Falcons Clipped on Late Lowell Goal

January 21, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. – Chuck Kobasew scored with 1:46 remaining in regulation to provide the Lowell Lock Monsters with a 3-2 win over the Springfield Falcons at the Springfield Civic Center on Friday night. Forwards Ryan Craig and Nikita Alexeev scored for the Falcons while netminder Brian Eklund made 37 saves. Center Eric Staal figured in all three Lowell goals in tallying a goal and two assists. The Lock Monsters extended their winning streak to seven games with the victory.

Lowell capitalized on a turnover in the Falcons' zone for the game-winner. Staal steered the puck from the right corner to Kobasew, who was stationed behind the opposite side of the net. Kobasew quickly wheeled to the edge of the crease and deposited the puck into the net just before Eklund could slide across the goal mouth. The marker was Kobasew's 23rd goal and AHL-leading seventh of the campaign.

The Falcons finished the game one-for-three on the power play and the club killed off all four opportunities with the man advantage for Lowell.

The Lock Monsters outshot Springfield, 40-29, in the game. Lowell goaltender Cam Ward made 27 stops while recording his 11th win of the season.

There were no goals during a contentious first period that saw the teams combine for 42 penalty minutes. Each team had chances, however. Falcons left wing Adam Henrich knocked a bouncing puck off the post after Derek Bekar flipped a pass to him at the end of a two-on-one rush midway through the first period. Eklund then denied a one-on-one chance by Kobasew when the Lock Monsters sent the puck to the other end.

Later in the frame, Eklund stopped a breakaway attempt by Kobasew and made a glove save when the right wing followed up on his own rebound.

The Lock Monsters connected 3:59 into the second period when defenseman Danny Richmond corralled a rebound and shot the puck into the net just a sliding player knocked the posts off its moorings.

Craig banged in a game-tying goal at 14:42 after grabbing the puck behind the Lowell net and whirling to the front. The goal was Craig's team-leading 18th of the season. Falcons rookie Dennis Packard collected his first AHL point by assisting on the tally.

The clubs traded goals while Lowell's Bruno St. Jacques sat in the penalty box following a hooking penalty. Staal lifted a shorthanded goal past Eklund to make the score 2-1 with 3:35 remaining in the period. However, Alexeev one-timed a cross-ice feed by defenseman Gerard Dicaire from the right face-off dot to again knot the contest 59 seconds later. The power-play marker snapped a string of 20 man advantages without a goal for the Falcons.

The Falcons return to the home ice of the Civic Center to take on Patrice Bergeron and the Providence Bruins at 7:05 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 visit www.falconsahl.com to order tickets online.



American Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2005


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