Falcons face off with Hartford and Worcester this weekend

Published on February 27, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, MA – Riding a five-game unbeaten streak, the Falcons look to continue winning ways this weekend in three games against their two nearest geographic rivals, the Hartford Wolf Pack and Worcester IceCats. The Falcons will host the Wolf Pack on Friday evening and the ‘Cats on Saturday night at the Springfield Civic Center. Start time for both contests is 7:35 p.m. The club will visit the Wolf Pack at the Hartford Civic Center on Sunday beginning at 4:05 p.m.

During the Falcons five-game unbeaten streak (3-0-2-0) forwards Chris Ferraro (4g, 3a) and Frantisek Lukes (2g, 5a) have led the club in scoring with seven points each. Lukes posted the first three-point game (2g, 1a) of his career in this past Sunday's 5-3 win over the Binghamton Senators at the Civic Center. Defenseman Bryan Helmer, who was recalled by the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday, registered six points (1g, 5a) while pacing the team in plus/minus at +5 over that span. Peter Ferraro (2g, 3a) and Jason Jaspers (2g, 3a) have also played at a point-a-game pace during the streak. Goaltender David LeNeveu has registered a goals against average (GAA) of 2.53 and a .914 save percentage (SV%) during the five-game run.

Falcons vs. Hartford Wolf Pack

Friday, February 27

Falcons at Hartford Wolf Pack

Sunday, February 29

The Falcons take on the Atlantic Division-leading Wolf Pack (32-16-9-1, 74 pts) in the eighth and ninth meetings of the season this weekend. The I-91 rivals will face-off for the final time of the regular season on Friday, March 12 in Springfield.... The Falcons are 1-4-2-0 versus Hartford this season and 26-37-6 all-time against the franchise.... The teams skated to a 3-3 tie in the last match-up on February 18 at The Nest. Springfield scored twice in the final two minutes of regulation to pull even and extend the contest to overtime. Falcons defenseman Jeremiah McCarthy made the score 3-2 with a late goal and then set up rookie forward Frantisek Lukes for the game-tying tally with 43 seconds remaining.... The Wolf Pack are unbeaten in their last eight games (7-0-1-0) with the Falcons being the lone team to muster a tie against the club.... Hartford netminder Jason LaBarbera has seen all the action in the Wolf Pack net during the eight-game streak, posting a 0.86 goals against average (GAA), a .967 save percentage (SV%), and four shutouts. LaBarbera set an AHL record with his 10th shutout of the season on February 13th versus the Philadelphia Phantoms. The goaltender has since collected two more blankings to bring his record-setting total for the season to 12.... Hartford left wing Chad Wiseman has notched nine points (3g, 6a) during the Wolf Pack unbeaten streak while center Cory Larose has registered eight points (2g, 6a). Defensemen Matt Kinch (+11) and Jamie Pushor (+10) have led the team in plus/minus during the eight-game run.... Peter Ferraro (2g, 3a) and Mike Stutzel (2g, 3a) have paced the Falcons in scoring versus Hartford this season with five points apiece.... Wolf Pack captain Ken Gernander has led his club in points against the Falcons this season with six (2g, 4a).

Falcons vs. Worcester IceCats

Saturday, February 28

The Falcons meet the Worcester IceCats (25-21-10-1, 61 pts) in the ninth of ten encounters between the clubs this season on Saturday. The Falcons carry a record of 3-3-1-1 on the campaign against the ‘Cats and are 37-46-13 all-time versus the team. Springfield challenges the IceCats for the final time this season on Sunday, March 7 in Worcester.... The IceCats claimed the last meeting with a 2-1 win over the Falcons on January 30 at The Nest. Forwards Scott Pellerin and Ernie Hartlieb provided scoring for Worcester. Jaspers tallied with 3:09 remaining in regulation. ‘Cats goaltender Curtis Sanford stopped 29 of 30 shots to earn the win.... Peter Ferraro (4g, 3a) and Mike Stutzel (4g, 3a) lead the Falcons in scoring against the IceCats this season with seven points each. Stutzel is a team-best +5 versus Worcester this season. The rookie left wing posted the first hat trick of his professional career against the ‘Cats on December 5. LeNeveu owns a record of 3-1-0, a 1.52 GAA, and .957 SV% in four appearances versus Worcester this season.... Center Mike Glumac leads the IceCats against Springfield with eight points (5g, 3a) and a +4 plus/minus rating in the season series. Sanford has registered a 2-2-0 record, 1.77 GAA, and .929 SV% in Worcester net against the Falcons this season..... The IceCats snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-2 overtime win over the Providence Bruins in their last game on Sunday. It marked the first time in five contests that Worcester had scored more than two goals in a game..... Last season's Hobey Baker Award winner Peter Sejna (3g, 6a) has posted nine points over his last ten games for the IceCats.... Five different goaltenders – Sanford, Brent Johnson, Mike Valley, Kirk Daubenspeck, and Jake Moreland - have seen game action for Worcester over the club's last five games.

Falcons Roster: Centers Krystofer Kolanos and Erik Westrum and defensemen Todd Reirden and Bryan Helmer remain with the Phoenix Coyotes following recent recalls. Kolanos (Sunday), Westrum (Monday) and Helmer (Wednesday) were called up by the Coyotes this week. Kolanos has skated in two games for the Coyotes this week. Westrum and Helmer are expected to play for the club versus the Edmonton Oilers tonight. It will mark Westrum's NHL debut. Reirden was recalled on February 14 and has collected two assists in six games with Phoenix.... Springfield released goaltender Scott Dickie from his professional tryout agreement on Monday. The netminder returned to Adirondack of the United Hockey League (UHL).... The Falcons signed goaltender Shawn Conschafter to a professional tryout agreement today. The Buffalo native completed a four-year collegiate career at the University of Vermont last season and has played for Memphis and Austin of the Central Hockey League (CHL) this season.... Defensemen Mike Wilson and Matthew Spiller are each expected to return to the Falcons' line-up this weekend after missing time with injuries. Spiller was injured in last Friday's contest at Portland and sat out the following two games. Wilson has missed Springfield's last nine games.

Promotions: Ashley Gearing – Friday

Lyric Street Recording Artist and Springfield native Ashley Gearing will perform Friday night when the Falcons host Hartford at the Civic Center. Ashley will sing the national anthem and perform a mini-concert during the first intermission of the game.

Mount Snow Night – Saturday

$10 off your lift ticket, any day, any time! Bring your Falcons ticket stub from the Saturday's game versus Worcester to any Mount Snow ticket window to receive a $10 discount on a lift ticket.

Fisher Nut Giveaway – Saturday

Fans in attendance will receive packages of Fisher Nuts following Saturday's game for the ride home.

Radio:

The live play-by-play call by the voice of the Falcons, Marc Shelanski, can be heard during each of the Falcons' games this weekend on The ZONE – Sports Radio 640. The pre-game show begins 30 minutes prior to the opening face-off.

For information on tickets and group discounts, please contact the Falcons team office at (413) 739-3344. Individual game tickets can be ordered by phone through the Civic Center box office at (413) 787-6600.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2004


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