Falcons Host Penguins Tonight
Published on February 18, 2006 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
The Springfield Falcons and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins conclude their season series Saturday night at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons and Penguins previous meeting this season occurred back on November 4 with Springfield winning that contest, 4-3, in overtime. Falcons defenseman Doug O'Brien scored the game-winner in the extra session, while Springfield goaltender Gerald Coleman collected the victory between the pipes. Wilkes-Barre received goals from Colby Armstrong, Ben Eaves and Jonathan Filewich in the first meeting this season.
The Falcons head into tonight's game having defeated the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 5-2, Friday night on home ice. Springfield's O'Brien scored the game-winner 30-seconds into the third period, while Ryan Vesce, Andre Deveaux, Timo Helbling and Marek Kvapil also scored for the Falcons. Goaltender Jonathan Boutin collected the win in goal. Center Jason Jaspers helped lead the Falcons offense with three assists, while left wing Zdenek Blatny also chipped in with two assists. Springfield has now collected at least a point in five of their last six home games posting a record of 3-1-0-2 in that span.
The Penguins visit Springfield for the only time this season having defeated the Lowell Lock Monsters, 2-1, Friday night at the Paul Tsongas Arena. Guillaume Lefebvre and Kenny Corupe each tallied for Wilkes-Barre, while goaltender Dany Sabourin collected the win in goal for the Penguins. Wilkes-Barre has won back-to-back games, and three of their last four contests.
NUMBER ONE STAR: Falcons center Jason Jaspers led Springfield's offensive attack Friday night collecting three assists. Jaspers continues to lead the Falcons in scoring this season with 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points in 49 games played. The native of Thunder Bay, Ontario also played in his 300th American Hockey League game on Friday night, including 289 career AHL games with the Falcons. Jaspers is currently fourth on the Falcons all-time games played list and is only nine games shy of tying both Dan Focht and Tavis Hansen for second all-time on the Falcons games played list. Jaspers is currently the Falcons all-time leader in power play goals with 30.
MAKING AN IMPRESSION: Newly acquired left wing Zdenek Blatny collected two assists Friday night giving him two goals and two assists for four points in three games with Springfield. Blatny scored on his first two shots as a member of the Falcons on February 10 at Norfolk. Blatny was acquired by the Tampa Bay Lightning on February 8, 2006 from the Boston Bruins in exchange for goaltender Brian Eklund.
STEPPING IT UP: Falcons defenseman Doug O'Brien scored the game-winner Friday night earning the game's second star. O'Brien has collected at least a point in three of his last four games collecting one goal and two assists in that span. O'Brien recently made his NHL debut as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 29th at Washington. Springfield blueliner Timo Helbling scored his sixth marker of the season and added one assist Friday night.
WILKES-BARRE LEADERS: Penguins center Matt Hussey continues to lead Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in scoring this season with 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points in 38 games played. Hussey is tied with teammate Erik Christensen for the team lead in goals and Christensen is also second on the Penguins in scoring with 31 points in 23 games played.
BETWEEN THE PIPES: Wilkes-Barre goaltender Dany Sabourin continues to lead the AHL in goals against average with a mark of 2.06. Sabourin has posted a record of 22-6-2 in 30 games played this season with a league best .930 save percentage. Sabourin was named the KOHO AHL Goaltender of the Month for January when he posted a record of 7-2-1 with a 2.26 goals against average. The sixth-year pro participated in the 2006 RBK Hockey AHL All-Star Game and was signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Penguins on August 10, 2005.
American Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2006
- Pens fall in shootout, 2-1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- P-Bruins Fall to Wolf Pack 4-0 - Providence Bruins
- Griffins fall to Moose in shootout, 3-2 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Knights Start Road Trip With 5-2 Win Over Hamilton - Abbotsford Heat
- Crunch Win for Fifth Time in Six Tries Against the Barons, 3-1 - Cleveland Barons
- Cassivi blanks Monarchs 2-0 at Giant Center - Hershey Bears
- Sound Tigers Sunk By Pirates 5-2 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Guard makes 46 saves as Sens take back fifth place in East Division - Binghamton Senators
- Sound Tigers On XM Satellite Radio Sunday - Bridgeport Islanders
- Knights down 'Dogs 5-2 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Fleischmann Powers Bears Past Monarchs - Manchester Monarchs
- Healey powers 2-1 victory over Albany - Albany Devils
- Binghamton Netminder Makes 46 Saves in 5-1 Senators Win - Adirondack Phantoms
- Peoria Wins 4-3 in Overtime After Losing 3-1 Lead in Third Period - Peoria Rivermen
- Stars' comeback falls short - Iowa Chops
- Admirals fall to Peoria in OT - Milwaukee Admirals
- Stars Receive forward from Edmonton - Iowa Chops
- Falcons Host Penguins Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- Fast start, Murphy's historic goal help Houston hold off Iowa - Houston Aeros
- 1:05 p.m. start for road trip finale - Houston Aeros
- AHL announces suspension - AHL
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