AHL Providence Bruins

Toivonen named AHL Player of the Week

February 7, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Providence Bruins News Release


The Providence Bruins begin the week in fifth place in the Atlantic Division with their 24-18-3-6 record (57 points). Head coach Scott Gordon's team is just two points behind the Worcester IceCats and three behind the Lowell Lock Monsters, aided by a weekend in which the Bruins took five of a possible six points. The Black and Gold hosts the Manchester Monarchs on Friday, February 11 at 7:05 p.m., before visiting the Springfield Falcons on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

Bruin goaltender Hannu Toivonen was today named the CCM Vector AHL Player of the Week for the period ending February 6. The 20-year-old native of Kalvola, Finland posted shutouts in consecutive starts on Friday and Sunday, tying him for the league-lead with six on the season. Toivonen stopped all 24 Hartford shots he faced in Friday's 3-0 victory, before stopping 27 in Sunday's 1-0 win over Worcester. He is 19-14-3 on the season, while ranking eighth in the AHL with a 2.11 GAA and sixth with a .929 save percentage. Toivonen is tied for fourth in games played (39), while ranking fifth in saves (1,027). The second-year pro is 34-30-7 in 75 career games with Providence, and ranks second in franchise history with eight shutouts, behind Tim Thomas (10). Toivonen was the Boston Bruins' first pick, 29th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Toivonen is the second Bruin to garner the league honors this season. Center Patrice Bergeron captured Player of the Week honors on November 22.

Providence center Brad Boyes led the charge for the team over the weekend, scoring a goal in all three games, while notching the game-winner on both Friday and Sunday. Boyes has a six-game point streak dating back to January 28, posting 5-3-8 totals over that span. The 22-year-old native of Mississauga, Ontario ranks second on the team and is tied for 11th in AHL scoring with 21-29-50 totals in 51 games. He is also tied for the league lead with 14 power play goals, and tied for third with six game-winning goals. Boyes was acquired by the Boston Bruins from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Jeff Jillson on March 9, 2004.

The Bruins are proud to offer fans "McDonald's Family 4-Pack" nights this season. Fans will be able to purchase four tickets to the game, and will receive coupons good for four FREE McDonald's Extra Value Meals, for just $48. Additional game tickets can be ordered for only $12 each. Each additional game ticket includes a FREE McDonald's Extra Value Meal. Please note that "McDonald's Family 4-Packs" are not available on game nights or at the box office. "McDonald's Family 4-Packs" are available only by calling the Providence Bruins ticket office at (401) 273-5000 or by logging on to www.providencebruins.com. Extra Value Meal coupons can be redeemed at any participating McDonald's restaurant in Rhode Island.

There are still four more "McDonald's Family 4-Pack" nights upcoming:

Sunday, February 20 Springfield Falcons 4:05 p.m.
Sunday, February 27 Manchester Monarchs 4:05 p.m.
Friday, March 18 Lowell Lock Monsters 7:05 p.m.
Friday, March 25 Worcester IceCats 7:05 p.m.

Tickets for February 11, as well as all regular season P-Bruins games, are available online on the Bruins' website, www.providencebruins.com, at all TicketMaster outlets (401-331-2211 or 508/617-931-2000) and the Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence box office. Information on individual game tickets and Providence Bruins season ticket packages can be obtained by calling the Bruins ticket office at (401) 273-5000 or by logging on to the team website.

THIS WEEK
(ALL GAMES EST)

Friday, February 11 vs. Manchester, 7:05 PM, Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence
WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com

The Bruins and Monarchs play the fifth game of the Atlantic Division rivals' 10-game season series...The Monarchs have won each of the previous meetings, twice by one goal and twice by two goals...Bruin LW Dan LaCouture has scored four goals against Manchester, including his first career hat trick on New Year's Day...Manchester C Mike Cammalleri leads the AHL with 30 goals and ranks second with 69 points...He is tied for the league lead with 14 power play goals...D Denis Grebeshkov is tied for fifth among AHL blueliners with 4-27-31 totals...G Mathieu Garon ranks third in the AHL with a 1.99 GAA and is tied for third with a .933 save percentage...He is tied for the league lead with six shutouts...Partner and former Bruin G Adam Hauser has five shutouts...Manchester has the best record in the Eastern Conference (34-9-3-3; 74 points).

Saturday, February 12 @ Springfield, 7:05 PM, Springfield Civic Center
WDDZ AM 550 www.providencebruins.com

The Bruins and Falcons meet in the ninth game of their 10-game season series...The Bruins are 5-2-1-0 in the season series...C Brad Boyes (3-7-10) leads the team in scoring against Springfield, while LW Andy Hilbert has 4-5-9 totals...Falcons RW Shane Willis, the 1998-99 AHL Rookie of the Year, leads the team in scoring with 16-13-29 totals...Willis has scored the game-winning goal against Providence in each of the last two meetings, including a 3-2 overtime win on February 5...C Ryan Craig leads the team with 18 goals...C Craig Darby played at Providence College from 1991-93...G Brian Eklund played at Brown University from 1998-2002...The Falcons are in seventh place in the Atlantic Division with their 15-29-2-2 record.


Providence Bruins Schedule:
Tuesday 2/8 10:30 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center
Wednesday 2/9 10:30 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center
Thursday 2/10 10:30 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center
Friday 2/11 10:00 AM – Dunkin' Donuts Center; Game vs. Manchester, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday 2/12 Game @ Springfield, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday 2/13 OFF-AHL All-Star Break
Monday 2/14 OFF-AHL All-Star Break

LAST WEEK
Date Opp. Score B's goal scorers (#, type) Goaltender (saves; record)
2/4 Hartford W, 3-0 Boyes (19; PPG; GWG); Aucoin (13; PPG); Toivonen (24; 18-14-3)
Bergeron (15)
2/5 @ Springfield OTL, 3-2 Boyes (20); Guite (5) Rudkowsky (22; 4-5-2)
2/6 Worcester W, 1-0 Boyes (21; GWG) Toivonen (27; 18-14-3)


Slap Shots: LW Andy Hilbert leads the team and is tied for fourth in AHL scoring with 26-31-57 totals in 51 games...He leads the league with 225 shots on goal and is tied for third with 26 goals...D Kevin Dallman leads all Bruin blueliners with 5-20-25 totals...C Keith Aucoin has points (4-6-10) in six of his last seven games...LW Jay Henderson has played 254 games as a Bruin, three shy of tying former D Zdenek Kutlak for the franchise career mark...RW Colton Orr played in his 100th career AHL game on Saturday.

Bruins Radio & Media: All 80 Providence Bruins 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, February 9 WSKO AM-790, "Providence Bruins Weekly Presented by National City Mortgage"
Scott Gordon, Andy Hilbert, Joe McDonald

Thursday, February 10 WNAC Fox-64 Sports Wrap 10:45 p.m. Jayme Filipowicz

Bruins In the Community: Please contact Adam Alper for any player appearances.

Tuesday, February 8 Yelle School/Solomonese School; Norton, MA 1:00 p.m.
Ben Guite

Tuesday, February 8 Shaw's Supermarkets, 325 Valley St., Providence 3:00-5:00 p.m.
David Gove, Yorick Treille, Jay Leach

Wednesday, February 9 Bayside YMCA; Barrington, RI 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Hannu Toivonen, Martin Samuelsson

Thursday, February 10 Cedar Hill School; Warwick, RI 1:00 p.m.
Brent Thompson

Thursday, February 10 Blood Drive, Blood Donor Center; Warwick, RI 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Brad Boyes, Colton Orr

Tickets: Information on individual game tickets and Providence Bruins season ticket packages can be obtained by calling the Bruins ticket office at (401) 273-5000 or by logging on to the team website, www.providencebruins.com.




American Hockey League Stories from February 7, 2005


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