Falcons Host Bruins Tonight

December 27, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons and Providence Bruins will conclude their home-and-home series tonight at the MassMutual Center when they get together for the fifth time this season. The Falcons traveled to Providence this past Friday and lost to the Bruins 5-1 at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Jason Jaspers scored the lone goal for the Falcons, while goaltender Gerald Coleman made 25 saves between the pipes. Providence goaltender Tim Thomas collected the win with 20 saves, while Bruins forward Nathan Robinson was the game's first star with one goal and two assists on the evening. Tonight will also be the fourth meeting this month between these two Atlantic Division rivals, but it's Providence's first visit to Springfield since October 22.

The Falcons head into tonight's game looking to snap a three-game losing streak and two points ahead of the Bruins in the Atlantic Division standings with a record of 14-12-1-3 good for 32 points. Norm Milley has four goals in four games against Providence this season, while center Ryan Vesce has recorded four assists in four games against Providence this season. After playing two games in 12 days, Springfield will begin a stretch of four games in five days this week. Springfield will travel to Bridgeport on Wednesday to battle the Sound Tigers, followed by a home game Friday night against the Manchester Monarchs. The Falcons conclude their week and the 2005 calendar year with a trip to Portland on Saturday night.

The Bruins head into tonight's game on a three-game winning streak after beating the Lowell Lock Monsters in a shootout last night, 3-2. Providence has won six of their last seven games improving their record to 14-12-1-1 on the season good for 30 points. The Bruins have only allowed 12 goals in their last seven games. Providence center Nathan Robinson was credited with the game-winning goal last night and enters tonight's contest with six goals and four assists for 10 points in four games against the Falcons this season. The Bruins will continue a stretch of games tonight that has them playing five games in six days this week. Providence travels to Lowell on Wednesday, followed by stops in Portland on Friday and Hartford on Saturday.

2005-06 FALCONS DEBUT: Falcons center Justin Kelly made his 2005-06 Springfield debut Friday night in Providence. Kelly was recalled from the Falcons' ECHL affiliate, the Johnstown Chiefs, on December 21. Kelly was leading the Chiefs in scoring at the time of his recall collecting 28 points in 21 games with Johnstown. Kelly appeared in four games with Springfield during the 2004-05 campaign and collected two goals and one assist.

TIED FOR THE TEAM LEAD: Falcons center Jason Jaspers scored his 12th goal of the season Friday night in Providence and is now tied with teammates Norm Milley and Ryan Craig for the team lead in goals this season. Jaspers is also tied with Milley and rookie Ryan Vesce for the club lead in points with 30. Jaspers has three goals and three assists for six points in his last four games.

ON A ROLL: Providence center Nathan Robinson enters tonight's game on an eight-game scoring streak collecting eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in that span. Robinson has also recorded three multi-point games in that stretch and is second on the Bruins in scoring this season with 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points in 28 games played. Robinson was the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending December 11 when he collected four goals and two assists for six points in three games played.

STEADY BETWEEN THE PIPES: Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas collected his 10th win of the season in his 10th consecutive start last night against the Lowell Lock Monsters. Thomas has a record of 7-3-0 with a 1.68 goals against average in his last 10 starts and has a 2.19 goals against average and .923 save percentage in 20 games played this season.



American Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2005


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