Falcons Have Points In 3 Straight Games

Published on October 27, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


This Week's Games Previews

-Friday, October 30, 2009- Springfield Falcons (4-4-1-1) at Albany River Rats (5-4-0-0):

The Falcons will face off against East Division leading Albany River Rats on Friday in the first of four meetings between the two teams this season. Last season the teams split the season series 2-2-0-0. Each team winning one game at home and one game away. Albany comes into the game losers of three of their last four games. The most recent loss came against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 4-1 in Bridgeport. Leading the River Rats in points is Jerome Samson with 12 points, good for third in the AHL. Eight of Samson's 12 points are assists which leads Albany and he is tied for third in the AHL in helpers. Samson and Pat Dwyer lead the River Rats in goals with four each. Leading the Albany goaltenders is Justin Peters posting a 2.33 GAA and .923 save percentage getting four of the team's five wins. Following the Falcons game, Albany will go to Hershey to take on the defending AHL champion Bears on Halloween, in a battle between the best two teams in the East Division.

-Saturday, October 31, 2009- Springfield Falcons (4-4-1-1) vs. Lowell Devils (4-4-1-0):

This will be the third of eight meetings between the in-state rivals. In the first game, the Devils earned two points with a 4-3 shootout win in Springfield on October 23. Two days later in Lowell, the Falcons got the win and two points with a 4-2 win. In those two games, Falcons Forward Chris Minard has had great success with four goals. Falcons defenseman Cody Wild also has played well recording three assists in those two games. Leading the Devils against the Falcons this year has been Stephen Gionta (2 G), Vladimir Zharkov (2 A), and Dean McAmmond (2 A). Overall, Lowell has been led by Matt Taormina with 10 points (3 G, 7 A). Taormina is the team leader in assists and points. Leading the Devils in goals is former Springfield Falcons player Tim Sestito with six goals. The Devils best goaltender this season thus far has been St. Louis native, Mike McKenna. McKenna has posted a 3-2 record, 1.98 GAA, and .938 save percentage. However, in the two games against the Falcons, McKenna has given up six goals on 42 shots, 3.00 GAA and .857 save percentage.

-Sunday, November 1, 2009- Springfield Falcons (4-4-1-1) at Worcester Sharks (5-2-0-1):

This will be the second meeting between Worcester and Springfield this year as the Sharks took the first game in a 1-0 overtime win last Saturday in Worcester. The difference in that game was a goal by Logan Couture. Worcester got the win despite a fabulous game in goal by Springfield's Devan Dubnyk, who stopped 46 of 47 shots on goal. Couture leads the Sharks in points with 10 (4 G, 6 A). Leading the team in goals is Forward T.J. Trevelyan with five goals in eight games. Defenseman Danny Groulx leads Worcester with eight assists this season. The best goaltender for the Sharks so far this year has been Alex Stalock who shut out the Falcons last game. Stalock has posted a 1.93 GAA (11th in AHL) .922 save percentage and a 4-0-0-1 record as a rookie. The last game Worcester played was in Hartford where they lost 4-3 to the Wolf Pack. This game will be the third game of the weekend for each team. Worcester will play Sunday following a Friday night game at home versus Bridgeport and a Saturday night game in Manchester to face the Atlantic Division leading Monarchs. The Sharks currently are third in the Atlantic Division with 11 points, one spot and one point ahead of the Falcons. The teams will meet six more times with the next game on Wednesday, November 25 in Springfield.

Last Week's Game Recaps

Springfield vs. Lowell, Oct. 23- SOL, 4-3:

Springfield was unable to hold on to a 2-1 lead in the third, earning only one point after a shootout loss Friday night to the Lowell Devils, 4-3. It was the first time this season that the Falcons were not able to get the win at home.

During the shootout the Falcons converted on 2 of 7 shots while the Devils went 3 for 7 to earn the win. Springfield sent out Ryan Potulny, Chris Minard, Charles Linglet, Chad Wiseman, Colton Fretter, Liam Reddox, and Slava Trukhno. Minard and Linglet converted in the shootout for Springfield.

Lowell was able to make a comeback in the third period turning a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead in less than a minute. Lowell's Tyler Eckford was able to connect for a score at the 2:51 mark on a power play to tie the game up at 2 goals apiece. This was the first power play goal given up by the Falcons this season at home. Immediately following Eckford's goal was Alexander Vasyunov only 39 seconds after to give Lowell a 3-2 lead.

Later in the third, Springfield took advantage with a Minard power play goal with less than seven minutes left in the third.

The Falcons struck first in the game with two goals in the first period by Colton Fretter and Colin McDonald. Fretter's goal was on a power play, while McDonald's goal was shorthanded.

Springfield at Worcester, Oct. 24- OTL, 1-0:

The Springfield Falcons earned another point in the standings losing in overtime by a score of 1-0 on Saturday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA. Worcester's Logan Couture scored the game-winner at 3:49 of the extra session. Springfield's goaltender Devan Dubnyk was outstanding stopping 46 of 47 shots.

After 40-plus minutes of scoreless hockey, it appeared the Falcons opened the scoring in the third period when Geoff Paukovich converted on a lose puck in front, but it was ruled that Paukovich had kicked the puck past Worcester netminder Alex Stalock.

In the first period, the two teams exchanged power play chances with Springfield going 0-1 on the man advantage and Worcester going 0-2, the only power play opportunities on the night.

Despite the overtime loss, Falcons goalie Devan Dubnyk earned the first star of the game allowing only one goal on 47 shots. The 46 saves were the most by an American Hockey League goaltender in one game so far this season.

The Falcons were outshot in the game 47 to 18. This was the first point Springfield earned on the road this season.

Springfield at Lowell, Oct. 25- W, 4-2:

The Springfield Falcons beat the Lowell Devils 4-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Paul Tsongas Arena in Lowell, MA. Chris Minard led the Falcons with a hat trick, and rookie goaltender Aaron Sorochan earned his first AHL/pro win stopping 29 of 31 shots on goal. The Falcons once again took four of a possible six points this weekend and they have recorded at least a point in three straight games (1-0-1-1).

For the second time this weekend against Lowell, the Falcons built a 2-0 first period lead as Minard scored a pair of goals in the opening frame giving Springfield a two-goal advantage through 20 minutes of play.

Similar to Friday night, the Devils battled back in the second period as Lowell's Brad Snetsinger cut their deficit to 2-1 at 2:01 of the middle frame. Just a minute later, Lowell evened the score at 2-2 when Stephen Gionta scored his fourth goal of the year. The Falcons regained a one-goal lead at 11:33 of the second period when Liam Reddox scored on the power play giving Springfield a 3-2 lead heading into the third period.

This was the Falcons first road win of the year, taking the monkey off their back with the 4-2 victory over the Devils. Springfield played very well on special teams going 1 for 4 on power play while not allowing a goal in Lowell's seven power play opportunities.

Player and Team Notes

Left Wings Chris Minard and Charles Linglet lead the Falcons and are tied for sixth in the AHL with 11 points each.

Minard leads Springfield and is second with nine goals scored this season. Minard also lead the team in plus/minus at +5.

Chris Minard is tied for third in the AHL with four power play goals this season.

Linglet leads the team in assists with eight assists and is tied for third in the AHL.

Charles Linglet is tied for second in the AHL with five power play assists this year.

Defenseman Jake Taylor leads the Falcons with 41 PIM.

Goalie Devan Dubnyk is leading the Falcons in the net posting a .919 save percentage and 3.08 GAA.

Devan Dubnyk is third in the American Hockey League in minutes played with 468 and first in the AHL in saves at 274, including a AHL season high 46 saves in one game against Worcester last Saturday.

Rookie Goalie Aaron Sorochan earned his first professional/AHL win this past Sunday in Lowell.

Defenseman Chris Armstrong leads all Falcons defenseman with six points (1 G, 5 A) so far this year.

Hartford , CT native Colin McDonald scored his 25th career AHL/pro goal last Friday against Lowell.

Assistant Captain Jake Taylor recorded his first point of the season in Sunday's 4-2 win in Lowell.

Forward Slava Trukhno received his first two points this past weekend on two assists.

Defenseman Cody Wild got his first three points of the season this past weekend with three assists, all on the power play.

Goalie Devan Dubnyk played in his 150th career professional game last Saturday in Worcester.

16-year veteran Defenseman Chris Armstrong played in his 900th career pro game against Lowell last Friday.

Chris Minard became the first Springfield Falcons player to get a hat trick this season during Sunday's road win against the Lowell Devils.

The Falcons earned their first road point last Saturday in Worcester and their first road win on Sunday in Lowell.

Springfield is 7th in the AHL in the power play posting a 23.4% and 6th in the AHL in home power play record posting a 31.3%.

Springfield allowed their first home power play goal last Friday versus Lowell. The Falcons continue to be a very good penalty kill team at home tied for 4th in the AHL posting a 95% home penalty kill record.

Injury Report

None

Transactions

10-23-09- The Edmonton Oilers called up Falcons Defenseman Theo Peckham. Peckham has played in five games this year for Springfield recording one point (1 A) and 23 PIM. Peckham played in two games this past weekend for the Oilers. Peckham now has played in 18 career NHL games getting 61 PIM.

On the Farm: Stockton Thunder

The Thunder are 1-4-0-0 on the young season getting their first win of the year last Saturday shutting out the Ontario Reign 3-0 behind goalie Andrew Perugini's 34 saves earning the game's first star of the game. The day before the win, the Thunder lost to the same Reign 7-1; both of these games were at home.

Forward Bud Blackwater leads Stockton in points, goals, and assists (6 P, 3 G, 3 A). Defenseman Luis Tremblay has 20 PIM to lead the Thunder. Perugini leads the Thunder with a 2.47 GAA and .931 save percentage in 218 minutes.

The Thunder will play two road games this weekend on Friday, October 30 and Sunday, November 1 in Victoria, BC, Canada to play the Salmon Kings twice. This past weekend, the Thunder announced that they have put Defenseman Luis Tremblay on 3-Day Injure Reserve and activated Left Wing Jason Pitton.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from October 27, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central