This Week's Games Previews-Wednesday, November 25, 2009- Springfield Falcons (10-6-3-1) vs. Worcester Sharks (10-10-0-1):
The Sharks and Falcons will meet in Springfield, MA, on Wednesday in the third of eight games between the two teams this season. The first two meetings both were in Worcester, MA, and both times the Sharks came away with two points. The Falcons lost on October 24 to Worcester 1-0 in overtime with the only goal of the game coming in the extra session off the stick of rookie Logan Couture. The last game between these two Atlantic Division rivals came on November 1 where the Sharks won 4-1. The only player for either team to record more than one point in these two games was Worcester's Danny Groulx, who had one assist in each game. In those games, the Falcons had a combined 33 shots (15 and 18), while the Sharks launched a combined 81 shots on goal (34 and 47). The Falcons have struggled to find the net behind Worcester's goalies, Tyler Sexsmith and rookie Alex Stalock, each started one game against Springfield this season with Stalock getting the shutout. Groulx leads the Sharks in points and assists this season totaling 2 goals, 14 assists, and 16 points, placing him tied for fourth in the AHL in points among defensemen. The leading goal scorer for Worcester this season is Steven Zalewski with seven goals in 21 games. Stalock leads Worcester goalies with a 2.52 GAA and.907 save percentage in 15 games this season. The Sharks come into the game winners of their last two games, but before those two games, they were on a seven-game losing streak. Following the game against Springfield on Wednesday, the Sharks will travel to Providence, RI to take on the Bruins on Friday before hosting the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday.
-Friday, November 27, 2009- Springfield Falcons (10-6-3-1) at Manchester Monarchs (12-6-1-2) and Saturday, November 28, 2009- Springfield Falcons vs. Manchester Monarchs:
Springfield and Manchester will face off two times in two days this weekend. Friday is the third of eight meetings between the Falcons and Monarchs. The home team has won in each of the first two games, with the Falcons winning 4-1 on October 16, and the Monarchs earning a 6-1 win two days later. Leading the Falcons in those games has been Charles Linglet with two assists and Chad Wiseman with one goal and one assist. Manchester's leaders against the Falcons this season are Scott Parse (1 G, 3 A) and Brandon Segal (3 A). Parse is currently on the NHL's Los Angeles Kings. The Monarchs have a balanced offensive attack with six players in double digit point totals. The best of the Monarchs this year have been Andrei Loktionov (6 G, 11 A, 17 P) and Oscar Moller (8 G, 8 A, 16 P). Despite having a solid offensive attack, the key for success this season for the Monarchs has been the clutch goaltending play by Jonathan Bernier. Bernier has started in 15 of Manchester's 21 games, posting an impressive 1.78 GAA and.948 save percentage. Bernier has made the second most saves in the AHL with 494 and has played the third most amount of minutes at 911 minutes. Backup rookie goalie, Jeff Zatkoff, has also played well for the Monarchs with a 2.15 GAA and.939 save percentage in six games. The Atlantic Division co-leading Monarchs come into the week losers of three of their last four, but will play at Bridgeport on Wednesday before they face the Falcons on Friday and Saturday.
-Sunday, November 29, 2009- Springfield Falcons (10-6-3-1) vs. Portland Pirates (9-10-2-0):
This will be the third of eight meetings between the Falcons and Pirates. The Pirates have struggled in the first two games, losing 5-2 on October 3 in Springfield and 2-1 on November 8 in Portland. Leading Springfield in those two previous games were Charles Linglet (1 G, 2 A) and Chris Armstrong (2 A). However, it has been a very balanced team in these games for Springfield with 13 different players contributing at least one point in these games. Playing well for Portland against Springfield this season has been Paul Byron (2 A) and Marc-Andre Gragnani (2 G). The difference in the games has been Springfield's special teams play, converting on three of seven power play chances, while stopping all nine of Portland's power play chances. Leading the Pirates this season have been Mark Mancari (9 G, 10 A, 19 P), Tyler Ennis (7 G, 12 A, 19 P), and Nathan Gerbe (4 G, 13 A, 17 P). The best goaltender this year for the Pirates has been Jean-Philippe Lamoureux with a 2.75 GAA,.902 save percentage, and one shutout in 588 minutes. The Pirates struggled early on this season, but have won three straight games heading into this week's action. Before Portland heads to Springfield on Sunday, they will take on the Hartford Wolf Pack and Lowell Devils. The game in Hartford is the first of four straight and eight of ten road games.
Last Week's Game Recaps
Springfield vs. Lowell, Nov. 18- W, 4-3:
The Springfield Falcons scored two goals just 33-seconds apart late in the third period earning a 4-3 win over the red hot Lowell Devils in dramatic fashion Wednesday night. Up 3-2 with two minutes left in the game, the Devils looked like they would get their third win in Springfield of the year, but the Falcons rallied for the win.
The Devils came out fast and aggressive in the final twenty minutes and it paid off early on as they scored on a Matt Taormina power play goal making it 3-2. The game continued on without a goal until Springfield's Chad Wiseman had his sixth goal of the season to tie the game up 3-3 with less than two minutes left. Only 33 seconds after Wiseman's goal, Ryan MacMurchy picked the perfect time for his first goal of the season giving the Falcons a 4-3 win.
In a quiet first period, the Falcons scored the only goal of the period thanks to Ryan O'Marra's third goal of the season.
Lowell's Alexander Vasyunov tied the game up at one apiece less than five minutes into the second stanza. This was Vasyunov's third goal of the season and second goal against Springfield this year. Springfield's Colton Fretter answered with his fourth goal of the season, giving the Falcons a 2-1 lead.
Lowell's Louis Robitaille tied the game up 2-2 at the 13:35 mark in the second period. Springfield was outshot by the Devils 42-28 in the game.
Springfield at Providence, Nov. 20- L, 5-2:
The Springfield Falcons lost to the Providence Bruins 5-2 on Friday night at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI.
Trailing 2-1 entering the third period, the Falcons evened the score at 2-2 when Colton Fretter scored on the power play, his fifth goal of the season, at 4:51 of the final frame. Springfield's momentum wouldn't last long as Providence's Kirk MacDonald scored just 34-seconds after Fretter tied the game giving Providence a 3-2 advantage. With momentum on their side, the Bruins expanded their lead to 4-2 at 12:46 of the final stanza when Guillaume Lefebvre tallied his second marker of the campaign. Jamie Arniel added an empty net goal for the Bruins sending Providence home with a 5-2 win..
After a scoreless first period, the two teams played an entertaining second period with a variety of scoring chances and the frame also featured the game's first altercation. Providence opened the scoring at 3:14 of the middle period when Andy Wozniewski scored on the power play, followed by Jeff LoVecchio scoring his eigth marker of the year at 14:30 of the second period giving the Bruins a 2-0 lead. Just 15-seconds after LoVecchio's goal, the Falcons cut their deficit to 2-1 when Ryan O'Marra tallied his fourth goal of the year assisted by Colin McDonald and Johan Motin.
Midway through the second period, Sprngfield's Jamie Bates and Providence's Lane MacDermid dropped the gloves with the two players exchanging a handful of punches. The Bruins outshot the Falcons 35-21 in the game.
Springfield at Hershey, Nov. 21- W (SO), 3-2:
The Springfield Falcons are quickly earning the reputation of a very resilient hockey team as they skated into Hershey on Saturday night and earned a hard-fought 3-2 shootout win over the Bears at the Giant Center. The Falcons now have points in 11 of their last 13 games and have a mark of 10-6-3-1 on the season, only three points out of first place.
The Falcons used a shootout goal from Chad Wiseman and goaltender Devan Dubnyk stopped all five shooters in the extra session to earn the win. The Falcons twice rallied from one-goal deficits in the contest, including Ryan O'Marra's game-tying goal at 4:41 of the third period. Alexandre Giroux gave Hershey a 2-1 lead only 19-seconds into the final period, but the Falcons once again battled back.
After a scoreless first period, the Bears opened the scoring at 9:35 of the second period when Keith Aucoin scored his 8th goal of the year giving Hershey a 1-0 lead. Springfield evened the score at 1-1 at 11:48 of the middle frame when Colton Fretter tallied his 6th marker of the campaign.
Midway through the second period, Springfield's Kip Brennan and Hershey's Brandon Sugden dropped the gloves with each player landing some punches.
Bryan Lerg appeared to have given the Falcons a 1-0 lead midway through the first period, but it was ruled he hit the puck with a high stick. The Falcons were outshot once again, as the Bears had 31 shots on goal while Springfield managed only 18.
Player and Team Notes
Springfield's leaders in their three games this past week were Ryan O'Marra (3 G, 1 A, 4 P), Colton Fretter (3 G, 1 A, 4 P), Chad Wiseman (1 G, 3 A, 4 P), Ryan MacMurchy (1 G, 2 A, 3 P), and Charles Linglet (3 A, 3 P). Johan Motin also added two assists over the last three games.
Ryan O'Marra now has a goal in three straight games. O'Marra is now on a 3-game road goal scoring streak.
Colton Fretter and Chad Wiseman have extended their scoring streaks to seven games.
Colton Fretter is currently on an 8-game home point scoring streak, where he has recorded a total of 12 points.
Charles Linglet is the Falcons points leader this season earning 23 points (7 G, 16 A), which places him third in the AHL. Linglet also leads the team with a +9 rating.
Linglet also is tied for third in the AHL in assists recording 16 in 20 games played this season.
Despite missing nine games this season, Chris Minard leads Springfield with nine goals on the season.
The Falcons leading goaltender this season has been Devan Dubnyk with 2.77 GAA and.924 save percentage. Dubnyk leads the AHL in minutes played (1081) and saves (608) this year in 18 games played. Dubnyk is tied for third in the AHL in wins with 9 on the season.
Springfield now has earned at least one point in 11 of their last 13 games (7-2-3-1) recording 18 points in that span.
Springfield has yet to lose at home in regulation this season with a 6-0-2-1 record at The Nest.
The Falcons have the AHL's fifth best power play at 22.0% and they are third in the AHL at home on the power play with a 29.4% rating.
Springfield is 7-2-1-1 when scoring first in a game this season.
The Falcons are 7-5-3-1 against their Atlantic Division rivals this season thus far.
Ryan MacMurchy scored his first goal of the season Wednesday against Lowell with the game-winning goal. MacMurchy also notched his 50th career assist as a professional in Saturday's game against Hershey.
Colton Fretter scored his 40th career AHL goal in 3-2 win over Hershey last Saturday.
Injury Report
Chris Minard is still day-to-day with an injury. Minard has missed the last nine games for the Springfield Falcons.
Transactions
11-17-09- The Springfield Falcons, proud members of the American Hockey League, announced today they have recalled defenseman Bryan Young from their ECHL affiliate, the Stockton Thunder. Young has played in 14 games with Stockton this year and has collected no points and 23 penalty minutes. Young spent time in Springfield in both the 2007-08 and 2008-09 campaigns. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound native of Ennismore, Ontario played in 63 games for the Falcons last year recording a career high three goals, seven assists, 10 points and 64 penalty minutes.
11-20-09- The Springfield Falcons, proud members of the American Hockey League, announced today they have signed forward Jason Morgan to a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO). Morgan is entering his 14th professional season. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound native of St. John's, Newfoundland is back for his third separate stint with the Falcons. Morgan has played in 120 career games in Springfield splitting both the 1997-98 and 1998-99 campaigns with the Falcons, followed by playing in 16 games with Springfield during the 2000-01 season. Morgan is a veteran of 580 career AHL games splitting time between Springfield, Hamilton, Saint John, Lowell, Norfolk, Houston, and Hershey. He set a career high in goals with Hershey during the 2007-08 campaign scoring 19 markers with the Bears.
11-22-09- The Springfield Falcons, proud members of the American Hockey League, announced today that goaltender Devan Dubnyk has been recalled by their National Hockey League affiliate, the Edmonton Oilers. Dubnyk has started 18 of Springfield's 20 games this year posting a 9-8-1 record with a 2.77 goals against average and.924 save percentage. The 6-foot-5, 194-pound native of Calgary, Alberta had started the Falcons' previous 10 straight games prior to his recall to Edmonton. Dubnyk continues to lead the AHL in minutes played (1,081) and saves (608) this season. During the 2008-09 campaign in Springfield, he set Falcons franchise records for appearances by a goaltender (62) and minutes played (3,635). Dubnyk is currently in his fourth professional season and was drafted by the Oilers in the first round (14th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
11-23-09- The Springfield Falcons, proud members of the American Hockey League, announced today that they have recalled goalie Andrew Perugini from their ECHL affiliate, the Stockton Thunder. Perugini has posted a 4-4-1-1 record, 2.79 GAA,.913 save percentage, and one shutout in 623 minutes played this season for the Thunder. Perugini's is in his second professional year with career averages of 2.81 GAA, and.909 save percentage in 48 games played.
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