Falcons Host Monarchs Tonight - 7 Pm

Published on November 24, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons meet the Manchester Monarchs for the fourth time this season when they get together on Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons are 1-2 against the Monarchs this year and Springfield has lost two straight to Manchester in the season series. The Falcons beat Manchester in the first game this year by a score of 3-1 back on October 17, but Manchester has responded with a 3-1 win in Springfield on October 23 and a 4-2 victory on November 14 at Manchester.

The Falcons and Monarchs continue to battle for positioning in the Atlantic Division standings. The Falcons are three points behind Manchester for second place with one game in hand. The Monarchs have been red hot as of late winning four of their last five games including a four-game winning streak from November 14-20.

Manchester defenseman Alec Martinez leads the team in scoring with five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 20 games played. Martinez is also second in the AHL in scoring among defensemen and he also leads Manchester in power play goals with four. Oscar Moller is on a five-game scoring streak having collected two goals and three assists in that span. Andrei Loktionov is on a five-game scoring streak collecting one goal and four assists in that span.

Rookie Brandon Kozun continues to be off to a great start to his pro career collecting six goals and six assists for 12 points in 18 games. Kozun is tied for the Manchester team lead in goals and second in scoring.

Goaltender Jeff Zatkoff has seen the majority of the minutes in goal for Manchester posting a record of 7-6-1 with a 2.90 goals against average and .892 save percentage in 14 games. Rookie netminder Martin Jones has posted a record of 3-1-0 with a 1.35 goals against average and .955 save percentage in six games.

BLUNDEN BACK WITH FALCONS: The Columbus Blue Jackets assigned center Mike Blunden to the Springfield Falcons on Tuesday. Blunden, 23, has made one appearance with the Blue Jackets this season and had two shots and six hits in 10:31 of ice time against Colorado on November 12. He did not play during his recall after being added to the roster on November 20. He has collected two goals and two assists for four points and has 69 penalty minutes in 51 career NHL games. In 17 games with the Falcons this season, he has tallied 8-5-13, 29 penalty minutes and is +4. He is tied for the team lead in goals and power play goals, while ranking second in plus/minus rating.

FALCONS PLAYER NOTES: Ben Guite has collected a point in four of his last five games collecting two goals and four assists in that span.

Rookie Matt Calvert has registered at least a point in eight of his last nine games totaling six goals and four assists for 10 points in that stretch. He has taken over the team lead in scoring having collected eight goals and seven assists for 15 points in 19 games this year and is currently third in the AHL in rookie scoring.

Tomas Kubalik has picked up at least a point in seven of his last 10 games totaling five goals and five assists for 10 points in that span.

Rookie Chris D'Alvise collected one goal and two assists in his AHL debut on November 20 at Syracuse. D'Alvise signed a Professional Tryout Agreement on November 19 after starting the year with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder.

Steven Goertzen has points in back to back games collecting one goal and one assist. Goertzen assisted on Trevor Frischmon's game-winning goal in Syracuse on Saturday night.

Dane Byers scored his first two goals with the Falcons, a pair of power play goals on Saturday night in Syracuse.

MANCHESTER TRANSACTIONS: The Los Angeles Kings, the parent club of the Manchester Monarchs, have recalled defenseman Alec Martinez from the Monarchs and have assigned defenseman Jake Muzzin to Manchester, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced Tuesday.

Martinez, 23, has played in all 20 games for the Monarchs this season. He currently leads the team in points (16), assists (11) and power play goals (four). Last season, he made his Kings/NHL debut, playing in four games and recording two penalty minutes. He wears No. 53 with the Kings.

Muzzin, 21, has played in 11 games with the Kings this season, his first in the NHL, and has one point (an assist). He has also played in two games with the Monarchs this season and has two points (1-1=2) and two penalty minutes.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 24, 2010


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