HOT TICKET: Forget the goals and assists, win and losses. The Providence Bruins' most impressive statistic this season was put up by the paying customers.
Even though Rhode Island's economy is in the toilet and the state has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation, attendance at P-Bruins game increased by an average of 236 fans per game. The team finished its home schedule on Sunday with an average attendance of 6,343, sixth-highest in the AHL before Wednesday night's games.
Last weekend's crowds -- 7,964 on Friday, 8,917 on Saturday and 6,851 on Sunday -- were especially remarkable, given the fact that the team played at home on three straight nights.
The only New England team in the same class as Providence is Manchester, which is averaging 5,822. Lowell, drawing a sorry 2,265, is last in the league.
DIFFERENT STOKES : It's been a tough season for Ryan Stokes, who has been limited to just 18 games because of injuries. Last Saturday, however, coach Rob Murray finally got a welcome glimpse of the veteran physical presence he was expecting when Stokes was signed last summer.
"I thought it was his best game of the year,'' Murray said. "He was physical -- and he wasn't just hitting guys, he was hammering them. I thought he played really good.''
In a lineup loaded with young players, Murray said, "you can't discount American League experience. He's almost been an afterthought, because he hasn't played. (Stokes' performance on Saturday and Sunday) was nice to see.''
ROOKIE LOOKS GOOD: Newcomer Tom Kolomatis, a free agent from Owen Sound of the OHL, was impressive on Saturday night, too.
"One thing that he's got going for him, and it puts him ahead of a lot of guys, not on our team but in general, is he can really move. He's smooth. He looked good. He played with some poise. He's giving us some food for thought as far as our lineup,'' Murray said.
SAFE AT HOME: The P-Bruins won their last home game on Sunday and finished with a home record of 27-12-0-1. Going into Wednesday night's game, Providence and Bridgeport were tied for the league lead in home wins.
"Because of our youth, there's probably more of a comfort level at home,'' said Murray. "And from my own experience as a player coming into this building, this very well can be one of the hardest buildings to come into and play a road game because you looking at a pretty nice crowd every night.''
TIME TO REST: With a playoff spot and home ice in the first round clinched, Murray rested Jeremy Reich, Wacey Rabbit and Adam McQuaid on Sunday. The coach said other key players will get a night or two off before the final regular season game at Worcester on Saturday night.
ANOTHER RIGHTY: Murray got his first look at his newest player -- defenseman Jared Ross -- in Wednesday's morning skate. Ross is a 6-foot, 185-pound defenseman who recently finished his fourth season at St. Lawrence University. The native of Stony Island, Nova Scotia, put up a 5-8-13 line in 32 games with 30 PIMs.
For the record, all five of the free-agent D-men the P-Bruins have brought in recently -- Ross, Kolomatis, Jason Fredericks, Denis Reul and Victor Bartley -- shoot right.
Coincidence -- or something more?
TEAM AWARDS: The P-Bruins gave out end-of-season awards on Sunday.
Johnny Boychuk's teammates voted him the MetLife Most Valuable Player award, Dunkin' Donuts Best Defenseman honors, and the Shaw's Leading Scorer Award.
Brad Marchand was voted the Martone Group Rookie of the Year by the players.
Tuukka Rask captured the U.S. Army 3 Stars Award.
Jeff Penner earned the Servicemaster Plus/Minus Award and the Pawtucket Credit Union Community Service Award.
Adam McQuaid was the fans' recipient of the Hendricks Memorial Fan Appreciation Award, given to the team's fan favorite.
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