Falcons to face Worcester and Lowell this weekend at Nest

Published on January 27, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, MA – The Springfield Falcons (14-24-5-2, 35 pts) will take on a pair of intrastate rivals at the Springfield Civic Center this weekend. The Falcons will host the Worcester IceCats on Friday night in the continuation of a tight season series between the clubs. On Saturday evening, the Falcons will meet the red-hot Lowell Lock Monsters on Teddy Bear Pools and Spas & WMAS 94.7 Team Poster Night. This weekend kicks off a four-game homestand for the Falcons. Eleven of the team's next 13 games will be played on the home ice of The Nest.

The Falcons completed a stretch of five consecutive road games on Sunday in Philadelphia, falling to the Phantoms by a score of 3-2. Springfield split back-to-back contests against the Norfolk Admirals, losing 4-2 on Friday, before claiming a 2-1 victory on Saturday in Virginia. The Falcons dropped their first-ever game at The Giant Center in Hershey, 2-0, to begin the week on Wednesday.

Week in Review (1-3-0-0):

Falcons – 0 at Hershey – 2

Wednesday, January 21

Jean-Marc Pelletier made a personal season-high 49 saves, but the Falcons were not able to put any of their 40 shots past Bears netminder Peter Budaj as the second-year pro collected his second career shutout. Defenseman Tomas Slovak and former Falcon Shane Willis provided scoring for Hershey with first-period goals. Veteran right wing Steve Brule registered the 500th point of his AHL career with an assist on the tally by Willis. The Falcons and Bears will complete their two-game season series in Springfield on April 4th.

SOG: 40 SOGA: 51 PP: 0-for-5 PK: 6-for-6

Falcons – 2 at Norfolk – 4

Friday, January 23

Recent addition Todd Reirden's second goal of the game with 8:47 remaining to play pulled the Falcons to within a goal after the club had trailed 3-0. However, Springfield was not able to net a game-tying marker and center Mikhail Yakubov clinched the contest for the Admirals with an empty net goal from inside the Norfolk blue line. Yakubov and Duncan Keith each registered a goal and an assist for the Admirals in the game. Falcons goaltender David LeNeveu made 32 saves in the loss.

SOG: 24 SOGA: 36 PP: 0-for-3 PK: 2-for-2

Falcons – 2 at Norfolk - 1

Saturday, January 24

Right wing Frank Banham snapped a 1-1 tie with his second game-winning goal of the season at the 6:36 mark of the third period. Forwards Ty Jones and Mike Stutzel traded power-play goals in the opening period. Pelletier earned his sixth win of the season by stopping 34 of 35 shots, raising his save percentage for the season to 92.5% in the process. Player/assistant coach Gary Shuchuk assisted on both Springfield goals. In winning their final match-up of the campaign with the Admirals, the Falcons split their four-game season series.

SOG: 20 SOGA: 35 PP: 1-for-5 PK: 3-for-4

Falcons – 2 at Philadelphia – 3

Sunday, January 25

Center Erik Westrum scored 1:27 into the third period to give the Falcons a 2-1 lead. However, Phantoms blueliner Randy Jones posted a power-play goal 5:23 later to knot the game and left wing Nick Deschenes potted the game-winner with 4:25 left in regulation. Rookie Frantisek Lukes opened scoring with a power-play marker 2:34 into the game. However, the Falcons were not able to connect on any of their following 10 power-play chances in the game. The Falcons finished their two-game season series with the Phantoms with a record of 1-0-0-1. Philadelphia defeated Springfield in overtime by an identical 3-2 score at the Civic Center on January 9th.

SOG: 26 SOGA: 32 PP: 1-for-11 PK: 6-for-7

Team Notes: Lukes' goal 2:34 into Sunday's game at Philadelphia was the earliest the Falcons have scored in a game this season.... Stutzel and Westrum scored their 10th goals of the season on Saturday and Sunday respectively to tie Peter Ferraro and Jeff Taffe, now with the Phoenix Coyotes, for the team lead. Only three teams (Hamilton, Manitoba, and Syracuse) have had more than four players reach double figures in goal scoring this season.... The Falcons will play 21 of their remaining 35 games this season at home.... Reirden's second goal on Friday was his second shorthanded goal of the season which is the most of any AHL defenseman. Reirden is the first Falcons' blueliner to score more than one goal in a game this season.... The Falcons' 11 power plays on Sunday versus Philadelphia was a season high.... Springfield is 7-6-2-0 in Saturday games this season.... Pelletier stopped 83 of 86 shots (96.5%) last week.... Peter Ferraro leads the Falcons in scoring in January with seven points (3g, 4a) during the month thus far.

Roster Update: Center Jason Jaspers sat out both games in Norfolk with an injury over the weekend, but played against Philadelphia on Sunday.... Defenseman Mike Wilson returned to the Falcons' lineup in Hershey on Wednesday after missing the previous three games with an injury.... Defenseman Chris Dyment missed each of the Falcons four games last week due to an injury.... Center Chris Ferraro and defenseman Bryan Helmer continue to skate in practice while rehabilitating from injuries and are getting closer to being ready for game action.

Upcoming Week:

Falcons vs. Worcester IceCats

Friday, January 30

The Falcons host the IceCats (19-16-8-1, 47 points) in the eighth of ten meetings between the clubs this season. Springfield leads the season series with a record of 3-2-1-1 against the ‘Cats. The Falcons carry a record of 37-45-13 all-time versus Worcester.... Springfield won the last match-up, 3-1, on January 16th at the Civic Center. Peter Ferraro scored twice while Westrum registered two assists. LeNeveu stopped 36 of 37 shots until leaving the game in the closing minutes with leg cramps.... Ferraro (4g, 3a) and Stutzel (4g, 3a) pace the Falcons in scoring against Worcester with seven points apiece. Stutzel and Wilson are each +5 in the season series.... Worcester right wing Mike Glumac has registered seven points (5g, 2a) to lead the ‘Cats versus Springfield. Glumac's five goals against the Falcons this season are the most of any opposing player. His seven points are tied for the most by an opponent.... The IceCats are 10-6-5-1 in road games this season, while holding a sub-.500 record at home (9-10-3-0).... Worcester has outshot their opponents, 1350-1187, this season.... Glumac is ranked third among AHL rookies in goal scoring with 14 tallies.

Falcons vs. Lowell Lock Monsters

Saturday, January 31

The Falcons face the Lock Monsters in the sixth of ten encounters this campaign in search of their first win against the club (0-5-0-0). Springfield holds an all-time record of 17-18-4 versus the Lock Monsters.... Lowell is riding a six-game winning streak, the longest current run in the AHL.... Lowell claimed the last meeting by a score of 5-1 at Tsongas Arena on January 18th. Forwards Mike Zigomanis and Tomas Kurka each notched a goal and an assist for the Lock Monsters in the contest. The clubs combined for 162 penalty minutes (PIM) in the game. The Falcons were issued a season-high 88 PIM.... Zigomanis leads Lowell in scoring versus Springfield with seven points (2g, 5a) this season to tie Glumac for the most by a Falcons' opponent.... Lowell owns the AHL's top-ranked power play with a success rate of 18.6%.... The Lock Monsters have been outscored, 49-42, in the third period of games this season, but are 14-1-0-0 when leading after the second frame.... Zigomanis is riding an eight-game point streak (12 pts) and a four-game goal streak (5g).... Left wing Martin Sonnenberg has collected at least one assist in each of his last four games (6a).... Sonnenberg leads Lowell in plus/minus at +13.

Upcoming Promotions:

Scout Night – Friday, January 30th – Scouts can receive discounted tickets to the game as well as a commemorative patch for their uniform. One troop from participating councils will present that evening's colors and lead in the scout promise. Scouts are encouraged to wear their uniform to the game.

Teddy Bear Pools & Spas and WMAS 94.7 FM Team Poster Night- Saturday, January 31st – The first 5,000 fans in attendance will receive a 2003-04 Falcons team poster courtesy of Teddy Bear Pools & Spas and WMAS 94.7 FM. A team autograph session will follow the game. Bring a Teddy Bear to benefit area charities and be eligible to win great prizes.

Community Events:

Shriners Hospital Children's Sled Hockey Program - Tuesday, January 27th - Falcons left wing Trevor Gillies and defenseman Jeremiah McCarthy will be at Amelia Park Rink in Westfield on from 6-7 p.m. to assist with the Shriners Hospital's Children's Sled Hockey Program.

This Week's Game Schedule:

Fri., Jan. 30 Falcons vs. Worcester IceCats 7:35 PM Springfield Civic Center

Sat., Jan. 31 Falcons vs. Lowell Lock Monsters 7:35 PM Springfield Civic Center

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American Hockey League Stories from January 27, 2004


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