Falcons conclude season with four games this week

Published on April 7, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, MA – The Springfield Falcons (25-40-9-2, 61 pts) will finish their 2003-04 season with a four-game week including the home finale against the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday. The Falcons, who went 1-2-0-0 last week, will visit Manchester tonight and the Providence Bruins on Friday evening. The club wraps up its home schedule versus the second-place Monarchs at the Springfield Civic Center on Saturday in a 7:35 pm contest. The Falcons could play the role of spoiler as they wrap up the campaign in Maine against the Portland Pirates on Sunday. The Pirates currently lead the Lowell Lock Monsters by two points in the race for the fifth and final playoff spot in the American Hockey League's Atlantic Division.

Team Notes: Right wing Peter Ferraro registered the 600th point of his professional career with his third assist in the Falcons' 5-3 win over Manchester last Saturday.... Center Jason Jaspers collected his 100th career AHL point with a goal on Saturday.... Rookie center Kiel McLeod recorded his first multi-goal game as a pro with two tallies in Saturday's win.... Left wing Goran Bezina played in his 200th AHL game on Sunday versus the Hershey Bears.... The Falcons killed off all five of their opponents' power plays in a pair of home games versus Manchester and Hershey over the weekend. Springfield ranks fourth in the AHL in home penalty killing this season.... Falcons forward/defenseman Jeremiah McCarthy has scored a goal in each of the team's last two games.... Jaspers has recorded three points (1g, 2a) in the last two contests.... Springfield's five goals versus the Monarchs on Saturday were the most the team has scored while Jean-Marc Pelletier was in the Falcons' net this season.

Roster Update: The Falcons released right wing Nick Lent from his professional tryout agreement on Monday.... Defenseman Igor Knyazev sat out Sunday's game with an injury.... Left wing Mike Stutzel was reassigned to Springfield by the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday.... Goaltender Scott Dickie was returned to the United Hockey League's Adirondack IceHawks on Saturday after signing a PTO with Springfield on Wednesday.... Left wing Darren McLachlan was recalled to the Falcons from Adirondack on Wednesday.

Upcoming Opponents:

Falcons at Manchester Monarchs

Wednesday, April 7

Falcons vs. Manchester Monarchs

Saturday, April 10

The Falcons will face the Monarchs (38-26-7-5, 88 pts) in the ninth and tenth season meetings between the division rivals. Springfield is 4-4-0-0 against Manchester this season and is 7-10-1 all-time against the third-year franchise.... The Monarchs are winless in their last four games (0-3-1-0).... Manchester holds second place in the Atlantic Division – eight points behind the division-leading Hartford Wolf Pack and three points ahead of the third-place Worcester IceCats.... Westrum (5g, 2a), Jaspers (3g, 4a), and Chris (2g, 5a) and Peter Ferraro (2g, 5a) have each registered seven points to lead the Falcons versus the Monarchs this season. McLeod has scored three of his seven goals this season against Manchester. Springfield has converted six of 20 power-play opportunities (20%) in the season series.... Manchester right wing Pavel Rosa has recorded 11 points (7g, 4a) to lead the Monarchs versus Springfield this season. Center Steve Kelly has collected 10 points (3g, 7a) against the Falcons this season.... Heading into the final week of the regular season, Rosa holds a seven-point lead in the race to for the AHL scoring title with 82 points. The forward ranks second in the league in goals (35) and is tied with Kelly for third in the AHL in assists (47).... Center Yanick Lehoux has scored three goals over his last two games..... The Falcons' five goals in their win over Manchester on Saturday were the most that the Monarchs had given up since January 30th.... The Monarchs are tied with the Philadelphia Phantoms for the most goals scored in the Eastern Conference this season (210).

Falcons at Providence Bruins

Friday, April 9

The Falcons travel to Rhode Island for their 104th all-time meeting with the P-Bruins to conclude the season series between the teams. The Bruins (34-28-10-4, 82 pts) reside in fourth place in the Atlantic Division and will clinch a playoff berth by gaining one point in their final four games or if Lowell loses a point.... The Falcons carries a record of 2-6-1-0 against Providence this season and are 43-55-5 all-time against the franchise.... Peter Ferraro leads Springfield with seven points (2g, 5a) against the Bruins this season.... Pelletier has guarded the Falcons' net in six of the nine match-ups with Providence this season and has registered a .914 save percentage in the season series.... Left wing Andy Hilbert was recalled from Providence on Tuesday and will join the Boston Bruins in time for the beginning of the team's opening round playoff series versus the Montreal Canadiens.... Providence has converted 18.6% of the team's power-play chances at home to rank sixth in the AHL in the category. The club has scored 12 shorthanded goals this season including seven at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.... Providence goaltender Tim Thomas set a franchise record with his eighth shutout as a Bruin last Friday against the Falcons. It was his seventh shutout of the season which is also a club record. Thomas ranks third in the AHL this season with a .938 save percentage.... P-Bruins forward Brad Boyes ranks sixth in the AHL in scoring with 70 points (31g, 39a) this season. He has notched four points (2g, 2a) over his last four games.

Falcons at Portland Pirates

Sunday, April 11

The Falcons wrap up the season against the Pirates (29-27-13-9, 78 pts). The Falcons are 2-4-3-0 this season and 42-30-9 all-time versus the Pirates.... Portland is currently riding a four-game winning streak and is unbeaten in the club's last five contests (4-0-1-0).... Springfield and the Pirates tied 1-1 in the last meeting on March 26th at The Nest. Bezina scored for the Falcons. Left wing Mike Vigilante tallied for Portland. Center Krystofer Kolanos, who finished the current season with the Coyotes, recorded a team-high six points (3g, 3a) against Portland while with the Falcons. Player/assistant coach Gary Shuchuk has collected five assists and is +7 while defenseman Nikos Tselios is +6 in the season series. Goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier has registered a 2-3-2 record, 1.63 GAA, and .946 SV% against Portland this season.... Pirates captain Graham Mink has notched nine points (3g, 6a) and is +4 versus Springfield to lead his club this campaign. Portland netminder Rastislav Stana has compiled a 2-1-1 record, 1.23 GAA, and .960 SV% in the season series.... The Falcons are scoreless in 39 power-play opportunities against the Pirates this season.... The Pirates face Lowell in a home-and-home series which begins Friday in Portland as the clubs battle for the division's last playoff spot. The Pirates, who hold a game in hand on the Lock Monsters, visit Providence on Wednesday night.... Left wing Colin Forbes leads Portland in scoring with 47 points (16g, 31a) this season. Forbes has tallied seven points (1g, 6a) and is +5 in his last five games.

Upcoming Promotions:

Booster Awards Night – Saturday, April 10: The Springfield Falcons Booster Club will present awards for the 2003-04 season prior to the opening face-off of Saturday's game.

Shirts Off Our Backs – Saturday, April 10: Fans will have a chance to win one of their favorite players' 2003-04 Banknorth Warm-up Jerseys by participating in a raffle at Saturday's game. Winners' names will be announced during the game and the jerseys will be presented on the ice by the players after the game. The winners will find out whose jersey they won during the post-game presentations. Participants must be present to win. Proceeds will benefit Springfield Falcons Charities.

Falcons Player Photos – Saturday, April 10: With all purchases of game programs at Saturday's game, fans will receive a complete picture pack of all Falcons players.

Radio Broadcasts:

Catch the live play-by-play broadcasts of Falcons games on The ZONE – Sports Radio 640. The voice of the Falcons, Marc Shelanski, calls the action. The pre-game show starts 30 minutes prior to the opening face-off. Fans can also listen live on the Internet by clicking on the MassLive.com Cybercast icon on the Falcons official web site, www.falconsahl.com.

Tickets:

Tickets for the Falcons' game Saturday versus Manchester can be ordered in person or by phone at the Springfield Civic Center box office located along East Court Street. To contact the box office by phone, please call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602.

This Week's Game Schedule:

Wed., Apr. 7 Falcons at Manchester Monarchs 7:05 PM Verizon Wireless Arena

Fri., Apr. 9 Falcons at Providence Bruins 7:05 PM Dunkin' Donuts Center

Sat., Apr. 10 Falcons vs. Manchester Monarchs 7:35 PM Springfield Civic Center

Sun., Apr. 11 Falcons at Portland Pirates 4:05 PM Cumberland County Civic Center

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American Hockey League Stories from April 7, 2004


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