Falcons streak ends with 5-2 loss at Hartford

Published on February 29, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Hartford, CT – The Springfield Falcons saw their season-best seven-game unbeaten streak come to a halt as the club fell to the Hartford Wolf Pack, 5-2, before 6,610 at the Hartford Civic Center on Sunday. Right wing Ivan Novoseltsev and defenseman Nic Bilotto provided the scoring for the Falcons. Rookie goaltender Scott Dickie made 27 saves in his first AHL start. Hartford center Benoit Dusablon posted three points with a goal and two assists, while Jason LaBarbera turned aside 35 of 37 shots to earn his league-leading 25th win of the season.

Meeting for the ninth time this season, the familiarity of the rivals seemed to breed contempt late in the game as the clubs combined for 151 penalty minutes in a fight-filled third period.

The Falcons opened the game with the first six shots on goal of the contest, however, Hartford took a 1-0 lead with the team's first attempt 5:15 into the contest. Center Layne Ulmer scored his Wolf Pack-leading 18th goal of the season from near the goal line with a wrist shot that caromed off the side of Dickie's leg pad and in the net.

Hartford's advantage grew to 3-0 after the team scored twice while Falcons rookie left wing Frantisek Lukes served five minutes in the penalty box for high-sticking. Wolf Pack defenseman Jamie Pushor fed an open Chad Wiseman off the right post with a pass from the left point that the winger redirected into the net at the 9:52 mark. Center Benoit Dusoblon then tipped a soft shot from blueliner John Jakopin between the pads of Dickie for his ninth goal of the season 2:47 later.

The Falcons struck with 5:18 remaining in the opening frame when center Erik Westrum intercepted a Hartford pass along the left wing boards and quickly centered the puck to Novoseltsev who one-timed a slap shot past LaBarbera from the middle of the slot. It was Novoseltsev's first goal with the Falcons since being assigned to the club by the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday.

The Falcons outshot the Wolf Pack, 13-8, during the first period.

Hartford made the score 4-1 when Jakopin finished a three-on-one break with a blast from the slot after receiving a feed from Dusablon at 10:51 of the second frame.

After a tough first period in which Dickie yielded three goals on the Wolf Pack's first four shots, the rookie stopped 15 of 16 shots during the middle stanza including a glove save to rob Cory Larose on a clear breakaway.

Hartford's Garth Murray and Springfield's Bilotto traded goals in the penalty-filled final frame that saw Falcons left wing Trevor Gillies get the best of both Craig Weller and Brandon Cullen in separate altercations.

The teams combined for 170 penalty minutes in the game - 79 were issued to Springfield and 91 to Hartford. The combined total for the clubs were the most for a Falcons' game this season.

The Falcons and Wolf Pack will meet for the tenth and final time of the regular season on Friday, March 12th in Springfield.

Following a road contest versus the Albany River Rats on Wednesday, the Falcons will return to the Springfield Civic Center for a pair of games next weekend. The Falcons will host the Portland Pirates on Friday and the Providence Bruins on Saturday. Game time for both contests is 7:35 pm. For information on tickets and group discounts, please contact the Falcons team office at (413) 739-3344.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 29, 2004


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