Falcons Weekly Notes

Published on November 26, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


WEEK IN REVIEW (1-2-0-0):

NOVEMBER 22 Springfield-2 at Providence-3

NOVEMBER 23 Springfield-4 at Hartford-9

NOVEMBER 24 Springfield-4 vs. Hartford-3

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

NOVEMBER 29 Springfield at Bridgeport 7:35 PM Arena at Harbor Yard

NOVEMBER 30 Springfield vs. Binghamton 7:35 PM Springfield Civic Center

DECEMBER 1 Springfield at Lowell 4:05 PM Tsongas Arena

THIS WEEK'S GAME CAPSULES

---FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2002 AT BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS---

The Springfield Falcons and Bridgeport Sound Tigers will meet for the Third time this season when they face off on Friday at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The Falcons are 0-2 against the Sound Tigers this season. The Sound Tigers won the last meeting between these two teams 3-0 on November 13th in Bridgeport. Bridgeport is in first place in the East Division with a record of 10-5-4-1 for 25 points. Bridgeport is 2-0-2 in their last four games. Trent Hunter leads the Sound Tigers in scoring with 10 goals and nine assists for 19 points. Hunter also leads the team in power play goals with five. Mike Souza is second in scoring with 11 points, four goals and seven assists. Eric Godard leads the team in penalty minutes with 60. Godard is also second on the team in power play goals with two. Rick DiPietro is fourth in the AHL with a 2.09 GAA and a .921 save percentage and is tied for the league lead in wins with 8. Stephen Valiquette has 3.80 GAA and a .880 save percentage. Bridgeport has the 23rd ranked power play in the AHL scoring on 13.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Bridgeport is ranked 1st in the AHL in penalty killing, killing 92.2 percent of their short-handed situations. Bridgeport won the last meeting over the Falcons 3-0 with a power play goal from Godard, an even strength goal from Konstantine Kalmikov, and a shorthanded goal from Mattias Weinhandl. DiPietro made 29 saves in recording the shutout, his 2nd of the season. Bridgeport is 8-0-2-0 when leading after two periods, but 0-4-2-0 when trailing after two periods.

---SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2002 VS. BINGHAMTON SENATORS---

The Springfield Falcons will meet the Binghamton Senators for the first time this season when they meet on Saturday night at the Springfield Civic Center. Springfield last played an Ottawa Senators affiliate in the 1995-96 season when they played the Prince Edward Island Senators. The last time Springfield played a team from Binghamton was in the 1996-97 season when they played the Binghamton Rangers. Binghamton is coached by former Wolf Pack head coach, John Paddock and former Wolf Pack right winger, Brad Smyth has five goals and five assists for 10 points in 12 games played. Binghamton is currently in third place in the East Division with an 8-8-2-1 record for 19 points. Binghamton dropped their last game to the Hershey Bears 4-3. Former Falcon, Josef Boumedienne leads the Senators in scoring with two goals and 13 assists for 15 points and is also a +12. Brian Pothier is second on the team in scoring with two goals and 12 assists for 14 points. Antoine Vermette and David Hymovitz are tied for the team lead in goals scored with six, and Vermette leads the club in power play goals with three. Brian McGratten leads the team in penalty minutes with 37. Boumedienne is second on the team in penalty minutes with 34. Goaltender, Ray Emery is ninth in the AHL with a 2.36 GAA and a .917 save percentage. Binghamton has the 26th ranked power play in the AHL, scoring on 10.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Binghamton is 17th in the AHL in penalty killing, killing 83.2 percent of their shorthanded situations.

---SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2002 AT LOWELL LOCK MONSTERS---

The Springfield Falcons will meet the Lowell Lock Monsters for the second time this season when they meet on Sunday afternoon at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell. The Falcons won the first meeting of the season 4-2 at "The Nest." Lowell is currently in fifth place in the North Division with a 6-13-1 record for 13 points. Lowell has lost their last four games. Jeff Heerema leads the Lock Monsters in points with 17, nine goals and eight assists. Heerema also leads the team in power play goals with five. Mike Zigomanis is second in scoring with four goals and nine assists for 13 points. Brad DeFauw is second in power play goals with three. Ryan Bast leads the team in penalty minutes with 35. Kaspars Astashenko is second in penalty minutes with 34. Lowell goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier has a 3.46 GAA and a .902 save percentage. Randy Petruk has a 3.11 GAA and a .914 save percentage. Lowell has the 24th ranked power play in the AHL, scoring on 12.8 percent of their power play opportunities. Lowell is 28th in the AHL in penalty killing, killing 72.6 percent of their shorthanded situations. The Falcons won the last meeting 4-2 with two goals from Ramzi Abid and goals from Dmitry Afanasenkov and Jeff Taffe. Evgeny Konstantinov stopped 28 of 30 shots in recording the win. Brent McDonald and Ed Hill scored for the Lock Monsters.

PLAYER/TEAM NOTABLES:

Ramzi Abid is tied for 13th in the AHL in scoring with 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points.

Darren Rumble leads all AHL defensemen in scoring with four goals and 15 assists for 19 points.

Ramzi Abid leads the AHL in power play goals with seven.

Martin Grenier is fifth in the AHL in penalty minutes with 90.

Jeff Taffe is tied for fourth among AHL rookies in scoring with 16 points, five goals and 11 assists.

Jeff Taffe is tied for second among AHL rookies in assists with 11.

Erik Westrum scored his team leading second short-handed goal on 11/23/02 at Hartford.

Jason Bonsignore has 10 points in his first 10 games played, four goals and six assists.

Zac Bierk is 4-2 in his last six starts, allowing just 13 goals in that span.

Darren Rumble has a three game points scoring streak.

Jeff Taffe has a three game points scoring streak.

Ramzi Abid had a five game point scoring streak snapped on 11/24/02 against Hartford.

Dan Focht scored the game-winning goal, his first goal of the season, on 11/24/02 against Hartford and earned the games First Star.

TRANSACTIONS:

11-19-02- Springfield reassigns defenseman Harlan Pratt to Pensacola of the ECHL.

11-21-02- Springfield acquires Gaetan Royer from San Antonio and assign him to Pensacola of the ECHL.

11-21-02- Phoenix Coyotes reassign center Jason Jaspers to Springfield.

11-22-02- Tampa Bay Lightning reassign goaltender Evgeny Konstantinov to Springfield.

11-22-02- Springfield reassigns Brian Eklund to Pensacola of the ECHL.

11-22-02- Phoenix Coyotes reassign forward Frank Banham to Springfield.

NEXT THREE HOME GAMES:

Saturday November 30 vs. Binghamton 7:35 PM

Friday December 6 vs. Syracuse 7:35 PM

Saturday December 7 vs. Manitoba 7:35 PM

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American Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2002


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