AHL Providence Bruins

Bruins prepare for Lowell

Published on May 2, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


The Providence Bruins prepare this week for their upcoming best-of-seven Atlantic Division Finals series with the Lowell Lock Monsters, as both teams move on to the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Both clubs defeated higher-seeded teams in six games in the Atlantic Division Semifinals to advance. The fourth-seeded Bruins defeated the top-seeded Manchester Monarchs, while third-seeded Lowell topped the second-seeded Hartford Wolf Pack. The Bruins and Lock Monsters played a 10-game series during the 2004-05 regular season, with the Bruins posting a 6-2-0-2 record. Despite the record, the season series was marked by tightly-contested games. Nine of the 10 games were decided by two or fewer goals, while five were decided by one goal. Two of the games, both in Lowell, went to shootouts, with the Lock Monsters winning both. The Bruins finished fourth in the Atlantic Division with their 40-30-3-7 record (90 points). Lowell finished third in the best season in franchise history, posting a 47-27-1-5 mark, as the club posted 100 points for the first time ever.

The 2005 Atlantic Division Finals marks the second time that the Bruins and Lock Monsters have faced off in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The teams met in the 2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals, a 4-0 series win for the Bruins. Bruin co-captain Jay Henderson is the only player on either team in this series to have played in the series in 2000.

The Atlantic Division Finals begin with the first three games being played in Lowell at Tsongas Arena. The series kicks off with Games 1 and 2 on Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7. Game 3 will be played on Wednesday, May 11. All three games get underway at 7:00 p.m., with live game coverage on WDDZ AM-550 and www.providencebruins.com.

The series shifts to Providence for Game 4 on Friday, May 13 at 7:05 p.m. Game 5, if necessary, will be played on Saturday, May 14 at 7:05 p.m. Game 6, if necessary, will be played on Monday, May 16 at 7:05 p.m. If a deciding Game 7 is necessary, it will be played in Lowell on Tuesday, May 18 at 7:00 p.m.

Playoff tickets for Games 4 and 5 of the Atlantic Division 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 4 and 5". Round 2 of the Calder Cup Playoffs is sponsored by Dunkin' Donuts, The Martone Group, National City Mortgage, Stanley Bostitch and Arden Engineering. Noisemaker Clappers will be provided to fans at Games 4 and 5, courtesy of Dunkin' Donuts, The Martone Group, National City Mortgage, Stanley Bostitch and Arden Engineering.

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 continued to lead the charge in the playoffs. The 24-year-old native of Howell, Michigan rebounded from an injury-plagued 2003-04 season, and rewrote the franchise record book during the regular season. Hilbert became the Bruins' all-time leader in goals (101), assists (109), points (210) and power play goals (37). He ranks second in franchise history with eight shorthanded goals and sixth with 234 games played. Hilbert's goal total stands as the third-highest in a season in franchise history, behind only Tim Sweeney (41; 1992-93) and Jim Vesey (38; 1992-93). His point total was the highest since Randy Robitaille had 102 in 1998-99.

Hilbert is tied for the AHL playoff scoring lead with 3-7-10 totals in six games. In the Atlantic Division Semifinals, he twice tied the franchise playoff record for most points in a game, with four. He posted 2-2-4 totals in a 6-3 win in Game 3, and assisted on all four goals in the 4-2 Game 5 victory. Hilbert's four-assist night also tied a franchise playoff record. Hilbert, who tied a franchise record with his league-leading 342 shots on goal during the regular season, is tied for the league playoff lead with 30 shots on goal.

THIS WEEK (ALL GAMES EST)

Friday, May 6 @ Lowell, 7:00 PM, Tsongas Arena Saturday, May 7 @ Lowell, 7:00 PM, Tsongas Arena WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com The Bruins and Lock Monsters face off in the Calder Cup Playoffs for the second time...The Bruins swept Lowell, 4-0 in the 2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals...The Bruins were 6-2-0-2 during the regular season against Lowell, but nine of the games were decided by two or fewer goals, and five were decided by one goal...Bruin C Brad Boyes had 5-8-13 totals in 10 games against Lowell this season, while LW Andy Hilbert had 8-4-12 totals in 10 games...C Patrice Bergeron had 2-6-8 totals in nine games...G Hannu Toivonen was 4-1-0 in five games against Lowell, with a 2.00 GAA and .942 save percentage...Lowell RW and AHL First-Team All-Star Chuck Kobasew had 4-4-8 totals in 10 games against the Bruins, while C Mike Zigomanis had 2-6-8 totals...G Cam Ward was 3-4-0 against Providence, with a 2.31 GAA and .931 save percentage...C Eric Staal ranked 10th in the AHL during the regular season with 26-51-77 totals...Kobasew tied for fourth in the AHL with 38 goals, and was tied for 11th with Boyes with 75 points...Kobasew led the league with 12 game-winning goals, and was tied with Staal for the league lead with a +37 rating...LW Colin Forbes ranked fourth at +32...Ward was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team after posting a 27-17-3 record in 50 games, ranking fourth with a 1.99 GAA and leading the league with a .937 save percentage...He ranks sixth in the playoffs with a 2.02 GAA...D Bruno St. Jacques tied for third among AHL blueliners with a +24 rating during the regular season...Lowell had five players score 20 or more goals during the regular season...Kobasew had 38, Zigomanis had 29, Forbes had 27, Staal had 26 and RW Chad Larose scored 20...Four Lowell players, Kobasew, C Matthew Lombardi, and Ds Mike Commodore and Brennan Evans, went to the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals with the Calgary Flames.

Providence Bruins Schedule:
Tuesday 5/3 10:30 AM – RI Sports Center, Rte. 146; North Smithfield, RI
Wednesday 5/4 10:30 AM – RI Sports Center, Rte. 146; North Smithfield, RI
Thursday 5/5 10:30 AM – RI Sports Center, Rte. 146; North Smithfield, RI
Friday 5/6 11:15 AM – Tsongas Arena; Game @ Lowell, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 5/7 11:15 AM – Tsongas Arena; Game @ Lowell, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 5/8 TBA
Monday 5/9 10:30 AM – RI Sports Center, Rte. 146; North Smithfield, RI


ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMFINALS
Date Opp. Score B's goal scorers (#, type) Goaltender (saves; record)
4/22 @ Manchester W, 5-1 Kurka (1,2; PPG); Dallman (1; GWG); Guite (1); Toivonen (30; 1-0)
LaCouture (1)
4/23 @ Manchester L, 4-2 Hilbert (1); Leahy (1) Toivonen (30; 1-1)
4/25 Manchester W, 6-3 Hilbert (2,3; PPG; ENG); Aucoin (1; PPG; GWG) Toivonen (27; 2-1)
Dallman (2; PPG); Leahy (2; SHG); Samuelsson (1)
4/27 Manchester L, 3-2 Kurka (3; PPG); Jurcina (1) Toivonen (24; 2-2)
4/28 @ Manchester W, 4-2 Dallman (3; PPG; GWG); Aucoin (2; PPG); Tovionen (27; 3-2)
Boyes (1); Bergeron (1; ENG)
4/30 Manchester W, 3-1 Bergeron (2; PPG); Boyes (2; GWG); Filipowicz (1; ENG) Toivonen (31; 4-2)

IN THE BOOKS
Records Leaders Goaltenders
Overall Record 4-2 Andy Hilbert 3-7-10 Hannu Toivonen, 4-2; 2.18 GAA; .929%
Home Record 2-1 Keith Aucoin 2-4-6
Road Record 2-1 Patrice Bergeron 2-4-6
Overtime 0-0 Kevin Dallman 3-2-5
Power Play 8-36, 22.2%, 3rd Brad Boyes 2-3-5
Penalty Killing 21-26, 80.8%, 12th Tomas Kurka 3-1-4
Pat Leahy 2-2-4

Slap Shots: D Kevin Dallman leads all AHL defensemen with three goals, is tied for second with five points and is tied for the overall AHL lead with two game-winning goals...G Hannu Toivonen was 4-2 in his first career AHL playoff action, with a .929 save percentage and 2.18 GAA (ninth in the league)...C Patrice Bergeron has a team-high five-game point streak (2-4-6), going back to Game 2 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals...C Brad Boyes has scored goals in back-to-back games, including the series-clinching goal at 16:00 of the third period in Game 6...C Keith Aucoin has points (2-4-6) in three of his last four games...Six players, Bergeron, Dallman, LWs Andy Hilbert and Martin Samuelsson, C Ben Guite and D Jayme Filipowicz, scored their first career AHL playoff goals in the Semifinals...Rookie D Andrew Alberts had two assists in Game 1, for his first professional points...Dallman (2), Aucoin and Boyes all scored game-winning goals in the Semfinals...LW Jay Henderson (1999-Providence, 2003-Houston, 2004-Milwaukee), and Ds Chris Dyment (2003-Houston) and Darrel Scoville (2001-Saint John) have all won Calder Cups...RW Pat Leahy went to the 2002 Calder Cup Finals as a member of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers...LW Tomas Kurka played his first three professional seasons (2001-04) with Lowell, posting 36-53-89 totals in 187 regular season games, and 1-1-2 totals in five playoff contests.

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.

Thursday, May 5 FOX 64, "Sports Wrap" 10:45 p.m. Jay Henderson, Pat Leahy, Ben Guite

Tickets: Information on individual and group game tickets for Home Playoff Games 4 and 5 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 2, 2005


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