Falcons Host Rats This Afternoon
Published on December 4, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
The Springfield Falcons and Albany River Rats meet for the third time this season and second meeting at the MassMutual Center. These two Atlantic Division rivals have already played two very competitive games this season with Springfield beating Albany 4-3 on November 2 in Albany, followed by a 5-3 Falcons win on November 18 in Springfield. Falcons right winger Norm Milley has recorded three goals and one assist in two games against Albany this season, while center Ryan Vesce (one goal and three assists) and veteran Brad Tiley (four assists) are tied with Milley for the team lead in scoring against the Rats this season. River Rats rookie Nicklas Bergfors is tied with teammates Aaron Voros and Peter Vrana for the Albany lead in scoring against Springfield this season with two points each. Following tonight's game, the Falcons and River Rats will not meet again until Wednesday, January 4 when Springfield heads back to the Pepsi Arena.
The Falcons enter tonight's game on a two-game winning streak picking up a pair of road wins this weekend. Springfield beat the Providence Bruins on Friday night 4-3, followed by a 1-0 overtime win last night in Manchester. Falcons goaltender Gerald Coleman collected his first professional shutout last night making 26 saves, while Springfield used a very solid team effort with Jim Campbell scoring the game-winner in the extra session on a perfect pass from captain Ryan Craig. Springfield currently has a record of 12-8-1-2 good for 27 points and they share a tie for third place in the Atlantic Division with Hartford. The Falcons have won six of their last nine games played.
Albany heads into Springfield having lost to the Binghamton Senators last night 2-1 at the Pepsi Arena. Jason Ryznar scored the lone River Rats goal, while goaltender Ari Ahonen was very solid between the pipes making 42 saves and collecting the game's second star. The River Rats have gone 2-2-0-0 in their last four games, including a 3-2 win over the second-place Portland Pirates on Friday night. Goaltender Frank Doyle collected the shutout win on Friday night making 45 saves in that contest. Albany currently has a record of 7-14-0-2 good for 16 points.
BACK IN THE LINEUP: Falcons veteran right winger Jim Campbell scored the game-winning goal in overtime last night, his seventh marker of the season. Campbell made his return to the Falcons lineup on Friday night in Providence after missing seven games due to injury. Campbell is fifth on the team in scoring with seven goals and five assists for 12 points in 16 games this season. Campbell also has three power play goals this season and is tied for the team lead in game-winning tallies with two. Campbell scored the first goal of the season for the Falcons back on October 8 against Portland.
ASSISTED BY THE CAPTAIN: Falcons captain Ryan Craig set up the game-winner for the Falcons last night giving the third-year pro points in four of his last five games. Craig is currently fourth on the team in scoring with nine goals and seven assists for 16 points in 23 games played. Craig is third on the team in power play goals with four and second in shots on goal with 68. Craig led the Falcons in goals last season with 27.
SHARING THE GOALTENDING DUTIES: Albany goaltenders Frank Doyle and Ari Ahonen have split the duties between the pipes this season for the River Rats. Doyle has played in 14 games collecting a record of 5-7-2 with a 2.49 goals against average and .924 save percentage. Ahonen has played in nine games for Albany posting a record of 2-7-0 with a 4.16 goals against average and a .887 save percentage. Doyle has started four of the last five games between the pipes.
LEADING THE RATS: Albany right winger Aleksander Suglobov continues to lead Albany in scoring with nine goals and eight assists for 17 points in 21 games. Suglobov also leads the team in power play goals with five and shots on goal with 64.
American Hockey League Stories from December 4, 2005
- Peoria Prevails By Four Goals - Peoria Rivermen
- Phantoms fall to Syracuse - Adirondack Phantoms
- Brent's Buzzer Beater Burns Monarchs Comeback - Manchester Monarchs
- Westrum reclaims AHL points lead - Houston Aeros
- Barons Fall at Houston, 5-2 - Cleveland Barons
- Bears defeat Penguins in shootout 3-2 - Hershey Bears
- Sound Tigers Beaten By Hartford 5-3 - Bridgeport Islanders
- P-Bruins Shutout Lowell 3-0 - Providence Bruins
- Bruins Get Payback on Monsters, 3-0 - Albany Devils
- Moose Sign Keane to PTO; Release Centomo from PTO - Manitoba Moose
- Carolina Recalls Chad LaRose - Albany Devils
- Bears look to knock off high flying Penguins tonight - Hershey Bears
- Canucks recall Balej and McVicar - Manitoba Moose
- Family Day matchup finishes homestand - Houston Aeros
- Falcons Host Rats This Afternoon - Springfield Falcons
- Rivermen win twice in one evening - Peoria Rivermen
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
