Falcons Clipped by Monarchs in Overtime, 3-2

April 3, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Manchester, NH – The Springfield Falcons rallied from a two-goal deficit to extend the Atlantic Division-leading Manchester Monarchs to overtime, but eventually fell 3-2 before a crowd of 9,916 at Verizon Wireless Arena on Saturday night. Falcons defenseman Gerard Dicaire and left wing Derek Bekar scored goals for Springfield. Springfield goaltender Brian Eklund stopped 34 of 37 Manchester shots plus a third-period penalty shot. Monarchs left wing Dustin Brown scored the game-winner 47 seconds into overtime during a Manchester power play.

Entering the third period trailing 2-1, the Falcons tied the game up 1:02 into the frame on Bekar's fifth goal of the season. Bekar tapped the puck into an open net after Hauser misplayed a dump in from behind the net and put it on the forward's stick at the side of the goal.

The Monarchs received a bid to win the game in regulation when referee Steve Kozari gave a penalty shot to center Matt Ryan after Springfield defenseman Paul Ranger was charged with pulling him down from behind on a scoring chance. However, Eklund denied Ryan's attempt to shoot it between his pads on the penalty shot.

A holding penalty called on Bekar late in the third period, set Manchester up on a four-on-three power play to start overtime. After a number of stellar saves by Eklund, Brown collected the puck at the bottom of the left circle and snapped a shot into the net to the end the game.

Brown finished the game with a goal and two assists.

The Monarchs held a 37-23 shot advantage in the game.

The Monarchs converted their first power play 1:43 into the game to make the score 1-0. Brad Smyth tapped a rebound across the goal line after Falcons goaltender Brian Eklund made back-to-back saves on Tom Kostopoulos and Brown.

Manchester scored a shorthanded goals at 9:07 after center Mike Cammalleri forechecked to gain the puck in the Springfield corner and set up open defenseman Tim Gleason in front of the net. Gleason lifted a shot under the crossbar for his 10th goal of the campaign.

The Falcons got on the scoreboard with 58.1 seconds left in the opening frame on a power-play tally by Dicaire. Forward Evgeni Artukhin fed Dicaire at the left point from the right wing half boards. Dicaire moved in to the face-off circle where he snapped a shot between the pads of Manchester netminder Adam Hauser for his third goal of the season.

Each team accumulated 22 minutes in penalties during a contentious first period which included a fight between Falcons left wing J.F. Soucy and Manchester's Joe Rullier.

The Falcons controlled much of the play during the second period. The club's best scoring chance came from defenseman Marc Busenburg on a play similar to the one in which Dicaire scored in the first period. After receiving a pass across the zone at the point, Busenburg carried the puck toward Hauser, but his open shot from 25 feet was swallowed up by the Manchester goaltender. Each team was credited with nine shots during the middle frame.

The Falcons will finish their 10-game season series with the Monarchs next Saturday at the Springfield Civic Center. The Falcons record against the Monarchs dropped to 0-7-2-0 for the season with the overtime loss. The game marked the Falcons 16th straight road loss. The club has collected points in each of its last three games (1-0-2-0).

The Falcons will travel to face the Portland Pirates in Maine on Sunday. Tune into The Zone – Sports Radio 640 or click on the MassLive.com CyberCast link on the Falcons' web site to hear the live play-by-play call of the action. The broadcast begins with the pre-game show at 3:35 p.m.

For a complete box score of Saturday's game, please click on the following link: http://www.theahl.com/AHLBoxscores0405/140236.html

Three Stars of the Game:

1. Dustin Brown – Manchester

2. Mike Cammalleri – Manchester

3. Brian Eklund - Springfield



American Hockey League Stories from April 3, 2005


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