Falcons to host Monsters and Sens after visit to Portland
February 20, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield, MA â Following a road contest against the Portland Pirates tonight, the Springfield Falcons will return to The Nest to face the Lowell Lock Monsters on Saturday evening and the Binghamton Senators on Sunday.
The Pirates, one of the hottest teams in the AHL, have taken points in the standings in each of their last 10 games (6-0-1-3) to move into a three-way tie for second place in the Atlantic Division. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Outstanding goaltending has been a key to Portland's rise up the standings. AHL All-Star netminder Rastislav Stana leads the league in both goals against average (1.37) and save percentage (.954). Former Philadelphia Flyers' first-round draft choice Maxime Ouellet has posted six shutouts in the Portland net this season and was recently ranked 35th on The Hockey News' list of the Top 50 NHL Prospects. The Pirates' offense was bolstered on Wednesday as a result of the trade of Peter Bondra by Portland's NHL affiliate, the Washington Capitals, to the Ottawa Senators. Highly-touted prospect Brooks Laich, who the Capitals received in the deal, made his debut for the Pirates on Wednesday after skating 44 games with Binghamton. Laich is tied for fourth among rookies in the AHL in scoring (15-18-33) this season.
The Falcons will look to gain their first win in seven tries (0-6-0-0) when the Lock Monsters visit the Civic Center on Saturday. Game time is 7:35 p.m. Other than the Hershey Bears, who Springfield has faced just once this season, the Lock Monsters are the only opponent in which the Falcons have not gained a point from this season. Lowell center Mike Zigomanis, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the AHL All-Star Game on Feb. 9th, has led the Lock Monsters' offensive attack against the Falcons this season, posting eight points (2g, 6a) and a plus/minus rating of +6 in the previous match-ups. Ex-Falcons goaltender Patrick DesRochers has registered a 4-0-0 record, 1.57 GAA, and .941 SV% for Lowell against his former team this season. The Lock Monsters are in the midst of a five-game losing streak to match the Manitoba Moose for the longest current drought in the AHL.
The Senators will make their only appearance of the 2003-04 campaign at the Civic Center on Sunday. Game time is 4:05 p.m. The Falcons claimed a 3-2 win in Binghamton on January 3rd in the only previous meeting between the clubs this season. Former Buffalo Sabres enforcer Rob Ray is currently with the Baby Sens on a conditioning loan and is expected to be with the club on Sunday. Ray, who has collected 3,193 penalty minutes over 14 NHL seasons, picked up a fighting major in his debut with Binghamton on Wednesday. The Senators are 3-2-2-0 over their last seven games including ties in their last two contests. AHL All-Star goaltender Ray Emery ranked 16th on The Hockey News' Top 50 Prospects list and has posted a 17-14-5 record, 2.34 GAA, and .924 SV% for Binghamton this season. Left wing Denis Hamel, who leads the Baby Sens and is tied for ninth in the AHL in scoring (21-26-47), was reassigned to Binghamton from Ottawa on Wednesday.
Weekend Promotions:
Big Y Express Savings Club Card Night â Saturday, February 21 - Present your Big Y Express Savings Club Card to the box office before 5 p.m. on game day and receive a $3.00 discount on an adult ticket to the game versus the Lowell Lock Monsters.
Putt-Putt Challenge - Saturday, February 21 â The winner of a putt-putt contest held during the first intermission at Saturday's game will receive two passes to the U.S. Women's Open during July 4th weekend.
WMAS Family Night - Sunday, February 22 â Fans can receive four tickets to Sunday's game versus Binghamton, four programs, and four Wendy's Restaurant value meals for $60 by pre-purchasing at the Falcons team office at 155 State Street in Springfield. A free family skate follows Sunday's game. Mr. K and his face-painting crew will be part of Sunday's fun.
All three weekend games can be heard live on The ZONE â Sports Radio 640. The voice of the Falcons, Marc Shelanski, will describe the play-by-play action. The broadcasts begin with the pre-game show 30 minutes prior to the opening face-off.
For information on tickets and group discounts, please contact the Falcons team office at (413) 739-3344. Individual game tickets can be ordered by phone through the Civic Center box office at (413) 787-6600.
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