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Falcons host Pirates and P-Bruins at Nest this weekend

March 4, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, MA – The Springfield Falcons (20-30-8-2, 50 pts) will host division rivals the Portland Pirates and Providence Bruins at the Civic Center on Friday and Saturday evenings respectively in match-ups that are crucial to the Falcons playoff hopes. Game time for both contests in 7:35 p.m. The Falcons will visit the Worcester IceCats on Sunday in another important division encounter.

Team Notes: Peter Ferraro has registered points in six of his last seven games, collecting seven points (2g, 5a) over that span. The 31-year-old played in the 500th AHL game of his career on Friday versus Hartford.... Rookie forward Frantisek Lukes has figured in the scoring in six of the last eight games, posting 10 points (3g, 7a) over that time. Lukes (7g, 14a) has tied left wing Mike Stutzel (11g, 10a) for the team lead in scoring among rookies with 21 points.... The Falcons have scored at least one power-play goal in each of the team's last six games. The club has converted eight of 29 chances with the man advantage (27.6%) over that span.... The Falcons next 15 contests will be against Atlantic division rivals. April 4th's visit to the Civic Center by the Hershey Bears marks the only inter-divisional game remaining on the Falcons' regular season schedule.... The Falcons posted a record of 6-3-3-0 during February. The club set season high-water marks for wins, points (15), and winning percentage (.625) for a month during February. Springfield tied with the Manchester Monarchs for the second-best winning percentage in the Atlantic Division during the month.... Chris Ferraro led the Falcons in scoring during February with 12 points (5g, 7a).

Roster Update: Goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier was reassigned to the Falcons today by the Phoenix Coyotes after the NHL club acquired netminder Brent Johnson from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for center Mike Sillinger.... Right wing Ivan Novoseltsev was recalled by Phoenix on Monday after being assigned to the Falcons for conditioning on Saturday.... Goaltender Zac Bierk was activated from injured reserve by the Coyotes and formally assigned him to the Falcons for conditioning last Saturday.... The Coyotes also re-assigned center Erik Westrum and defenseman Todd Reirden to the Falcons on Saturday.... The Falcons called up goaltender Scott Dickie from the Adirondack IceHawks of the United Hockey League on Saturday.... Springfield released netminder Shawn Conschafter on Saturday after signing him to a professional tryout agreement last Friday.... Defenseman Chris Dyment remains out of the Falcons' line-up with an injury. The blueliner has missed the last 12 games since being injured February 6th versus Manchester.... Defenseman Mike Wilson returned to the Springfield line-up last Friday versus Hartford after missing the prior eight games with a hip flexor injury. Wilson broke his thumb in a collision with Wolf Pack defenseman Jayme Filipowicz in the second period of the game. The Brampton, Ontario native had surgery on the thumb today and is expected to miss the remainder of the season.... Center Jason Jaspers missed two games after being hit in the mouth with a puck in the third period of Friday's contest against the Wolf Pack. The forward returned to the Falcons' lineup wearing a face shield and scored the Falcons lone goal versus Albany on Wednesday.... Goran Bezina missed Sunday's game in Hartford with an injury, but played against Albany on Wednesday.... Center Chris Ferraro left Sunday's game against the Wolf Pack with an injury and is listed as day-to-day.... Goaltender David LeNeveu has not dressed for the last three games due to an injury.

Upcoming Weekend:

Falcons vs. Portland Pirates

Friday, March 5

The Falcons host the Pirates (22-20-12-7, 63 pts) at the Civic Center for the third time this season in the campaign's seventh overall meeting between the clubs.... The Falcons are 1-3-2-0 versus Portland this season and are 41-29-8 in the all-time series.... The teams skated to a 3-3 tie in Maine in the last encounter on February 20th. Forwards Krystofer Kolanos and Peter Ferraro each tallied a goal and an assist in the game for Springfield. Portland forward Francois Methot figured in the scoring of all three Portland goals (1g, 2a).... Kolanos, currently with the Coyotes, leads the Falcons in scoring against Portland this season with six points (3g, 3a). Shuchuk leads Springfield in the season series in assists (4) and plus/minus (+6). The Falcons are scoreless in 26 power-play chances against the Pirates this season.... Portland netminders Rastislav Stana and Maxime Ouellett have combined to register a 1.62 GAA and .949 SV% against Springfield this season. Stana has yielded just one goal in two complete games versus the Falcons this season. Left wing Colin Forbes has posted

six points (2g, 4a) against Springfield to lead the Pirates.... The Falcons have outshot Portland, 197-177, in the previous match-ups this season.... The Pirates have been shutout three times in their past four games, including a 1-0 loss to Worcester last night. The club has not scored more than two goals in any of their last six contests.... The Pirates are 8-2-3-1 when tied after the second period this season. The club has not won a game when trailing after the second frame this season (0-15-4-3).... Portland's 12 ties are the most in the AHL. The team's seven overtime losses are tied for most in the league (Albany).... The Pirates rank second in the AHL in penalty killing (89.9%).

Falcons vs. Providence Bruins

Saturday, March 6

The Falcons face the P-Bruins (26-20-10-3, 65 pts) for the first time since January 10th. It will be the sixth encounter between the rivals this season, the fourth in Springfield.... The Falcons are 1-3-1-0 versus Providence this season and 42-52-5 all-time.... The teams tied, 2-2, in their last meeting. Westrum and Wilson scored for Springfield, while forward Brendan Walsh, tallied both Providence markers. Bruins goaltender Hannu Toivonen stopped 42 of 44 Springfield shots.... Westrum (2g, 2a), Peter Ferraro (1g, 3a), and Jeff Taffe (3g, 1a) have each recorded four points versus Providence during the season series.... Center Matt Herr leads Providence with five points (3g, 2a) against the Falcons this season. Herr posted a hat trick in the P-Bruins' 4-2 win at Springfield on October 18th.... The Bruins have gone to overtime in each of their past four games, winning the last three.... The P-Bruins rank fifth in the league in penalty killing on the road (88.0%).... Providence is 11-2-0-0 when outshooting their opponents this season.... The P-Bruins were 4-5-0-2 during the month of February.... Providence right wing Carl Corazzini shares the AHL lead in shorthanded goals with four.... Bruins netminder Tim Thomas is tied for third in the league with a .938 SV% this season.

Falcons at Worcester IceCats

Sunday, March 7

The Falcons meet the IceCats (26-22-11-2, 65 pts) for the tenth and final time this season on Sunday. The Falcons hold a season record of 3-3-2-1 versus Worcester this season and are 37-46-14 all-time against the team.... The Falcons and ‘Cats played to a 1-1 deadlock in their last match-up at the Civic Center on Saturday.... Peter Ferraro has posted eight points (4g, 4a) while left wing Mike Stutzel has registered seven (4g, 3a) and is +5 against Worcester this season. LeNeveu carries a 3-1-0 record, 1.52 GAA and .951 SV% versus the IceCats this season. Worcester center Mike Glumac has registered nine points (6g, 3a) to lead the ‘Cats against Springfield. Goaltender Curtis Sanford holds a record of 2-2-1, a GAA of 1.59 and .943 SV% against the Falcons this season.... The IceCats were 4-6-2-1 in February.... Worcester is 2-4-1-1 over the last eight games..... The ‘Cats are tied for tenth in the league in home power-play success (17.0%) and ranks 11th in penalty killing (87.3%) on home ice.... Glumac ranks fourth in goals (18) and sixth in points (34) among AHL rookies this season.... Defenseman Tom Koivisto has scored three goals over the last five games after potting one marker over his first 23 contests with Worcester this season.... Last season's Hobey Baker Award winner forward Peter Sejna has registered 16 (4g, 12a) of his 24 (7g, 17a) points this season on home ice.

Upcoming Promotions:

Senior Night at The Nest – Friday, March 5 – Fans age 62 and over can get their tickets to Friday's game versus Portland for only $10.

Drawing for "Win a Trip to the Big Leagues" Contest - Saturday, March 6 – One lucky winner will be chosen for an all expenses paid trip to Phoenix, Arizona to see the Falcons' NHL affiliate, the Phoenix Coyotes take on the Chicago Blackhawks in the new Glendale Arena courtesy of the Falcons and Bud Light distributors, Williams Distributing . The Grand Prize winner will win airfare for two, hotel accommodations (for three days and two nights) to Phoenix. Registration took place through January and February at participating Pioneer Valley Bud Light stores.

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