Falcons Comeback Versus Norfolk Falls Short

Published on February 23, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. – The Springfield Falcons nearly completed a rally from a four-goal opening-period deficit, but came up short in a 4-3 loss to the Norfolk Admirals at the Springfield Civic Center on Wednesday evening. Forwards Craig Darby, Nick Tarnasky, and Ryan Craig provided scoring for the Falcons while defenseman Harlan Pratt recorded two assists. Goaltender Brian Eklund stopped all 18 shots he faced after entering the game to start the second period. Right wing Pavel Vorobiev posted a goal and two assists for Norfolk.

Former Falcon Jason Morgan scored his eighth goal of the season to give the Admirals a 1-0 lead 7:13 into the game. During Norfolk's first power play of the game, Morgan redirected a centering feed from the bottom of the right wing face-off circle by Ajay Baines into the net.

Norfolk capitalized on a holding penalty assessed to Darby with a goal by Vorobiev at the 11:21 mark.

The Admirals then scored twice during a five-minute man advantage created by a high sticking penalty issued to Falcons left wing Adam Henrich. With 4:29 remaining in the first period, rookie AHL all-star Rene Bourque scored his team-leading 23rd goal of the campaign. On the play, Norfolk right wing Matt Keith fired a shot that hit Pratt, staggering the Springfield blue liner, and then caromed to the stick of Bourque. The 23-year-old collected the puck in the right circle before snapping a shot past starting Falcons netminder Jean-Marc Pelletier.

Defenseman James Wisniewski blasted a shot from the right point through traffic for his fifth tally 17 seconds later to make the score 4-0.

Darby put the Falcons on the board by backhanding a rebound past Admirals goalie Adam Munro at 12:39 of the second period. Henrich kept the play alive by poking at the first rebound of a shot by Pratt. Darby used his reach to score his fifth of the campaign when Munro was unable to corral the puck.

Tarnasky and fellow rookie Andre Deveaux combined to make the score 4-2 early in the third period. Toward the end of a five-minute power play which resulted from a high-sticking penalty to Morgan, Tarnasky knocked the puck past Munro at 4:53 after receiving a pass from below the goal line by Deveaux.

Craig scored his 20th marker of the season off a rebound to make it a one-goal game with 7:05 left to play.

However, the Falcons could not notch the equalizer.

Norfolk finished the game four-for-seven on the power play while the Falcons converted one of four opportunities with the man advantage.

The Admirals held a 34-30 shot advantage for the game although Springfield outshot Norfolk, 16-7, in the third period.

The Falcons next face the Lowell Lock Monsters at the Civic Center on Friday night before hosting a rematch with the Admirals on Saturday evening. Both games face-off at 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.

For a complete box score of Wednesday's game, please click on the following link: http://www.theahl.com/AHLBoxscores0405/140000.html

Three Stars of the Game:

Pavel Vorobiev – Norfolk

Harlan Pratt - Springfield

Brian Eklund – Springfield

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American Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2005


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