Falcons Fall to Hartford in Final Home Game of Season, 4-1

Published on April 17, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. – In the Falcons' season home finale, the club suffered a 4-1 defeat to the Hartford Wolf Pack before 4,581 at the Springfield Civic Center on Saturday night. Rookie right wing Darren Reid scored the lone Falcons' goal as Springfield was frustrated by netminder Jason LaBarbera, who stopped 25 of 26 shots in the Hartford net. Wolf Pack left wing Alexandre Giroux scored twice in the contentious affair.

For the seventh straight game, the Falcons struck first when Reid scored his third goal of the season 2:52 into the game. Seconds after LaBarbera thwarted a golden scoring chance by Reid, the Falcons rookie snuck a quick backhand from the left circle past the goaltender for the score.

While the teams were changing lines with 3:07 left in the opening period, a brawl broke out near center ice and continued for several minutes. Reid and right wing Andre Deveaux were given game misconducts for the Falcons following the melee. Hartford's Steve McIntyre, Martin Grenier, and Trevor Gillies were ejected as well. Gillies was issued a match penalty for a blind-side punch on Reid.

The Falcons received an extended five-on-three power play as result of the fracas, but were not able to take advantage of it.

The Wolf Pack evened the game with an unassisted shorthanded goal by Dominic Moore 4:11 into the second period. On the play, Moore carried the puck down the left boards from the Hartford zone on a three-on-one rush. The second-year pro snapped a shot from the right face-off dot off the post and in for his 18th tally of the campaign.

During a Hartford man advantage late in the middle frame, UMass-Amherst alum Thomas Pock sailed a wrist shot from the point past the Falcons' screened goaltender Brian Eklund after Springfield was unable to clear the puck out of their zone. The goal, which came with 1:30 remaining in the period, was the first of season for Pock and provided the Wolf Pack with a 2-1 lead.

Giroux capped scoring with back-to-back goals 1:42 apart late in the third period. Hartford's leading goal-scorer fired a wrist shot between Eklund's pads from between the face-off circles with 3:46 remaining. His shot from below the goal line banked in for his 32nd goal of the season with 2:04 left.

The teams combined for 226 penalty minutes in the game. Springfield's 97 PIM were the most for the team this season. The Wolf Pack were issued 129 PIM a high for a Falcons' opponent this season, but not the most for Hartford this campaign. The club received 166 minutes in penalties against the Providence Bruins on Feb. 4.

The Falcons were scoreless on eight power plays in the contest while the Wolf Pack converted one of their nine opportunities with the man advantage.

Eklund made 28 saves in the game. LaBarbera stopped 25 of 26 shots in the Wolf Pack net.

Springfield rookie defenseman Paul Ranger extended his season-high point streak to four games with an assist on Reid's goal.

As a result of the game, Hartford moved to within two points of the Manchester Monarchs for first place in the Atlantic Division and matched the Monarchs win total on the season. Manchester lost in regulation to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday evening. Both teams complete their regular season on Sunday.

During a pre-game ceremony, the Falcons' team awards were presented. The awards and recipients are listed below:

Kay McDonald Memorial Award (Good Sportsmanship) – Shane Willis

Florence Kurdziel Unsung Hero Award – Andre Deveaux

Roland Brault Player's Player Award – Ryan Craig

Dick Casey "True Grit" Award – Nick Tarnasky

Fred Cowell Best Defensive Player Award – Ryan Craig

GSL Most Popular Player Award – Ryan Craig

Jim Denver Good Guy Award (Community Service) - Mike Egener, Mitch Fritz, Shane Willis

Furmano's Fan Favorite Award – Shane Willis

Hooters Favorite Defenseman Award – Brian Chapman

Friendly's Ice Cream Three Star Award – Shane Willis

Falcons' AHL Man of the Year – Shane Willis

First Annual Everett and Thelma Miller "Fan of the Year" Award – Everett and Thelma Miller

Ross Lowe Memorial Award (Falcons Booster Club MVP) – Brian Eklund

The Falcons will conclude the season with a rematch against the Wolf Pack in Hartford on Sunday. Game time is 4:05 p.m. Tune into The ZONE – Sports Radio 640 to hear Marc Shelanski's live play-by-play call of the action. The broadcast begins with the pre-game show at 3:35 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 17, 2005


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