Falcons Split Pair over Opening Weekend
October 14, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Week in Review (1-1-0-0):
The Springfield Falcons received third-period goals from forwards Chris Ferraro, Jeff Taffe, and Erik Westrum in a 5-4 comeback win over the Albany River Rats in the club's 2003-04 home opener on Saturday evening. Rookie goaltender David LeNeveu made 12 saves to collect the win in his professional debut. The Falcons fell to the Providence Bruins, 5-2, in Rhode Island the previous evening. Taffe scored both of Springfield's goals in the game with each coming on the power play. Taffe's performance through the team's first two games (4-1-5) earned the Hastings, Minnesota native the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week honor.
Falcons â 2 at Providence â 5
Friday, October 10th
The P-Bruins used four goals during the first 9:02 of the second period to gain control of the contest in a 5-2 win over the Falcons at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in the season opener on Friday. Taffe provided the scoring for Springfield with a pair of power-play markers in the middle frame. Falcons right wing Peter Ferraro assisted on each of Taffe's goals to collect his first points in a Springfield uniform. Left wing Darren VanOene led Providence with three points (2g, 1a) on the night, while Bruins goaltender Hannu Toivonen turned aside 34 of 36 shots from the Falcons. Jean-Marc Pelletier made 28 saves in net for Springfield.
SOG: 36 SOGA: 33 PP: 2-for-6 PK: 5-for-5
Falcons â 5 vs. Albany â 4
Saturday, October 11th
Springfield trailed 3-0 and 4-2, but rallied for three goals in the third period to defeat the River Rats, 5-4, at "The Nest" on Saturday. Taffe and Westrum each scored twice in the victory. Taffe also added an assist. Chris Ferraro snapped a 25-foot shot over the shoulder of Albany goaltender Scott Clemmensen to pull the Falcons to within a goal and begin the rally in the final frame. The Falcons took advantage of an extended five-on-three power play to tie the game, 4-4, on Taffe's second goal of the game. A resilient Westrum tallied the game-winner with 3:59 remaining by banking a shot off the backside of Clemmensen after the netminder had stopped his first two attempts. Springfield outshot Albany, 19-1, during the final twenty minutes.
SOG: 36 SOGA: 16 PP: 1-for-7 PK: 4-for-4
Team Notes: Taffe's four goals on the new season lead the AHL. The 22-year-old also leads the league in power-play goals (3) and is tied for third in points (5).... Peter Ferraro is tied for the AHL lead for shots on goal with 13.... The Falcons killed off all nine of their opponents' power plays during the team's first two games.... Springfield is currently tied for eighth in the AHL in power play success, converting three of their first 13 power-play chances (23.1%).... Peter Ferraro, after collecting two assists in Providence on Friday, is nine points shy of 500 for his AHL career.... Springfield defenseman Mike Wilson is eight points away from 100 for his professional career.... Rookie center Kiel McLeod collected his first professional point with an assist on Westrum's game-winning goal on Saturday.... Right wing Frederik Sjostrom registered his first pro assist versus Albany on Saturday.... The Falcons' 19 shots in the final frame on Saturday are the most by a team in the third period of an AHL game so far this season.... Taffe, Chris Ferraro, and defenseman Igor Knyazev have each collected a team-high six penalty minutes (PIM) this season. The Falcons were whistled for 16 PIM as a team in each of their first two games.
Roster Update: The Falcons have signed defenseman Jeremiah McCarthy to an AHL contract. The blueliner had been on a professional tryout agreement with Springfield.... The Falcons recalled defenseman Dustin Wood from Adirondack of the UHL prior to Saturday's game. He was reassigned to Adirondack on Sunday. Wood attended Springfield's training camp and skated for the Falcons during their three preseason contests before being assigned to Adirondack on October 3rd.... Falcons forwards Frank Banham, Gary Shuchuk and Mike Stutzel each sat out the club's opening two games with injuries. Center/left wing Martin Podlesak missed Saturday's contest with an injury and is day-to-day.
Upcoming Week:
Falcons vs. Manchester Monarchs
Friday, October 17th
Springfield collected a 1-2-1 record last season and own a 3-6-1 all-time mark versus the Monarchs, who are beginning their third AHL campaign.... Manchester dropped their first two games of the season, 3-2 versus Worcester and 4-2 against Lowell. Both games were at home.... Center Steve Kelly, sixth overall NHL draft selection in 1995, leads Manchester in scoring through two games with four points (1g, 3a). Off-season acquisition John Tripp leads the Monarchs in goals with two.... The Monarchs' roster includes former Falcons Chris Schmidt and Scott Barney.... Manchester has scored three of their four goals this season in the second period.... Former Hartford Wolf Pack and Atlanta Thrashers goaltender Milan Hnilicka was in net for the Monarchs in each of their first two games.... Taffe and Monarchs right wing Dan Welch are both natives of Hastings, Minnesota and were teammates on the University of Minnesota's 2002 NCAA Championship team. Welch assisted on Taffe's game-winning goal versus Colorado College in the NCAA West Regional that season.
Falcons vs. Providence Bruins
Saturday, October 18th
Former Falcons captain and all-time leader in games played Rob Murray will return to Springfield as assistant coach for Providence.... The Falcons will look to rebound from Friday's 5-2 season-opening road loss to the Bruins.... Springfield registered a record of 5-5-0 against Providence last season and have accumulated a record of 41-49-4 all-time against the P-Bruins.... Providence improved its record to 2-0-0-0 by downing the IceCats in Worcester, 1-0, on Saturday. Goaltender Tim Thomas stopped 24 shots in the shutout.... Forwards Kris Vernarsky and VanOene lead the P-Bruins in goals with two each.... Defenseman Martin Wilde was signed by Providence last week after attending Falcons training camp and being released on October 6th.... The Bruins two goals allowed this season are the lowest among AHL teams that have played at least two games.... Providence ranks fourth in the AHL with an average of 29.5 PIM per game.... Providence has been outshot, 47-60, through its opening two games.
Upcoming Promotions:
Friday, October 17th vs. Manchester Monarchs
MVP.pub Falcons Magnetic Schedule Give-a-way: The first 5,000 fans in attendance at Friday's game versus Manchester will receive a free magnetic schedule courtesy of MVP.pub in the Sheraton Hotel.
Big Y World Class Markets Express Card Savings Night: Fans can receive $3.00 off an adult ticket by presenting their Big Y Express Savings Club Card to the Civic Center box office.
This Week's Game Schedule:
Fri., Oct. 17th Falcons vs. Manchester Monarchs 7:35 PM Springfield Civic Center
Sat., Oct. 18th Falcons vs. Providence Bruins 7:35 PM Springfield Civic Center
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