Falcons Rally from Four-Goal Deficit to 6-5 OT Win over Portland
November 5, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield, Mass. Rookie left wing Adam Henrich scored in overtime to cap a 6-5 win for the Springfield Falcons over the Portland Pirates and complete a comeback from a four-goal deficit before a crowd of 4,689 at the Springfield Civic Center on Friday night. Falcons team captain Shane Willis sent the contest to the extra session with a game-tying goal with 13 second remaining in regulation. Willis scored two goals and added an assist in the win. Forwards Jarrod Skalde and Darren Reid also registered three points for Springfield in the game. Defenseman Shaone Morrison scored twice for Portland.
Williss game-tying goal at 19:47 of the final frame marked his third tally of the season. On the goal, Skalde flipped the puck toward the Pirates net from center ice. Portland goaltender Justin Eddy knocked away the bouncing puck, but Henrich was able to gain possession before making a drop pass to the oncoming Willis in the right face-off circle. Williss wrist shot found the net inside the far post.
Henrich ended the game 2:58 into overtime with a backhand from just outside the crease past the outstretched Eddy. Fellow Falcons rookies Paul Ranger and Reid collected assists to combine on the game-winning score with Henrich.
The game marked the third straight meeting that the Falcons and Pirates had to skate extra time to decide a winner.
The Falcons jumped to a 1-0 lead on Doug OBriens first goal as a professional 3:21 into the game. Forwards Shane Willis and Craig Darby maintained possession behind the Portland net long enough for Darby to feed an open OBrien in the slot who one-timed the puck past Eddy.
However, the Pirates scored twice during a five-minute power play created by a high-sticking penalty issued to Willis to vault to a 2-1 lead. Portland center Brooks Laich scored at 12:37 of the first period as the Pirates capitalized on a turnover by Springfield goaltender Jamie Storr. Morrisonn moved in from the point to receive a pass from the corner and score again 1:44 later.
The Pirates added three goals in the second period to pad their lead to 5-1. Morrisonn snapped a shot from the high slot under the crossbar for his second goal of the game at the 6:35 mark of the frame. Portland forward Jakub Klepis skated in from the left wing boards before lifting a shot over Storr at 10:32. Pirates captain Graham Mink tipped in a pass from the corner for his fourth goal of the season 46 seconds later.
The Falcons ended the Pirates run of five unanswered goals with a power-play goal by right wing Evgeni Artukhin with 3:21 remaining in the middle frame. Artukhin positioned himself at the top of the crease to redirect a wrist shot from the left point by center Jarrod Skalde past Eddy to make the score 5-2.
Trailing by three goals entering the final period, the Falcons scored twice in the opening 2:02 of the frame. Willis tipped a shot from the top of the right face-off circle by OBrien into the net for his second goal of the season just 29 seconds into the period. Skaldes redirection from the low slot 1:33 later made the score 5-4 with 17:58 remaining in regulation.
The Falcons converted two of five power play chances in the game while Portland scored three goals in six opportunities with the man advantage.
Storr made 28 saves to collect his second win of the campaign.
Rookie defensemen Mike Egener earned an assist on Skaldes goal in the third period for his first point of his pro career. Rangers assist on Henrichs game-winner was his first pro point as well.
Pirates center Brian Sutherby, skating in his first game of the season, collected three assists.
The Falcons will travel to face the Lowell Lock Monsters on Saturday in a 7:00 game and visit the Hartford Wolf Pack on Sunday beginning at 4:05 p.m. Both games will be carried on The ZONE - Sports Radio 640.
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