Falcons Sunk by Admirals, 3-0

February 27, 2005 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. – The Springfield Falcons completed their season series with the Norfolk Admirals with a 3-0 loss at the Springfield Civic Center on Saturday evening. Falcons goaltender Brian Eklund made 36 saves in the defeat. Norfolk's Adam Munro stopped 22 shots in collecting his second shutout of the season. Admirals center Brandin Cote assisted on two of his team's goals.

Norfolk jumped to an early lead when right wing Shawn Thornton scored his third goal of the season 2:56 into the contest. Cote set up the goal by carrying the puck behind the Springfield net and sending a pass through the slot. The feed landed on the stick of Thornton, who laced a wrist shot from the inner edge of the left circle past Eklund.

Eklund's quick reactions kept it a one-goal game three minutes into the second period. Thornton faced an open net after receiving the puck from left wing Quintin Laing at the edge of the crease. However, Eklund slid to block Thornton's shot and rob him of his second goal of the night. Late in the frame, Eklund made a glove save to deny former Falcon Jason Morgan on a point-blank redirection.

Norfolk captured an insurance goal 5:23 into the third period when Pavel Vorobiev stole the puck from Springfield defenseman Gerard Dicaire at the Falcons' blue line and skated in alone on Eklund to slide the puck between the netminder's pads. With the tally, Vorobiev extended his goal-scoring streak to four games.

Admirals defenseman Duncan Keith capped scoring in the game by banking a wrist shot off the post and in from the slot with 3:28 left to play. Cote collected his second assist of the game with a feed to set Keith up for the shot.

The Falcons had six chances to score on the power play in the game. Norfolk was scoreless on five opportunities with the man advantage.

The Admirals held a 39-22 shot advantage in the game.

With the victory, the Admirals completed a four-game sweep of the season series with the Falcons and collected their fourth win in five games on the club's current ten-game road trip. Norfolk also vaulted over the Binghamton Senators and the Philadelphia Phantoms to take over first place in the East Division with the win.

The Falcons announced Saturday that left wing Mike Bayrack had been released from his professional tryout. The forward skated four games with the Falcons. He did not figure in any scoring. Bayrack has returned to the Danbury Trashers of the United Hockey League.

The Falcons will travel to face the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the team's next contest on Friday. As announced this week, the date for the Falcons' game originally scheduled for this Tuesday against the Portland Pirates at the Civic Center has been changed to March 30. The Falcons will host the Lowell Lock Monsters in their next home action on Friday, March 11. To purchase tickets, visit the Springfield Civic Center box office, call (413) 787-6600 or (800) 639-8602 to order by phone, or log onto www.falconsahl.com to order tickets online.



American Hockey League Stories from February 27, 2005


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