Falcons Defeat River Rats, 3-1

Published on December 18, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, MA – The Springfield Falcons scored once in each period to down the Albany River Rats, 3-1, at the Springfield Civic Center on Saturday evening. Netminder Brian Eklund turned aside 31 of 32 shots to post his third win of the season. Linemates Craig Darby and Ryan Craig tallied a goal and an assist each while left wing Mitch Fritz completed the scoring for the Falcons.

After falling behind 3-0 in the first period at Providence on Friday night, the Falcons came out of the gates determined to change their own fate.

Darby, a former River Rat, provided the Falcons with a 1-0 lead with his second goal of the season 1:18 into the game. On the goal, Craig centered the puck through the crease from below the goal line before Darby deposited the pass into the back of the net from the slot.

The Falcons doubled the margin 4:15 into the middle frame after right wing Shane Willis turned out of the corner to find Craig open at the far edge of the crease. Craig knocked in the pass from Willis for his team-leading 14th tally of the campaign.

Eklund maintained both the lead and the shutout through the second period by denying a shorthanded breakaway bid by former University of North Dakota star Zach Parise midway through the frame and later robbed rookie Aaron Varos who had an open shot from the left face-off circle.

Fritz made the score 3-0 at 10:24 of the third when he banked a shot off the back of Albany goaltender Scott Clemmensen from near the goal line after right wing Darren Reid backhanded the puck through the goal mouth. The goal capped a busy night for Fritz who fought Cam Janssen in the first period and Rob Skrlac in the second.

River Rats center Pascal Rheaume ruined the shutout for Eklund when he snapped a shot into the top corner during an Albany power play with 6:55 left to play. Rheaume's marker snapped a streak of 150:29 of game action between goals given up by Eklund.

The Falcons did not score on four power-play chances in the game. The Rats converted one of their five opportunities with the man advantage. Albany finished the contest with a 32-26 shot advantage.

The win snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Falcons.

Springfield has claimed two of the three meetings with the River Rats so far this season.

The Falcons travel to Lowell to take on the Lock Monsters on Sunday. Game time is 4:05 p.m. Tune into The ZONE – Sports Radio 640 or click on the MassLive.com CyberCast link on the Falcons' official web site, www.falconsahl.com, to hear the play-by-play action. The Falcons' next home game is Dec. 30 when the Providence Bruins make their first trip of the season to Springfield. To purchase tickets, visit the Civic Center box office, or call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602 to order by phone. Tickets can also be ordered online by visiting the Falcons' official web site.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 18, 2004


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