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Falcons Fall to Bruins, 4-1

January 7, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. - The Springfield Falcons suffered a 4-1 defeat to the Providence Bruins at the Springfield Civic Center on Friday night. Left wing Nikita Alexeev scored the lone Falcons' goal during a second-period power play. Providence forward Brad Boyes tallied a goal and an assist. Center Patrice Bergeron also scored for the Bruins in his return to the club from an MVP performance at the World Junior Championship.

Providence struck first at the 12:15 mark of the first period when defenseman Milan Jurcina scored his fourth marker of the season. Center Keith Aucoin set up the goal with a pass across the slot after carrying the puck deep into Falcons' zone. Jurcina one-timed the pass from the inner edge of the right face-off circle to provide Providence the lead.

After Nick Tarnasky hit the post in the first period and Darren Reid's partially stopped wrist shot rolled through the crease and just wide of the post early in the second, the Falcons got on the board 9:20 into the middle frame. With the man advantage, Alexeev carried the puck from the Springfield zone into the Bruins' end where he snapped a low wrist shot that eluded goaltender Hannu Toivonen to even the game, 1-1.

Falcons netminder Brian Eklund temporarily maintained the deadlock a minute later with a glove save to rob Providence left wing Dana Lattery, who found himself open in the slot.

However, the Bruins capitalized on a strange carom of the puck off a stanchion in the Falcons' zone when Boyes backhanded the puck past Eklund from near the top of the crease at 12:37. The goal was the 13th of the season and the first in nine games for Providence's second-leading point producer.

Left wing Dan LaCouture scored shorthanded 7:03 into the third period to provide the Bruins an insurance goal. The former Springfield Pics forward was able to stick handle to the front of the Falcons' net where he patiently lifted the puck over Eklund.

Providence capped scoring with 5:56 remaining to play when Bergeron redirected a pass out of the corner by left wing Martin Samuelsson. Bergeron was skating in his first game with the Bruins since rejoining the team following the World Junior Championship in which the 19-year-old led Canada to a gold medal and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Eklund finished the game with 25 saves. Toivonen stopped 23 of 24 shots in the Bruins' net to record his 16th win of the season.

Each team converted one of six power plays in the game.

With the win, Providence is now 10-1-0-3 over their last 14 games and has claimed the last five meetings with the Falcons.

The Falcons return to the home ice of the Civic Center to face the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday. Game time is 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.

For a complete box score of Friday's game, please click on the following link: http://www.theahl.com/AHLBoxscores0405/139724.html

Three Stars of the Game:

Brad Boyes – Providence

Nikita Alexeev – Springfield

Dan LaCouture – Providence



American Hockey League Stories from January 7, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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