Falcons Host Pirates Tonight

Published on March 31, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons and Portland Pirates conclude their season series this weekend when they begin a home-and-home series tonight at the MassMutual Center. Following tonight's game, the Falcons and Pirates will head north to Portland for a Sunday matinee at the Cumberland County Civic Center. These two teams haven't played each other since back on March 9 when the Pirates came into Springfield and beat the Birds 4-2. Springfield does lead the season series posting a record of 5-2-0-1 through eight games. In the eight games head-to-head between the Falcons and Pirates this year, only one contest has been decided by more than two goals, including five games decided by one goal or less.

Falcons center Daniel Corso leads Springfield in scoring against the Pirates this year with four goals and eight assists for 12 points in eight games played. Left wing Eric Healey has also enjoyed success against Portland this season collecting five goals and six assists for 11 points in eight contests.

Pirates defenseman Brian Salcido is Portland's active leading scorer against Springfield this season with one goal and six assists for seven points in eight games played. Blueliner Clay Wilson has posted two goals and four assists for six points in eight games played against the Birds.

Springfield heads into tonight's contest looking to snap a five-game losing streak after losing to the Providence Bruins Friday night, 5-2. Eric Healey and rookie Jacob Micflikier scored for the Falcons, while Jay Rosehill and Norm Milley added assists. The Falcons will conclude a stretch of four games in five days on Sunday when they head to Portland.

Portland visits Springfield having won their last three games, including a 3-1 win over the Lowell Devils on Friday night. Rookie goaltender David McKee led the Pirates to the victory making 36 saves and earning his third AHL win after spending most of the season in Augusta of the ECHL. Last night's triumph keeps Portland in contention for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. The Pirates have a record of 33-27-3-9 good for 78 points and sixth-place in the division. However, Portland is only three points behind fifth-place Lowell and five points behind fourth-place Worcester.

FALCONS WELCOME SOME NEW FACES: The Springfield Falcons announced on Tuesday, March 27 that they have signed forward Jacob Micflikier to an Amateur Tryout Agreement. Micflikier recently finished his four-year collegiate career with the University of New Hampshire where he collected 150 points in 153 career games with the Wildcats. Micflikier was the Wildcats' Most Valuable Player during the 2005-06 campaign. Micflikier made his pro debut on Wednesday, March 28 against the Lowell Devils, and the youngster scored his first AHL goal on Friday, March 30 at Providence. Fellow rookie Justin Fletcher made his AHL debut this past Sunday, March 25 after signing an ATO contract with the Birds on Saturday, March 24. Fletcher recently finished his college career with St. Cloud State where he led his team with a +21 rating. In 2005-06, Fletcher was the team's top scoring defender with 27 points and he led St. Cloud with a +19 rating. Fletcher was a teammate of Micflikier's while with Sioux City of the USHL from 2001-2003. Rookie netminder Kevin Beech made his AHL debut on Sunday, March 25 stopping 21 of 23 shots in a relief performance. Beech has entered the last three consecutive games in a relief effort and overall the youngster has posted a 1.98 goals against average and .923 save percentage in 91 minutes of action. Beech signed his ATO contract on March 19 after finishing his junior season with Erie of the Ontario Hockey League.

CHANGING PLACES: The Springfield Falcons and Portland Pirates have been linked in some transactions recently involving the Falcons' National Hockey League affiliate, the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Pirates' NHL affiliate the Anaheim Ducks. Back on February 20, the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired defenseman Shane O'Brien and a third round selection at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for goaltender Gerald Coleman and Tampa Bay's first-round selection in 2007. Coleman had played in three games for the Birds this year posting a record of 2-1 with a 1.50 goals against average and .960 save percentage. Coleman led all Falcons goaltenders in games played last year appearing in 43 contests posting a mark of

14-21-3 with a 3.88 goals against average and .880 save percentage. Just one week later on February 27, the Lightning acquired defenseman Joe Rullier from the Ducks in exchange for fellow blueliner Doug O'Brien. The Falcons also acquired defenseman Nick Kuiper from the Pirates in exchange for future considerations on February 27 and Kuiper made his Falcons debut on March 4 at Worcester.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 31, 2007


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