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Falcons Skate Past Senators, 4-3

November 21, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. – Craig Darby, Shane Willis, and Ryan Craig each posted a goal and an assist as the Springfield Falcons upended the Binghamton Senators, 4-3, at the Springfield Civic Center on Sunday. Defenseman Andreas Holmqvist also scored as the Falcons collected their second straight win overall and third consecutive victory on home ice. Springfield goaltender Brian Ekund made 31 saves to register his first win of the season.

Following a turnover by the Falcons defense in their own zone, the Senators took a 1-0 lead when Jason Spezza set up Denis Hamel in the slot who promptly clanged a shot off the post and in for his fourth goal of the season. The goal came at the 8:43 mark of the first period.

The Sens added a power-play goal to increase their lead 6:04 later. Right wing Josh Langfeld tipped a shot from the right point by defenseman Christoph Schubert for the score. Langfeld's redirection glanced off the shoulder of screened Falcons goaltender Brian Eklund and across the goal line.

The Falcons got on the scoreboard with 4:09 left in the opening frame as Darby tallied his first goal of the season. In making the score 2-1, Darby used his long reach to sweep a loose rebound past Thompson. The goals turned out to be the first of four unanswered tallies for the Falcons.

Darby sent Willis in for alone on Thompson for a game-tying goal 6:43 into the second period. Willis skated onto the puck in the neutral zone and tucked a shot under the crossbar to finish the breakaway for his sixth goal of the campaign.

Center Jason Jaspers, who was assigned to the Falcons in a swap with the Utah Grizzlies on Saturday, set up Holmqvist to provide Springfield a 3-2 lead. Jaspers turned out of the corner after warding off a Binghamton defender and fed the puck to Holmqvist who had cut to the net from the point. Holmqvist patiently pulled the puck to his backhand to beat Thompson for his second goal of the season at 8:09.

For the second straight night at the Civic Center, the middle period featured a penalty shot. The Falcons were awarded the free attempt when a Binghamton player covered the puck in the Senators' crease with his hand. Jaspers took the shot, but was denied by a Thompson pad save.

Craig scored his team-leading seventh goal of the game 9:38 into the third period. The 22-year-old carried the puck on a two-on-one rush with defenseman Doug O'Brien before snapping a shot from the right face-off circle that trickled between the leg pads of Thompson to make the score 4-2.

The insurance goal came in handy 2:57 later when Spezza fed Hamel in the low slot for his second goal of the game during a Binghamton power play.

Thompson stopped 22 of 26 Springfield shots in the game.

The Falcons failed to score on their only power-play opportunity of the contest. The Senators converted two of three man advantages.

Springfield ended Binghamton's streak of four straight games in which the club had gained points (3-0-0-1).

The Falcons will face another East Division opponent on Wednesday when the team visits the Hershey Bears. Game time is 7:30 p.m. Tune into The ZONE – Sports Radio 640 or click on the MassLive.com CyberCast link on the Falcons' official web site, www.falconsahl.com to catch the live action. The Falcons next home game is this Saturday against the Manchester Monarchs. For tickets, please visit the Civic Center box office or call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602 to order by phone.

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