Falcons Weekly Notes

November 17, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


This Week's Games Previews

-Wednesday, November 18, 2009- Springfield Falcons (8-5-3-1) vs. Lowell Devils (10-5-3-0):

This will be the fourth of eight games between the in-state rivals. In the previous three matchups, the Falcons are 1-0-1-1, with their lone win coming in Lowell on October 25. Leading Springfield skaters in those games are Chris Minard (4 G), Charles Linglet (1 G, 3 A), Cody Wild (3 A), Colton Fretter (1 G, 2 A), and Slava Trukhno (2 A). Playing well for the Devils in those three games have been Matt Taormina (1 G, 1 A), Ben Walter (2 A), Vladimir Zharkov (2 A), Alexander Vasyunov (1 G, 1 A), Brad Snetsinger, (1 G, 1 A), Dean McAmmond (2 A), and Stephen Gionta (2 G). Devan Dubnyk started in goal in both of the losses, but played well stopping 69 of the 76 shots on goal in those two games. In the Falcons win, rookie Aaron Sorochan earned his first career win as he stopped 29 of 31 shots. Lowell's Mike McKenna has started in goal for all three contests, as he has stopped 57 of the 65 shots on goal. Leading the Devils this season have been Tyler Eckford (5 G, 12 A, 17 P), Zharkov (5 G, 12 A, 17 P), Taormina (6 G, 8 A, 14 P), and Walter (6 G, 8 A, 14 P). Eckford and Zharkov join Rob Davison as the team leaders in plus/minus, recording a +9 so far this season. Louis Robitaille leads all Devils in penalty minutes, tallying 98 PIM this season. McKenna leads Lowell netminders posting a 2.41 GAA and.921 save percentage in nine games. The Devils come into the game on a five-game winning streak, including two road wins. This past weekend, Lowell defeated Worcester twice and Providence one time. Following the Springfield game, Lowell will take on the Norfolk Admirals on Friday at home. The next time Springfield and Lowell meet will be on December 15, in Lowell, MA.

-Friday, November 20, 2009- Springfield Falcons (8-5-3-1) at Providence Bruins (7-9-1-0):

This will be the second meeting between these Atlantic Division rivals. In the first meeting, back on October 4, the Bruins defeated the Falcons 6-2 in Providence. The Falcons Chris Minard gave his team an early 1-0 lead on Providence in that game before five straight goals by the Bruins. Leading the Bruins in the game was Brad Marchand (2 G), Jeff LoVecchio (2 G), Andy Wozniewski (1 G, 1 A), and Trent Whitfield (2 A). Besides Minard, scoring for Springfield in the game was Ryan O'Marra. The Providence Bruins are led by Wozniewski (5 G, 14 A, 19 P) and Nikko Lehtonen (7 G, 11 A, 18 P). Dany Sabourin leads all Bruins goaltenders with a 2.92 GAA,.902 save percentage, and seven wins. Providence won two of three this past weekend. The Bruins won two of three games last week defeating the Syracuse Crunch 2-1 in a shootout and Worcester Sharks 5-3, but fell to the Lowell Devils 5-3. Providence has a 5-3-1-0 home record coming into the game. After the Falcons game, the Bruins will host the Worcester Sharks and Manchester Monarchs to end their weekend. This marks the second of ten games between the two teams. The next time these two will play one another will be on December 19.

-Saturday, November 21, 2009- Springfield Falcons (8-5-3-1) at Hershey Bears (12-5-0-0):

The Falcons will head to Hershey, PA on Saturday to take on the defending Calder Cup Champion Hershey Bears. The Bears come into the game with the AHL's third most points with 24. This will be the first of two games between the two teams, with the other coming on March 13 when the Bears come to Springfield. Last season, Hershey and Springfield met twice, each taking the game on the other's home ice. Springfield won in Hershey in a shootout, 3-2, and Hershey shut out the Falcons 2-0 in a New Year Eve's matinee in Springfield. Leading Hershey this season is Alexandre Giroux with eight goals and 13 assists and Andrew Gordon with seven goals and 11 assists. Hershey's success this season is largely due to the team's superb goaltending. Rookies Michael Neuvirth and Braden Holtby (now with Hershey's ECHL affiliate South Carolina Sting Rays) join Jason Bacashihua as the goaltenders the Bears have trusted this season in net. Neuvirth has played in nine games posting a 2.34 GAA and.915 save percentage. Bacashihua has played in five games posting a 1.80 GAA and.932 save percentage. Before being assigned to South Carolina, Holtby appeared in three games for the Bears recording a 1.01 GAA and.967 save percentage. The Bears come into the week with a four game winning streak and winners of eight of their last nine. Hershey is 5-2-0-0 at home this season. Prior to the Falcons game, Hershey will play Binghamton on the road on Friday, November 20.

Last Week's Game Recaps

Springfield vs. Bridgeport, Nov. 13- OTL, 3-2:

The Springfield Falcons rallied from two goals down on Friday night to earn a point losing 3-2 in overtime to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in front of 5,479 at the MassMutual Center.

After a scoreless first period, Bridgeport opened the scoring at 4:59 of the second period when Sean Bentivoglio wristed a shot past Falcons goaltender Devan Dubnyk on the power play. The Sound Tigers took a 2-0 lead at 11:03 of the middle frame when Justin DiBenedetto converted just as a Falcons' penalty was expiring to put Bridgeport on top by two. With the Falcons applying pressure late in the stanza, Charles Linglet tallied his sixth goal of the year with just 15-seconds remaining in the second period cutting Springfield's deficit to 2-1 after 40 minutes.

The Falcons used the momentum they gained from Linglet's goal into the third period and quickly resumed pressure on Bridgeport netminder Scott Munroe. At 7:01 of the third period, Chad Wiseman evened the score at 2-2 with his fourth marker of the year assisted by Colton Fretter and Linglet.

In the overtime, Bentivoglio scored his second goal of the contest leading the Sound Tigers to a 3-2 victory.

Springfield vs. Albany, Nov. 15- W, 6-2:

The Springfield Falcons were able to get a 6-2 home win against the Albany River Rates in a Sunday matinee. Springfield played aggressive on the ice and scored a season high six goals against Albany. The Falcons were able to get three out of a possible four points over the weekend and they have earned at least one point in all eight of their home games (5-0-2-1, 13 points).

In an intense first period, the Falcons were able to get the early lead as they scored two first period goals. Scoring the first goal was Chad Wiseman on a Falcons power play. Wiseman extended his scoring streak to four consecutive games with his fifth overall goal of the season. Falcons Bryan Lerg was able to score his first goal of the season with 52 seconds left in the period to give the Falcons a 2-0 heading into the first intermission.

In the second period, Linglet was able to continue his solid season with his seventh goal of the season as the Falcons converted on a power play, their second power play goal of the game for Springfield. Geoff Paukovich made it a 4-0 Falcons lead with his third goal of the season at the 17:55 mark in the second stanza.

In the third period, Lerg was able to score his second goal of the game and season thanks to a nice drop pass by Bill Thomas, making it 5-0 Springfield. Albany avoided the shutout as Brett Carson found the net from his own blue line as Devan Dubnyk let one slip by. The Falcons got that goal back with a third power play goal of the game by Slava Trukhno. Later in the period, Albany scored with a two-man advantage Pat Dwyer goal, making it a 6-2 game.

Player and Team Notes

Leading the Falcons this weekend were Chad Wiseman (2 G, 2 A, 4 P), Charles Linglet (2 G, 1 A, 3 P), and Colton Fretter (3 A, 3 P).

Springfield remained undefeated in regulation at home, going 5-0-2-1 in eight games this season.

Charles Linglet leads the Falcons and is tied for third in the AHL with 20 points (7 G, 13 P). Linglet also leads the team in +/- recording a +9 in the 17 games played.

Kip Brennan leads Springfield and is second in the AHL in PIM totaling 94 minutes so far this season.

Chris Minard is third in the AHL in power play goals with five on the year.

Goalie Devan Dubnyk leads all American Hockey League goaltenders in minutes played (897 min.) and saves (510 saves).

The Falcons are second in the AHL in home power play record at 31.3%, only trailing Hartford. Springfield is fourth overall in power play in the AHL at 23.3%.

Springfield is eighth in the American Hockey League in home penalty kill with an 88.9% record.

Colton Fretter is currently on a four-game scoring streak, recording five assists and one goal. Fretter is also on a seven-game home scoring streak.

Chad Wiseman is currently also on a four-game scoring streak with four goals and three assists in that span.

The Falcons have earned at least one point in 9 of their last 10 games (5-1-3-1).

Jake Taylor leads all AHL defensemen in penalty minutes this season, recording 78 PIM.

After starting the season 0-4-0-0 on the road, the Falcons have rebounded nicely away from The Nest, going 3-1-1-0 in their last five games.

Jamie Bates made his Springfield Falcons debut Sunday against Albany.

Scoring his first and second goals of the season on Sunday versus the River Rats was Falcons forward Bryan Lerg.

During Sunday's 6-2 win over Albany on Sunday, 13 of the Falcons 18 active skaters recorded at least one point.

Bill Thomas earned his first two points as a member of the Springfield Falcons Sunday afternoon versus the River Rats. These two assists were Thomas's 59th and 60th career AHL assists.

Goalie Devan Dubnyk notched his 60th career professional win on Sunday against Albany.

Byran Lerg's first goal on Sunday was his 10th career AHL goal.

Injury Report

Left Wing Chris Minard did not participate in practice or either of the two games this past week due to injury. Minard has missed the last six games for the Falcons.

During last Friday night's game versus Bridgeport, Defenseman Chris Armstrong was injured and did not play in Sunday's game against Albany. Armstrong is day-to-day.

Transactions

11-10-09- The Edmonton Oilers recalled Falcons forward Ryan O'Marra. O'Marra made his NHL debut on Tuesday, November 10, as an Oilers player in Ottawa against the Senators. Two days later, O'Marra was assigned back to the Springfield Falcons, where he has played well this season with two goals and two assists in 17 games.

11-11-09- The Springfield Falcons announced that they have recalled Jamie Bates from their ECHL affiliate, Stockton Thunder. Bates made his Falcons debut last Sunday against Albany. Bates has played in 11 games for Stockton this year and has averaged a-point-a-game collecting six goals and five assists for 11 points and two penalty minutes. Bates participated in the 2009 Falcons training camp and also saw action in Springfield's preseason schedule.

11-14-09- The NHL's Edmonton Oilers have recalled Falcons Defenseman and Captain Dean Arsene. Arsene was called up for the first time in his nine-year pro career. Arsene has recorded two assists and 31 PIM with a plus/minus of +4 in 16 games played for Springfield this season.



American Hockey League Stories from November 17, 2009


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