Falcons Return to Nest Thursday Riding Four-Game Win Streak

Published on December 28, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. – With wins in each of their last four contests, the Springfield Falcons prepare this week for three games in three nights beginning with a divisional tilt against the Providence Bruins at the Springfield Civic Center on Thursday evening. The team will travel to Binghamton to face the Senators in a New Year's Eve contest on Friday. The Falcons will return to the Civic Center to host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in a 7:05 p.m. game on New Year's Day in the Baby Pens only appearance in Springfield this season.

Last Week: The Falcons extended their streak with a 3-2 shootout win over the Pirates in Portland on Thursday and a 4-1 triumph over the Worcester IceCats on the road on Sunday. Veteran defenseman Brian Chapman figured into both regulation goals by the Falcons at Portland by posting a goal and an assist. Goaltender Brian Eklund stopped 27 of 29 shots and then denied seven of eight Portland skaters in the shootout. The Falcons outshot Portland, 47-29, in the game. Sunday's contest marked the Falcons first win of the season in Worcester as rookie Andre Deveaux scored his second and third pro goals. Fellow first-year forward Nick Tarnasky collected three assists. Shrewsbury native Marc Busenburg posted his first two points of the season with a goal and an assist and netminder Jamie Storr turned aside 34 of 35 shots.

Team Notes: A win over Providence this Thursday would give the Falcons their first five-game winning streak since the 1997-98 campaign. During March of that season, the Falcons compiled a franchise-record nine-game winning streak.... The Falcons have won their last three shootouts.... Springfield has yielded six goals to their opponents over the last four games.... The Falcons' line made up of rookies Tarnasky, Deveaux, and Darren Reid combined to record seven points in Sunday's win at Worcester.... LW Derek Bekar scored his first goal as a Falcon on Sunday.... The IceCats were 6-1-0-1 in their eight games prior to facing the Falcons on Sunday.... Sunday's game marked the first Falcons' win this season in which forwards Shane Willis, Craig Darby, and Ryan Craig, who have skated on the same line for most of this season, did not register a point.... C Jason Jaspers, who collected an assist in each game last week, has moved into a tie for sixth on the Falcons' all-time games played list (208), tied for eighth on the team's assist list (65), and, with 113 points with Springfield, moved to within one of seventh place on the club's all-time scoring list.... Chapman is one point shy of 450 for his pro career.... D Nikos Tselios needs two points to reach 100 as a pro.... The Falcons have killed off 17 of their opponents' last 18 power plays over the last five games.

Roster Update: RW Evgeni Artukhin sat out the final game of his 10-game league suspension on Sunday. The forward will be eligible to return to the Falcons' lineup Thursday against the P-Bruins. Artukhin was issued the suspension by the AHL for making contact with an official on Dec. 4 when the Falcons faced Albany.... D Mike Egener has missed the last 17 games with an injury.

Upcoming Opponents:

Falcons vs. Providence Bruins

Springfield Civic Center

Thursday, Dec. 30

The P-Bruins (16-10-2-5) make their first trip to Springfield as the clubs meet for the fifth time this season. The Falcons won the season opener in Providence (4-3 on Oct. 15), but the Bruins have claimed the last three match-ups.... The Falcons own an all-time record of 44-59-5 versus the Bruins.... The P-Bruins hold second place in the Atlantic Division.... Providence has not lost in regulation in the team's last 10 games, posting a record of 7-0-0-3 over that span.... Rookie LW Adam Henrich has posted four points (3g, 1a) against Providence this season to lead the Falcons.... Springfield G Brian Eklund has stopped 49 of 53 shots (92.5%) in two appearances against the Bruins.... LW Andy Hilbert has notched six points (3g, 3a) in the season series to pace the Baby B's.... Boston's 2002 first-round draft selection (29th overall), G Hannu Toivonen, has been in net for all four encounters with the Falcons, registering a 2.01 goals against average and .930 save percentage.... C Patrice Bergeron, who ranks third with Providence in scoring with 27 points (10g, 17a) this season, is currently skating for Team Canada in the World Junior Championships and will not play for the Bruins on Thursday.... Center Keith Aucoin is riding a four-game assist streak during which he has collected five helpers.... Hilbert has posted 13 points (5g, 8a) over Providence's last 10 games.... The Bruins rank third in the AHL in power-play success (19.6%).... Providence is 6-0-1-0 when tied after the first period this season.

Falcons at Binghamton Senators

Broome Country Veterans Memorial Arena

Friday, Dec. 31

The Falcons close out 2004 with their lone appearance of the season in Binghamton against the Senators (17-12-3-2, 39 pts).... The Falcons are 6-5-0 all-time versus the B-Sens.... The Senators are in the midst of their own four-game winning streak.... Binghamton resides in second place in the East Division.... Springfield downed the Senators, 4-3, on Nov. 21 at The Nest. Darby, Willis, Craig and D Andreas Holmqvist each tallied a goal and an assist in the win.... LW Denis Hamel scored twice for the Senators.... The contest marked Jaspers' season debut with the Falcons following an exchange the day before that sent C Jarrod Skalde to the Utah Grizzlies.... Binghamton C Jason Spezza shares the AHL lead (with Manchester C Yannick Lehoux) in scoring with 45 points. His 33 assists are the most in the league. Spezza, the second overall pick in the 2001 NHL Draft by Ottawa, has posted 15 points (3g, 12 a) in his last 10 games. He was named the CCM Vector/AHL Player of the Week on Monday after posting five points (2g, 3a) in two games last week.... Binghamton's Brian Pothier ranks second in scoring among AHL defenseman with 24 points (6g, 18a).... The Sens own the AHL's fourth-best power play (19.4%).... The Senators have scored a league-high 10 shorthanded goals this season although the club ranks 28th in the AHL in penalty killing (78.9%).... The Senators are 13-1-1-1 when leading after the first period the season. The Falcons are the only team to beat Binghamton in regulation after trailing after the opening frame.

Falcons vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

Springfield Civic Center

Saturday, Jan. 1

The Falcons kick off 2005 with the first of two season match-ups with the third-place Penguins (15-8-4-3, 37 pts).... The Falcons carry a 3-2-1 record in the all-time series with the sixth-season Penguins.... The Baby Pens are backstopped by the top selection in the 2003 NHL Draft G Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury has posted a 12-5-2 record, 2.54 GAA, and .908 SV% for Wilkes Barre/Scranton this season.... The Penguins have won four of their last five games, collecting two wins over the East Division-leading Philadelphia Phantoms during that span. Pens C Kris Beech has posted 14 points (5g, 9a) and RW Michel Ouellet has scored six goals among 9 points in those five games. Both players are +10 during that span.... LW Matt Murley, the brother of Falcons head athletic trainer Tom Murley, is +16 over the last 10 games.... Beech, who was acquired by Pittsburgh in the trade that sent RW Jaromir Jagr to the Washington Capitals in 2001, was the seventh overall selection in the 1999 NHL Draft. Beech is tied for sixth in AHL scoring with 34 points (8g, 26a) this season.... The Penguins are 1-4-0-0 versus Atlantic Division opponents this season.... The Falcons will visit Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on March 4.

Upcoming Community Events:

Falcons Toy Collection brought to you by Kraft Foods – December 30 & January 1 – Fans are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to the game and receive a discount coupon for the Wednesday, February 23rd game vs. Norfolk. Toys will be distributed to the Baystate Medical Center's Children's Hospital and Shriners Hospitals in February.

"A Touch of Class" Cocktail Event sponsored by The Delaney House – The Springfield Falcons and The Delaney House in Holyoke have teamed up for a very special "Dress to the Nines" event on Wednesday, January 26th from 5:30-8 p.m. Falcon players will be on hand as your hosts. The event will involve player auctions. Tickets are $25.00 each and are on sale now at 413-739-3344, via email at cappleton@falconsahl.com, or Falcons home games through Jan. 15. Proceeds to benefit Springfield Falcons Charities, Inc. The perfect Holiday gift for the ultimate Falcons fan. Items up for bid include:

Bowling with Players @ AMF Chicopee & Spfld Golf with a Player

Paintball with Players (includes lunch) at Player brings your lunch to work

Madman's Realm @ Agawam Paintball Practice with Coaching Staff

Go-Kart Racing with Players (includes lunch) at General Manager for the Day

Pinnacle Raceway, Chicopee Falcons Memorabilia Package

Take the Captain to School Dinner and Billards with Players

Personal Training Session at Falcons facility Player Personality Baskets

Six Flags Adventures with Players Limo Ride and Tickets to Falcons Away Game

Radio Broadcasts: Tune into The ZONE – Sports Radio 640 to hear each Falcons' game this week. Voice of the Falcons Marc Shelanski calls the action. The pre-game show begins 30 minutes prior to the opening face-off. Fans can also listen via the Internet by clicking on the MassLive.com Cybercast icon on the Falcons' official web site, www.falconsahl.com.

Tickets: Tickets for Falcons' home games can be ordered in person or by phone through the Springfield Civic Center box office located along East Court Street. To order by phone, please call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602. Tickets can also be ordered online by visiting the Falcons' official web site, www.falconsahl.com. Groups of 15 or more can receive discount savings by contacting the Falcons' team office at (413) 739-3344. Group tickets must be ordered in advance.

This Week's Game Schedule:

Thur., Dec. 30 Falcons vs. Providence Bruins 7:05 PM Springfield Civic Center The ZONE

Fri., Dec. 31 Falcons at Binghamton Senators 6:05 PM Broome County Vet. Mem. Arena The ZONE

Sat. Jan. 1 Falcons vs. WB/Scranton Penguins 7:05 PM Springfield Civic Center The ZONE

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American Hockey League Stories from December 28, 2004


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