Falcons Downed in Hartford, 5-0

Published on January 19, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. – The Springfield Falcons fell to the Hartford Wolf Pack, 5-0, at the Hartford Civic Center on Wednesday evening. Hartford forwards Chad Wiseman and Jozef Balej each scored twice in the game. Former Falcon Steve Valiquette stopped 21 shots in the Wolf Pack net to register his third shutout of the season. Springfield goaltender Brian Eklund made 41 shots during the contest.

The Wolf Pack opened scoring by capitalizing on a four-on-three man advantage 10:13 into the game. Defenseman Bryce Lampman centered a pass from out of the corner between the three Springfield penalty killers to set up center Jamie Lundmark in the high slot. Lundmark's one-timer beat Eklund to the glove side as the goaltender was sliding across the crease in the opposite direction to follow the course of Lampman's pass. The goal was Lundmark's sixth of the season.

The Falcons had an opportunity to knot the game late in the period when the team received a five-on-three power play for 1:31 created by consecutive penalties issued to Hartford's Dwight Helliman for holding and Lawrence Nycholat for high sticking. However, the club was unable to convert.

Wiseman knocked in the rebound of a shot by linemate Dominic Moore with a backhand to make the score 2-0 with 58 seconds remaining in the first frame.

Wiseman scored again 2:53 into the second period during a power play. Balej fed Wiseman, who had cut to the right post, with a pass out of the left corner. Wiseman swept in the puck for his 14th goal overall this season and fifth versus the Falcons.

The Wolf Pack were awarded a penalty shot at 6:14 when Balej was hooked to the ice by Doug O'Brien after getting behind the Springfield defense. Balej converted the free try with a low wrist shot inside the right post. Balej also received a penalty shot against the Falcons on Nov. 20 in Springfield. He was denied on that attempt by Jamie Storr in a game eventually won by the Falcons, 3-2 in a shootout.

Hartford stretched its lead to five on Balej's second goal of the night. After defenseman Harlan Pratt stepped on a broken stick and fell to the ice in the Falcons' zone, Wolf Pack center Layne Ulmer collected the loose puck and set up Balej at the left edge of the crease, who backhanded the disc into the net.

The Falcons had a chance to spoil Valiquette's shutout in the closing minutes when Mitch Fritz received a penalty shot. However, Valiquette stopped Fritz's snap shot with a right pad save.

The Falcons had seven chances with the man advantage in the game. The Wolf Pack scored twice on four power-play opportunities.

Hartford held a 46-21 shot advantage in the game.

The Falcons are 2-4-0-0 versus the Wolf Pack as the home team has won every game in the season series.

The Falcons will host of pair of games at the Springfield Civic Center this weekend. The club will face the Lowell Lock Monsters beginning at 7:35 p.m. on Friday and the Providence Bruins next Saturday in a 7:05 p.m. contest. 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.

For a complete box score of Wednesday night's game, please click on the following link: http://www.theahl.com/AHLBoxscores0405/139792.html

Three Stars of the Game:

Chad Wiseman – Hartford

Jozef Balej – Hartford

Steve Valiquette – Hartford

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American Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2005


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