Falcons Drop Contest to Monarchs, 4-3

Published on April 10, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. – Despite holding a late lead against the conference front-running Manchester Monarchs, the Springfield Falcons came up just short in a 4-3 defeat before 4,282 at the Springfield Civic Center on Saturday evening. Veteran forwards Craig Darby and Derek Bekar each posted a goal and an assist for the Falcons while rookie Adam Henrich also scored. Manchester's Tom Kostopoulos and Brad Smyth scored back-to-back late in the third period to vault the Monarchs to the win.

The game entered the final frame in a 2-2 deadlock before Bekar scored 3:35 into the period to put the Falcons in front. The 29-year-old skated in on the net from the right wing before snapping a shot that was partially stopped by Monarchs goaltender Mathieu Garon, but carried across the goal line. Darby and defenseman Andreas Holmqvist assisted on the goal which was the seventh of the season for Bekar.

However, Manchester scored a pair of tallies 1:24 apart late in regulation to gain the come-from-behind win. Kostopoulos pounced on a rebound to the side of the net and whirled to lift a puck into the top of the net during a Monarchs power play with 6:36 left in the third period. Smyth followed by collecting a loose puck near the goal line to the right of Springfield netminder Brian Eklund and banked the puck off his pad and into the net for the deciding goal with 5:12 left.

The Falcons finished the game with a 29-28 shot advantage, but saw their record against the Monarchs fall to 0-8-2-0 while completing the season series.

The game was delayed 45 minutes between the first and second period due to one of the Zambonis breaking down with its auger embedded in the ice.

Eklund made 24 saves in the Springfield net.

The Falcons cashed in on their second power-play of the night to grab a 1-0 lead at 9:34 of the first period. Four seconds after Manchester defenseman Denis Grebeshkov was sent off for an interference penalty, Darby steered the puck around Garon after collecting the rebound of a Marc Busenburg shot at the top of the crease.

Although Springfield controlled play most of the opening frame, goaltender Brian Eklund helped maintain the Falcons' lead by stopping a one-on-one chance by Mike Cammalleri with nine minutes remaining in the period and a point-blank opportunity by David Steckel with three minutes left. The Falcons outshot the Monarchs, 14-7, over the first twenty minutes.

Manchester tied the game 4:57 into the second period when Cammalleri snapped a quick shot from the slot past Eklund after receiving a feed from the wing by Grebeshkov.

Center Matt Ryan scored with 4:44 remaining in the middle frame after getting behind the Springfield defense and lifting a shot over Eklund's glove to finish a partial breakaway.

Henrich tied the game, 2-2, with a breakaway goal with 29 seconds left in the second period. After stealing the puck from Cammalleri in the neutral zone, the rookie moved in to patiently lift a backhand past Garon for his ninth goal of the season.

The Falcons scored once on seven power play chances while Manchester converted one of four opportunities.

The Falcons will visit the Worcester IceCats for the final time on Sunday in a 4:05 p.m. contest. Tune into The ZONE – Sports Radio 640 to catch the live play-by-play action. The broadcast will begin with the pre-game show thirty minutes before the opening face-off. The Falcons' next game at the Civic Center is this Wednesday against the Lowell Lock Monsters. To order tickets, please visit the Civic Center box office or call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602. Ticket can also be ordered online through www.falconsahl.com.

For a complete box score of Saturday night's game, please click on the following link: http://www.theahl.com/AHLBoxscores0405/140286.html

Three Stars of the Game:

1. Brad Smyth – Manchester

2. Craig Darby – Springfield

3. Denis Grebeshkov - Manchester

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American Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2005


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