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Falcons Host River Rats Tonight

October 24, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons and Albany River Rats get together for the first of four meetings this season when they battle on Friday night at the MassMutual Center. After tonight's game, the Falcons and River Rats will not see each other again until February 13 when Springfield heads to Albany. The Rats return to Springfield on March 6, followed by the final meeting of the year on March 28 at Albany.

The Falcons head into Friday's action coming off an impressive 4-1 win at Manchester this past Sunday. Springfield used a pair of goals from the captain Tim Sestito, while Viacheslav Trukhno and Stephane Goulet also converted for the Falcons. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk was solid between the pipes stopping 32 of the 33 shots he faced in his fifth start of the season. The Falcons had 10 different players record at least a point on Sunday, including a pair of assists from Guillaume Lefebvre.

After four of their first five games on the road, the Falcons will now play three straight contests on home ice starting Friday night. After tonight's game, the Lowell Devils visit the MassMutual Center on October 25, followed by October 31.

Albany heads into the MassMutual Center with a record 1-2-1-0 on the young season with three of their first four games taking place on home ice. The Rats lost in overtime to the Binghamton Senators on Wednesday night by a score of 4-3. Albany built a 3-0 lead in that contest with goals from Mark Flood, Mike Angelidis, and Nicolas Blanchard before the Senators rallied for four unanswered markers. The Rats return home on Saturday to host the Philadelphia Phantoms to conclude their weekend.

SAFE TRAVELS: The Falcons announced Thursday that Theo Peckham was recalled by their National Hockey League affiliate, the Edmonton Oilers. Peckham joined the Oilers in Colorado for their game Thursday against the Avalanche, but he was reassigned to the Falcons on Friday.

Peckham is in his second professional season and has played in five games for the Falcons this year collecting two goals and one assist and 18 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-2, 223-pound native of Richmond Hill, Ontario saw time in both Springfield and Edmonton last season. Peckham played in 59 games with the Falcons last year recording six goals and seven assists for 13 points and 174 penalty minutes.

FALCONS PLAYER NOTES:

Rookie Geoff Paukovich made his AHL debut on Friday, October 17 at Providence.

Rob Schremp is on a three-game scoring streak having collected three assists in three games played. Schremp made his 2008-09 Falcons debut on October 17 at Providence and the third-year pro led the Falcons in scoring last year with 23 goals and 53 assists for 76 points in 78 games.

Captain Tim Sestito scored his first two goals of the season on October 19 in a 4-1 win at Manchester earning the game's top star.

Goaltender Devan Dubnyk has started all five games for Springfield this season and he stopped 32 of 33 shots in Manchester on Sunday, October 19 earning the game's second star.

Jake Taylor scored his first goal as a member of the Falcons on October 17 at Providence.

ALBANY PLAYER NOTES:

FIRST WIN, THREE TIMES OVER - Albany's first win of the season, a 5-4 victory over the Worcester Sharks Friday, October 17 at the Glens Falls Civic Center was goaltender Daniel Manzato's first career AHL win, in his second career AHL start. It was also Head Coach Jeff Daniels' first victory as a head coach.

TWICE AS NICE - RW Jakub Petruzalek scored two goals on October 17 in Glens Falls, becoming the first River Rats player to record a multi-goal game this season. Petruzalek's efforts gave him his first points of the season.

DWYER & GLENS FALLS WORK WELL - RW Pat Dwyer scored the game-winning goal on October 17 to beat Worcester 5-4, complimenting his overtime goal against Binghamton last March, giving Albany their first back-to-back wins in Glens Falls since the Adirondack Red Wings moved to Michigan.

ANOTHER FIRST - Rookie forward Harrison Reed took just three professional games to record his first career pro goal. Reed scored Albany's lone goal Saturday, October 18 in Bridgeport, a first period power play goal, giving the Newmarket, Ontario native his first career professional point.

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