AHL Providence Bruins

P-Bruins Snap Monarchs' Unbeaten Streak

Published on February 15, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


PROVIDENCE, RI – Center Andre Savage and left wing Ivan Huml each collected two points and goaltender Hannu Toivonen collected 29 saves as the Providence Bruins won for the first time in five games on home ice, edging the Manchester Monarchs, 3-1, before a crowd of 8,234 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Sunday afternoon. The loss was the first in four games for the Monarchs (25-21-4-3, 57 points), who entered Sunday's game 2-0-1-0 in their last three contests.

The win also halted the Bruins' (23-17-10-2, 58 points) three-game losing streak. With the victory, the Bruins moved past the Monarchs into third place in the Atlantic Division.

The fourth place Monarchs are 4-3-0-0 seven games into their 10-game season series with the Bruins.

Each team notched a power play goal in the opening period. Left wing Chris Schmidt opened the scoring when he beat Toivonen from the high slot at 8:05. Forward Noah Clarke and defenseman Chad Dameworth assisted on Schmidt's fifth of the season, scored shortly after Monarchs' goaltender Adam Hauser poke-checked the puck away from Savage. His play effectively thwarted Savage's short-handed attempt from the top of the right circle. Bruins' defenseman Milan Jurcina was in the penalty box for high sticking when Schmidt scored.

The Bruins capitalized on a late period double minor assessed to Monarchs' left wing Kip Brennan (boarding; unsportsmanlike conduct) to tie the game at 1 apiece. Savage tied it with his 13th goal, scored on a power play rebound at 17:21. Savage scored into an open net a split second after Hauser rejected Jurcina's 20-foot rip from the slot. Defenseman Ed Campbell also collected an assist on the play.

The Bruins led 2-1 through two periods, thanks to rookie center Brett Nowak, who scored his third of the season at 14:21. The Harvard University grad registered the goal just 13 seconds after serving a penalty, by jabbing right wing Pat Leahy's crease feed into the net. Nowak, who was in the box for interference, started the play by knocking down Leahy's outlet pass at center ice. He next sent Leahy into the Monarchs' zone on a breakaway with his feed along the right wing. Leahy misfired on his shot, but the rebound caromed to Huml, who sent the puck back to Leahy at the right circle.

The Bruins converted on a five-on-three power play advantage early in the third period to extend their lead to 3-1. Savage and former Monarchs' defenseman Rich Brennan assisted on Huml's 13th of the season, uncorked from the right circle at 1:05. Late second period penalties to Dameworth (tripping) and Hauser (roughing) led to the Bruins' 25th power play goal in 25 games at the Dunkin's Donuts Center this season. The Bruins entered Sunday's contest with an AHL-leading 21.5 percent power play conversion rate on home ice.

Toivonen (10-10-1), mired in a personal five-game losing streak, played well after allowing the first period goal. He closed the game with 21 saves over the final two periods and earned his 10th win.

Hauser (11-11-4), the only Monarchs' goalie of record against the Bruins this season, finished with 24 saves.

The Bruins were 2-for-7 on the power play. The Monarchs were 1-for-5.

The Monarchs continue their season-long six game road swing through New England when they meet the Lowell Lock Monsters at 7 p.m. at the Tsongas Arena on Wednesday, Feb. 18. The Monarchs' schedule also includes road games at Providence on Friday, Feb. 20 and at Portland on Saturday, Feb. 21. After that, they open a four-game homestand at the Verizon Wireless Arena against the Binghamton Senators on Monday, Feb. 23. Monday's game against the Senators is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. start.

Monarchs Ticket Availability as of Feb. 15, 2004

Mon., Feb. 23 vs. Binghamton: 3,000 seats remain.

NOTES: Right wing Pavel Rosa, recalled by the Monarchs NHL affiliate, the Los Angeles Kings, on Saturday, collected two points (1-1=2) in the Kings' 3-2 overtime loss to the New Jersey Devils. The goal was his first in the NHL since scoring four for the Kings during the 1998-99 season. Defenseman Tomas Zizka, recalled by the Kings on Feb. 9, also scored his first NHL goal in the game.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2004


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