Falcons gain split with 2-1 win at Norfolk

Published on January 24, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Norfolk, VA – Right wing Frank Banham scored the game-winning goal in the third period as the Springfield Falcons overcame the Norfolk Admirals, 2-1, before a crowd of 4,877 at The Scope on Saturday evening. Goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier stopped 34 of 35 shots in the Springfield net while player/assistant coach Gary Shuchuk assisted on both of the club's goals. With the victory, the Falcons gained a split of back-to-back contests in Norfolk and snapped a four-game losing streak.

Banham notched the game-winner with a snap shot from the slot with 13:24 left to play. Shuchuk set up the goal with a backhanded centering feed from the right wing face-off circle. Banham responded with the crucial goal after being scratched from two of the Falcons' previous four games. It was the second game-winning tally and sixth of the campaign overall for the Calahoo, Alberta native.

The Admirals nearly connected for an equalizing goal with two minutes remaining in the third period when a slap shot from the right point by defenseman Anton Babchuk deflected off the stick of Springfield's Mike Wilson and hit the crossbar, but stayed out of the net.

With his 34-save performance, Pelletier earned his sixth win of the season.

Norfolk goaltender Michael Leighton turned aside 18 of 20 Springfield shots in the loss. Leighton is 0-3-0 with the Admirals since being reassigned by the Chicago Blackhawks on January 15th. The netminder was the NHL's Defensive Player of the Week for December 22-28.

The Falcons and Admirals traded power-play goals during the opening period to head to the first intermission tied, 1-1, despite Norfolk holding a 20-5 shot advantage.

The Admirals struck first at the 4:40 mark after defenseman Marty Wilford moved the puck in from the point to set up Jones with a pass that crossed the crease. Jones redirected the puck into the net for his third goal of the season and first with the man advantage.

Moments after clanging a shot off the post, rookie Mike Stutzel evened the contest for the Falcons by scoring off a rebound with 5:06 remaining in the first frame. Springfield took advantage of a tripping penalty issued to Matt Keith to score the power-play goal. The goal was Stutzel's tenth of the season.

For the game, the Admirals outshot the Falcons, 35-20. Each club put 15 shots on goal over the final two periods.

The Falcons finished their four-game season series Norfolk with a record of 2-2-0.

The Falcons will complete a stretch of five straight road games against the Philadelphia Phantoms at the Wachovia Spectrum on Sunday. The play-by-play call of the action by Marc Shelanski can be heard live on The ZONE – Sports Radio 640 The broadcast begins with the pre-game show at 4:35 pm.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 24, 2004


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