Falcons Host The Wolf Pack Tonight

Published on December 27, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


The Springfield Falcons and Hartford Wolf Pack will meet for the fourth time this season when they continue their "I-91" rivalry on Saturday night at the MassMutual Center. This will be the Wolf Pack's first visit to Springfield this year after the two teams played the first three games of the season series at the XL Center in Hartford. Springfield is 2-0-1-0 against Hartford this year, including a 4-3 shootout victory for Springfield in their most recent battle back on December 13. Tyler Spurgeon, Bryan Lerg and Ryan Potulny all scored third period goals for the Falcons back on December 13 erasing Springfield's 3-0 deficit and sending the contest to overtime and a shootout. Carl Corazzini scored the game-winner in the extra session while goaltender Devan Dubnyk stopped all five Hartford shooters.

All three games in the season series this year have been one-goal contests. Hartford beat the Falcons in overtime by a score of 4-3 back on November 8 with Lauri Korpikoski netting the game-winner in the extra frame. Korpikoski's game-winner capped off a hat trick for the forward on that evening. These two teams opened the 2008-09 season in Hartford with the Falcons skating away with a 4-3 regulation win back on October 11.

Gilbert Brule and Ryan Potulny lead the Falcons in scoring against the Wolf Pack this year with three goals and one assist each. Rookie defenseman Taylor Chorney has three assists in three games against Hartford this season leading all Springfield skaters in helpers against the Pack. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk has started all three games against Hartford this year posting a 3.16 goals against average and .895 save percentage.

Jordan Owens leads Hartford's offense against Springfield this campaign with one goal and three assists for four points in three games. Tommy Pyatt is the Wolf Pack's active leader in goals against the Falcons this year with two markers. Netminder Miika Wiikman has also played in all three games of the season series for Hartford posting a 3.18 goals against average and .881 save percentage.

The Falcons will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak tonight after falling 3-1 to the Manchester Monarchs on home ice last night. Gilbert Brule scored the Falcons' lone goal on the evening assisted by Rob Schremp and Sebastien Bisaillon. Springfield now has a record of 12-15-3-1 good for 28 points and sixth place in the Atlantic Division. The Falcons are now two points behind fifth place Manchester, and five points behind fourth place Worcester. Springfield concludes their weekend in Manchester on Sunday.

Hartford heads into Springfield having lost to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday night by a score of 3-1 despite outshooting the Sound Tigers 29-17. Artem Anisimov scored the Wolf Pack's lone goal, while goaltender Miika Wiikman stopped 14 of 17 shots. Hartford currently has a record of 15-13-1-3 good for 34 points and third place in the Atlantic Division. The Wolf Pack has collected at least a point in the standings in six of their last eight games going 5-2-0-1 in that span. Hartford will conclude their weekend in Lowell on Sunday.

PLAYER NOTES:

- Falcons forward Gilbert Brule returned to the Falcons' lineup on December 21 at Providence after missing a total of eight games; four games due to recall to the Edmonton Oilers and another four games due to an AHL suspension. Brule is second on the team in goals with nine.

- Rob Schremp has recorded at least a point in three of his four games since being reassigned to the Falcons by the Edmonton Oilers on December 15.

- Hartford's Artem Anisimov has recorded at least a point in his last two games collecting one goal and two assists in that span. He currently leads the Wolf Pack in scoring with 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points in 32 games.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2008


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