Falcons suffer 3-1 defeat to Lowell
Published on February 1, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield, MA â The Springfield Falcons were downed by the Lowell Lock Monsters by a score of 3-1 before a crowd of 3,751 at the Springfield Civic Center on Saturday evening. Defenseman Todd Reirden scored the lone Springfield marker while Jean-Marc Pelletier made 36 saves in the Falcons' net. Left wing Tomas Kurka collected a goal and an assist to help the Lock Monsters to the win.
Pelletier stopped each of the 16 shots he faced in the first period including a partial breakaway by center Brett Lysak. The netminder also slid across the crease to rob a point blank chance by Martin Sonnenberg, who was set up by center Mike Zigomanis on a two-on-one rush.
However, the Lock Monsters, who entered the game ranked second in the AHL in power-play success (18.4%), scored on their second opportunity with the man advantage 41 seconds into the middle frame. Right wing Matt Davidson tapped the puck across the goal line after a misfired shot by Zigomanis deflected off the post and through the crease.
Lowell forward Tomas Kurka added to the lead at the 5:20 mark of the period with a follow-up on a scoring bid by Martin Sonnenberg. On the play, Pelletier made an initial save on a one-on-one chance by Sonnenberg, but Kurka lifted the rebound into a mostly open net after the two became tangled up at the side of the crease.
The Falcons made the score 2-1 when Reirden's blast from the left point beat Lowell netminder Patrick DesRochers after a face-off win by center Krystofer Kolanos. The goal was Reirden's third since making his debut with Springfield on January 18th.
Springfield's best opportunity to pull even came during the latter portion of the third period when back-to-back Lowell penalties gave the Falcons a five-on-three power play for over a minute. Kolanos snapped a wrist shot from the middle of the slot during the two-man advantage, but DesRochers made a glove save. After the power-play became a one-man advantage, Falcons defenseman Jeremiah McCarthy fired a shot from the left point that ricocheted off DesRochers and then the post, but stayed out of the net.
The Lock Monsters clinched the game with 28 seconds left when Lysak whirled around to score a power-play goal from the top of the crease.
Lowell has won each of the six meetings with the Falcons this season.
DesRochers made 19 saves to register his 13th win of the campaign as the Lock Monsters outshot Springfield, 39-20.
Falcons right wing Peter Ferraro left the game in the first period with an injury and did not return.
The Falcons will next face the division-rival Manchester Monarchs on Friday at the Civic Center. Game time is 7:35 p.m. For information on tickets and group discounts, please contact the Falcons team office at (413) 739-3344.
American Hockey League Stories from February 1, 2004
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- Canucks recall Tyler Bouck - Manitoba Moose
- Canucks Recall King - Manitoba Moose
- Falcons suffer 3-1 defeat to Lowell - Springfield Falcons
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