Falcons Weekly Notes

February 14, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


THIS WEEK'S GAME PREVIEWS

--FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2006 VS. BRIDGEPORT SOUND TIGERS--

The Springfield Falcons will host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday night at the MassMutual Center. Bridgeport is in fourth place in the AHL's East Division with a record of 27-22-3-2 for the season. The Falcons have a record of 1-2 against the Sound Tigers this season, including 0-1 at the MassMutual Center. The last game between the Falcons and the Sound Tigers was on December 28, 2005 and resulted in a 4-0 road loss for Springfield. Cole Jarrett, Sean Bergenheim, Bruno Gervais and Masi Marjamaki scored goals for Bridgeport in that contest. Bridgeport's Sean Bergenheim is tied for third in the AHL in shorthanded goals with three and is second on the team in scoring with 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points in 48 games. Sound Tigers goaltender Wade Dubielewicz is second in the league with three shutouts in 25 games, including the December 28 game against the Falcons, which earned him the first star of the game. His record for the season is 10-13-1 with a 3.06 goals against average and .910 save percentage. Rob Collins continues to lead Bridgeport in scoring this season with 15 goals and 33 assists for 48 points in 49 games played. Former Falcons defenseman Harlan Pratt has collected two assists in seven games with Bridgeport.

--SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2006 VS. WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PENGUINS--

The Falcons will host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the second and final meeting of the season. The first game between these two teams this season was played back on November 4 at the Wachovia Arena. The contest ended in a 4-3 overtime win for Springfield with Doug O'Brien scoring the game-winner. Ben Eaves and Jonathan Filewich scored two of the Penguins' three goals of the game. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is in first place in the AHL's East Division and second place in the league with a 36-10-3-2 season record. Goaltender Dany Sabourin is ranked first in the league with a 2.10 goals against average and tied for second in the AHL with three shutouts. Sabourin has also posted a 21-6-2 record this season with a .929 save percentage (first place in the AHL). Wilkes-Barre forward Matt Hussey leads the Penguins in scoring with 15 goals and 24 assists for 39 points in 36 games this year. Penguins right wing Dennis Bonvie leads the league in penalty minutes with 280 pims.

--SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2006 AT LOWELL LOCK MONSTERS--

The Springfield Falcons will travel to Lowell for the final game of the week. The Falcons lead the season series against the Lock Monsters 4-1, including four straight wins by Springfield. Lowell has a record of 20-26-4-4 this season and 10-11-3-2 at the Paul Tsongas Arena. The two teams last met on January 21 in Springfield. Springfield earned the 3-2 overtime win with Marek Kvapil scoring the game-winner in the extra session. Dan Cavanaugh and David Spina also scored for the Falcons in that contest. The Falcons have not been to Lowell since December 7, 2005 in what resulted in a 3-0 road victory for Springfield. Gerald Coleman earned the shutout and the first star of the game for the Falcons. Keith Aucoin continues to lead Lowell in scoring with 19 goals and 36 assists for 55 points in 49 games.

LAST WEEK'S GAME RECAPS

---Game 1 - Springfield vs. Albany, February 8 - L 5-2---

The Springfield Falcons started a busy week of games Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center losing to the Albany River Rats 5-2, the Falcons third straight loss to the Rats this season. After taking a 2-1 lead early in the second period when Chris Dingman scored his seventh goal of the year at the 1:53 mark, Albany responded with four unanswered goals including three in the second period. Alexander Mogilney, Chris Minard and Aaron Voros all scored second period markers for the River Rats giving Albany a 4-2 advantage after 40 minutes of play. Nicklas Bergfors added a third period goal capping off a 5-2 win for Albany. In the opening period, Ilkka Pikkarainen gave Albany a 1-0 lead just 2:11 into the first period, only to see Springfield's Andre Deveaux even the score at 1-1 just 20-seconds later. Chris Dingman extended his scoring streak to five games. Dingman led Springfield in scoring for the month of January with five goals and five assists for 10 points in 14 games.

---Game 2 - Springfield at Norfolk, February 10 - L 5-2---

With the Falcons holding onto a 2-1 lead late in the second period, Norfolk used four unanswered goals, including a pair from Shawn Thornton, to earn a 5-2 win over the Falcons at the Scope Arena Friday night. After the Admirals Carl Corazzini gave Norfolk a 1-0 lead just 8:13 into the opening period, newly acquired left wing Zdenek Blatny tied the score at 1-1 with a power play marker at 10:21 of the opening period. Blatny put Springfield in the lead for the first time in the game at 4:35 of the second period when he scored his second goal as a member of the Falcons. Late in the middle period, Norfolk tied the score at 2-2 when Thornton scored his first goal of the game at 16:42 of the second period on the power play. Thornton once again put the Admirals in the lead when he scored his second goal of the contest just 31 seconds into the third period.

---Game 3 - Springfield at Norfolk, February 11 - L 3-1---

For the second straight night, the Falcons lost to the Admirals 3-1 giving Norfolk a 2-1 season series lead against Springfield. After a scoreless first period, Eric Meloche gave Norfolk a 1-0 lead at the 6:34 mark of the second period, but Travis Brigley evened the score for Springfield at 15:27 of the middle period when he scored his second goal as a member of the Falcons. Norfolk's Mark Cullen regained the Admirals advantage at 2-1 when he scored his 23rd goal of the season at 1:57 of the third period. Pavel Vorobiev added an empty net goal giving Norfolk a two-goal victory. Goaltender Jonathan Boutin made 24 saves between the pipes for Springfield.

---Game 4 - Springfield at Philadelphia, February 12 ---

The American Hockey League announced that Sunday's game between the Springfield Falcons and Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL Game #701), scheduled for a 6:05 p.m. start at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, was postponed due to inclement weather. No make-up information has been announced.

PLAYER / TEAM NOTES:

Defenseman Zdenek Blatny made his Falcons debut on Friday night in Norfolk. He scored both of Springfield's two goals in a 5-2 loss to the Admirals. Blatny received the third star of the game - Springfield's only star this week.

Chris Dingman had his six-game scoring streak snapped on Saturday night in Norfolk.

Falcons goaltender Jonathan Boutin has started the last five consecutive games for Springfield.

Defenseman Doug O'Brien had an assist in games on Wednesday against Albany and Friday in Norfolk. O'Brien continues to lead all Springfield defensemen in scoring this year with three goals and 17 assists for 20 points in 49 games this season.

Falcons center Jason Jaspers continues to lead the team in points with 45. He earned his 25th and 26th assists on Friday and Saturday in Norfolk, respectively.

Forward Ryan Vesce is the AHL's 8th-ranked rookie scorer with 11 goals and 30 assists in 51 games players. He earned his 30th assist and 41st point in Wednesday's 5-2 loss against the Albany River Rats.

INJURY REPORT

Falcons forward Steve McLaren, right wing Darren Reid, and left wing David Spina missed games due to injury.

TRANSACTION REPORT

2-7-06 - Tampa Bay Lightning reassigns Jay Rosehill from the Johnstown Chiefs to the Springfield Falcons.

2-7-06 - Tampa Bay Lightning reassigns Adam Henrich from the Springfield Falcons to the Johnstown Chiefs.

2-8-06 - Tampa Bay Lightning assign Zdenek Blatny to the Springfield Falcons.

ON THE FARM - JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS

Johnstown beat the Reading Royals on Tuesday in a 5-4 shootout win at the Sovereign Center. Justin Kelly scored a pair of goals, his 18th and 19th. The Chiefs hosted Toledo in a 5-3 win on Friday. The 20-17-10 Chiefs (50 points) moved one point ahead of the 22-13-5 Storm for third place in the North Division. Goaltender Morgan Cey stopped 33 shots and improved to 11-5-5 with a 4-0-1 record in his past five starts. Johnstown lost to the Dayton Bombers in a shootout, 5-4, on Saturday, followed by a 4-3 regulation loss on Sunday to the Bombers.

FALCONS NEW TICKET PLANS:

A new ticket plan the Falcons unveiled was a Five-Game Flex Pack, offering fans even more flexibility to attend Springfield home games. The Five-Game Flex Pack is a block of five vouchers that can be redeemed for tickets to any remaining Falcons home game. Vouchers may be redeemed at the MassMutual Center Box Office either in advance or the day of the game. Seat locations are subject to availability.

Five-Game Flex Pack Pricing and Benefits:

- Sideline Seating - $65 for adults and $45 for youth/students/seniors

- Goal Zone Seating - $62.50 for adults and $40 for youth/students/seniors

- Savings off the box office price

- Chance to win autographed Falcons goalie stick

- Playoff Priority

- Falcons Team Store discount (10%)

WEEK IN REVIEW

FEBRUARY 8 Springfield-2, Albany-5

FEBRUARY 10 Springfield-2, Norfolk-5

FEBRUARY 11 Springfield-1, Norfolk-3

FEBRUARY 12 Springfield @ Philadelphia - Postponed due to inclement weather

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

FEBRUARY 17 Springfield vs. Bridgeport 7:35 PM MassMutual Center

FEBRUARY 18 Springfield vs. Wilkes-Barre Scranton 7:05 PM MassMutual Center

FEBRUARY 19 Springfield @ Lowell 4:05 PM Paul Tsongas Arena

*Radio Broadcasts on WMAS 1450 AM

*Watch Live on the B-2 Network



American Hockey League Stories from February 14, 2006


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