Darby Scores 200th AHL Goal, but Falcons Fall in Manchester

March 10, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Manchester, NH – Center Craig Darby scored the 200th goal of his AHL career, but the Springfield Falcons came up short to the Atlantic Division-leading Manchester Monarchs, 3-1, at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Wednesday night. Falcons goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier stopped 29 of 32 shots in the Springfield net. Manchester center Mike Cammalleri registered a goal and an assist.

Darby put the Falcons in front, 1-0, with his milestone goal 3:28 into the game. The nine-year AHL veteran carried the puck out of the left wing corner to snap a wrist shot from the slot past Manchester netminder Adam Hauser. Left wing Ryan Craig collected his team-leading 33rd point of the season by assisting on the marker. Right wing Jim Campbell also recorded a helper.

The Monarchs pulled even when right wing Brad Smyth clanged a shot off the post and in the net with 32 seconds remaining in the opening frame. Smyth received a pass at the wing from Cammalleri after the center carried the puck across the Springfield blue line. The Ottawa native let go his wrist shot from the top of the right face-off circle.

Manchester center David Steckel put back his own rebound 7:44 into the second period to provide his club a 2-1 lead. It was the fourth goal of the season for Steckel.

Cammalleri netted his AHL-leading 37th goal of the season to make the score 3-1 at 7:28 of the third frame. The University of Michigan standout one-timed a puck that squirted out of a scrum near the corner from the inside edge of the left face-off circle for the tally.

With two points in the game, Cammalleri extended his current scoring streak to ten games and brought his season point total to 86. The 22-year-old forward entered the game trailing Binghamton Senators center Jason Spezza by one point in the AHL scoring race. Spezza had collected one point with an assist by late in the third period in Binghamton's contest against the Rochester Americans by the time the Falcons-Monarchs game ended on Wednesday.

The Falcons were scoreless on two power-play opportunities in the game. Manchester did not receive a man advantage in the contest.

The Monarchs finished with a 32-21 shot advantage in the game.

Veteran defenseman Brian Chapman returned to the Falcons' lineup after missing four games with an injury.

The loss marked the Falcons' franchise-high 10th consecutive road defeat.

The Monarchs began the night tied with the Hartford Wolf Pack for first place in the division. The Wolf Pack were scheduled to face the Utah Grizzlies at the "E" Center later Wednesday evening.

After back-to-back road games, the Falcons now return to the Civic Center to host the Lowell Lock Monsters on Friday evening. The Falcons won the last meeting between the clubs, 4-2, on Feb. 25. Game time Friday is 7:35 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit the Springfield Civic Center box office, call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602 to order by phone, or log onto www.falconsahl.com to order tickets online.

Click here for a complete box score of Wednesday night's game: http://www.theahl.com/AHLBoxscores0405/140080.html

Three Stars of the Game:

1. Mike Cammalleri – Manchester

2. Brad Smyth – Manchester

3. David Steckel – Manchester



American Hockey League Stories from March 10, 2005


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