Falcons edged by Pirates to close season
April 11, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Portland, ME â The Springfield Falcons fell to the Portland Pirates, 3-2, before a crowd of 3,996 at the Cumberland County Civic Center in the team's final game of the 2003-04 campaign. Falcons goaltender David LeNeveu capped his rookie season with a 29-save effort. Veterans Todd Reirden and Chris Ferraro provided scoring for Springfield.
Reirden scored the only goal of the first period at the 12:40 mark with a shot from near the right boards. Portland netminder Rastislav Stana got his glove on the shot, but was not able to keep it out of the net.
LeNeveu protected Springfield's 1-0 lead by denying Owen Fussey on a breakaway late in the opening frame.
However, the Pirates scored three unanswered goals during the second period to vault to a two-goal lead. Left wing Alexander Semin tallied a power-play goal at 7:08 with Steve Eminger and Boyd Gordon collecting assists.
Portland center Brad Parsons put back the rebound of a shot from blueliner Shaone Morrisonn at 14:19 to make the score 2-1.
Forward Andrej Podkonicky added his 12th goal of the season for Portland from the left edge of the crease 3:48 later.
Chris Ferraro pulled the Falcons to within one by lifting a shot over Stana 56 seconds into the third period.
The Falcons outshot Portland, 9-6, in the final frame, but were not able to pull even in the contest.
Stana finished with 20 saves in the game to register his 14th win of the season. Gordon recorded two assists for Portland in the contest.
The Falcons finished the season with a record of 26-43-9-2.
The game closed the chapter on the Falcons' season as well as the club's 10-year affiliation with the Phoenix Coyotes' organization. The Falcons will begin a new affiliation with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2004-05 campaign. For information on season ticket and flex pack plans, please contact the Falcons team office at (413) 739-3344.
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