Falcons Tame Sound Tigers, 5-3
February 27, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield, Mass. - The Springfield Falcons tamed the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 5-3, tonight at the MassMutual Center.
The win advances the Falcons to 31-19-6-0 on the season with 68 points. The Falcons also take a 4-0-1-0 lead in the eight-game season series against the Sound Tigers and put Bridgeport on a seven-game losing streak.
Falcons goaltender Anton Forsberg returned to the line-up for the first time since being loaned back to Springfield from Columbus on Feb. 25 and recorded the win, turning aside 23 of 26 shots on goal. Sound Tigers goaltender Kevin Poulin registered his third consecutive loss, stopping 35 of 39. Springfield was able to convert on one-of-two power play opportunities, while shutting down one-of-two Bridgeport man-advantages.
The Sound Tigers were first to strike at the 4:52 mark of the opening period. Matt Carkner skated the puck across the blue line and ripped a shot past Forsberg from the right point. Matt Lashoff earned the assist. The Falcons responded two minutes later. With Poulin laid out after a series of saves, T.J. Tynan was able to chip in a rebound from the crease for his seventh goal of the season. Will Weber tallied his first point of the season with the primary assist, while Ryan Craig registered the secondary helper after returning to the ice for the first time since Feb. 15.
Mike Hoeffel notched his fifth goal of the season just 49 seconds into the middle frame to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. Jaime Sifers fired a shot on goal that was stopped. After Hoeffel got a stick on the rebound, Poulin failed to cover the puck and it slid across the goal line. Sean Collins collected a point on the go-ahead goal. However, Bridgeport was quick to knot the score. Harry Zolnierczyk netted a shot off assists from Sebastian Collberg and Ryan Pulock to tie the teams, 2-2, at the 4:01 mark.
With Corey Cowick in the box for goaltender interference, the Sound Tigers took the lead late in the second period. Alan Quine beat the Falcons defenders to face Forsberg on his own. A fake brought the goaltender out of position and allowed Quine to backhand a shot five-hole with 1:43 remaining in the period. Collberg and Aaron Ness were credited with the assists.
The Falcons came back to even the score again 5:19 into the third period. Michael Chaput threw a shot on net from a sharp angle that caught a defenseman's stick and was redirected into the net. Tynan and Sifers each recorded multi-point games with assists on the power-play tally.
Chaput scored the game-winner with 4:42 remaining in the final period. Kerby Rychel passed to Chaput in front of the net, who lifted a shot over Poulin for his second of the game. Dana Tyrell grabbed his first point of the night for an assist.
Tyrell added an empty net goal with the help of Frederic St. Denis and Luke Adam to down the Sound Tigers, 5-3.
The Falcons will rematch the Sound Tigers at the MassMutual Center on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m.
Springfield Falcons ticket packages are on sale now. To reserve your seats, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit the team office inside the MassMutual Center Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For all the latest Falcons information and updates, follow the back-to-back Northeast Division Champions at www.falconsahl.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/falconsahl and on Twitter (@TheFalconsAHL) using #SPRFalcons!
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