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Falcons Regain Scoring Touch over Weekend

November 18, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, MA - The Springfield Falcons (6-7-2-0, 14 pts) registered a win, a loss, and a tie in three games against divisional foes last week. The Falcons fell 3-1 to the Lock Monsters in Lowell in a Tuesday matinee contest before skating to a 3-3 deadlock with the Worcester IceCats in front of a sell-out crowd at the Springfield Civic Center on Friday evening. On Saturday night, the Falcons rallied from a three-goal deficit to defeat the Manchester Monarchs, 4-3 in overtime. Springfield center Jeff Taffe scored the game-tying goal against Worcester and the game-winner in Manchester with 32.4 seconds remaining in the extra session. Taffe received a call-up to the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes on Monday.

The Falcons will meet the Monarchs again in a home-and-home series this week beginning Saturday in Springfield at 7:35 pm. The teams will match-up again at 4:05 pm the Verizon Wireless Arena in New Hampshire on Sunday. The Falcons will begin their week's schedule against the Albany River Rats at the Civic Center on Friday at 7:35 pm.

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

Falcons – 1 at Lowell – 3

Tuesday, November 11th

Veteran forward Gary Shuchuk scored the lone Falcons' goal, but Springfield saw its season-high losing streak extended to four games. Lowell right wing Pavel Brendl scored two goals in the second period and set up another in the third. Former Falcon netminder Patrick DesRochers stopped 26 of 27 shots to register the win for the Lock Monsters. Springfield goaltender David LeNeveu made 27 saves.

SOG: 27 SOGA: 30 PP: 0-for-5 PK: 2-for-2

Falcons – 3 vs. Worcester – 3 (OT)

Friday, November 14th

Springfield goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier turned aside 34 of 37 shots, often in spectacular fashion, as the Falcons skated to a 3-3 tie with the IceCats. Taffe followed a goal by Worcester's Johnny Pohl, which briefly gave the ‘Cats a 3-2 lead, with his ninth tally of the season to pull Springfield even late in the second period. The goals were separated by 39 seconds on the game clock. Taffe's goal concluded scoring as neither club connected in the third period or overtime. Springfield defenseman Mike Wilson and left wing Frantisek Lukes each scored their first goals of the season.

SOG: 27 SOGA: 37 PP: 1-for-2 PK: 5-for-5

Falcons – 4 at Manchester– 3 (OT)

Saturday, November 15th

The Monarchs received goals from right wing Dan Welch, defenseman Bryan Muir, and forward Pavel Rosa to take a 3-0 lead 8:06 into the second period. However, centers Erik Westrum and Kiel McLeod scored 2:55 apart later in the frame to pull the Falcons to within a goal. Westrum fed Chris Ferraro for the game-tying goal with 5:38 remaining in regulation. Taffe put back a rebound after Monarchs goaltender Adam Hauser had made saves on Fredrik Sjostrom and Nikos Tselios for the game-winner. After yielding three goals to the Monarchs in the first 28:06 of the game, LeNeveu held the Monarchs at bay the remainder of the contest during a 31-save performance.

SOG: 28 SOGA: 34 PP: 0-for-2 PK: 5-for-6

Team Notes: The Falcons scored seven goals in two games over the weekend, after registering four goals in their previous four games.... Taffe shares the AHL lead for game-winning goals this season with four – including two in overtime. Another of the center's game-winners came with seven seconds remaining in regulation of a 3-2 win over Providence on November 2nd. Five of Taffe's 10 goals this season have been scored in the third period or overtime.... Sjostrom has assisted on all four of Taffe's game-winning goals this season.... Falcons assistant coach Gord Dineen will temporarily take over this weekend as the club's bench boss. Head coach Marty McSorley will miss the Falcons' games this weekend as he will suit up for the Edmonton Oilers' legends against the Montreal Canadiens' legends in the Heritage Classic at Edmonton Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday.... Former Falcon Jeff Daniels announced his retirement as a player yesterday. The left wing played 15 professional seasons including 13 in the NHL. Daniels tallied 40 goals and 34 assists in 110 regular season games with the Falcons during the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons. He also registered 10 goals and three assists in 16 playoff games in those two campaigns.... The Falcons have been issued the second fewest penalty minutes in the AHL this season (225).... Springfield has outshot its opponents, 16-8, in overtime periods this season.... Each of the Falcons' six wins this season has been by one goal.... McLeod's goal in the win at Manchester on Saturday was the rookie's first as a professional.... Forward Martin Podlesak recorded his first pro point with an assist on Shuchuk's marker at Lowell on Tuesday.... Left wing Trevor Gillies registered his first point of the season with an assist on Westrum's goal against the Monarchs..... Chris Ferraro's game-tying goal on Saturday snapped a 12-game goal-less streak for the center.... The Falcons are 3-0-0 in games in which Westrum scores this season.... The Falcons have lost 26 man games due to injury this season.

Roster Update: Forward Jason Jaspers continues to be out of the Falcons' lineup due to an injury that he suffered against the Hartford Wolf Pack on November 1st. The third-year pro could possibly return to action this weekend.... Taffe was recalled by the Phoenix Coyotes yesterday. Taffe was called up following an injury to Coyotes center Jan Hrdina. Hrdina suffered a broken toe in the team's 2-2 tie with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday and is expected to miss 10 -14 days. An elbow infection to Daniel Cleary and a shoulder injury requiring surgery to Mike Johnson have also left the Coyotes shorthanded at the forward positions.

Upcoming Week:

Falcons vs. Albany River Rats

Friday, November 21st

The Falcons face the River Rats (3-6-3-1, 10 pts) for the third time this season on Friday. Springfield won both of the previous encounters - 5-4 on October 11th in Springfield and 2-1 on October 25th at Albany. The Falcons own an all-time record of 22-20-8 against the Rats.... The River Rats are 2-3-2-1 on the road this season.... The River Rats went 1-0-1 in back-to-back games against the Senators in Binghamton last weekend.... Taffe led the Falcons in the prior meetings with Albany this season with four points (2g, 2a). Westrum scored two goals including the game-winner against the River Rats on October 11th.... Albany center Craig Darby leads the Rats with two points (1g, 1a) against Springfield this season. Darby shares the AHL lead with two shorthanded goals this season. The center collected his 300th career AHL assist on November 9th in Manchester.... New Jersey Devils' 1999 first-round draft selection Ari Ahonen made his season debut on November 8th at Lowell for the River Rats.... Albany has outscored opponents, 16-8, in the first period this season, but has been outscored, 8-18, in the third.... Only one of the River Rats' 13 games this season have been decided by more than one goal – a 4-2 defeat of Albany by the Norfolk Admirals on October 13th.

Falcons vs. Manchester Monarchs

Saturday, November 22nd

Falcons at Manchester Monarchs

Sunday, November 23rd

The Falcons match-up with the Monarchs (8-5-1-2, 19 pts) in a home-and-home series this weekend. The Falcons have been on the winning end of a pair of 4-3 games with the Monarchs this season (in Springfield on October 17th and in overtime at Manchester on Saturday). Taffe scored the game-winning goal in both contests.... The Falcons are 5-6-1 all-time against the third-year Monarchs.... Taffe has led the Falcons in scoring against Manchester this season with four points (2g, 2a). Six Springfield players have registered two points versus the Monarchs this season.... Defenseman Bryan Muir (1g, 2a) and center Steve Kelly (0g, 3a) have each registered three points against the Falcons to pace Manchester.... The Falcons have converted two of eight (25.0%) power-play opportunities versus Manchester this season.... Second-year center Michael Cammalleri was recalled by the Monarchs' NHL affiliate, the Los Angeles Kings, on Monday.... The AHL announced today that Manchester has been chosen to host the league's All-Star Classic in 2005.... Former Falcon Chris Schmidt is currently out of the Monarchs' lineup due to a fractured foot.... Another former Falcon, Scott Barney, leads Manchester in goals (8) and plus/minus (+10, tied with defenseman Richard Seeley) this season.... Monarchs netminder Adam Hauser ranks second in the AHL in goals against average (1.30) and save percentage (.950, tied with San Antonio's Travis Scott). On Saturday, the Falcons gave Hauser his first career AHL loss in seven games.

Upcoming Promotions:

AAA of Pioneer Valley Night – The first 2,500 fans to the Falcons' game this Friday against the Albany River Rats will receive a pair of Falcons' Thunderstix courtesy of AAA of Pioneer Valley. Present your AAA card to the Springfield Civic Center box office prior to 5 pm on Friday and receive a $3.00 discount on an adult ticket to the game.

The Republican Night – Check out The Republican for a $3.00 discount coupon for this Saturday's game versus the Manchester Monarchs. Coupons must be presented to the Civic Center box office by 5:00 pm on Saturday. Complete entry form and turn in to the guest relations table for a chance to win some cool 10th Anniversary prizes.

Holiday Inn Out-of-Towners' Special – This season, fans can receive two tickets to a Falcons' game and an overnight room at the Holiday Inn in Springfield for $99 plus tax. Click on the Holiday Inn banner on the schedule page on the Falcons' web site, www.falconsahl.com, to take advantage of this special.

Upcoming Appearances:

Tuesday, November 18th - Falcons right wing Frank Banham and defenseman Michael Schutte will assist the Ludlow Squirts at hockey practice at Fitzpatrick Arena in Holyoke from 5:30-6:30 pm.

Tuesday, November 18th - Falcons left wing Trevor Gillies and defenseman Jeremiah McCarthy will be at Amelia Park Rink in Westfield on from 6-7 p.m. to assist with the Shriners Hospital's Children's Sled Hockey Program.

Wednesday, November 19th - Falcons defenseman Igor Knyazev will assist the Westfield Mites and Squirts at hockey practice at Amelia Park in Westfield from 6-7 pm.

This Week's Game Schedule:

Fri., Nov. 21st Falcons vs. Albany River Rats 7:35 PM Springfield Civic Center

Sat., Nov. 22nd Falcons vs. Manchester Monarchs 7:35 PM Springfield Civic Center

Sun., Nov. 23rd Falcons at Manchester Monarchs 4:05 PM Verizon Wireless Arena



American Hockey League Stories from November 18, 2003


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