Falcons Host Bruins Tonight
March 11, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
The Springfield Falcons and Providence Bruins meet for the eighth time this season, including the fourth meeting at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons have a record of 1-5-0-1 against the Bruins this year, including 0-2-0-1 on home ice. The last time these two teams met was back on January 28 with the game heading into a shootout. Falcons rookie forward Ryan Vesce leads Springfield in scoring against Providence this season with one goal and five assists for six points in seven games. Forward Norm Milley leads the Falcons in goals against the Bruins with four. Providence forward Nathan Robinson leads the Bruins in scoring against the Falcons this year with seven goals and eight assists for 15 points and +15 rating in seven games played. Eric Healey leads the Bruins in goals against the Falcons with 10 in seven games.
The Falcons head into tonight's game having defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack last night, 2-1, at the MassMutual Center. Zdenek Blatny earned the game's first star with a pair of assists, while rookie Marek Kvapil scored the game-winner midway through the third period. Norm Milley scored Springfield's first goal of the game on the power play early in the second period. Goaltender Gerald Coleman was solid between the pipes making 29 saves.
Providence heads into Springfield having defeated the Lowell Lock Monsters, 4-1, last night at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The Bruins built an early 2-0 lead in the first period last night, including goals from Eric Healey and Ben Walter. Healey finished the night with two goals and one assist earning the game's first star. Goaltender Jordan Sigalet stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced earning the game's third star.
NUMBER ONE STAR: Falcons forward Zdenek Blatny earned the game's first star last night collecting two assists, including the helper on Marek Kvapil's game-winning goal. Blatny was acquired by the Falcons' NHL affiliate, the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 8, 2006 in exchange for goaltender Brian Eklund. Blatny scored on his first two shots with Springfield on February 10 in Norfolk and has six goals and eight assists for 14 points in 13 games. For the season, the Czech Republic native has 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points in 48 games played.
MILLEY BACK WITH AN IMPACT: The Falcons announced Thursday that forward Norm Milley has been reassigned to the Falcons by their National Hockey League affiliate, the Tampa Bay Lightning. Milley was originally recalled by the Lightning on January 3, 2006 and recorded two goals and one assist in 14 games with Tampa Bay this year. Milley scored his first NHL goal January 17 at the Los Angeles Kings, and scored his second goal February 4 against the Washington Capitals. Milley scored his 13th marker of the season last night, including his eighth power play goal of the year.
FALCONS FLIP-FLOP: Both Nick Tarnasky and right wing Darren Reid were recalled by the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday, March 5. In return, Springfield recalled forward Zbynek Hrdel on Wednesday, March 8 after spending eight games with the Falcons' ECHL affiliate, the Johnstown Chiefs. Hrdel has split this season between Springfield and Johnstown and in 33 games with the Falcons, Hrdel has four goals and eight assists for 12 points. Reid was reassigned back to the Falcons on Friday, March 10.
PROVIDENCE LEADERS: Bruins center Eric Healey continues to lead Providence in scoring this season with 26 goals and 30 assists for 56 points in 56 games played. Healey has collected a point in four of his last five games and has collected three goals and six assists for nine points in that span. Providence forward Pascal Pelletier has collected 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points in 35 games played. Pelletier joined the Bruins on December 16 and has registered at least a point in five straight games collecting four goals and five assists in that span. Forward Ben Walter has 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points in 44 games played. Walter was recently with the NHL's Boston Bruins and was reassigned to Providence on March 10.
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