Falcons Host Bruins Tonight at 7:30 pm

Published on November 2, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons and Providence Bruins get together for the first of 10 meetings this season when they face-off at the MassMutual Center on Friday night. The Falcons and Bruins are currently tied for first-place in the Atlantic Division standings with 12 points each. The Falcons and Bruins will get together a total of three times in November, including a pair of games in Providence on November 18 and November 28.

The Falcons return to the MassMutual Center for the first time since October 14, a span of four games and 19 days. The Falcons went 1-1-0-2 in their four-game road trip that included stops in Albany, Portland, Hartford and Philadelphia. The Falcons have been off from games since last Saturday, October 27 when they dropped a 4-3 decision in Philadelphia. Defenseman Allan Rourke scored a pair of goals and goaltender Devan Dubnyk made 44 saves in the effort for the Falcons. Springfield is looking to snap a three-game winless streak Friday night (0-1-0-2) and the Falcons will be also striving for their fourth straight victory on home ice. After losing to the Worcester Sharks in their home opener on October 6, the Falcons have won three straight games at the MassMutual Center against Manchester, Portland and Norfolk. Springfield has a record of 5-3-0-2 on the season and the Falcons will play their next four consecutive contests on home ice.

The Bruins continue their long road swing to start the season as their home arena, the Dunkin Donuts Center, nears completion of renovations. Providence has a record of 6-1on the season with all seven games played on the road. The Bruins are in the middle of starting the 2007-08 regular season with 10 straight road games before playing their home opener on November 14. Providence's last game was also back on October 27 when they defeated the Lowell Devils 5-1. The Bruins have scored 28 goals through seven games, while only allowing 17.

SPRINGFIELD FALCONS NOTES: The Falcons were led in scoring during the month of October by Patrick Thoresen, Rob Schremp and rookie Liam Reddox with nine points each. Thoresen was the AHL Player of the Week for the week ending on Sunday, October 14 and he also leads Springfield in goals with five. Schremp leads the Falcons in assists with six and Reddox is currently ranked 6th in the league in rookie scoring. Rookie Colin McDonald has one goal and five assists for six points in eight games with the Falcons, including points in three straight games. McDonald scored his first pro goal with less than a minute remaining in regulation in Hartford on Friday, October 26 tying the score at 1-1. McDonald is a native of Hartford and he played his college hockey with Providence College from 2003-2007.

Veteran defenseman Allan Rourke scored his first two goals of the season on October 27 at Philadelphia. Rourke now leads all Springfield blueliners in scoring with two goals and three assists for five points in 10 games.

Goaltender Devan Dubnyk made his first start since October 13 on October 27 at Philadelphia and earned the game's third star stopping 44 of the 48 shots on goal.

Netminder Jeff Deslauriers remains tied for third in the league in wins with four and he is also in the top 10 in the league in minutes played with 404. Deslauriers has a 4-1-2 record with a 2.38 goals against average and .922 save percentage in eight appearances this season.

PROVIDENCE BRUINS NOTES: The Bruins are led in scoring this season by right wing Petteri Nokelainen, Martins Karsums and Pascal Pelletier with seven points each. Rookie Vladimir Sobotka leads Providence in goals with four. Providence has received contributions from many players to start the season with 20 different skaters recording a point this year. Rookie netminder Tuukka Rask has appeared in six of Providence's seven games posting a record of 5-1, a 2.17 goals against average and a .888 save percentage.

TRANSACTIONS THIS WEEK: The Falcons announced Wednesday that forward Robert Nilsson has been recalled by the Edmonton Oilers and forward Jean-Francois Jacques has been reassigned back to the Falcons by the Oilers. Jacques returns to Springfield for the third time this season, having previously been assigned to the Falcons on October 5th and October 13th. He was scoreless in nine games with the Oilers this season and has two penalty minutes. In four games with Springfield, Jacques has scored a goal and two assists with nine penalty minutes.

The Bruins announced this week that the Boston Bruins have recalled goaltender Jordan Sigalet and reassigned netminder Mike Brown to Providence from the ECHL's Johnstown Chiefs. Brown, 22, is also in his third professional season following a stint in Providence last year and much of 2006-07 spent in the ECHL with the Long Beach Ice Dogs.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 2, 2007


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