Falcons Host Sharks Tonight at 7:05 PM
January 20, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
The Springfield Falcons and Worcester Sharks meet for the seventh time this season tonight at the MassMutual Center starting at 7:05 PM. Tonight will also be the fourth meeting between these two Atlantic Division rivals at the MassMutual Center, including the second contest in the last seven days in Springfield between the Falcons and Sharks. The season series is even at three wins each with Worcester winning the last two games against Springfield after the Falcons were victorious in the three of the first four contests this season. The Falcons and Sharks played at the MassMutual Center last Saturday night with Worcester beating Springfield 4-2. After tonight's game, these two intra-state rivals will not meet again until Saturday, February 17 when the Birds host the Sharks. Springfield's next trip to Worcester is on Wednesday, February 28.
Falcons left wing Eric Healey leads the Falcons in scoring against the Sharks this season with three goals and six assists for nine points in six games played. Center Daniel Corso is second in the scoring department against Worcester with two goals and six assists for eight points in five games. Captain Norm Milley is tied with Healey for the most amount of goals against Worcester this season with three.
Sharks All-Star forward Mathieu Darche leads Worcester in scoring against Springfield this season with three goals and three assists for six points in six games played. Mike Iggulden is tied with Darche for the most amount of goals against the Falcons this year with three.
The Falcons head into tonight's game having snapped their five-game losing streak last night with a 3-2 shootout win over the Providence Bruins at the Dunkin Donuts Center. Doug O'Brien and Eric Healey scored in regulation for the Birds, while center Daniel Corso and Healey converted in the shootout. Goaltender Karri Ramo stopped 29 of 31 shots through regulation and overtime, while also stopping four of five shooters in the extra frame. Springfield evened their record back to 21-21-0-1 on the season and moved into sixth place in the standings. The Falcons are only two points behind fifth place Worcester and three points behind both Portland and Providence. Springfield concludes their three-game weekend on Sunday in Hartford.
The Sharks head into Springfield on a two-game winning streak and have collected a point in their last four games going 3-0-0-1 in that span. Worcester beat the Lowell Devils 3-1 last night at the DCU Center improving their record to 19-15-1-6 on the season good for 45 points. The Sharks used a pair of goals from Graham Mink, his 8th and 9th goals of the year, while Lukas Kaspar added an empty net goal giving Worcester a two-goal victory. Goaltender Thomas Greiss stopped 24 of the 25 shots he faced in earning the game's second star. The Sharks conclude their weekend with a re-match against the Devils on Sunday in Lowell.
WELCOME BACK CAPTAIN: Falcons captain Norm Milley returned to the Falcons lineup last night after missing six games due to injury. Milley assisted on the game-tying goal Friday night and has registered at least a point six of his last seven games collecting three goals and seven assists for 10 points in that span. Milley is currently second on the Birds in scoring with 16 goals and 20 assists for 36 points in 37 games.
SEASON-HIGH STREAK: Falcons forward David Spina picked up one assist Friday night in Providence extending his season-high scoring streak to seven straight games. Spina has three goals and seven assists in his last seven contests. The Mesa, Arizona native will be playing in his 100th career AHL game tonight, including his 91st game as a member of the Falcons.
WORCESTER PLAYER STREAKS: Sharks right wing Graham Mink has earned at least point in his last four consecutive games collecting four goals and one assist for five points in that span. Mink has moved up to fourth on the Sharks in scoring with nine goals and 15 assists for 24 points in 23 games played, including six power play goals. The Stowe, Vermont native is in his sixth professional season after playing his collegiate hockey with the University of Vermont from 1998-2001. Mink won a Calder Cup with the Hershey Bears last season as a member of the Washington Capitals organization......Defenseman Dan Spang has collected at least a point in three straight games collecting four assists in that span. Spang returned to the Sharks' lineup on January 13 after missing four games due to injury......All-Star Mathieu Darche has registered at least a point in his last four games totaling one goal and four assists in that span.
American Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2007
- Guerriero Lifts Admirals over Toronto - Milwaukee Admirals
- Stars sunk by Rivermen - Iowa Chops
- Reitz back with Aeros, who host Milwaukee on Sunday - Houston Aeros
- Ak-Sar-Ben Knights Vanquish Americans, 2-1 - Abbotsford Heat
- Bulldogs rout Griffins - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Rivermen Defeat Iowa 5-4 on the Road - Peoria Rivermen
- Wolf Pack Trump Devils, 3-2 - Albany Devils
- Sound Tigers Get Another Sweet Win in Hershey - Bridgeport Islanders
- Sound Tigers rally to down Bears in shootout - Hershey Bears
- Bulldogs Upend Griffins Again, 5-1 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Admirals Drop Heartbreaker in Wilkes-Barre - Norfolk Admirals
- P-Bruins Defeat Pirates 6-4 - Providence Bruins
- Kings Trade Munce To Tampa Bay - Manchester Monarchs
- Winger's Natural Hat Trick Powers Albany to 4-1 Win - Adirondack Phantoms
- Gilbert returned to Penguins - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Canucks Re-Assign Edler to Moose - Manitoba Moose
- Falcons Host Sharks Tonight at 7:05 PM - Springfield Falcons
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.
