Falcons end road trip with 3-2 loss at Philadelphia

Published on January 25, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Philadelphia, PA – After being called up from the ECHL earlier in the day, defenseman Nick Deschenes scored the game-winning goal with 4:25 remaining in regulation to lead the Philadelphia Phantoms to a 3-2 win over the Springfield Falcons before a crowd of 6,553 at the Wachovia Spectrum on Sunday. Falcons center Erik Westrum had scored to break a 1-1 tie and provide Springfield with a short-lived lead early in the third period. Rookie forward Frantisek Lukes also connected for the Falcons, who wrapped up a stretch of five consecutive road games.

Westrum knocked the rebound of a high shot from defenseman Nikos Tselios into an open net to provide the Falcons with a 2-1 lead 1:27 into the third frame.

However, the lead lasted only 5:23 as the Phantoms pulled even on a power-play goal by defenseman Randy Jones, who scored on a shot from the point.

Deschenes potted the game-winning goal on a shot from the slot at 15:35 of the final period after right wing Kirby Law centered the puck from behind the net. The goal was the fifth of the season for Deschenes. Law collected his second assist of the game on the play.

Deschenes was called up to the Phantoms before the game on Sunday after being assigned to the ECHL's Trenton Titans on Thursday.

Falcons goaltender David LeNeveu stopped 29 of 32 shots in the game. Neil Little made 24 saves in the Philadelphia net while improving his record on the season to 14-8-0.

The Falcons grabbed an early lead in the game on their first power-play chance when Lukes slid the puck past Little for his second goal of the campaign 2:34 into the game. The tally marked the earliest that Springfield had scored a goal in a game this season.

Springfield would receive ten more power-play opportunities in the game, including three five-on-three advantages, but were not able to connect with the extra man again. The 11 power-play chances in the game were a season high for the Falcons. The Phantoms converted one of seven power-play opportunities.

Freddie Meyer snapped a shot past LeNeveu from the right wing face-off circle to knot the contest, 1-1, during four-on-four play at the 12:21 mark of the second period.

With his third-period goal, Westrum joined Peter Ferraro, Mike Stutzel and Jeff Taffe, who is currently with the Phoenix Coyotes, for the team lead in goal scoring with ten.

Center Ben Stafford assisted on each of Philadelphia's three goals in the game.

With two goals and three assists against the Falcons for the campaign, Law figured in the scoring of five of the Phantoms' six goals in the now concluded two-game season series. Philadelphia won both contests versus Springfield by the same 3-2 score, with the first victory coming in overtime at the Springfield Civic Center on January 9th.

The Falcons finished their five-game road stretch with a record of 1-4-0.

The Falcons now return to Springfield to host the intrastate-rival Worcester IceCats on Friday and Lowell Lock Monsters on Saturday at the Civic Center. The first 5,000 fans to Saturday's game will receive a 2003-04 Falcons team poster courtesy of Teddy Bear Pools and Spas. An autograph session will follow the game. In addition, the Teddy Bear Pools and Spas Teddy Bear Toss will be held during Saturday's game to benefit local hospitals and shelters. For additional information on tickets and promotions, please contact the Falcons team office at (413) 739-3344.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from January 25, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central