Falcons Fall to P-Bruins in Season Opener, 5-2
October 10, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Providence, RI â Springfield center Jeff Taffe scored a pair of power-play goals in the second period, however, the Falcons dropped their 2003-04 season opener to the Providence Bruins, 5-2, at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Friday night. Providence blitzed the Falcons with four goals in the first 9:02 of the middle frame to gain control of the contest. Bruins left wing Darren VanOene tallied two goals and an assist, while forwards Brett Nowak and Sergei Zinovjev collected two assists each. Providence netminder Hannu Toivonen stopped 34 of 36 shots to earn the win. Falcons right wing Peter Ferraro assisted on both of Taffe's goals and goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier made 27 saves. Springfield will look to rebound on Saturday night in their home opener at the Springfield Civic Center against the Albany River Rats. Game time is 7:35 p.m.
Providence scored the lone goal of the first period at 7:46 when Zdenek Kutlak snapped a shot that Pelletier initially blocked with his right shoulder, but had enough momentum to bounce into the net.
VanOene posted his first goal of the night early in the second period. The forward scored from the top of the crease by shoveling in the rebound of shot by Zinovjev at 1:59.
The Falcons took advantage of a slashing penalty issued to Providence left wing Doug Doull to pull to within a goal at the 4:16 mark. On the play, Peter Ferraro flipped the puck through the crease from below the goal line to an open Taffe who was standing off the right post. Taffe lifted the puck into the net to make the score 2-1.
However, Providence responded just 29 seconds later when VanOene skated down the slot before one-timing a feed from center Brett Nowak for his second goal of the evening.
The Bruins followed with goals by center Kris Vernarsky at 6:10 and forward Blake Bellefeuille at 9:02 of the second period.
At the 12:23 mark of the frame, Taffe potted his second goal for the Falcons by using a nifty toe-drag move at the top of the left wing face-off circle before placing a shot between the leg pads of Toivonen.
The Falcons were not able to cut any further into the Providence lead.
Springfield finished the game two-for-six with the man advantage and killed off each of Providence's five power plays. The Falcons outshot the Bruins, 36-33, for the game.
Three stars of the game:
1. Darren VanOene - Providence
2. Jeff Taffe â Springfield
3. Hannu Toivonen â Providence
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