Falcons host River Rats tonight

Published on November 18, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


GAME SETUP:

The Springfield Falcons and Albany River Rats face off for the second time this season and meet for the first time at the MassMutual Center. These two Atlantic Division rivals played earlier this month with the Falcons beating the River Rats 4-3 at the Pepsi Arena on November 2. Dennis Packard scored the game-winning goal for Springfield in that contest, while Ryan Vesce, Norm Milley and Darren Reid also converted for the Falcons in the victory. Falcons goaltender Gerald Coleman picked up the win between the pipes for Springfield. Albany received goals from Ryan Murphy, Tuomas Pihlman, and Krisjanis Redlihs, while goaltender Frank Doyle took the loss in goal for the Rats.

The Falcons enter tonight's game looking to rebound from a 2-1 defeat against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday, November 12. Reid scored the lone goal for Springfield against Bridgeport. Springfield begins a stretch of games tonight in which they will play five of their remaining seven games this month on home ice, including a Sunday matinee against the Binghamton Senators on Sunday, November 20. Springfield enters tonight's game with a record of 6-5-1-2 through 14 games, just three points behind the second place Lowell Lock Monsters. Following tonight's game, Springfield will travel to Bridgeport on Saturday night to battle the Sound Tigers for the second time in a week.

The River Rats head into Springfield looking to snap a six-game losing streak. Albany enters tonight's contest with a record of 4-10-0-0 through 14 games. Albany is currently in a stretch of four games in five days, including three straight match ups this weekend. The River Rats lost to the Lowell Lock Monsters on Wednesday night, 4-1.

FALCONS SIGN SPINA TO PTO:

The Falcons announced this week that they have signed left wing David Spina to a Professional Tryout Agreement. Spina joined the Falcons on Wednesday as they prepared to host the Albany River Rats tonight. Spina has played in 11 games for the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL this season recording a team leading seven goals. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound native of Mesa, Arizona also leads South Carolina in power play goals this season with four.

Spina is in his first full season of professional hockey after spending four seasons with the Boston College Eagles from 2001-2005. In 138 career games with the Eagles, he registered 49 goals and 54 assists for 103 points. Spina made his professional debut last season playing in nine games with the Utah Grizzlies (AHL).

STEADY PLAY UP THE MIDDLE:

Falcons center Jason Jaspers enters tonight's game tied for the team lead in scoring with seven goals and eight assists for 15 points through 14 games. Jaspers has collected at least a point in nine of Springfield's 14 games and he is also second on the team in power play goals with four. Jaspers is currently fourth on the Falcons' all-time goal list with 64, sixth on the Falcons' all-time points list with 149 and fourth on Springfield's all-time games played list with 254. Jaspers was signed by the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent this past summer.

SHARING THE TEAM LEAD:

Falcons right winger Norm Milley is tied with Jaspers for the team lead in scoring this season with seven goals and eight assists for 15 points. Milley leads Springfield in power play goals with five and has collected at least a point in 10 of Springfield's 14 games. Milley and Jaspers were also teammates when they played their junior hockey with the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League.

LEADING THE RATS:

Albany right winger Aleksander Suglobov currently leads the River Rats in scoring this season with four goals and six assists for 10 points in 12 games played. Suglobov also played in 72 games for the Rats last season collecting 25 goals and 21 assists.

BACK WITH THE RIVER RATS:

Albany center Pascal Rheaume has played in five games with Albany this season collecting two goals. Rheaume has also played in 12 games with New Jersey this season not collecting a point. Rheaume signed with the Devils as a free agent on July 22, 2004.



American Hockey League Stories from November 18, 2005


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