Falcons Begin Four-game Week against Hartford on Wednesday

Published on February 17, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, MA – The Springfield Falcons (17-28-5-2, 41 pts) will play the first of four games in five days on Wednesday when the club faces the Atlantic Division-leading Hartford Wolf Pack at the Springfield Civic Center. The Falcons will visit the red-hot Portland Pirates, who are unbeaten in their last six games (5-0-1), on Friday. The team will return to The Nest to host the Lowell Lock Monsters on Saturday night and the Binghamton Senators on Sunday. It will mark the only Springfield appearance of the campaign for the Senators, who advanced to the AHL's Eastern Conference Finals last season.

After splitting a home-and-home series with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Falcons wrapped up last week with a 5-3 win over the Albany River Rats at the Civic Center on Sunday. Springfield scored four goals in the third period en route to a 4-1 win over the Eastern Conference-leading Sound Tigers in Connecticut on Wednesday. Bridgeport rebounded to down the Falcons, 5-3, at The Nest on Saturday.

Week in Review (2-1-0-0):

Falcons – 4 at Bridgeport – 1

Wednesday, February 11

Center Jason Jaspers redirected a shot by defenseman Igor Knyazev to score the eventual game-winning goal 1:36 after AHL all-star forward Jeff Hamilton tied the contest for Bridgeport. Forwards Frantisek Lukes and Trevor Gillies each scored for Springfield in the closing minute to seal the game. Falcons rookie center Kiel McLeod opened scoring in the game with his second goal of the season three minutes into the third period. Falcons netminder David LeNeveu stopped 28 of 29 shots in the victory.

SOG: 36 SOGA: 29 PP: 0-for-2 PK: 4-for-4

Falcons – 3 vs. Bridgeport – 5

Saturday, February 14

The Sound Tigers evened the season series in the second of two match-ups between the clubs with a win over the Falcons at The Nest. Hamilton led the way for Bridgeport, posting two goals and an assist. Hamilton's second marker came eight seconds after Springfield forward Krystofer Kolanos appeared to tie the game, 3-3, in the third period. However, the goal was waved off by the referee after he lost sight of a rebound in front of the crease. Defenseman Nic Bilotto scored in his debut with the Falcons after signing with the club on Thursday. Forwards Mike Stutzel and Jaspers also scored for Springfield.

SOG: 22 SOGA: 28 PP: 0-for-5 PK: 2-for-4

Falcons – 5 vs. Albany – 3 Sunday, February 15

Springfield scored three power-play goals to lift the team to a win that improved their season mark against the Rats to 3-1- 1-0. However, Albany battled back from deficits of 3-0 and 4-2 to twice pull within a goal of the Falcons. Chris Ferraro

clinched the game with an empty net goal, his second marker of the contest, with 22 seconds remaining to play. Center Erik Westrum notched a goal and two assists while Jaspers and Peter Ferraro, in his return to the Springfield line-up, each registered a goal and an assist for Springfield. Defenseman Bryan Helmer assisted on three of the Falcons tallies. LeNeveu made 30 saves to earn his 10th win of the season.

SOG: 46 SOGA: 33 PP: 3-for-6 PK: 4-for-5

Team Notes: The Falcons' three power-play goals in Sunday's win over Albany are a season-high for the club. Springfield has scored two goals with the man advantage in a game five times this season.... The Falcons scored seven goals in two contests last week against the Sound Tigers who have held opponents to a league-best 1.77 goals per game this season.... With a marker in each game last week, Jaspers is riding a three-game goal-scoring streak to match the high for Springfield this season.... Falcons defenseman Dustin Wood, who had one assist through 44 games this season, has collected a helper in each of the last three games.... The Falcons own a record of 8-7-1-1 versus Eastern Conference opponents this season.... Springfield is 5-0-1-1 when leading after the first period in home games this season.... Rookie goaltender Scott Dickie played the final 3:34 of Saturday's game versus Bridgeport to make his AHL debut. Dickie turned aside the only shot he faced.... Helmer's three assists against Albany on Sunday are the most by a Falcons player in a game this season.... Right wing Nick Lent, who signed a professional tryout agreement with the Falcons on February 6, collected his first point in the AHL with an assist on Gillies' marker in Bridgeport on Wednesday.... Lukes' empty-netter on Wednesday was his third goal in four games for the rookie.... Westrum established a new career-high with his 14th goal of the season on Sunday versus Albany.

Roster Update: The Falcons signed defenseman P.J. Martin to a professional tryout agreement (PTO) on Sunday. Martin has spent the bulk of the season with the ECHL's Trenton Titans.... Blueliner Todd Reirden was recalled by the Phoenix Coyotes following Saturday's game. He received 15:51 of ice time in his debut for the team versus the St. Louis Blues yesterday.... Bilotto signed a PTO with the Falcons on Thursday after leading Charlotte (ECHL) defensemen in scoring through 49 games this season.... Peter Ferraro returned to the Falcons' line-up on Sunday after missing the previous four games with an injury.... Defensemen Nikos Tselios and Mike Wilson have each missed the last five games due to injuries..... Blueliner Chris Dyment has sat out the last four contests with an injury.

Upcoming Week:

Falcons vs. Hartford Wolf Pack

Wednesday, February 18

The Falcons face the Wolf Pack (29-16-8-1, 67 pts) in the seventh of ten meetings between the rivals this season.... Springfield carries a record of 1-4-1-0 against Hartford this season and an all-time mark of 26-37-5 versus the franchise.... The Wolf Pack are riding a four-game winning streak.... Peter Ferraro (2g, 3a) and Stutzel (2g, 3a) pace the Falcons against the Wolf Pack this season with five points each.... Right wing Ken Gernander (2g, 3a) and defenseman Fedor Tyutin (0g, 5a), who is currently on recall with the New York Rangers, lead Hartford with five points apiece in the season series.... LeNeveu has recorded a 2.38 goals against average (GAA) and .941 save percentage (SV%) in five starts against Hartford this season. The rookie set a Falcons' franchise record with 55 saves against the Wolf Pack on December 31st.... Goaltender Jason LaBarbera has collected a 4-0-1 record, 1.57 GAA, and .940 SV% against Springfield this campaign.... LaBarbera tied the AHL record versus the Falcons on February 7th with his ninth shutout of the season in a 2-0 Hartford win. The Wolf Pack netminder broke the league record in his following start, a 4-0 blanking of the Philadelphia Phantoms on Friday.... Center Cory Larose, defenseman Lawrence Nycholat, and LaBarbera were returned to Hartford on Tuesday after being recalled by the New York Rangers earlier this week. Right wing Jason McDonald was reassigned to the Wolf Pack by the Rangers on Sunday.... Left wing Chad Wiseman and Tyutin remain with New York after being recently called up from Hartford.... The Wolf Pack leads the AHL with 12 shorthanded goals this season.... Hartford has yielded a league-low 24.28 average shot per game to their opponents.... The Wolf Pack are 6-2-0-1 in one-goal games on the road.... LaBarbera leads the AHL in wins (21), ranks third in GAA (1.48), and fifth in SV% (.937).

Falcons at Portland Pirates

Friday, February 20

The Falcons visit the Pirates (22-17-8-6, 58 pts) in the sixth meeting of the campaign between the teams. The Falcons hold a 1-3-1-0 record while scoring only eight goals in the five match-ups versus Portland this season. The club is 41-29-7 all-time against the Pirates.... Portland is unbeaten in their last six contests (5-0-1-0). The team has gained points in each of their last nine games (6-0-1-2).... Kolanos (2g, 2a) leads the Falcons in scoring versus Portland with four points in four game played.... Right wing Gary Shuchuk has collected three assists and is +4 against the Pirates this season.... The Falcons are scoreless in 21 power-play chances against Portland this season.... Forwards Graham Mink (2g, 2a) and Colin Forbes (1g, 3a) as well as defenseman Chris Hajt (1g, 3a) have each tallied four points against the Falcons to pace the Pirates.... Portland's all-star goaltender Rastislav Stana has stopped 76 of 77 shots (.987 SV%) in two games against Springfield this season.... Stana leads the AHL in GAA (1.37) and SV% (.954) this season.... Forbes leads Portland in scoring this season with 31 points (10g, 21a).... Mink leads the Pirates in goals (16).... The Pirates have scored the fewest goals (104) in the AHL's Eastern Conference this season.... The Pirates are the only team in the AHL without a shorthanded goal this season.... Pirates center Francois Methot has led the team in points (7 – all on assists) and plus/minus (+5) during the club's six-game unbeaten streak.... Portland is 8-2-2-1 when tied after the second period this season.

Falcons vs. Lowell Lock Monsters

Saturday, February 21

The Falcons will look to gain their first win in their seventh encounter with Lowell (22-23-4-3, 51 pts) this season.... Springfield owns an all-time record of 17-19-4 all-time against the Lock Monsters..... Lowell is in the midst of a four-game losing streak and has scored only four goals during the slide.... Jaspers (1g, 2a) and Martin Podlesak (1g, 2a) lead the Falcons with three points in the season series.... All-star center Mike Zigomanis has tallied eight points (2g, 6a) versus Springfield this season to lead the Monsters.... Zigomanis and defensemen Alan Rourke and Mike Commodore are each +6 against the Falcons..... Former Springfield netminder Patrick DesRochers has compiled a 4-0-0 record, 1.57 GAA, and .941 SV% versus the Falcons.... Lowell has converted six of 23 power-play opportunities (26.1%) against Springfield this season.... The Lock Monsters are tied for second in the league in power-play success (17.6%), but are just 2-for-28 (7.1%) through seven games in the month of February.... Lowell has been outshot, 282-145, by opponents in February.... Lock Monsters center Brett Lysak ranks third in the AHL in shooting percentage (20.6%)..... Left wing Martin Sonnenberg has registered a plus/minus rating of +14 to lead Lowell this season.

Falcons vs. Binghamton Senators

Saturday, February 21

The Falcons will complete their season series against Binghamton (25-22-5-2, 57 pts) on Sunday as the Senators pay their only visit of the campaign to The Nest.... Springfield won the previous meeting with the Senators by a score of 3-2 in Binghamton on January 3rd. Peter Ferraro collected two assists in the game for the Falcons.... The Senators are 3-2-1-0 over their last six games and are winless in their last three road contests (0-2-1-0).... Binghamton center Brooks Laich is tied for third among AHL rookies in scoring this season with 33 points (15g, 18a). Laich leads league rookies in power-play goals (7).... The Senators are 2-3-0-0 versus the Atlantic Division this season.... Binghamton's leading scorer Denis Hamel (21g, 26a, 47p) was called up to Ottawa on Sunday.... The B-Sens called up Nathan Gillies, the brother of Springfield's Trevor, for the second time this season on Monday. Nathan Gillies has posted 28 points (17g, 11a) and 79 PIM in 45 games with the UHL's Elmira Jackals this campaign.... Binghamton left wing Alexandre Giroux is +10 in road games this season.... The AHL announced a four-game suspension issued to Senators right wing Brian McGrattan on Tuesday. Having already served two games, the forward will be eligible to return to the line-up on Sunday against the Falcons. McGratten, who leads Binghamton with 244 PIM, was suspended for action versus Syracuse on Friday.

Upcoming Promotions:

Big Y Express Savings Club Card Night – Saturday, February 21 - Present your Big Y Express Savings Club Card to the box office before 5 p.m. on game day and receive a $3.00 discount on an adult ticket to the game versus the Lowell Lock Monsters.

Putt-Putt Challenge - Saturday, February 21 – The winner of a putt-putt contest held during the first intermission at Saturday's game will receive two passes to the U.S. Women's Open during July 4th weekend.

WMAS Family Night - Sunday, February 22 – Fans can receive four tickets to Sunday's game versus Binghamton, four programs, and four Wendy's Restaurant value meals for $60 by pre-purchasing at the Falcons team office at 155 State Street in Springfield. A free family skate follows Sunday's game. Mr. K and his face-painting crew will be part of Sunday's fun.

Community Events:

Shriners Hospital Children's Sled Hockey Program - Tuesday, February 17 - Falcons left wing Trevor Gillies and defenseman Jeremiah McCarthy will be at Amelia Park Rink in Westfield on from 6-7 p.m. to assist with the Shriners Hospital's Children's Sled Hockey Program.

Falcons Family Fun Nights with Friendly's - Monday, February 23 – 5-8 p.m. – The second of six Family Fun Nights with Friendly's will take place at the Friendly's Restaurant located at 1811 Boston Road in Springfield on February 23rd. Screech,

the Falcons' lovable mascot, as well as Falcons players will be on hand to visit and sign autographs for fans. The events benefit the Jennifer Ferraro Foundation and Springfield Falcons Charities, Inc.

Shoot Pool with the Falcons at Mad Maggies – Thursday, February 26 – 4-6 p.m. - Fans are welcome to join Falcons players at Mad Maggies Billiard Parlor at Tower Square to play pool. Players will sign autographs. Fans can enter to win tickets to the Falcons' final four home games.

This Week's Game Schedule:
Wed., Feb. 18 Falcons vs. Hartford Wolf Pack 7:05 PM Springfield Civic Center
Fri., Feb 20 Falcons at Portland Pirates 7:05 PM Cumberland County Civic Center
Sat., Feb. 21 Falcons vs. Lowell Lock Monsters 7:35 PM Springfield Civic Center
Sun. Feb. 22 Falcons vs. Binghamton Senators 4:05 PM Springfield Civic Center

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American Hockey League Stories from February 17, 2004


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