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Falcons' Record Remains Even after Week Two

October 20, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Week in Review (1-1-0-0):

For the second consecutive week of the new season, the Springfield Falcons (2-2-0-0, 4 points) split a pair of weekend games. Springfield scored three opening-period goals en route to a 4-3 win over the Manchester Monarchs at "The Nest" on Friday evening. The following night, the Falcons more than doubled the Providence Bruins in shots on goal, but fell short on the scoreboard. Springfield veteran forward Gary Shuchuk posted a goal and an assist in the 4-2 loss. Providence is responsible for both of the Falcons' losses this season. The Falcons currently reside in fourth place in the seven-team Atlantic Division and will face the Worcester IceCats and Albany River Rats in a pair of road games this upcoming weekend.

Falcons – 4 vs. Manchester – 3

Friday, October 17th

Jeremiah McCarthy, Peter Ferraro, and Shuchuk each scored in the first period to provide the Falcons with a 3-0 lead at intermission. However, the Monarchs notched three unanswered markers and tied the contest at 7:02 of the third frame on right wing Pavel Rosa's first goal of the season. Reigning AHL Player of the Week Jeff Taffe followed Rosa's game-tying tally with the eventual game-winner 31 seconds later. Springfield netminder Jean-Marc Pelletier made 31 saves in earning his first victory of the campaign. Taffe registered three points in the game (1g, 2a) while Ferraro collected two (1g, 1a).

SOG: 22 SOGA: 34 PP: 2-for-6 PK: 4-for-4

Falcons – 2 vs. Providence – 4

Saturday, October 18th

Bruins center Matt Herr posted a hat trick and goaltender Hannu Toivenen stopped 35 of 37 shots to lead Providence to a 4-2 win over the Falcons in Springfield. The Falcons outshot the P-Bruins, 18-4, in the first period, but Herr's power-play goal at 17:23 was the only score of the frame. Center Jason Jaspers tied the game with his first marker of the season at 11:16 of the second period, but Herr scored again with the man advantage 1:46 later. Shuchuk scored off a turnover by the Providence defense to pull Springfield even, 2-2, early in the final stanza. However, the Bruins received a goal by Sergei Zinovjev at 9:46 of the period and an empty-net tally by Herr with eight seconds remaining in regulation to register the win.

SOG: 37 SOGA: 15 PP: 0-for-6 PK: 3-for-5

Team Notes: Taffe shares the AHL lead for power-play goals (3), and is tied for 2nd in the league in points (8) and goals (5). Saturday's 4-2 loss to Providence marked the first game he has been held without a goal as well as without a point.... The Falcons were one of two AHL teams (along with Houston) to not have allowed a power-play goal this season until yielding two to Providence on Saturday. The club currently ranks tenth in the league in penalty killing success (88.9%).... Shuchuk scored in each of his first two games of the season over the weekend after missing the Falcons' opening pair of games with an injury. The Falcons have outshot opponents, 131-98, through four games this season.... Pelletier has faced 67 shots in two games in the Falcons' net this season while rookie goaltender David LeNeveu has seen 30 shots on goal during his two appearances.... Springfield has yielded the most goals against per game (4.0) in the AHL this season.... Rookie forwards Fredrik Sjostrom and Frantisek Lukes have both registered two assists this season with each coming on goals by Taffe.

Roster Update: Left wing Mike Stutzel made his professional debut for the Falcons in Friday's win over Manchester after sitting out the season-opening weekend with an injury.... Forward Martin Podlesak missed both games over the weekend while recovering from an injury.... Right wing Frank Banham has not yet seen game action this season due to an injury.

Upcoming Week:

Falcons at Worcester IceCats

Friday, October 24th

The game marks the first meeting between the division rivals this season.... The Falcons were 1-4-2-1 versus Worcester last season and carry a record of 34-42-12 all-time against the team.... The IceCats are winless in their last four games.... Despite a record of 1-3-1-0 this season, the IceCats have outshot their opponent in each of the club's five games.... Forwards Marc Brown (1g, 3a) and Ernie Hartlieb (1g, 3a) lead Worcester in scoring with four points apiece.... Goaltender Reinhard Divis has compiled a 2.71 goals against average while appearing in all five of the IceCats' games this season.... Four of the IceCats' first five games have been played on the road.... The ‘Cats drew a home-opening night crowd of 10,272 on October 11th.... After facing the Monarchs' Dan Welch on Saturday, Taffe will skate against another former teammate from the 2002 NCAA Champion University of Minnesota team in Worcester center John Pohl. Pohl and Taffe ranked first and second on the Gophers in scoring that season.... Center Steve Martins, who played for the Falcons during the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons, has registered one assist in three games played with the IceCats this season.

Falcons at Albany River Rats

Saturday, October 25th

The Falcons collected their first win of the season in the team's home opener versus Albany, 5-4, on October 11th. Taffe and center Erik Westrum scored two goals each in the victory.... Springfield is 21-20-8 all-time versus the River Rats.... The River Rats twice went to overtime versus the Admirals in Norfolk this past weekend, registering a tie on Friday and an overtime loss on Saturday.... The Rats (0-2-1-1, 4 points) are one of two teams (with Utah) in the AHL looking for their first win of the season.... Former Montreal Canadiens center Craig Darby leads Albany in scoring with five points (1g, 4a) in four games.... The River Rats have scored one goal in 16 power-play chances this season (6.25%) while allowing five goals in 20 penalty-killing situations (75.00% success rate). However, Albany (along with St. John's) has scored a league-high two shorthanded goals this season. Right wing Chris Hartsburg scored a shorthanded marker versus the Falcons in the first meeting between the clubs.... Saturday's game begins a four-game homestand for the River Rats.... Albany defenseman Matt DeMarchi was another college teammate of Taffe on Minnesota's 2002 National Championship squad.... Rats blueliner Alex Brooks and Banham were teammates on Jokerit Helsinki of the Finnish Elite League in 2001-02.

Radio Broadcast Update: The Falcons' game this Friday versus the Worcester IceCats will not be carried on radio. Saturday's contest against the Albany River Rats will be broadcast only if the World Series has been decided by then. If there is a Game Six of the World Series, it will be carried by the Falcons' flagship station, The ZONE – Sports Radio 640, on Saturday.

This Week's Game Schedule:

Fri., Oct. 24th Falcons at Worcester IceCats 7:05 PM Worcester's Centrum Center

Sat., Oct. 25th Falcons at Albany River Rats 7:00 PM Pepsi Arena

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