Falcons Take Three Of Four Road Points On Opening Weekend
Published on October 16, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
THIS WEEK'S GAME PREVIEWS
--FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2008 - SPRINGFIELD FALCONS AT PROVIDENCE BRUINS--
The Springfield Falcons and Providence Bruins meet for the second time in a week when they face-off at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence on Friday night. The Falcons and Bruins played each other on October 12 with the Falcons dropping the game in overtime 4-3. The Falcons had goals from Gilbert Brule and two by Theo Peckham in the losing effort. Goaltender Devan Dubnyk recorded 28 saves taking his first loss of the season. Following Friday's game, the Falcons and Bruins will meet eight more times this year. Providence is currently 2-0 on the season after beating the Lowell Devils on Wednesday, October 8. This Friday will be Providence's third home game of the season. Providence center Vladimir Sobotka leads the Bruins in scoring in the early portion of the season with two goals and two assists for four points in two games, but was recalled to Boston on October 14. Johnny Boychuk and Martin St. Pierre are tied for second in scoring with one goal and two assists each. Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask is 2-0 on the young season with a 2.89 Goals Against Average.
--SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2008 - SPRINGFIELD FALCONS VS PORTLAND PIRATES--
The Springfield Falcons and Portland Pirates meet for the first time this season as the Falcons host the Pirates on opening night in Springfield. The Falcons won the season series last year 6-2-0-2 and carry a 61-48-13 record against Portland all-time. Portland enters the contest with a 1-0-0-0 record after defeating the Manchester Monarchs 6-3 in their home opener on October 11. In the convincing win, Pirates right wing Mark Mancari tallied a hat-trick along with two assists for five points. Center Tyler Bouck chipped in with two goals and an assist, and rookie left wing Tim Kennedy added a goal and two assists. Goalie Adam Dennis allowed three goals, but stopped 28 Manchester shots in his first game of the year.
--SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2008 - SPRINGFIELD FALCONS AT MANCHESTER MONARCHS-
The Springfield Falcons and Manchester Monarchs meet for the first time this season. The game will mark the third game in three days for both clubs as Manchester will have to come back from a home and home series with the Lowell Devils, and Springfield will have played Providence and Portland the two nights prior. The Monarchs are currently 0-1 on the season after losing to the Portland Pirates 6-3. Monarchs rookie center Trevor Lewis leads the team with two assists for two points. Five other Monarchs have one point including four rookies.
LAST WEEK'S GAME RECAPS
---SPRINGFIELD at HARTFORD, OCTOBER 11 - W- 4-3---
The Springfield Falcons beat the Hartford Wolf Pack 4-3 at the XL Center in Hartford on Saturday night opening the new season with a thrilling come-from-behind win. The Falcons are now 1-0 heading into Providence on Sunday.
After falling behind early in the contest, the Falcons used a third period goal from Ryan Potulny to take their first lead of the night and hold on for the two points. Potulny scored his second goal of the game at 10:20 of the third period giving the Falcons their first lead of the night at 4-3.
Trailing 3-0 entering the second period, the Falcons really turned up the pressure in the Hartford zone and battled back from a three-goal deficit. Falcons defenseman Cody Wild cut Springfield's deficit to 3-1 when he tallied on the power play just 1:28 into the second period, followed by a Potulny marker at 7:42 of the middle period. Springfield pulled even at 3-3 when Gilbert Brule tallied a beautiful goal late in the second stanza.
Hartford's Vladimir Denisov opened the scoring just 1:06 into the first period, followed by Dane Byers scoring on the power play at 9:58 of the opening frame. Hartford took a 3-0 advantage when Tommy Pyatt converted with just 45-seconds remaining in the first period.
Devan Dubnyk was very steady throughout the night stopping 34 of 37 shots on goal.
---SPRINGFIELD AT PROVIDENCE, OCTOBER 12 - L- 3-4 OT---
For the second straight night, the Falcons rallied from an early deficit and earned at least a point on the road. The Falcons scored twice in the third period erasing a 3-1 deficit and sending the contest to overtime, where Providence's Vladimir Sobotka tallied the game-winner.
Falcons defenseman Theo Peckham scored a pair of goals for Springfield, including the game-tying marker at 12:04 of the third period sending the contest to the extra session. Gilbert Brule started Springfield's third period rally when he scored his second marker of the season just one-minute into the final frame cutting the Falcons' deficit to 3-2.
After Martin St. Pierre opened the scoring for Providence with a first period power play goal, the Bruins expanded their advantage to 2-0 when Martins Karsums tallied at 7:39 of the second period. Springfield cut their deficit to 2-1 when Peckham scored on the power play at 12:34 of the middle frame, but Providence regained their two-goal advantage at 14:01 when Mikko Lehtonen converted on the man advantage.
PLAYER NOTES:
Springfield Falcons rookie defenseman Taylor Chorney has started his pro career with recording an assist in each of his first two games played, including a helper on the game-winning goal at Hartford on October 11. Viacheslav Trukhno has three assists in two games, including a pair on October 12 at Providence.
Center Tyler Spurgeon has collected an assist in each of the first two games played this season, including a helper on Theo Peckham's game-tying goal on October 12 at Providence.
Center Ryan Potulny scored two goals, including the game-winner, on October 11 at Hartford in his Falcons debut. He was the game's first star on October 11.
Gilbert Brule has two goals in his first two games with the Falcons. Overall he has two goals and one assist for three points in two games.
Defenseman Theo Peckham scored two goals and was the game's second star on October 12 at Providence. It was Peckham's first two-goal game of his pro career.
Taylor Chorney, Jake Taylor, Adam Huxley, Guillaume Lefebvre, Ryan Potulny, Gilbert Brule, and Hans Benson all made their Springfield debuts over the weekend.
Goaltender Devan Dubnyk started both games this past weekend and he was the game's second star on October 11 at Hartford stopping 34 of 37 shots.
INJURY REPORT
None
TRANSACTIONS
10-8-08 - Springfield Falcons sign Guillame Lefebvre to a Professional Tryout Agreement.
10-11-08 - Edmonton Oilers assign forward Rob Schremp and defenseman Mathieu Roy to the Springfield Falcons.
10-14-08 - Springfield Falcons assign Rob Bina, Josef Hrabal, Adam Huxley and Ryan MacMurchy to their ECHL affiliate, the Stockton Thunder.
ON THE FARM - STOCKTON THUNDER
The Stockton Thunder opened their 2008 training camp as they prepare for their season opener on Saturday, October 18 against the Fresno Falcons. Stockton has received several players that participated in Falcons training camp including: David Rohlfs, Neil Petruic, Milan Maslonka, Cleve Kinely, Ryan Constant, Jordan Bendfeld, Les Reaney, Cory Urquhart, Ryan Huddy, Toby LaFrance, Luke Lynes, Tom Zanoski, Garet Hunt, Justin Chwedoruk, Marc-Andre Bernier, Jamie Bates, and goalies Bryan Pitton and Andrew Perugini.
WEEK IN REVIEW
OCTOBER 11 Springfield- 4 At Hartford- 3 ( Goal scorers - Wild, Potulny (2), Brule)
OCTOBER 12 Springfield- 3 At Providence- 4 OT ( Goal scorers- Peckham (2), Brule)
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
OCTOBER 17 Springfield At Providence 7:00 PM Dunkin' Donuts Center
OCTOBER 18 Springfield Vs. Portland 7:00 PM MassMutual Center
OCTOBER 19 Springfield At Manchester 4:00 PM Verizon Wireless Arena
*Radio Broadcasts on WHYN AM 560
*Watch AHL Live
American Hockey League Stories from October 16, 2008
- Crunch Announce Details of Papa John's Birthday Pack - Syracuse Crunch
- Phantoms Planning Big Weekend - Adirondack Phantoms
- Aeros loan Khudobin to ECHL Florida - Houston Aeros
- Coyotes Recall Ryan Lannon From San Antonio Under Emergency Conditions - San Antonio Rampage
- Helm Recalled, Howard Assigned - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Dan Smith Named Tenth Captain in Syracuse Crunch History - Syracuse Crunch
- River Rats Team Up With Recovery Room Sports Grill - Albany River Rats
- Wolves Schedule First Of Six Adopt-A-Dog Nights For Saturday - Chicago Wolves
- Goaltender Riku Helenius Reassigned to Augusta - Norfolk Admirals
- Worcester Sharks Home Opener Set For Saturday - Worcester Sharks
- P-Bruins Add Pair of Defensemen - Providence Bruins
- B-Sens Fourth Annual Charity Golf Classic Raises More Than $25,000 - Binghamton Senators
- Syracuse Crunch and Time Warner Cable Announce Multi-Year Corporate Partnership Agreement - Syracuse Crunch
- Canadiens Assign Kyle Chipchura To Bulldogs - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Falcons Take Three Of Four Road Points On Opening Weekend - Springfield Falcons
- Houston Aeros' Third Annual Breast Cancer Awareness game this Saturday - Houston Aeros
- James Reimer Reassigned to Reading - Toronto Marlies
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