Falcons Fall in Hartford, 3-1

Published on October 24, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Hartford, Conn. – The Springfield Falcons were downed by the Hartford Wolf Pack, 3-1, at the Hartford Civic Center on Sunday. Despite the loss, Falcons netminder Jamie Storr turned in a stellar effort making an AHL season-high 47 saves. Defenseman Terry Virtue tallied the lone Springfield goal during a second-period power play.

Hartford scored the first period's only goal 12:01 into the game. Defenseman Lawrence Nycholat scored with a quick close-range wrist shot after being set up by second-year center Dominic Moore with a pass across the Springfield zone. The marker was Nycholat's first of the season.

Wolf Pack goaltender Jason LaBarbera made a couple of MVP-type saves to hold the Falcons off the scoreboard in the opening frame. Shane Willis was denied by a LaBarbera pad save on a slap shot from between the face-off circles after receiving a drop pass during a three-on-two rush. The Hartford netminder also thwarted a one-on-one chance by Adam Henrich, who found his way to the front of the net with a great effort in the closing seconds of the period.

The Falcons tied the game midway through the second period when Virtue scored with the man advantage. Willis fed Virtue in the high slot with a pass from the boards that the veteran defenseman one-timed past LaBarbera. Henrich also collected an assist. The goal was the Springfield's first on the power play this season and Virtue's first as a Falcon.

Hartford defenseman Bryce Lampman made the score 2-1 when he lifted a shot under the crossbar with 2:21 left in the middle stanza. Lampman pinched in from the point to receive a pass from Wolf Pack captain Ken Gernander that left him one-on-one with Storr.

Storr kept the Falcons within a goal for most of the third period with several standout stops including a kick save that robbed center Chad Wiseman who was stationed at the edge of the crease. A flash of the glove by Storr denied a blast from the left face-off circle by Lampman.

Seconds after the Springfield line of Craig Darby, Henrich and Willis nearly potted a game-tying goal during extended pressure, Wiseman scored for the Wolf Pack from the right wing face-off dot to provide Hartford an insurance goal with 2:46 remaining to play.

The Wolf Pack outshot the Falcons, 50-24, in the game. Springfield converted one-of-seven power-play chances and held Hartford scoreless on the Pack's five opportunities with the man advantage.

The Falcons had a goal waved off 2:16 into the contest when referee Dave Hansen ruled that the puck had been kicked in the net.

The Wolf Pack improved their record to 4-0 with the victory.

The Stanley Cup will be on hand when the Falcons take on the Portland Pirates in their next game this Friday at the Springfield Civic Center. Tickets to the game are available through the Springfield Civic Center box office. To order by phone, please call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602. For group ticket information, please contact the Falcons team office at (413) 739-3344.

For a complete box score of the game, please click on the following link: http://www.theahl.com/AHLBoxscores0405/139295.html

Three Stars of the Game:

Bryce Lampman – Hartford

Ken Gernander – Hartford

Jamie Storr - Springfield

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



American Hockey League Stories from October 24, 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