 48 of the 52 shots he faced in the two games...C Jeff Carter ranks second in AHL playoff scoring and leads all rookies with 9-4-13 totals, and is tied for the league lead in goals...C Patrick Sharp is tied for fourth in the league with 3-9-12 totals...Carter and Sim are tied for second in the league with four power play goals apiece...C Mike Richards is tied for third among AHL rookies with 3-4-7 totals...D John Slaney holds the AHL record for most career goals by a defenseman, with 149...Slaney was named the AHL's Outstanding Defenseman in 2000-01 (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) and 2001-02 (Philadelphia).

Slap Shots: Bruin C Keith Aucoin is tied for second in AHL scoring with 3-10-13 totals, and has points (2-9-11) in six of his last seven games...Aucoin ranks second in the league with 10 assists...C Brad Boyes is tied for fourth in the AHL with 6-6-12 totals, and has goals (6) and points (10) in six of his last seven games...Boyes has scored both series-clinching goals in the Bruins' playoff run...C Patrice Bergeron has 4-6-10 totals in 10 games...D Jayme Filipowicz leads the team and is tied for fourth in the AHL with a +9 rating...D Jay Leach ranks sixth in the AHL overall and third among defensemen with a +8 rating...D Kevin Dallman is tied for the league lead among defensemen in goals (3) and is tied for second in points (7)...Dallman, Aucoin and Boyes are tied for the league lead with two game-winning goals apiece...D Andrew Alberts is tied for fourth among AHL rookies with 25 PIM...D Brent Thompson is tied for 19th in AHL history with 86 career Calder Cup Playoff games played.

Bruins Radio & Media: All Providence Bruins Calder Cup Playoffs 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.

Wednesday, May 18 AM-790, The Score "Gresh & Cordischi" 4:45 p.m. Scott Gordon Thursday, May 19 FOX 64, "Sports Wrap" 10:45 p.m. Brad Boyes, Hannu Toivonen

Tickets: Information on individual and group game tickets for Home Playoff Games 6 and 7 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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American Hockey League Stories from May 16, 2005


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