Lukes scores game-winner in Falcons' comeback overtime victory
February 27, 2004 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield, MA â The Springfield Falcons scored three goals in the third period before rookie Frantisek Lukes tallied in overtime of a 4-3 come-from-behind win over the Hartford Wolf Pack before 3,798 at the Springfield Civic Center on Friday night. Center Jason Jaspers scored twice for the Falcons while Peter Ferraro netted the game-tying goal to extend the contest to the extra session. The Falcons stretched their season-best unbeaten streak to six games (4-0-2-0) with the victory. The Springfield win also snapped Hartford's eight-game unbeaten streak (7-0-1-0).
Lukes beat Hartford goaltender David St. Germain with a wrist shot from the left face-off circle into the top corner to complete an odd-man rush for the game-winner 1:30 into overtime. Springfield defenseman Nic Bilotto collected his second assist of the game on the goal. It was the second dramatic goal against the Wolf Pack in nine days for Lukes. The 5'9", 170-pounder scored with 43 seconds remaining in regulation to pull the Falcons even with Hartford and send the rivals' last meeting on February 18th to overtime.
The Falcons capitalized on an interference penalty issued to Hartford defenseman Bryce Lampman to tie Friday's game, 3-3, with 3:09 remaining in regulation. Peter Ferraro flipped the puck over starting Wolf Pack netminder Phil Osaer for his 13th marker of the season on the power-play goal. Bilotto set up Ferraro's goal with a pass to the forward from the right point.
Osaer was forced to leave the game after suffering a knee injury on Ferraro's goal.
Twice in the third period, Jaspers scored to cut Falcons' two-goal deficits to one. The center collected Springfield's first power-play goal of the night after receiving a deft pass from Lukes during an odd-man rush that left him one-on-one with Osaer. The goal, Jaspers' ninth of the season, came 6:28 into the third period and made the score 2-1.
Jaspers left the game later in the period after being hit in the mouth with a clearing attempt by the Wolf Pack.
After Hartford forward Dominic Moore scored 2:25 later, Jaspers skated out of the corner with the puck to launch a wrist shot into the top corner to make the count 3-2 at the 11:39 mark of the final frame.
The Wolf Pack scored the only goal of the first two periods by capping their heaviest pressure to that point in the game with a goal by right wing Jeff Heerema 12:17 into the contest. Heerema scored with a sharp-angled shot from near the goal line that found its way through the pads of Falcons netminder David LeNeveu. The marker was Heerema's sixth of the season.
Hartford made the score 2-0 with a goal by left wing Garth Murray 1:48 into the third period. On the play, forward Juris Stals stole the puck from Falcons defenseman Nikos Tselios before centering a pass from behind the Springfield net. Murray banged in the puck for his ninth goal of the season and third of the campaign against the Falcons.
Springfield finished the game two-for-two on the power play. The Falcons have converted five of nine opportunities with the man advantage over the last three games. Springfield killed off both of Hartford's power-play chances in the game.
With a goal and an assist in the win, Lukes has registered points in five straight games, collecting nine points (3g, 6a) over that span.
Falcons defenseman Mike Wilson left the game early in the second period after breaking his thumb in a collision with Wolf Pack defenseman Jayme Filipowicz.
Friday's game marked the 500th career AHL contest for Falcons right wing Peter Ferraro.
The Falcons will look to continue their run against the Worcester IceCats at the Civic Center on Saturday evening. Game time is 7:35 p.m. To order tickets by phone, please call the Civic Center box office at (413) 787-6600.
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