Falcons Overcome Worcester, 4-2
Published on November 13, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield, Mass. â Right wing Shane Willis scored two goals and goaltender Jamie Storr made 40 saves to lead the Springfield Falcons to a 4-2 win over the Worcester IceCats at the Springfield Civic Center on Saturday night. Forwards Nikita Alexeev and Evgeni Artukhin also scored for the Falcons. The Falcons became the first team to defeat Worcester in regulation in the IceCats' last nine games.
With 7:47 remaining in the first period, Alexeev scored off the rebound of his own shot to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead. The goal was Alexeev's first of the season and came in his second game back in the Falcons' lineup after he had missed three weeks with an injury.
The Falcons doubled their lead with a power-play goal 3:34 later. On the tally, defenseman Brian Chapman aimed a shot from the point toward Willis at the far edge of the crease. The Springfield right wing redirected the puck over IceCats goaltender Curtis Sanford for his fourth goal of the season.
Artukhin poked a bouncing puck past Sanford 1:49 later to make the score 3-0 at the end of the opening frame. Chapman collected his second assist of the game on the goal.
The IceCats put the puck in the net with 5:21 remaining in the second period, but the goal was waved off when right wing Mike Glumac was penalized for interfering with Storr in the goal crease.
However, an unassisted shorthanded goal at 15:59 by Worcester center Jay McClement counted. The persistent McClement carried the puck to the front of the Springfield net from the left wing and scored on a second effort after Storr made an initial save.
Worcester narrowed the Falcons lead to one with 8:29 remaining in regulation. âCats left wing Erkki Rajamaki's sharp-angled wrist shot squeaked between Storr and the post to make the score 3-2.
Willis scored into an empty net from center ice with seven seconds left to seal the win for Springfield.
The Falcons converted one of five power plays in the game while killing off all five Worcester chances with the man advantage.
After the Falcons' three-goal first period, Worcester head coach Don Granato pulled Sanford from the net in favor of Dallas Stars' former first-round draft pick Jason Bacashihua. The 22-year-old stopped all nine shots he faced from the Falcons.
The win was Springfield's first in three games against the IceCats this season.
The Falcons will visit the Manchester Monarchs at Verizon Wireless Arena on Sunday. Game time is 4:05 p.m. Tune into The ZONE â Sports Radio 640 to hear the Voice of the Falcons Marc Shelankski's call of the action. Fans can also listen on the Internet by clicking on the MassLive.com Cyber Cast link on the Falcons' official team web site, www.falconsahl.com.
American Hockey League Stories from November 13, 2004
- Schaefer backs Barons to shutout win - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Monarchs Win Fifth Straight At Home - Manchester Monarchs
- Late goal by Kesler leads Moose over Ducks - Manitoba Moose
- Falcons Overcome Worcester, 4-2 - Springfield Falcons
- Moose hand Ducks their fifth straight loss - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Griffins win another nail-biter, 3-2 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Sound Tigers Rally To Beat Norfolk 3-2 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Kostopoulos leads Manchester to 5-0 win over Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Phantoms Tie Franchise Mark With 3-2 Win Over Binghamton - Adirondack Phantoms
- Bruins fall to Hartford - Providence Bruins
- Aeros tied for first after 5-2 win over defending champs - Houston Aeros
- Maple Leafs Make Roster Moves - Toronto Marlies
- Bulldogs lose thriller in first ever shootout - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Aeros can climb into tie for first this afternoon - Houston Aeros
- Rampage Game Day - San Antonio Rampage
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