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Falcons Clipped by P-Bruins, 4-2

December 30, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. - The Springfield Falcons saw their four-game winning streak halted with a 4-2 defeat to the Providence Bruins before a crowd of 4,486 at the Springfield Civic Center on Thursday evening. Forwards Derek Bekar and Evgeni Artukhin scored for the Falcons. However, Providence center Keith Aucoin posted a hat trick and added an assist to lead the Bruins to the victory.

The Falcons jumped in front 3:02 into the game when Bekar put back the rebound of a shot from the right point by Marc Busenburg. It was the second goal in as many games for Bekar, who scored his first as a Falcon in Sunday's 4-1 win at Worcester.

Aucoin evened the contest with 1:39 remaining in the first period by lifting the puck over Springfield goaltender Jamie Storr during a Providence power play.

The Bruins center potted his second goal of the night with the man advantage 6:28 into the second frame by knocking in the puck from the edge of the crease after forward Brad Boyes flung the puck across the goal mouth. The assist for Boyes was his second of the game.

The Falcons knotted the game with a power-play goal of their own at the 15:33 mark of the middle period. Artukhin, in his first game back in the lineup after serving a 10-game AHL suspension, collected a rebound in the left face-off circle and snapped a shot past Providence netminder Hannu Toivonen. The goal was Artukhin's fifth of the season.

The Bruins regained the lead with 7:02 remaining in regulation when Aucoin scored to complete his hat trick. Left wing Andy Hilbert helped set up the goal with a wraparound effort that resulted in a scramble for the puck in front of the Falcons' net. Aucoin was able to corral the puck to score the eventual game-winner.

Providence tallied again 1:29 later to cap scoring. Bruins right wing Yorick Treille backhanded the puck past Storr after receiving a pass in the slot from defenseman Milan Jurcina, who had faked a slap shot at the point to momentarily freeze the Falcon defenders. Aucoin also assisted on the goal to collect his fourth point of the night.

The Bruins held a 26-24 shot advantage in the game as both Storr and Toivonen were credited with 22 saves.

The Falcons converted one out of seven power plays in the game while Providence scored twice on five chances with a man advantage.

With the win, the Bruins have collected points in eleven straight games (8-0-0-3).

The Falcons travel to Binghamton to challenge Jason Spezza and the Senators in a 6:05 p.m. game on Friday. The club will return to Springfield to host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday in a New Year's Day contest beginning at 7:05 p.m. For tickets, visit the Civic Center box office, or call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602 to order by phone. Tickets can also be ordered online by visiting the Falcons' official web site, www.falconsahl.com. Tune into The ZONE – Sports Radio to listen to both games beginning with the pre-game show thirty minutes prior to the opening face-off.

For a complete box score of Thursday's game, please click on the following link: http://www.theahl.com/AHLBoxscores0405/139677.html

Three Stars of the Game:

Keith Aucoin – Providence

Evgeni Artukhin – Springfield

Andy Hilbert – Providence

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