Falcons Face Phantoms in Tampa on Wednesday

Published on December 14, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. – The Springfield Falcons fly south this week to take on the East Division-leading Philadelphia Phantoms at the St. Pete Times Forum, home of their NHL affiliate, the Tampa Bay Lightning, on Wednesday. Game time is 7:35 p.m. The game marks the first American Hockey League contest to be played at the St. Pete Times Forum, the location that the Lightning captured the Stanley Cup last June. The Falcons will practice at the Forum on Tuesday and Wednesday prior to the match-up versus the Phantoms. The game will be televised by Florida's Sunshine Network, which is available on DirecTV with some packages. In Springfield, JT's Sports Pub, Champions Sports Bar, and Hooters will show the game.

The Falcons will return to New England to visit the Providence Bruins on Friday, host the Albany River Rats at The Nest on Saturday and challenge the Lock Monsters in Lowell on Sunday.

Team Notes: Excluding empty net goals, the last 11 Falcons' games have been decided by one goal or by a shootout.... LW Steve McLaren skated in his 500th professional game on Friday at Worcester where he played three seasons before joining the Falcons this campaign.... Forwards Ryan Craig (12g) and Shane Willis (11a) have combined to score 23 of the Falcons' 54 goals this season.... G Jamie Storr ranks second in the AHL with 616 saves this season.... C Jason Jaspers skated in his 200th game as a Falcon on Wednesday at Hartford to surpass C Erik Westrum for eighth on the franchise's all-time list.... The Syracuse Crunch today announced that the club has signed former Falcons Chris and Peter Ferraro to AHL contracts.

Roster Update: The Falcons signed LW Brandon Elliott to an amateur tryout on Thursday. The Lightning's fourth selection in the most recent NHL Draft was a healthy scratch on Friday and Sunday.... D Mike Egener has missed the last 11 games with an injury.... D Gerard Dicaire skated in Friday's and Saturday's contests to mark the first time this season he has skated in back-to-back games after recovering from off-season surgery.... RW Evgeni Artukhin was issued a ten-game suspension from the AHL last Wednesday for making contact with an official in the Dec. 4 game versus Albany.

Upcoming Opponents:

Falcons vs. Philadelphia Phantoms

St. Pete Times Forum

Wednesday, Dec. 15

The Falcons challenge the Phantoms (19-5-1-0, 39 pts) who own the second-best record in the AHL.... The Falcons carry an all-time record of 5-7-2 versus the Phantoms.... Philadelphia set an AHL record with 17 straight wins earlier this season. The Phantoms won each of their games from Oct. 22 to Nov. 27.... RW Mark Murphy, a native of Duxbury, Mass., leads Philadelphia in assists (14), points (21), and plus/minus (+14).... LW Jon Sim has scored three game-winning goals and registered 11 points (6g, 5a) in 12 games since being loaned to Philadelphia by the Utah Grizzlies in exchange for C Peter White, the Phantoms' all-time leading scorer, on Nov. 14.... In the club's last game on Sunday, Philadelphia snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-1 win over the Calder Cup-champion Milwaukee Admirals.... The Phantoms are 6-4-0-0 in road games this season.... Philadelphia ranks fifth in the league in power-play success (19.7%) and tenth in penalty killing (86.4%).... The Phantoms have outscored opponents, 35-16, in the second period of games this season.... The team is 4-1 in overtime games this season and 3-0 in shootouts.... LW Josh Gratton ranks third in the league in penalty minutes (156).... First-year C R.J. Umberger is tied for second in the AHL in scoring among rookies with 19 points (9g, 10a).... Phantoms G Antero Niittymaki leads the AHL with three shootout wins, is tied for second in wins (13), and ranks fifth in the league in GAA (1.85).

Falcons at Providence Bruins

Dunkin' Donuts Center

Friday, Dec. 17

The Falcons visit the P-Bruins (13-10-2-3, 31 pts) in the fourth of ten meetings between the division rivals this season. It is the fourth match-up of the campaign in Providence. The Bruins will make their first trip of the season to Springfield on Jan. 7.... The Falcons are 1-2-0-0 this season and 44-58-5 all-time against the P-Bruins.... C Patrice Bergeron was scheduled to report to the Canadian National Team yesterday for the World Junior Championships to be played in Grand Forks, North Dakota and Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Bergeron, who ranked fifth among NHL rookies in scoring (39 pts) last season, leads Providence in assists (17) and shares the team lead in points (27) this season.... Falcons rookie Adam Henrich has registered three points (2g, 1a) versus the Bruins to pace Springfield in the season series.... Forwards Andy Hilbert (2g, 2a) and Brad Boyes (1g, 3a) have recorded four points apiece versus the Falcons to lead Providence.... The P-Bruins own a 9-2-2-0 record at home this season and have won their last three games at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.... Providence has converted 30.5% of their power plays at home to lead the AHL.... Boyes is tied for second in the AHL with eight power-play goals.... Hilbert's 119 shots on goal lead the league.... Providence G Hannu Toivonen ranks 10th in the AHL in GAA (2.12).

Falcons vs. Albany River Rats

Springfield Civic Center

Saturday, Dec. 18

The Falcons skate against the River Rats (9-10-4-3, 25 pts) in the third of six encounters between the clubs this season. The teams have split their first two meetings this season. The Falcons claimed a 4-3 win in Albany on Nov. 26. The Rats responded with a 3-1 win at the Civic Center on Dec. 4.... Springfield's Nikita Alexeev and Albany D Ray Schultz have each posted a goal and two assists in the season series to lead their respective clubs.... G Brian Eklund has received both starts in the Falcons nets versus the Rats, registering a 2.53 GAA and .922 SV%.... Albany G Scott Clemmensen has recorded a 2.53 GAA and .911 SV% in two games against the Falcons this season.... Springfield has killed off all ten of Albany's power-play chances in the season series.... Albany RW Aleksander Suglobov was named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week today after posting five goals and two assists in three games last week.... The Rats are 5-3-2-2 on the road this season.... Albany ranks 11th in the AHL in penalty killing (85.5%).... The River Rats have outscored opponents, 24-17, in the third period of games this season.... C Zach Parise leads AHL rookies in points (20) and assists (15).

Falcons at Lowell Lock Monsters

Tsongas Arena

Sunday, Dec. 19

The Falcons make their third trip of the season to Lowell in the third of ten season match-ups with the Lock Monsters (14-8-1-1, 30 pts).... Lowell claimed the first two encounters.... The Falcons hold a record of 19-23-4 all-time versus the Monsters.... Lowell is currently riding a four-game winning streak.... The AHL today announced a ten-game suspension issued to Lowell head coach Tom Rowe for his role in the Lock Monsters' brawl with the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday. Lowell left wing Brantt Mhyres was suspended eight games for his actions during the altercation. Rowe and Mhyres will each miss Sunday's game. Monsters defenseman Allan Rourke received a three-game league suspension which will be completed this Saturday when Lowell hosts the Worcester IceCats.... The Lock Monsters rank fifth in the AHL in home power-play success (21.6%).... Lowell as scored six shorthanded goals this season to tie for second in the league.... The Lock Monsters are 10-0-0-1 when leading after the second period this season.... Monsters C Mike Zigomanis has scored a goal in each of his last three games.... C Eric Staal, the second overall selection in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft (by Carolina) is tied for tenth in AHL scoring with 27 points (6g, 19a).... Lowell G Brent Krahn has posted four shutouts this season to share the league lead.

Upcoming Community Events:

Falcons Toy Collection brought to you by Kraft Foods – December 18, 30 & January 1 – Fans are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to the game and receive a discount coupon for the Wednesday, February 23rd game vs. Norfolk.

Toys will be distributed to the Baystate Medical Center's Children's Hospital and Shriners Hospitals in February.

"A Touch of Class" Cocktail Event sponsored by The Delaney House – The Springfield Falcons and The Delaney House in Holyoke have teamed up for a very special "Dress to the Nines" event on Wednesday, January 26th from 5:30-8 p.m. Falcon players will be on hand as your hosts. The event will involve player auctions. Tickets are $25.00 each and are on sale now at 413-739-3344, via email at cappleton@falconsahl.com, or Falcons home games through Jan. 15. Proceeds to benefit Springfield Falcons Charities, Inc. The perfect Holiday gift for the ultimate Falcons fan. Items up for bid include:

-General Manager for a Day with Bruce Landon

-Golf Afternoon with a Player

-Go-Kart Racing with Players

-Personal Training Session with Strength & Conditioning Coach Adam Rambo

-Tampa Bay Lightning Merchandise

Radio Broadcasts:

Tune into The ZONE – Sports Radio 640 to hear all four Falcons' games this week. Voice of the Falcons Marc Shelanski calls the action. The pregame show begins 30 minutes prior to the opening face-off. Sunday's contest will be broadcast in its entirety following NFL football. Fans can also listen via the Internet by clicking on the MassLive.com Cybercast icon on the Falcons official web site, www.falconsahl.com.

Tickets:

Tickets for Falcons home games can be ordered through the Springfield Civic Center box office located along East Court Street. To order by phone, please call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602. Tickets can also be ordered online by visiting the Falcons' official web site, www.falconsahl.com. Groups of 15 or more can receive discount savings by contacting the Falcons' team office at (413) 739-3344. Group tickets must be ordered in advance.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 14, 2004


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