Falcons Weekly Notes

Published on January 30, 2007 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


THIS WEEK'S GAME PREVIEWS

--FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2007 at Syracuse Crunch--

The Falcons take to the road starting their three-game road trip in Syracuse. This marks the second and final meeting this season between these two teams. In their first match-up, the Falcons skated away with a 4-1 victory on home ice back on December 15. A good balance of power play and even strength goals kept the Falcons ahead on the scoreboard. Forward Marek Kvapil and defenseman Andy Delmore each enjoyed a two-point night. Kvapil tied the game in the first period with a power play goal and added an assist on Justin Keller's goal in the second period. Delmore, who assisted on Kvapil's game-tying goal, scored the eventual

game-winner mid-way through the second period.

The Crunch, currently in sixth place in the Western Conference's North Division, is on a two-game winning streak. Last Friday, the Columbus Blue Jackets, parent club of the AHL's Syracuse Crunch, acquired center Zenon Konopka, left wing Curtis Glencross and a conditional seventh-round pick in either the 2007 or 2008 NHL Entry Draft from the Anaheim Ducks, parent club of the AHL's Portland Pirates, in exchange for right wing Joe Motzko, center Mark Hartigan and a fourth-round pick in the 2007 Entry Draft.

--SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2007 at Toronto Marlies--

Game two of the road trip ends another home-and-home season series this year. As done with the Crunch, the Falcons travel to Toronto with a previous victory on home ice. Back on November 17, 2006, 65 minuets of hockey was not enough time to decide a winner between the Falcons and Marlies. Goaltender Karri Ramo stopped four of the five shooters he faced and Zdenek Blatny and Eric Healey scored goals to secure the victory for the Birds in the shootout.

Ramo returns to Ricoh Coliseum after completing his first trip to an AHL All-Star game. On Sunday, January 28, Ramo was named the top goaltender in the 2007 CCM AHL All-Star Skills Competition. Ramo put on a stellar performance stopping some of the AHL's top scores on multiple occasions. Ramo stopped 7 of 10 during the rapid fire event, including three saves against Toronto's Kris Newbury. He was then flawless stopping all three shots during the pass and score event.

Former Falcon, Erik Westrum, continues to lead Toronto in scoring with 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 in 46 games played. Newbury is currently on recall to the Toronto Maple Leafs and he is second on the Marlies in scoring with 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points in 37 games. Toronto is in fifth place in the Western Conference's North Division with a record of 18-25-2-3.

--SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2007 at Binghamton Senators --

The Falcons complete their three-game road swing with an afternoon game against the Senators on Super Bowl Sunday. Once again, the Birds will conclude a season series, this time ending their season series with the Senators. In an early season match-up, the Falcons were unable to overcome defenseman Neil Komadoski's goal mid-way through the third period as Binghamton beat Springfield 4-3 back on October 21. Josh Hennessy tallied a pair of goals in that contest earning the game's top star. Jeff Heerema leads the Senators in scoring with 22 goals and 18 assists for 40 points in 45 games. Former Falcon, Ryan Vesce, has 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points in 45 games.

The Senators are currently in seventh place in the East Division with a record of 12-26-2-5 good for 31 points. Binghamton has given up 178 goals in 45 games, the most amount of goals allowed in the AHL this season.

LAST WEEK'S GAME RECAPS

--WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2007 AT Manchester Monarchs L - 4-2 -

The Falcons trip to Manchester was spoiled by three second period goals, including a shorthanded goal by Bryan Schmidt, which was the game-winner. Falcons defenseman Doug O'Brien opened the scoring with a power play goal in the first. Patrick O'Sullivan tied the game in the second with his team leading 17th goal. Falcons forward Daniel Corso tried to get his team back in the game with a goal in the third period. In the end, it turned out to not be enough as the Monarchs scored an empty net goal to close out the game.

--FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2007 VS Lowell Devils L - 5-3--

The Falcons suffered one of their most disappointing defeats of the year against the Devils. Norm Milley gave the Falcons momentum heading into the locker room after the first period by scoring a goal with eight seconds left on the clock. The second period began with crisp passes and good looks at the net for the Falcons. Andre Deveaux scored his first goal of the season mid-way through the second period. Just 48-seconds later, Milley and Andy Delmore connected with Eric Healey to put the Falcons up 3-0. Late in the second, the Falcons gave up a power play goal, which gave Lowell some momentum heading into the third period. The third period was all Devils, who scored three goals in seven minuets, including a goal from Ryan Murphy 30-seconds into the final period.

--SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2007 VS Philadelphia Phantoms L - 2-1--

With a tough loss the night before, the Falcons looked to bounce back against the Phantoms. Action was fast paced from the start as the Phantoms scored on a power play goal four minuets into the game. Goaltender Jonathan Boutin held down the fort until the second period when he was beat by Matt Ellison, who scored on a shot from behind the net. Late in the third period, defenseman Andy Delmore corralled a free puck at center ice and fired a shot from the top of the right circle past Phantoms goaltender Michael Leighton cutting Springfield's deficit to 2-1.

PLAYER/TEAM NOTES:

Springfield Falcons goaltender Karri Ramo was named the RBK Hockey Top Goaltender as part of the AHL's Skills competition Sunday night stopping 15 of 19 shooters. Ramo was the lone Falcons representative at the mid-season classic and leads all Falcons goaltenders in minutes played (1,685) and wins (13). Ramo joins an impressive list of Falcons goaltenders to play in the AHL All-Star Game including: Manny Legace, Scott Langkow, David LeNeveu and Robert Esche.

Defenseman Doug O'Brien has collected at least a point in two of his last three games collecting one goal and one assist in that span.

Captain Norm Milley has picked up a point in two of his last three games registering one goal and two assists for three points in that span.

Center Daniel Corso has earned a point in two of his last three games collecting one goal and three assists for four points in that span.

INJURIES

Justin Keller missed games due to injury.

ON THE FARM - JOHNSTOWN CHIEFS

The Chiefs were 1-2 in their previous three games. Their one victory came on the road against the Trenton Titans 5-4. Dmitri Tarabrin scored two goals including the game-tying goal. Defenseman P.J. Atherton gave the Chiefs the win in the shootout scoring on the team's ninth attempt. The Chiefs dropped their next two games at home losing 6-4 to the Augusta Lynx and 3-1 to the Dayton Bombers. In the loss to the Bombers, Randy Rowe scored the only goal for the Chiefs and Gerald Coleman made 29 saves. The Chiefs take on the Reading Royals for a home-and-home series on February 2 and 3 starting in Reading.

OUT AND ABOUT IN THE COMMUNITY

Family Fun Nights at Friendly's Return: Friendly Ice Cream is proud to announce "Family Fun Nights at Friendly's" to benefit Springfield Falcons Charities, Inc. Falcons players and Screech meet and greet fans at area Friendly's Restaurants throughout the Pioneer Valley.

February 13 @ 65 Sumner Ave., Springfield

March 19 @ Southampton Rd., Westfield (at Mass Pike entrance)

Icing and Blue Line Candle - Pilgrim Candle: The Falcons are proud to partner with Pilgrim Candle to introduce the Falcons Icing and Blue Line Candle. The candle features the Falcons' blue colors and the scents of Butter Cream Cookie together with Blackberry Bramble. These delightful and charitable decorations will be sold at scheduled Falcons games throughout the season and Pilgrim Candle stores in Westfield and South Hadley. Great for home, the office or anywhere to show your Falcons spirit and enjoy an engaging scent, the candles cost $18.25 with proceeds benefiting Springfield Falcons Charities, Inc. The program has thus far donated over $375,000 to children related organizations over the last nine seasons. Special thanks to Pilgrim Candle, Dion Label and Aucella & Associates for making this project happen.

WEEK IN REVIEW

JANUARY 24 Springfield - 2 at Manchester Monarchs - 4 (Goal Scorers - O'Brien, Corso)

JANUARY 26 Springfield -3 vs Lowell Devils - 5 (Goal Scorers - Milley, Deveaux, Healey)

JANUARY 27 Springfield - 1 vs Philadelphia Phantoms - 2 (Goal Scorers - Delmore)

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

FEBRUARY 2 Springfield at Syracuse Crunch 7:30PM Onondaga County War Memorial at Oncenter

FEBRUARY 3 Springfield at Toronto Marlies 4:00PM Ricoh Coliseum

FEBRUARY 4 Springfield at Binghamton Senators 3:05PM Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena

*Radio Broadcasts on The Zone 640 AM

*Watch Live on the B-2 Network

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American Hockey League Stories from January 30, 2007


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