Falcons Weekly Notes
October 21, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
THIS WEEK'S GAME PREVIEWS
--FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008 - SPRINGFIELD FALCONS VS ALBANY RIVER RATS--
The Springfield Falcons will host the Albany River Rats for the first of two meetings at the MassMutual Center this season. As of today, Albany is 1-2-0-0 on the season good for two points in the AHL's East Division. Albany will host the Binghamton Senators on Wednesday the 22nd before taking the MassMutual Center Ice. The River Rats opened their season at home with a loss to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4-2 on October 11th. Albany collected their first win of the season on October 17th against the Worcester Sharks, 5-4, coming from behind in the third period with a short-handed goal by Pat Dwyer. On October 18th, Albany suffered their second loss in as many contests against Bridgeport by a score of 3-1 on the road. Center Dwight Helminen leads a balanced Albany attack with two goals and two assists for four points. Five other River Rats have two points. Goaltender Justin Peters has appeared in two games for Albany posting a 3.04 goals against average and .900 save percentage, but collecting zero wins. Daniel Manzato posted the first Albany win of the season allowing four goals.
--SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2008 - SPRINGFIELD FALCONS VS LOWELL DEVILS--
The Falcons are currently tied with the Devils for second place in the Atlantic Division. This will mark the first of 10 games the two teams will play this season. Last season, the Falcons won the season series 9-1-0-0, outscoring the Devils 34-19, with two wins decided in a shoot-out. The Devils have started the season 2-1-0-1 with wins over Worcester and Manchester. Lowell lost in a shoot-out to the Providence Bruins on opening night at Providence, and took their first regulation loss to Manchester on the 17th. The Devils are led in scoring by right wing Jon DiSalvatore with one goal and six assists for seven points. Center Matt Halischuk leads the team in goals with four along with two assists for six points. Right wing Nicklas Bergfors also has six points on the young season notching one goal and five assists. Devils goalie Scott Clemmensen has played every minute of the season thus far sporting a 3.45 goals against average and a .892 save percentage.
LAST WEEK'S GAME RECAPS
---SPRINGFIELD at PROVIDENCE, OCTOBER 17 - L 6-3---
October 17, 2008 - The Springfield Falcons lost their first game of the season in regulation on Friday night dropping a 6-3 decision to the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The Falcons are now 1-1-1-0 on the young season and host Portland in their home opener on Saturday night.
For the third straight game, the Falcons tried to rally on the road to earn at least a point in the standings. Providence opened the scoring just 42-seconds into the first period when Martin St. Pierre's wrist shot beat Falcons goaltender Devan Dubnyk. Springfield evened the score at 4:28 of the first period when Jake Taylor scored his first goal of the season, but the Bruins would respond.
Jeff Penner would score for Providence on the power play at 8:53 of the opening frame, followed by Jordan Knackstedt at 12:04 giving Providence a 3-1 lead. Martins Karsums tallied the Bruins second power play marker of the first period at 17:40 giving Providence a 4-1 advantage.
In the second period, Liam Reddox cut Springfield's deficit to 4-2 when he tallied on the power play at 16:44 assisted by Colin McDonald and Ryan Potulny.
The Falcons pulled within a single goal early in the third period when Derek Bekar scored his first goal of the season at 1:21 on the power play. With Springfield applying some pressure, Providence regained a two-goal lead at 9:26 of the final frame when Matt Lashoff converted for the Bruins' third power play goal of the night giving Providence a 5-3 lead. Wacey Rabbit added a shorthanded marker late in the final frame capping off a 6-3 Bruins win.
---SPRINGFIELD vs. PORTLAND, OCTOBER 18 - L - 3-2---
October 18, 2008 - The Springfield Falcons lost to the Portland Pirates 3-2 in front of 5,813 at the MassMutual Center on Saturday night. The Falcons are now 1-2-1-0 on the young season as they head to Manchester on Sunday afternoon.
For the fourth straight game, the Falcons fell behind in the first period as Colton Fretter and Nathan Gerbe scored power play goals for the Pirates leading their team to a 2-0 advantage.
With just 19-seconds remaining in the opening frame, Falcons left wing Rob Schremp found Colin McDonald at the top of the left wing circle and McDonald snapped a wrister past Portland goaltender Adam Dennis cutting the Falcons' deficit to 2-1.
In the second period, Gerbe added his second marker of the game on the power play at 9:36 giving Portland a 3-1 lead through 40 minutes of play.
The Falcons pulled within a single goal at 12:08 of the third period when Sebastien Bisaillon's slap shot found the back of the net, but Springfield just couldn't find the equalizer.
---SPRINGFIELD at MANCHESTER, OCTOBER 19 - W- 4-1---
October 19, 2008 - The Springfield Falcons beat the Manchester Monarchs 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Verizon Wireless Arena improving their record to 2-2-1-0 on the season.
The Falcons came out of the gate fast and furious on Sunday as they opened the scoring at 6:35 of the first period when Slava Trukhno scored his first goal of the season. Captain Tim Sestito gave Springfield a 2-0 lead when he recorded his first marker of the campaign at 14:41 of the opening session.
Just 30-seconds into the second period, Sestito added his second goal of the game expanding the Falcons' lead to 3-0, but Manchester cut their deficit to 3-1 when Teddy Purcell scored for the Monarchs midway through the middle frame.
In the third period, Stephane Goulet added an insurance goal when he scored his first goal of the year at 10:17 giving the Falcons a 4-1 lead.
Goaltender Devan Dubnyk earned the win between the pipes stopping 32 of 33 shots he faced.
PLAYER NOTES:
Rookie Geoff Paukovich made his AHL debut on Friday, October 17 at Providence.
Rob Schremp is on a three-game scoring streak having collected three assists in three games played. Schremp made his 2008-09 Falcons debut on October 17 at Providence and the third-year pro led the Falcons in scoring last year with 23 goals and 53 assists for 76 points in 78 games.
Captain Tim Sestito scored his first two goals of the season on October 19 in a 4-1 win at Manchester earning the game's top star.
Goaltender Devan Dubnyk has started all five games for Springfield this season and he stopped 32 of 33 shots in Manchester on Sunday, October 19 earning the game's second star.
Jake Taylor scored his first goal as a member of the Falcons on October 17 at Providence.
INJURY REPORT
Falcons forward Gilbert Brule(2), defenseman Mathieu Roy (3), defenseman Mike Gabinet (1) missed games due to injury.
TRANSACTIONS
10-14-08 - Springfield Falcons assign Rob Bina, Josef Hrabal, Adam Huxley and Ryan MacMurchy to their ECHL affiliate, the Stockton Thunder.
10-20-08 - Springfield Falcons recall Josef Hrabal from their ECHL affiliate, the Stockton Thunder and assign forward Bryan Lerg to Stockton.
ON THE FARM - STOCKTON THUNDER
The Stockton Thunder opened their 2008-09 season with a loss to the Fresno Falcons 3-2 at home in front of 8,723. The Thunder jumped out to 1-0 lead but the game went back and forth with Fresno coming out on top.
Mike Lalonde scored the first Thunder goal of the season, returning to Stockton after a 2007-08 campaign in Europe. The opening goal was assisted by Cleve Kinley and Cory Urquhart.
Rookie defenseman Rob Bina notched his first professional goal tying the game at the time 2-2. Bina's goal was assisted by Tom Zanoski and Jamie Bates.
Goaltender Bryan Pitton finished the game with 28 saves.
The Thunder will play the Bakersfield Condors on Wednesday, October 22nd, followed by three games in three nights at the Victoria Salmon Kings starting on Friday, October 24.
WEEK IN REVIEW
OCTOBER 17 Springfield- 3 At. Providence -6 (Goal scorers - Taylor, Potulny, Bekar)
OCTOBER 18 Springfield-2 Vs. Portland -3 (Goal scorers - McDonald, Bisaillon)
OCTOBER 19 Springfield-4 At. Manchester -1 (Goal scorers - Trukhno, Sestito(2), Goulet)
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
OCTOBER 24 Springfield Vs. Albany 7:30 PM MassMutual Center
OCTOBER 25 Springfield Vs. Lowell 7:00 PM MassMutual Center
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