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Falcons Weekly Notes - 12-15-09

December 15, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


This Week's Games Previews

-Tuesday, December 15, 2009- Springfield Falcons (10-13-4-2) at Lowell Devils (15-11-3-0):

The Falcons and Devils will face one another for the fifth time this season. In the first four contests, Springfield is 2-0-1-1, including a 4-2 win in Lowell on October 25. The teams will face each other a total of eight times this season, with the next meeting on January 3 in Lowell. Leading the way for the Falcons in the season series against the Devils are Charles Linglet (1 G, 5 A), Colton Fretter (2 G, 3 A), Chris Minard (4 G), and Chad Wiseman (1 G, 3 A). In goal for three of the games for Springfield was Devan Dubnyk posting a.923 save percentage and 2.87 GAA. Rookie goaltender Aaron Sorochan started the other game stopping 29 of 31 shots in the 4-2 Falcons win. The Devils have been balanced in the four contests with nine players with multiple points. Of those nine players, Alexander Vasyunov leads all Devils players with two goals and two assists. Starting in goal in three of the four games for Lowell has been Mike McKenna posting a 2.55 GAA and.877 save percentage. Overall this season the Devils are a balanced offensive team with three players with over 20 points and eight players with at least 15 points on the season. Leading the Devils are Ben Walter (7 G, 15 A, 22 P), rookie Matt Taormina (7 G, 13 A, 20 P), Vladimir Zharkov (6 G, 14 A, 20 P), and Tim Sestito (9 G, 7 A, 16 P). In goal the Devils have been led by McKenna who has posted a 9-6-2 record with a 2.52 GAA and.918 save percentage. Lowell comes into the game losers of two of their last three, but in second place in the Atlantic Division with 33 points.

-Friday, December 18, 2009- Springfield Falcons (10-13-4-2) at Portland Pirates (14-11-3-2):

Two Atlantic Division rivals will take to the ice on Friday when the Falcons travel to Portland, Maine to face the Pirates. This will be the fifth of eight matchups between the teams. The teams split the first four games of the season, with the most recent contest last weekend when the Pirates won 7-1 in Springfield. The next meeting between the teams is on March 14 in Portland. Leading the way against the Pirates this season for Springfield is forward Charles Linglet with one goal and four assists in four games. For Portland, Marc-Andre Gragnani (2 G, 2 A) and Kyle Rank (3 G, 1 A) lead the way against the Falcons this season. Portland goaltender, Jhonas Enroth, started in three of the four contests versus Springfield posting a 2-1-0-0 record,.906 save percentage, and 2.68 GAA. Overall this season Enroth has posted a 9-8-1-1 record, 2.99 GAA, and.902 save percentage. Portland's leading point scorers this season are Mark Mancari (11 G, 12 A, 23 P) and rookie Tyler Ennis (9 G, 14 A, 23 P). Mike Weber leads all Pirates with a +14 rating thus far this season. Coming into the week Portland is on a two-game winning streak as they defeated Springfield and Hartford last weekend. Portland will face the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Tuesday December 15 in Bridgeport, CT. After Friday's game the Pirates will host Bridgeport on Saturday.

-Saturday, December 19, 2009- Springfield Falcons (10-13-4-2) vs. Providence Bruins (15-13-1-0):

The Bruins and Falcons play each other for the third time this season, with Providence winning the first two contests, both at home. The Bruins dominated the first two games winning a combined 11-4 in those games. Playing well for Providence in those two games are Jeff LoVecchio (3 G, 1 A) and Andy Wozniewski (2 G, 2 A). The only two players for the Falcons with more than one point against the Bruins this season are Colin McDonald (2 A) and Ryan O'Marra (2 G). Providence's starting goaltender Dany Sabourin played very well in net for the Bruins in the two games posting a 2.00 GAA and.909 save percentage on 44 shots. Throughout the season the Bruins have been led by two standout players, Mikko Lehtonen and Wozniewski. Lehtonen has tallied a team-leading 10 goals to go along with his 15 assists for a team high 25 points. Wozniewski has recorded six goals and 17 assists for 23 points. Providence is currently on a two-game losing skid heading into their Friday, December 18 matchup with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Before this short two-game losing streak, the Bruins won their previous five games.

Player and Team Notes

Springfield is winless in their last nine games (0-7-1-1) including 0-5-1-1 at home.

The leading goal scorer for the Falcons is Colton Fretter with 13 goals, to go along with his 11 assists. Fretter's 24 points places him 17th in the American Hockey League.

Of Fretter's 13 goals, eight of them were power play goals, which leads the AHL.

Charles Linglet leads the Falcons and the AHL in assists this season notching 24 assists so far this season.

Linglet also leads the Falcons with 31 points, placing him in a tie for second in the AHL.

Linglet has 10 power play assists this season, placing him in a second place tie for the AHL league lead.

Leading the Falcons in penalty minutes and he is second in the American Hockey League is forward Kip Brennan with 139 PIM.

During Friday's game against Bridgeport, Springfield's Chad Wiseman notched his 200th professional assist. Wiseman has played in the American Hockey League, National Hockey League, and the German Elite League the DEL.

Forward Ronald Petrovicky made his Springfield Falcons debut on Friday against the Sound Tigers.

Falcons Liam Reddox played in his 100th career AHL game on Saturday versus Portland.

Springfield has failed to score the first goal in the game for eight consecutive games dating back to November 27 against Manchester.

Springfield is the AHL's 3rd best power play team when playing at home posting a scoring rate of 24.6%. They are 4th overall in power play in the AHL scoring 20% of the time.

Injury Report

Chris Minard (Head) is listed as day-to-day. Minard has not played in a game since October 30 against Albany.

Defenseman Chris Armstrong (Eye) is out indefinitely. Armstrong recently had eye surgery and has not played a game since December 6 versus Adirondack.

Defenseman Theo Peckham (Head) is also listed day-to-day after suffering an injury during a December 11 game against Bridgeport.



American Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2009


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