Falcons Edge the Pirates in Shootout, 3-2

December 23, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


PORTLAND, ME – The Springfield Falcons emerged with a 3-2 shootout win on the game winning goal by Nikita Alexeev on Thursday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

The Pirates jumped out to an early lead at the 3:16 mark of the first period with a goal by Brian Sutherby. The original shot came from Chris Hajt at the left wing point, hit the traffic in front of the net, and then deflected off to the right of Springfield's goaltender Brian Eklund. Sutherby found the loose puck and fired it to the left side of the cage to give the Pirates the 1-0 lead.

The Falcons evened the score at the 2:50 mark of the second period on a powerplay goal by Brian Chapman. Chapman received the puck at the point from Craig Darby along the left wing wall and he fired a wrist shot through both the traffic and Maxime Ouellet's legs to tie the game at 1-1.

Jason Ulmer returned the lead to the Pirates just 63 seconds after Springfield's goal. Jakub Klepis took the original shot that ended up in the crease under the Falcons goaltender Brian Eklund. After a few jabs by the Pirates Owen Fussey and Jakub Klepis, the puck came loose and Jason Ulmer directed it across the goal line to give the Pirates the 2-1 lead.

In the third period, the Falcons struck again on the powerplay to tie the game on a marker from Adam Henrich. Brian Chapman sent the puck into the Pirates end and after a unpredictable bounce off the left corner boards, the puck kicked out to Henrich in the slot. He fired the shot just under Ouellet's blocker to tie the game at 2-2.

Neither team scored during the rest of regulation, forcing the game to overtime. All five games this season between the Pirates and Falcons have gone to sudden death. A scoreless overtime resulted in a shootout for the second time between the two teams.

In the shootout, Craig Darby immediately scored one for the Falcons. The next eight shooters failed to put the puck in the net which forced Brian Willsie into a must score situation on the Pirates final shot. Willsie snuck the puck underneath Eklund's blocker to tie the shootout. As the shootout progressed to a sudden death situation, Nikita Alexeex scored for the Falcons, while Tomas Fleischmann failed to answer for the Pirates on his attempt, and the Falcons went on to the 3-2 victory. Despite the loss for the Pirates, goaltender Maxime Ouellet made a sensational season high 45 saves.

Three Stars of the Game: 1. Maxime Ouellet (POR) 2. Brian Chapman (SPR) 3. Jakub Klepis (POR)

The Pirates next home game will be on December 31st against the Providence Bruins at 5:35 p.m. It will be Kids New Years noisemakers giveaway night! Stay after the game for the biggest, most spectacular indoor fireworks in the northeast presented by Atlas PyroVision Productions, sponsored by the Cumberland County Civic Center.



American Hockey League Stories from December 23, 2004


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