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Falcons Rookies Make thier Mark in Week Seven

December 2, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, MA - The Springfield Falcons (7-12-2-1, 17 pts) prepare this week for a pair of division rivals as the club will host the Worcester IceCats at The Nest on Friday and visit the Portland Pirates in Maine on Saturday. The two-game week follows up a busy run of four games in five days for the Falcons last week. Falcons' rookies distinguished themselves in those games as forwards Frantisek Lukes and Martin Podlesak each scored their first goals as professionals. First-year goaltender David LeNeveu registered his first pro shutout with a 30-save performance in a 1-0 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Saturday while rookie left wing Mike Stutzel scored the lone goal of the contest - his first game-winner. Additionally, right wing Fredrik Sjostrom, in his first pro season, was recalled from the Falcons by the Phoenix Coyotes on Wednesday and made his NHL debut against the Boston Bruins on Sunday.

Week in Review (1-2-0-1):

Falcons – 1 at Providence – 3

Wednesday, November 26th

A goal by defenseman Nikos Tselios with 7:50 remaining in the second period pulled the Falcons even with the P-Bruins. However, Providence blue liner Kevin Dallman's shot from the point through traffic found the back of the net to make the score 2-1 with 5:56 remaining in regulation. Bruins center Andre Savage added an empty net goal with 17.3 seconds remaining to play to seal the contest. LeNeveu stopped 22 of 24 shots for the Falcons. Providence netminder Tim Thomas turned aside 28 of 29 shots. The goal by Tselios was his second of the season.

SOG: 29 SOGA: 25 PP: 0-for-6 PK: 3-for-3

Falcons – 2 at Worcester– 3 (OT)

Friday, November 28th

Springfield carried a 2-1 lead into the third period after Lukes' first pro goal provided the team a 2-1 lead in the second frame. ‘Cats center Mike Glumac tied the score with 9:34 remaining to play after getting behind the Springfield defense. Worcester defenseman Aris Brimanis ended the game, while positioned in the low slot, by redirecting a shot by forward Jay McClement with 1:12 left to play in overtime. Right wing Frank Banham scored the Falcons' first goal of the game. Podlesak and center Jason Jaspers combined for assists on both Springfield tallies.

SOG: 35 SOGA: 37 PP: 0-for-3 PK: 3-for-4

Falcons – 1 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton– 0

Saturday, November 29th

Stutzel put back the rebound of a shot from center Chris Ferraro during a Falcons' power play 3:56 into the third period for the only marker of the contest. LeNeveu collected his first shutout since posting his ninth of the 2002-03 campaign as a Cornell University sophomore. In stopping all 30 Penguins' shots, the rookie raised his save percentage (SV%) for the season to .903. Wilkes-Barre goaltender Andy Chiodo stopped 26 of 27 shots. Springfield penalty killers denied the Penguins on all six of their power-play chances. The win ended a five-game (0-4-0-1) Falcons' losing streak.

SOG: 27 SOGA: 30 PP: 1-for-6 PK: 6-for-6

Falcons – 1 vs. Lowell – 3

Sunday, November 30th

Falcons goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier made a season-high 36 saves, but Springfield could only beat former teammate

Patrick DesRochers once. Podlesak's first pro goal in the second frame made the score 2-1. Lowell forward Matt

Davidson concluded scoring with an empty-netter with 17 seconds remaining to play. Former Falcons Josh Green (1g, 1a) and Jason Morgan (0g, 2a) collected two points apiece in the game.

SOG: 31 SOGA: 39 PP: 0-for-3 PK: 1-for-1

Team Notes: Saturday's 1-0 shutout win over Wilkes-Barre was the second of the season for the Falcons. Pelletier made 27 saves in a 1-0 overtime win over the Norfolk Admirals at the Civic Center on October 29th. Springfield registered three shutouts last season, including two by Pelletier. The franchise record for shutouts in a season is nine (1995-96).... LeNeveu's nine shutouts at Cornell last season broke school and ECAC records previously held by Hall of Famer Ken Dryden.... The Falcons have scored just 10 goals in Pelletier's last seven appearances.... Chris Ferraro is five points shy of 400 for his AHL career.... Westrum (4g, 3a), Chris Ferraro (1g, 6a), and Peter Ferraro (3g, 4a) each registered seven points during November to pace the club in scoring.... Podlesak led the Falcons in plus/minus during November with a +5. He shares the team lead for the season with Lukes and defenseman Mike Wilson at +3.... Springfield has converted three of 37 power plays over the last 11 games.... The Falcons are 7-2-0-1 in one-goal games this season.... Defenseman Goran Bezina played in his 150th game for the Falcons on Friday in Worcester.... Jaspers' next Falcons' game will be his 150th with the club.

Roster Update:The Falcons re-assigned left wing Matt Zultek to the Trenton Titans of the ECHL yesterday. The forward had been called up by Springfield last Wednesday.... Center Krystofer Kolanos was assigned to the Falcons by the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday. Kolanos was the Coyotes' first choice (1st round, 19th overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. The Calgary native has registered four points (2g, 2a) in 21 games with Phoenix this season.... Sjostrom was recalled by Phoenix on Wednesday. The right wing, who has collected seven assists in 17 games with Springfield this season, received 6:57 of ice time in his NHL debut against the Bruins in Boston on Sunday. He did not figure in the scoring in a 3-3 tie.

Upcoming Week:

Falcons vs. Worcester IceCats

Friday, December 5th

The Falcons meet the ‘Cats for the second consecutive Friday in the fourth encounter between the clubs this season. The intrastate rivals will match-up a total of ten times this season. Springfield owns a record of 0-1-1-1 against the IceCats this season and a 34-44-13 mark against the team all-time.... The IceCats are currently riding a three-game winning streak with two of the victories coming by 3-2 scores in overtime (Friday against the Falcons and Saturday at Portland).... Worcester is 5-2-3 on the road this season.... Peter Ferraro leads the Falcons in scoring against Worcester this season with four points (2g, 2a).... Banham has scored two of his three goals this season against the IceCats.... Left wing Marc Brown, who did not play for the IceCats against the Falcons on Friday, has collected four points (1g, 3a) against Springfield this season to pace his club. Brown became the IceCats' all-time leading goal scorer with a tally versus the Falcons on October 24th – his 67th with the club.... Worcester's Glumac is tied for sixth among AHL rookies in scoring with 13 points (5g, 8a).... The IceCats rank 3rd in the AHL in road power-play success this season (19.2%).... Following Friday's meeting the Falcons and ‘Cats will next face-off on December 28th in Worcester.

Falcons at Portland Pirates

Saturday, December 6th

The Falcons visit the Pirates for the second of 10 meetings this season. Portland edged Springfield, 1-0, in Maine on November 9th. Pirates forward Trent Whitfield scored the lone marker during a power play in the third period of the contest. Sjostrom hit the post with a bid to tie the game in the final minute.... The Falcons carries an all-time record of 40-27-6 versus the Pirates.... Portland is currently in the midst of a five-game losing streak (0-3-0-2).... The Pirates are 3-9-0-2 in games within the Atlantic Division and 5-3-0-1 outside the division.... Portland has outscored opponents, 19-15, in the third period this season.... Left wing Colin Forbes leads the Pirates in scoring with 16 points (6g, 10a).... Goaltender Maxime Ouellet ranks 19th in the AHL in goals against average (2.38). The former Flyers' first round draft selection leads the league in losses (12).... The Falcons and Pirates are two of four teams in the AHL to not have scored a shorthanded goal this season. Portland is one of three clubs in the league that have not allowed a shorthanded goal to an opponent this season.... Goaltender Rastislav Stana, who was recalled by the Washington Capitals from the Pirates on November 4th, registered a win in his first NHL start, 4-1 against Detroit last Tuesday.... Following Saturday, the Falcons and Pirated will meet three times over an eight day span beginning December 13th.

Upcoming Promotions:

BIG Y Express Savings Card Night - Friday, December 5th - Present your Big Y Express Savings Card to the Civic Center box office before 5 p.m. on Friday and receive $3.00 off an adult ticket for the Falcons' game against the Worcester IceCats. During the first intermission, two lucky fans will compete for the title of "Great Grocery Shooter" to win a $500 gift certificate to Big Y World Class Markets.

Community Events:

Shriners Hospital Children's Sled Hockey Program - Tuesday, December 2nd - 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.

Nabisco Toy Drive – Bring an unwrapped toy to the Falcons' Wives and Girlfriends Table at a Falcons home game by December 13th and receive a coupon good for a free junior ticket with a paid adult ticket for a future game. The toys are being collected to be distributed by Falcons players during Holiday hospital visits in the area and will benefit area children at Baystate Medical Center's Childrens' Hospital, Shriners Hospital, USO Family Services at Westover ARB, and the MSPCC.

This Week's Game Schedule:

Fri., Dec. 5th Falcons vs. Worcester IceCats 7:35 PM Springfield Civic Center

Sat., Dec. 6th Falcons at Portland Pirates 7:05 PM Cumberland County Civic Center

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