Falcons Fall Short to Phantoms

Published on November 4, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons three-game win streak came to an end on Friday night as they lost by a goal to the Adirondack Phantoms by a score of 2-1 in front of 4,496 at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons were unable to overcome a shorthanded Adirondack goal in the last minute of the first period, despite a charged effort by Cam Atkinson and Danny Taylor.

Atkinson says his team played well, but there is more work to do. "I think we as a team respond well to going down a goal, but we can't play like that," said Atkinson. "We've got to set our goals higher and be one or two goals ahead of them, so we need to keep working."

In the first period, the Falcons were forced to play from behind when the Phantoms' Garrett Klotz was able to trickle one in past Taylor at 2:37. The Falcons were soon to answer on the power play by stringing together four quick tape-to-tape passes. Atkinson scored his fourth goal of the season at 8:17 of the first after Martin St. Pierre dished it to Nick Drazenovic who set up Atkinson for the game-tying goal.

Atkinson says the success on the power play is a result of practice. "We've been working on that for the past couple weeks," said Atkinson. "We were able to move the puck around pretty well I was fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time and Marty (St.Pierre) made a great play."

Falcons head coach Rob Riley likes what he has been seeing from the power play. "Our power play has been good, I think we're gaining a lot of chances," said Riley.

A last-minute turnover at the Falcons' blue line lead to a shorthanded breakaway goal by Phantoms' Jon Kalinski at 19:34, giving Adirondack a 2-1 lead after the first period of play.

The scoreless second period got physical when Falcons' captain Dane Byers sent an early message, lifting Oliver Lauridsen off his feet in the corner with a hit. The Falcons came close to tying the game with a shorthanded bid from Drazenovic. Drazenovic carried the puck to Adirondack goaltender Michael Leighton and ringed one off the post, but the period came to close with the Falcons down 2-1.

As the Falcons pushed for an equalizer in the third period, Taylor kept hope alive, stunning the Phantoms' Tom Sestito and Denis Hamel with two last-second reaction saves at 10:57. The Falcons couldn't overcome their deficit, losing to the Phantoms by a goal at 2-1.

Taylor denied 22 of the 24 shots thrown his way and the Falcons record now drops to an even 6-6 after Friday's loss.

The Portland Pirates come to town next Friday night as the Falcons play their fourth straight game at the MassMutual Center at 7:30.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 4, 2011


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