Falcons Host Phantoms Tonight

December 12, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons and Philadelphia Phantoms meet for the second and final time this season when they get together at the MassMutual Center on Friday night. The Falcons and Phantoms played each other just a little over two weeks ago when Springfield dropped a 4-1 decision at the Wachovia Center back on November 28. Jason DeSantis and Jeff Szwez built a 2-0 lead for the Phantoms in that game before Derek Bekar cut the Falcons' deficit to 2-1. Patrick Maroon regained the Phantoms lead at 3-1 shortly after Bekar's tally, with Philly adding an empty net marker as well.

The Falcons head into Friday's action having collected at least a point in three of their last four games going

2-1-1-0 in that span. Springfield earned a point on the road on Wednesday night with a 3-2 overtime loss at Worcester. Derek Bekar scored his eighth goal of the year for the Falcons against the Sharks, while Guillaume Lefebvre tallied his first marker of the campaign. The Falcons remain in the middle of the pack in a very tight Atlantic Division with a record of 11-10-3-1 good for 26 points. Springfield is currently tied with Lowell, two points behind third place Worcester, five points behind second place Providence and seven points behind first place Portland. The Falcons will conclude their weekend in Hartford on Saturday night.

The Phantoms head into Springfield on a three-game winning streak and have earned a victory in five of their last six games overall. Philadelphia has scored 15 goals in their last three games and have scored four or more goals in three straight contests as well. Philadelphia currently has a record of 15-11-0-0 good for 30 points and a third place tie with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the East Division. Philadelphia won their last game played by a score of 4-1 over the Penguins on Sunday, December 7. Claude Giroux led the offense with two goals, while Patrick Maroon and Jeff Szwez also scoring for the Phantoms. Philadelphia had nine different skaters record at least a point against the Penguins. Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre will meet again on Sunday, December 14.

FALCONS TRANSACTION UPDATE: The Falcons announced Thursday that they have assigned forward Ryan Huddy and defenseman Cody Wild to their ECHL affiliate, the Stockton Thunder.

Huddy was recalled by the Falcons on December 2 and made his AHL debut with Springfield on December 3 at Lowell. In three games with the Falcons, the Stony Plain, Alberta native didn't register a point. Huddy currently leads the Thunder in goals (8) and is second in points (18).

Wild is in his first full season of pro hockey and this will be his first stint with Stockton. In 15 games with the Falcons this year he has one goal and four assists for five points and 20 penalty minutes. The North Providence, RI native joined the Falcons at the end of last season after spending three seasons at Providence College from 2005-2008. He led all Providence College defensemen in scoring with 22 points in 32 games last season and he made his pro debut as a member of the Falcons on March 19, 2008 against Manchester.

On Monday, Springfield announced they recalled forward Stephane Goulet and defenseman Ryan Constant from the Thunder. Goulet started the regular season with Springfield having collected one goal and two assists for three points in five games with the Falcons. In 12 games with the Thunder, Goulet has three goals and six assists for nine points and 18 penalty minutes.

Constant participated in the 2008 Falcons Training Camp and also played for Springfield during the preseason before starting the regular season with Stockton. In 20 games with the Thunder, Constant has three goals and three assists for six points and 32 penalty minutes. Constant made his Falcons regular season debut on Wednesday night at Worcester.

PHANTOMS PLAYER NOTES:

- David Laliberte is on a three-game scoring streak having collected one goal and two assists in that span.

- Patrick Maroon is on a three-game scoring streak having picked up four goals and three assists in that span. Maroon had a five-point game (3g,2a) on December 6 against Binghamton.

- Jared Ross is also on a three-game scoring streak having collected three goals and four assists in that span.

- Claude Giroux has registered at least a point in three straight contests having posted three goals and two assists in that span.

- Boyd Kane has points in three straight games since returning to the lineup on December 5 against Hartford.

- Goaltender Scott Munroe has won his last three starts and five of his last six overall.



American Hockey League Stories from December 12, 2008


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