Pregame Report - Falcons Host Whale Tonight
Published on November 26, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
GAME PREVIEW - The Springfield Falcons and Connecticut Whale meet for the third time this season when they drop the puck at the MassMutual Center tonight at 7 pm. This will be the second overall meeting at the MassMutual Center between these two divisional rivals. The Falcons are 0-2 against the Whale this year dropping a home-and-home series with Connecticut back on October 22 and 23. Connecticut beat the Falcons in Springfield by a score of 2-1 on October 22, followed by a 4-1 Whale victory on October 23 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT. The Falcons and Whale will meet nine more times after tonight with the next matchup scheduled for December 3 in Springfield.
The Falcons enter tonight's game having won three of their last four games and Springfield has also been winners in seven of their last 10 games overall. Springfield continues a stretch of three games in three days tonight with all three contests going up against divisional opponents. Springfield will look to rebound from a 5-1 setback Friday night at Adirondack with Matt Calvert scoring the Falcons' lone goal assisted by Brent Regner and Nick Drazenovic.
The Falcons are currently in fourth place in a very competitive Northeast Division. Springfield has a record of 10-8-0-0 overall, one point behind third place Adirondack, two points behind second place Bridgeport and three points behind first place Connecticut. Only three points separates the five teams in the Northeast Division from top to bottom.
Connecticut also enters tonight's contest having won three of their last four games and looking to rebound from a 6-2 defeat suffered Friday night at Bridgeport. Jonathan Audy-Marchessault led the Whale offense Friday with one goal and one assist, while Kelsey Tessier also scored for Connecticut. The Whale is currently in first place in the Northeast Division with a record of 10-5-1-2 good for 23 points.
CALVERT BACK WITH FALCONS: The Falcons received Matt Calvert back in their lineup on Friday as he was assigned to Springfield by the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday. This will be Calvert's second stint with the Falcons this year after appearing in four games in October before being recalled to Columbus on October 28. Calvert split last season between the Falcons and Blue Jackets where he had 13 goals and 12assists for 25 points in 38 games with Springfield, while also adding 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points in 42 games with Columbus in 2010-11.
AHL SUSPENSIONS: Connecticut Whale center Kris Newbury has been suspended for four (4) games as a consequence of an illegal check to the head of an opponent in a game vs. Bridgeport on Nov. 18. Newbury will miss Connecticut's games Wednesday (Nov. 23) vs. Portland, Friday (Nov. 25) at Bridgeport, Saturday (Nov. 26) at Springfield and Nov. 29 vs. Hershey.
Springfield Falcons left wing Dane Byers has been suspended for two (2) games as a consequence of an illegal check to the head of an opponent in a game at Providence on Nov. 18. Byers will miss Springfield's games Friday (Nov. 25) at Adirondack and Saturday (Nov. 26) vs. Connecticut.
RANGERS RECALL A PAIR: On Friday, New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced that the club has recalled forwards Carl Hagelin and John Mitchell from the Whale.
Hagelin, 23, tallied the primary assist on the shorthanded, game-tying goal with 1:11 remaining in regulation in Connecticut's 3-2 overtime win vs. Portland Wednesday. He has registered seven goals and six assists for 13 points, along with six penalty minutes in 17 games this season.
Mitchell, 26, tallied two assists, including one on the overtime game-winner, in Connecticut's 3-2 overtime win vs. Portland Wednesday. He has registered seven goals and seven assists for 14 points, along with 20 penalty minutes in 17 games this season.
American Hockey League Stories from November 26, 2011
- No Comeback for Rockford Against Barons - Rockford IceHogs
- Rivermen Fall 5-3 in Chicago - Peoria Rivermen
- Whitmore Scores Four in 5-3 Win Over Bulldogs - Rochester Americans
- Aeros Double up Stars 4-2 - Texas Stars
- Aeros double up Stars - Houston Aeros
- Wolves Dump Rivermen, 5-3 - Chicago Wolves
- Monarchs push winning-streak to five in shootout victory - Manchester Monarchs
- Whale defeat Falcons - Connecticut Whale
- Kalinski OT Winner Thrills Packed House - Adirondack Phantoms
- Tokarski Shines as Admirals Sweep Season Series Vs. Providence - Norfolk Admirals
- OKC Beats Rockford 3-1 - Oklahoma City Barons
- Falcons Fall to Whale 3-2 - Springfield Falcons
- Amerks Edge 'Dogs 5-3 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Devils Lose in OT at Adirondack - Albany Devils
- Devils Lose in OT at Adirondack - Albany Devils
- Monsters Jam Past Bears - Hershey Bears
- Penguins Get Past Senators, 3-2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sharks Can't Wait for December - Worcester Sharks
- Admirals See Record Road Point Streak Snapped - Milwaukee Admirals
- Sound Tigers Fall to Monarchs 2-1 in Shootout - Bridgeport Islanders
- P-Bruins Fall to Admirals 3-2 - Providence Bruins
- Pirates Sweep Home-And-Home Against Sharks - Portland Pirates
- Checkers End Milwaukee's Streak - Charlotte Checkers
- Brunnstrom to Detroit, Fournier Returns - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bennett Recalled to Portland; Cheverie Reassigned to Gwinnett - Portland Pirates
- Aeros Game Day, November 26: Aeros at Stars - Houston Aeros
- Buffalo Sabres Recall Szczechura, McNabb from Rochester - Rochester Americans
- B-Sens Announce Roster Moves - Binghamton Senators
- Oilers Recall Barons Defenseman Alex Plante - Oklahoma City Barons
- Gameday Preview - Houston at Texas - Texas Stars
- Pregame Report - Falcons Host Whale Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- American Hockey League Announces Suspension - AHL
- Rampage Burn Heat in 5-0 Shutout Win - San Antonio Rampage
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