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Falcons stumble in Albany

March 4, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Albany, NY – Albany River Rats goaltender Ari Ahonen stopped 47 of 48 shots as his club downed the Springfield Falcons, 7-1, at Pepsi Arena on Wednesday evening. Center Jason Jaspers scored the lone Falcons' goal of the game. Albany defenseman Kristian Redlihs collected a hat trick while center Eric Johansson registered four assists for the Rats.

Following a scoreless first period, Albany scored three goals in a span of 4:41 during the middle frame with the latter two coming on the power play. Redlihs opened scoring with a wrist shot from the slot after carrying the puck into the Springfield zone 5:03 into the period. Rats right wing Jiri Bicek connected 2:24 later off a centering feed from below the goal line by forward Craig Darby. Redlihs tallied his second goal of the game with a shot from the right point at the 9:44 mark

After consecutive minor penalties issued to Albany 26 seconds apart, Falcons head coach Marty McSorley pulled goaltender Zac Bierk for an extra attacker to create a six-on-three skater advantage. The maneuver paid off for Springfield when Jaspers one-time a crossing pass from left point by Peter Ferraro to make the score 3-1. The tally marked Jaspers' 11th goal of the season and extended the center's personal scoring streak to four games.

Jaspers returned to the Springfield line-up after missing two games with an injury that occurred when he was hit in the mouth with the puck on Friday against the Hartford Wolf Pack.

The River Rats doubled their two-goal lead when forwards Tuomos Pihlman and Joe Hulbig each scored in the opening 1:38 of the third period.

McSorley replaced Bierk in the Falcons' net with rookie goaltender Scott Dickie after Hulbig's marker. Bierk was making his second start after spending over three-and-a-half months recuperating from an injury.

Redlihs capped his hat trick with a shot through traffic from the right point while Albany held a man advantage with 8:54 remaining to play. The goal was Redlihs' eighth of the season – five of which have come against the Falcons.

Left wing Ryan Murphy finished scoring in the game by whirling around to release a shot from the low slot with 2:04 to play.

Dickie stopped 13 of 15 shots in the game after replacing Bierk in the Springfield net.

Jaspers was ejected from the contest 6:46 into the third period after receiving a major penalty, for spearing Albany defenseman Phil Cole, and a game misconduct.

The 7-1 loss marked the most goals the Falcons had given up in a game this season as well as the team's worst margin of defeat.

The Falcons finished the season series with the River Rats with a record of 3-2-1-0.

The Falcons will return to the home ice of the Springfield Civic Center to host division rivals the Portland Pirates on Friday evening and the Providence Bruins on Saturday night. Game time for both contests is 7:35 pm. For ticket information, please call the Falcons' team office at (413) 739-3344.

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