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Falcons Weekly Notes

November 11, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Week in Review

NOVEMBER 6 Springfield- 5 vs. Bridgeport- 2 (Goal Scorers- Liam Reddox, Colton Fretter, Colin McDonald, and Chad Wiseman- two goals)

NOVEMBER 8 Springfield- 2 at Portland 1- (Goal Scorers- Ryan O'Marra and Colin McDonald)

This Week's Schedule

NOVEMBER 13 Springfield vs. Bridgeport 7:30pm MassMutual Center

NOVEMBER 15 Springfield vs. Albany 3:00pm MassMutual Center

*Radio Broadcasts on WHYN AM 560 *Watch Live on the AHL Live Package

This Week's Games Previews

-Friday, November 13, 2009- Springfield Falcons (7-5-2-1) vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (7-10-0-0): The two teams will face off for the second time in the season on Friday night. The teams will play one another eight more times this season after Friday's game. Last Friday, the Falcons defeated the Sound Tigers 5-2 in Springfield. Leading the way for the Falcons in the game was Chad Wiseman with two goals in the game, earning the game's first star. Also playing well in that game for Springfield were Colton Fretter (1 G, 1 A) and Chris Armstrong (2 A). Scoring goals for the Sound Tigers was Matt Martin and Brett Westgarth. The goalies in the game were Springfield's Devan Dubnyk (34 saves on 26 shots) and Bridgeport's Scott Munroe (21 saves on 26 shots). It has been a balance offensive attack this year for the Sound Tigers, with Greg Moore leading the way with 11 points (5 G, 6 A). Also playing well for Bridgeport this season are Trevor Smith (6 G, 4 A, 10 P), Greg Mauldin (7 G, 2 A, 9 P), Jesse Joensuu (1 G, 6 A, 7 P), Andrew MacDonald (1 G, 6 A, 7 P), Sean Bentivoglio (3 G, 5 A, 8 P), and Dustin Kohn (2 G, 5 A, 7 P). The Bridgeport goalies have split time in net, with two goalies combined starting 15 of the 17 games. Nathan Lawson and Scott Munroe have put up solid numbers for the Sound Tigers. Lawson has posted a 2.44 GAA and.924 save percentage, while Munroe has a 2.98 GAA and.904 save percentage. The NHL's New York Islanders AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers come into the game looking to stop a 5-game losing skid. Last weekend Bridgeport lost to Springfield, Hartford, and Lowell. During the 5-game losing streak, Bridgeport has been outscored 20-10. The Sound Tigers are 2-5-0-0 on the road this year. Following the game in Springfield on Friday, the Sound Tigers will travel to Glens Falls, NY to take on the Adirondack Phantoms on Saturday and face off at home against the Portland Pirates on Sunday.

-Sunday, November 15, 2009- Springfield Falcons (7-5-2-1) vs. Albany River Rats (7-6-0-1): The Falcons and River Rats will play for the second of four games this season against each other. The first game took place on October 30 in Albany, NY, where the Falcons won 4-3 in a shootout. Scoring two goals for Springfield in the game was Chris Minard. Falcons' forward Slava Trukhno scored the only penalty shot goal this season for Springfield in the second period of that game. Adding two assists for the Falcons was Charles Linglet. Leading the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes AHL affiliate Albany River Rats in the October 30th game was Matthew Pistilli with two goals, earning the game's first star. Also playing well in the game for the River Rats was Zach Boychuk, scoring a goal. During the shootout, Falcons goalie Devan Dubnyk stopped all four skaters the River Rats sent out, while Springfield connected on two of their three chances. Scoring for the Falcons were Chris Minard and Ryan Potulny. Dubnyk ended the game stopping 33 of 36 shots, while in the other net Albany's Justin Peters made 34 saves on 37 shots. The River Rats Jerome Samson is leading all Albany players with 10 assists and 15 points on the season. Samson's 15 points is good for 8th in the AHL. Leading Albany in goals are Samson with five goals and Pat Dwyer also with five goals. River Rats starting goalie, Justin Peters is 13th in the AHL in GAA posting a 2.19 GAA so far this season in ten games with a.925 save percentage. Albany's are winners of two straight defeating Adirondack and Lowell at home this past weekend. The River Rats, as of Nov. 9, have a 1-3-0-0 record away from home this season. Prior to the Springfield game this weekend, Albany will play three games: Wednesday at the Syracuse Crunch, Friday at home against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, and Saturday at home versus the Norfolk Admirals.

Last Week's Game Recaps

Springfield vs. Bridgeport, Nov. 6- W, 5-2:

Springfield never allowed the momentum to shift to Bridgeport as they defeated their Atlantic Division rivals, 5-2.

Springfield was able to score first in the game on their first power play opportunity with a goal by Liam Reddox. The goal was set up by Defensemen Alex Plante and Theo Peckham. This was Plante's first career point. Later in the period, Bridgeport answered with a Matt Martin power play goal coming with less than two minutes left in the period. However, the 1-1 tie was short-lived as the Falcons quickly answered back with a Chad Wiseman goal only 15 seconds later.

The Falcons came out firing in the second stanza as they built a 5-1 lead within the period's first seven minutes. Springfield started out the period on a power play and took advantage of the extra man with a Colton Fretter top shelf goal. That was followed by Wiseman's second goal of the game at the 5:35 mark in the period, making it a 4-1 game. Less than a minute later, the Falcons struck again as Colin McDonald found the back of the net to make it 5-1.

Bridgeport had a chance to cut into the lead after two Ryan O'Marra boarding penalties allowing a 4 minute to the Sound Tigers. Fortunately for the Falcons their penalty kill team and goalie Devan Dubnyk were able to stop the Bridgeport power play attack. The Sound Tigers had another power play opportunity later in the second, but once again the Falcons penalty kill was able to hold up. However, at the 18:17 mark in the second period, Bridgeport's Bret Wesgarth scored his first goal of the season, making it a 5-2 game heading into the final period.

The Falcons were outshot in the game 36-26. This marks the seventh loss in seven games in which Bridgeport outshot their opponents, yet still loss the game. The five goals scored by the Falcons matched their season high and most since the season opener in the October 3rd 5-2 win over Portland. Leading the Falcons to victory was Chad Wiseman with two goals and Colton Fretter with one goal and one assist. Defenseman Theo Peckham and Chris Armstrong added two assists for the Falcons. Goalie Devan Dubnyk played well in net stopping 34 of the 36 shots.

Springfield at Portland, Nov. 8- W, 2-1:

The Springfield Falcons beat the Portland Pirates 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine as they finished off a perfect weekend at 2-0. The Falcons have now moved into a second place tie in the Atlantic Division with a record of 7-5-2-1 good for 17 points. In a spirited first period, Portland's Philip Gogulla opened the scoring at 12:34 of the first frame when he tallied his second goal of the year. There was a pair of altercations in the opening period when Kip Brennan and Joe DiPenta dropped the gloves, followed by Matt Nickerson and Hans Benson going toe-to-toe. Fans may remember it was DiPenta who earned a suspension early in the year for slashing Brennan on opening night. In the second period, the Falcons evened the score at 1-1 just 44-seconds into the middle frame when Ryan O'Marra scored his second marker of the year. Springfield took their first lead of the game at the 6:00 mark of the middle stanza when Colin McDonald's slap shot beat Portland goaltender Jean-Philipe Lamoureux giving the Falcons a 2-1 advantage. Springfield goaltender Devan Dubnyk was very steady stopping 39 of 40 shots, including a breakaway late in the second period. The Falcons were outshot in the game, 40-21. Both teams were 0-2 on power plays in a very competitive game.

Player and Team Notes

Leading Springfield in points and assists is Charles Linglet with 17 points and 12 assists. The 17 points is good enough to be tied for 6th in the AHL. Linglet's 12 assists places him in a tie for second in the AHL.

The leading goal scorer for the Falcons is Chris Minard with nine goals. Minard has missed the last four games due to injury. Minard's nine goals is tied for first in the American Hockey League.

Five of Minard's nine goals this season have been on the power play, putting him in a tie for second in the AHL for power play goals. Charles Linglet leads the team in plus/minus with a +9 on the season. Kip Brennan leads the Falcons with 80 PIM so far this year, including 8 major penalties which is good for second in the AHL.

Leading Falcons goaltenders this year has been Devan Dubnyk, posting a 2.79 GAA,.926 save percentage, with AHL highs 448 saves and 775 minutes played. Dubnyk's.926 save percentage places him in 12th place in the AHL. Leading all Falcons defensemen in points this season is Chris Armstrong (1 G, 7 A, 8 P).

Defenseman and Assistant Captain Jake Taylor leads all AHL defensemen in PIM, recording 67 in 15 games so far this season.

Chad Wiseman scored his 125th career AHL goal against the Sound Tigers last Friday.

Recently signed Bill Thomas made his Springfield Falcons debut last Friday against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Veteran Defenseman Chris Armstrong earned his 400th career assist as a pro on Friday versus Bridgeport.

Colton Fretter scored his 75th career goal on Friday against the Sound Tigers.

Rookie Alex Plante got his first career point and assist last Friday in the 5-2 win over Bridgeport.

Assistant Captain Jake Taylor received his 550th AHL career penalty minute during Friday night's win over Bridgeport.

The Falcons are 5th in the AHL in penalty minutes per game, averaging 24.13 per game.

Springfield is 6th in the American Hockey League in power play (20.9%). The Falcons are 20th in the AHL in penalty killing at 83.3%. The Falcons have earned at least one point in all six games played at home this year (4-0-1-1, 10 points).

Springfield remains in last place in the AHL in shots for (24.47) and shots against (37.67) per game.

The Falcons are 3-0-0-1 when leading after the first period and 6-0-0-1 when leading after the second period.

Springfield has been outshot by their opponent in every game this season, except for two.

During Sunday's third period versus Portland, Springfield tied the same Portland team in an AHL season low for shots on goal in the third period, with two shots.

Injury Report

Left Wing Chris Minard missed practice this past week and the two games this weekend due to injury.

Transactions

11-3-09- The NHL's Edmonton Oilers assigned Defenseman Theo Peckham to the AHL's Springfield Falcons. Peckham previously played in five games for the Falcons this season, recording one assist. Peckham played well in the two games this past weekend for Springfield, recording two assists and two PIM.

11-3-09- The Springfield Falcons announced that they have signed four-year pro, Bill Thomas, to a PTO (Player Tryout Agreement). Thomas has played for the AHL's Wilkes-Barre Penguins and San Antonio Rampage, tallying 45 goals, 53 assists, and 103 points in 161 games. Thomas has also played for the NHL's Phoenix Coyotes and Pittsburgh Penguins, recording 11 goals, 9 assists, and 20 points in 56 games played. Thomas made his debut this past weekend for the Falcons.

11-7-09- The NHL's Edmonton Oilers have recalled forwards Liam Reddox and Ryan Potulny from the AHL's Springfield Falcons. Potulny recorded eight points (3 G, 5 A) in 14 games played for the Falcons this season. Reddox totalled four points (3 G, 1 A) in 13 games played this year. Both players made their debuts as Oilers this season on Sunday, November 8 against the Colorado Avalanche. Potulny earned the game's second star with a power play goal and power play assist in the game. Reddox also had an assist in the game.



American Hockey League Stories from November 11, 2009


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