Falcons Gain 3-2 Shootout Win Over Wolf Pack

Published on November 21, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. – Goaltender Jamie Storr stopped 34 of 36 shots to backstop the Springfield Falcons to a 3-2 shootout win over the Hartford Wolf Pack before a crowd of 4,133 at the Springfield Civic Center on Saturday night. Falcons rookie Adam Henrich and forward Ryan Craig each scored in the win. Storr also denied Hartford on all four of the team's shootout attempts as well as a second period penalty shot by Jozef Balej.

Both Storr and Wolf Pack netminder Jason LaBarbera demonstrated early on with their play that goals would be hard to come by in the game. Storr robbed Hartford left wing Chad Wiseman from point blank range with a pad save during a first period power play. LaBarbera answered a short time later by getting his glove on a redirection by Shane Willis off a centering feed from the wing by Terry Virtue.

Henrich opened scoring 5:14 into the second period by carrying the puck from the neutral zone along the right boards before lifting a shot under the crossbar. The goal marked Henrich's fourth of the season.

A penalty shot awarded to Balej 50 seconds later provided Hartford a chance to knot the game. However, Storr held his skate to his left post to thwart Balej as he tried to sneak the puck across the goal line after a couple of dekes.

The Falcons capitalized on a five-on-three power play at the 11:46 mark of the frame when Craig notched his team-leading sixth goal of the season. Craig snapped a shot into the top corner from the inner edge of the left face-off circle after receiving a pass from the goal line by Willis to make the score 2-0.

The Wolf Pack cut the Springfield lead to one with a power play goal by Bryce Lampman 4:36 into the third period. The blue liner's slap shot from the high slot glanced off traffic in front of the Falcons' net and over the shoulder of Storr.

Hartford pulled even 5:01 later when center Jamie Lundmark, who signed an AHL contract with the Wolf Pack this week, knocked a shot past Storr after collecting a loose rebound. The goal was Lundmark's second goal in two games since joining Hartford.

The Falcons prevailed in the shootout as Willis and Nikita Alexeev beat LaBarbera with quick wrist shots and Storr prevented all four Wolf Pack skaters from finding the net.

Springfield converted one-of-seven power plays in the game. Hartford scored once on five chances with the man advantage. The Wolf Pack held a five-on-three power play for over a minute in the first period, but did not score.

LaBarbera finished with 28 saves in the game.

Mitch Fritz and Gerard Dicaire each made their Falcons' debuts in the game. Fritz introduced himself to the home crowd with a second period fight against former Falcon Trevor Gillies.

The Falcons announced Saturday that center Jason Jaspers, who previously played three seasons with Springfield, will be joining the club after being assigned by the Utah Grizzlies. In exchange, the Falcons agreed to assign center Jarrod Skalde to Utah. Jaspers is expected to arrive in Springfield in time to skate for the Falcons versus the Binghamton Senators on Sunday. The Falcons also announced that the team has signed left wing Derek Bekar. Bekar began the season with Dundee of the British National League and must clear waivers in accordance to an AHL by-law before joining the club. The forward scored 24 goals with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last season.

The Falcons return to the home ice of the Civic Center on Sunday to take on Binghamton. The Senators line-up is led by center Jason Spezza, who was the second overall pick in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Spezza scored 22 goals among 55 points in the NHL with Ottawa last season. For tickets, please visit the Civic Center box office or call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602 to order by phone.

For a complete box score of the game, please click on the following link: http://www.theahl.com/AHLBoxscores0405/139446.html

Three Stars of the Game:

Jamie Storr – Springfield

Jason LaBarbera – Hartford

Adam Henrich - Springfield

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American Hockey League Stories from November 21, 2004


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