Falcons lose in Worcester, 4-2

Published on March 7, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Worcester, MA – The Springfield Falcons suffered a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Worcester IceCats before a crowd of 4,652 at Worcester's Centrum Centre on Sunday. Right wing Peter Ferraro and defenseman Nic Bilotto posted a goal and an assist each to provide the Springfield offense. Netminder Jean-Marc Pelletier stopped 36 of 39 shots in the Falcons' net.

The IceCats converted their second power-play of the game to grab a 1-0 lead 11:20 into the first period. Defenseman Trevor Byrne blasted a slap shot from the top of the right wing face-off circle that lost most of its momentum when it hit traffic in front of the net, but the puck changed direction and trickled into the corner of the net. The goal was Byrne's fifth of the season.

While holding a man advantage created by a major penalty for high sticking issued to Johnny Pohl, Springfield evened the score on Bilotto's third marker with the Falcons this season. The blueliner lifted a wrist shot from the right point into the top corner of the net 2:58 into the second period.

Worcester regained the lead 1:52 later when center Blake Evans redirected a slap shot from the point by Christian Laflamme under Pelletier for his 13th goal of the season.

The IceCats made the score 3-1 with 6:48 remaining in the middle frame on center Mike Glumac's 19th goal and seventh versus the Falcons this season. Forward Johnny Pohl set up Glumac in the low slot with a blind drop pass from the side of the net.

Pelletier helped keep the Falcons in the game in stopping each of the 13 shots he faced in the third period including a clear breakaway attempt by Worcester right wing Jeff Panzer with less than two minutes remaining in regulation.

The final three seconds of the game proved to be eventful as Ferraro's wrist shot from near the left boards eluded IceCats goaltender Mike Valley to make the score 3-2 at 19:57 of the third frame.

On the ensuing face-off at center ice, defenseman Christian Laflamme collected the puck after Evans won the draw and shot it into to the Falcons empty net before the final horn sounded.

The Falcons finished the game one-for-three on the power play while Worcester connected twice on six chances with the man advantage.

Evans (1g, 1a), Laflamme (1g, 1a), and forward Peter Sejna (0g, 2a) each finished with two points in the game for Worcester. Valley turned aside 18 of 20 shots to earn his second win in his second appearance of the season for the ‘Cats.

The Portland Pirates, who currently hold the fifth and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division, downed the Providence Bruins, 2-0, and the sixth-place Lowell Lock Monsters downed the Hershey Bears, 5-4, on Sunday. With the loss, the Falcons now trail Portland by 13 points and Lowell 10 points.

The Falcons will visit the Manchester Monarchs at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. The Falcons will return to the home ice of the Springfield Civic Center for a pair of weekend match-ups against the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday night and the Portland Pirates on Saturday. Game time for both contests is 7:35 pm. For ticket information, please contact the Falcons team office at (413) 739-3344.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2004


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