Falcons to return to Nest for weekend home games

Published on March 23, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, MA – The Springfield Falcons (23-37-8-2, 56 pts) will complete a stretch of four straight road games on Thurday evening in Lowell against the Lock Monsters. The club will return to the home ice of the Springfield Civic Center to host Atlantic Division rivals the Portland Pirates on Friday and the Providence Bruins on Saturday. The games will mark the final visits to Springfield for both the Pirates and P-Bruins this season. Game time for both home contests is 7:35 p.m.

Team Notes: Falcons center Jason Jaspers registered a team season-high four points (3g, 1a) in a 5-1 win at Lowell on Saturday. Jaspers posted the Falcons' third hat trick of the season in the game. Forwards Mike Stutzel (12/5 vs. Worcester) and Krystofer Kolanos (12/31 at Hartford), who are both currently with the Phoenix Coyotes, tallied the previous hat tricks for Springfield this season.... Goaltender David LeNeveu's 50 saves in Saturday's win were the second-most in Falcons' franchise history. The rookie owns the club record of 55 saves which he achieved in a 4-1 win at Hartford on December 31st earlier this season.... Defenseman Jeremiah McCarthy is riding a four-game assist streak and has collected helpers in five of the last six games, registering six over that span.... Defenseman Joe Callahan made his pro debut for the Falcons at Providence on Friday and recorded his first pro point with an assist at Lowell on Saturday.... Blueliner Nic Bilotto collected the 100th assist of his pro career versus the Manchester Monarchs on Sunday. Jaspers registered the 100th point of his career with an assist in the same game.... Center Chris Ferraro also accumulated the 1,000th penalty minute of his career at Manchester on Sunday.... Falcons left wing Trevor Gillies leads the AHL in major penalties this season with 35.... Right wing Nick Lent matched a Falcons season-high with three assists against the Lock Monsters in Lowell on Saturday.

Roster Update: Callahan, who recently completed his junior season at Yale University, signed with Phoenix and was assigned to the Falcons on Friday.... Springfield released center Garrett Prosofsky from his professional tryout on Friday. Prosofsky skated in one game for the Falcons and did not figure in scoring.

Upcoming Opponents:

Falcons at Lowell Lock Monsters

Thursday, March 25

The Falcons face the Lock Monsters (30-29-6-5, 71 pts) in the tenth and final meeting between the clubs this season. The Falcons are 2-7-0-0 against Lowell this season, but have won two of the last three encounters. Springfield carries an all-time record of 19-20-4 versus the Monsters.... The Lock Monsters, who have lost three straight games (0-2-0-1), lead Portland by two points for the fifth and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.... Including his four-point effort against the Monsters on Saturday, Jaspers has notched eight points (4g, 4a) during the season series to lead the Falcons. Rookie left wing Frantisek Lukes has registered six assists against Lowell this season. LeNeveu has collected a 2-3-0 record, 2.63 goals against average (GAA), and .932 save percentage (SV%) versus the Lock Monsters.... Lowell leading-scorer Mike Zigomanis, who has been on recall with the Carolina Hurricanes since March 9, has paced the Monsters against the Falcons this season with eight points (2g, 6a). Former Falcon Patrick DesRochers has accumulated a record of 5-1-0, 1.70 GAA, and .941 SV% in the season series.... Center Brett Lysak, who has tallied 31 points (17g, 14a) for the Lock Monsters including six (4g, 2a) versus Springfield this season, received his first NHL call-up by Carolina last Thursday.... Lowell is currently tied for sixth in the AHL in power-play success at 16.8%. The Falcons held the Monsters, who entered last weekend with the league's third-ranked power play, scoreless on 10 chances with the man advantage on Saturday.... Lowell center Jim Henkel has posted 14 points (6g, 8a) over his last 10 games. The forward has collected an assist in each of his last four games.

Falcons vs. Portland Pirates

Friday, March 26

The Falcons take on the Portland Pirates (25-27-12-7, 69 pts) in the ninth match-up between the clubs this season. The teams will complete the season series in Portland on April 11, the final day of the regular season. The Falcons own a record of 2-4-2-0 against the Pirates this season and 42-30-8 all-time versus the franchise.... Portland goaltender Matt Yeats made 44 saves in a 3-0 shutout of the Falcons in the last meeting between the teams in Springfield on March 13. Team captain Graham Mink assisted on each Portland goal.... Kolanos registered six points (3g, 3a) in five games against Portland before his latest recall to Phoenix to lead the Falcons in scoring in the season series. Falcons player/assistant coach Gary Shuchuk has collected five assists and is +7 versus the Pirates this season. Springfield defenseman Nikos Tselios is +6 in the season series. Pelletier has registered a 2-3-1 record, 1.73 GAA, and .943 SV% against Portland this season.... The Falcons are scoreless in 35 power-play opportunities versus the Pirates this season.... Mink leads Portland in scoring against Springfield with nine points (3g, 6a). Mink's +4 in the season series is also a team best. Portland goaltenders (Yeats, Rastislav Stana, and Maxime Ouellet) have combined to register a 1.60 GAA and .949 SV% versus the Falcons..... The Pirates are 1-3-0-0 over the last four games and scored just one goal over that span. Center Brooks Laich scored his first goal with Portland in a 1-0 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday. The Pirates were shutout by Philadelphia on March 14, Worcester last Friday, and Providence on Sunday.... Left wing Colin Forbes leads Portland in scoring this season with 40 points (15g, 25a).... Blueliner Mike Pudlick leads the Pirates in plus/minus rating at +13 and paces team defensemen with 21 points (9g, 12a).... Portland ranks second in the AHL in penalty killing (89.8%).... Stana leads the AHL with a .945 SV% this season.... Ouellet ranks second in the league with nine shutouts.

Falcons vs. Providence Bruins

Saturday, March 27

The Falcons host the Bruins (32-24-10-3, 77 pts) for the final time at the Civic Center this season. The rivals will meet twice again in Providence on April 2nd and 9th. The Falcons are 1-5-1-0 against the P-Bruins this season and are 42-54-5 all-time versus the club.... The P-Bruins are riding a three-game winning streak after prevailing once in their previous five contests.... Falcons right wing Peter Ferraro has notched seven points (2g, 5a) against his former club this season. Ferraro helped lead Providence to a Calder Cup championship in 1999. Shuchuk has collected five points (2g, 3a) against the Bruins this season.... Center Matt Herr (4g, 2a) and defenseman Kevin Dallman (1g, 5a) have each recorded six points against the Falcons this season to pace Providence. Bruins goaltender Hannu Toivonen carries a 4-1-1 record, 2.14 GAA, and .934 SV% versus Springfield this campaign.... The P-Bruins have collected 16 wins and 12 losses both at home and on the road this season.... Center Brad Boyes, who scored two goals in a 3-2 Providence victory over the Falcons on Friday, ranks fourth in the AHL in scoring with 66 points (29g, 37a) this season. Boyes was acquired by the Boston Bruins from the San Jose Sharks in three-way deal that also involved the Buffalo Sabres on March 9. The 2002 first-round draft pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs has scored four goals among six points in six games with Providence since the trade.... P-Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas was named the Sher-Wood AHL Player of the Week on Monday after posting back-to-back shutout last week. The University of Vermont product ranks fourth in the league with a .938 SV% this season..... Bruins forward Brendan Walsh has collected penalty minutes in each of his last seven games (51 PIM).... Providence ranks fifth in the AHL in road penalty killing (88.1%).... The P-Bruins are 23-1-2-1 when leading after the second period this season.

Radio Broadcasts:

Catch the live play-by-play broadcasts of the Falcons games on The ZONE – Sports Radio 640. The voice of the Falcons, Marc Shelanski, calls the action. The pre-game show starts 30 minutes prior to the opening face-off. Fans can also listen live on the Internet by clicking on the MassLive.com Cybercast icon on the Falcons official web site, www.falconsahl.com.

This Week's Game Schedule:

Thur., Mar. 25 Falcons at Lowell Lock Monsters 7:00 PM Paul E. Tsongas Arena

Fri., Mar. 26 Falcons vs. Portland Pirates 7:35 PM Springfield Civic Center

Sat., Mar. 27 Falcons vs. Providence Bruins 7:35 PM Springfield Civic Center

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American Hockey League Stories from March 23, 2004


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