Falcons Rally for 4-3 Overtime Win over Worcester

January 15, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. – Springfield Falcons rookie defenseman Doug O'Brien scored in overtime to complete a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Worcester IceCats on Saturday night at the Springfield Civic Center. Forwards Derek Bekar and Craig Darby each posted a goal and an assist in the victory while Nikita Alexeev's tally with 1:49 remaining in regulation sent the game to the extra session.

Bekar's third goal of the season tied the game, 2-2, with 6:43 remaining in the third period. The former IceCat followed up shots by rookies Nick Tarnasky and Darren Reid to knock the puck past Worcester goaltender Jason Bacashihua.

The ‘Cats regained the lead and appeared poised to grab sole possession of third place in the Atlantic Division with a win when defenseman Brendan Buckley scored with 2:16 left in regulation.

However, Alexeev beat Bacashihua with a wrist shot from between the face-off circles just 27 seconds later. Right wing Evgeni Artukhin fed Alexeev with a pass from behind the Worcester net on the game-tying goal.

O'Brien scored the game-winner by ripping a shot under the crossbar from the top of the left wing face-off circle 1:49 into overtime. Rookie center Nick Tarnasky set O'Brien up for the shot with a pass through the slot from near the goal line. The goal was the second of the season for O'Brien, who returned to the Falcons on Thursday after playing three games with the ECHL's Johnstown Chiefs last week.

The IceCats opened scoring 3:19 into the game when center Blake Evans blasted a slap shot from near the top of the left face-off circle into the top corner for his team-leading 11th goal of the season.

Worcester left wing Peter Sejna put back the rebound of an Evans' shot just as an IceCats' two-man advantage ended with 9:15 remaining in the first period to make the score 2-0. The goal was the eighth of the campaign for Sejna, who won the Hobey Baker award in 2003 as college hockey's top player.

Darby put the Falcons on the board 7:23 into the second period after getting a step on the Worcester defense and receiving a lead pass from Artukhin. Darby's blast from the right circle was partially stopped by Bacashihua, but had enough steam to carry across the goal line.

Springfield goaltender Brian Eklund kept the Falcons within a goal a short time later by making a pad save on a shorthanded breakaway by Worcester center Jay McClement and then denied Tony Riddle's follow up attempt.

With the victory, the Falcons improved their record to 3-3-0-0 against the IceCats this season. Springfield has won three of the last four meetings between the clubs.

Eklund finished the game with 27 saves to even his record on the season at 6-6-0. Bacashihua, the reigning AHL Player of the Week, stopped 17 of 21 shots.

Artukhin and Tarnasky each registered a pair of assists in the win.

The Falcons were scoreless on four power-play attempts in the game while the IceCats converted one of six chances with the man advantage.

The Falcons will travel south on the I-91 to face the Wolf Pack in Hartford on Wednesday. The club will return to The Nest to host the Lowell Lock Monsters on Friday and the Providence Bruins next Saturday. To purchase tickets, visit the Springfield Civic Center box office. Call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602 to order by phone or visit www.falconsahl.com to order tickets online.



American Hockey League Stories from January 15, 2005


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