Falcons Fall to Providence, 3-0

Published on February 20, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Providence, RI – The Springfield Falcons suffered a 3-0 defeat to the Providence Bruins before an announced crowd of 9,377 at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Sunday. Providence goaltender Chris Madden made 18 saves in his first appearance for the Bruins after being signed on Saturday. Forwards Brad Boyes, Ben Guite, and Andy Hilbert each scored for the Bruins.

The game marked the second consecutive shutout against the Falcons.

Brian Eklund helped the Falcons kill off an early penalty by making a pad save to deny Hilbert who had a one-on-one chance with the Springfield netminder after receiving a pass in the slot.

Despite killing off four Bruins' power plays in the opening period, the Falcons entered the last minute of the frame in a scoreless tie. The Falcons appeared to take the lead during the closing minute by putting a rebound into the net, but the goal was waved off due to referee Francois St. Laurent losing sight of the puck and blowing the whistle.

Boyes then scored his 22nd goal of the season with 3.1 seconds left in the period to send Providence into the intermission with a lead. After a face-off in the Falcons' zone, a shot by Bruins left wing David Gove bounced off a Springfield defender back to Boyes in the right circle. Boyes snapped a low shot inside the post to the right of Eklund. The goal, which came just after Hilbert was sent off for roughing, was the sixth shorthanded tally by the Bruins this season.

Providence made the score 2-0 with 3:54 remaining in the second period on a goal by Guite. Martin Samuelsson carried the puck along the left wing deep into the Falcons' zone and fed Guite in front of the net where the University of Maine product knocked in the pass for his sixth goal of the season.

The Bruins converted their eighth power-play of the game with 5:27 remaining to play when Hilbert banked a shot off the skate of Falcons defenseman Paul Ranger and into the net. The goal was Bergeron's 17th of the campaign.

A line brawl, which included an encounter between netminders Eklund and Madden, broke out with 58 seconds remaining in the game. The melee began with a fight between Falcons center Nick Tarnasky and Providence forward Brendan Walsh, who was attempting to retaliate for a second-period altercation in which Tarnasky got the better of Bruins defenseman Chris Dyment, a former Falcon.

On the night, the team's combined for 186 penalty minutes.

The Falcons received three power plays in the game. Providence converted one out of 11 chances with the man advantage in the contest.

Eklund stopped 36 of 39 shots in the loss.

Madden collected the win in his first AHL start after being signed on Saturday to fill in for goaltender Hannu Toivonen, who was injured in the Bruins' game on Friday versus the Albany River Rats. Madden was 19-5-2 in 28 games with the Long Beach IceDogs of the ECHL this season.

The Falcons return to the Springfield Civic Center where they will face the Norfolk Admirals this Wednesday in a 7:05 p.m. contest. It is the Admirals' first visit of the season to The Nest. To purchase tickets, visit the Springfield Civic Center box office, call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602 to order by phone, or log onto www.falconsahl.com to order tickets online.

For a complete box score of Sunday's game, please click on the following link: http://www.theahl.com/AHLBoxscores0405/139990.html

Three Stars of the Game:

Chris Madden – Providence

Brad Boyes - Providence

Ben Guite – Providence

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American Hockey League Stories from February 20, 2005


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