01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, October 7, 2004

BY JOE McDONALD
Journal Sports Writer

SOUTH KINGSTOWN -- The American Hockey League and the Providence Bruins are both new and improved for the upcoming season.

While training camp continues, the P-Bruins played the first of four exhibition games last night at URI's Boss Arena, and even though Providence dropped a 6-2 decision to the Portland Pirates -- the team that sent the P-Bruins packing after a first-round playoff sweep last season -- there was much more at stake than just a preseason contest.

It's a common theme in the AHL for teams' rosters to change on a yearly basis, but this season the league has implemented changes to the game itself as a trial run for the National Hockey League, which is in a lockout. Those changes were showcased last night and early indications were positive.

Despite the ice surface at Boss Arena not being fully equipped with the new AHL lines and larger neutral zone, on-ice officials were able to implement the changes, including automatic icing and tag-up offsides. AHL ice surfaces have been modified with larger blue and red lines -- 24 inches wide rather than 12 -- along with a goal line closer to the end boards. Also there are two lines, which Boss does have -- on each side of the net behind the goal line where goalies are only allowed to play the puck behind the cage.

Based on early reviews, these changes should have a positive effect on the game.

"Overall, it should be better," said P-Bruins forward Brad Boyes. "The tag-up offsides will keep the game moving a little more, normally the automatic offsides would slow things down. The goalies won't be able to play the puck as much, so that'll be big because you'll be able to get the forecheck [pressure]. Before goalies were a third defenseman and could work the puck out. This (new) way, (forwards) will be able to get pressure and sustain it. Hopefully, it'll all work out and I'm looking forward to it."

P-Bruins coach Scott Gordon has worked with his team during training camp on the new aspects of the game and ice surface. He's been preaching the importance of being able to "hem" a team in its own zone with the tag-up rule. The ability to "retrieve pucks" will cause defensive mistakes, allowing teams to capitalize and produce more scoring opportunities.

"There will be stretches where it'll look like teams have been outplayed for 10 minutes," explained Gordon, "and don't even get a sniff of the offensive zone. On the other side of it, you have to find ways to combat the tag-up."

Every AHL team has needed to make adjustments, mostly playing intrasquad games with league linesmen in order to get accustomed to the new style.

"We played our first two intrasquad games and it didn't take long to get use to it," said Boyes. "For the most part, I think everyone is comfortable with it. There could be a couple of brain freezes out there, but hopefully guys will get used to it pretty quick."

The reason behind these changes is to speed the game up and allow for more scoring chances. In all three zones, obviously the forwards will have an advantage.

Goaltenders, however, may feel differently.

P-Bruins netminder Hannu Toivonen, who did not dress for last night's game, knows it will be a feeling-out process with the new restrictions.

"It's hard to say since I haven't played a single game yet," said Toivonen. "It's going to be tough not being able to play the puck and help out the defensemen. They'll have to race to the corner, but it's hard to tell if the change is going to be good or bad. It's something everybody has to deal with, not just me."