Third-Period Surge Helps Falcons Top Sharks, Extend Win Streak
March 21, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Worcester, Mass. - The Springfield Falcons (39-18-1-5) scored three unanswered goals in the third period to defeat the Worcester Sharks by the final score of 4-2 Friday night at the DCU Center, extending the team's current winning streak to five games.
Trailing by a goal entering the third period, the Falcons scored three times in the final frame. Dana Tyrell evened the score at 2-2 just 22 seconds into the period, putting a wrist shot from the slot past Worcester netminder Troy Grosenick. For Tyrell, the goal was his 12th of the season and third in only six games since joining the Falcons.
Matt Taormina, who was acquired by the Columbus Blue Jackets with Tyrell in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning March 5, scored the eventual game-winning goal at the 4:18 mark, netting a power-play tally on a rebound from just inside the left-wing circle. With the goal, the Washington Township, Michigan native has totaled six points (two goals, four assists) in six games with the Falcons.
Sean Collins added an insurance goal at 11:41 of the third period, increasing the Springfield lead to 4-2. Collins, who also registered an assist in the contest, extended his point streak to five games, amassing eight points (three goals, five assists) over that span.
A pair of second-period scores, deposited by Bracken Kearns at 5:44 and Dan DaSilva at 18:45, gave Worcester a 2-1 lead after 40 minutes of play.
Andrew Joudrey scored the game's first goal, redirecting the puck into the back of the net for a power-play goal at 3:27 of the first period to put Springfield ahead early, 1-0.
Mike McKenna earned his 20th win of the season and his fifth in a row, making 30 saves on 32 shots in net for the Falcons. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound goaltender ranks fifth in the American Hockey League with a 2.24 goals-against average and tied for seventh with a .922 save percentage.
Grosenick stopped 26 of 30 shots between the posts for Worcester, falling to 14-11-1 this season.
Springfield continued its stellar play on the man advantage, converting on two of five power-play opportunities. The Sharks went 1-for-4.
The Falcons return to the MassMutual Center Saturday, March 22 to host the Manchester Monarchs at 7:00 p.m. Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Heather O'Reilly of the United States Women's National soccer team will address fans at 5:30 p.m. in Meeting Room 2 of the MassMutual Convention Center and sign autographs on the concourse at 7:00 p.m.
The team hosts the St. John's IceCaps Sunday, March 23 at 3:00 p.m. as well. The Sunday contest will feature a post-game skate.
Fans are invited to the MassMutual Center in 2013-14 to watch the reigning Northeast Division-champion Falcons compete in their 20th anniversary season. Adult season-ticket packages start as low as $13 per game. To reserve your seats for the 2013-14 season, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or visit the team office inside the MassMutual Center from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Support the Falcons throughout the 2013-14 season by wearing red, white and blue at all the home games.
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American Hockey League Stories from March 21, 2014
- Penguins Posts Second Straight Shutout in Win over Crunch - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Monsters top Rochester - Cleveland Monsters
- Akeson Snipes 2 Shorties in Phantoms' Win - Adirondack Phantoms
- Anaheim Reassigns Emerson Etem to Norfolk - Norfolk Admirals
- Griffins Top Wild 4-1 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bulldogs Admirable in 4-2 Win - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Terry Nets Two in Win over Rampage - Charlotte Checkers
- Amerks Come up Empty-Handed in 5-0 Loss to Monsters - Rochester Americans
- First Period Lifts Penguins over Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Wolf Pack loses 6-1 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Third-Period Surge Helps Falcons Top Sharks, Extend Win Streak - Springfield Falcons
- Sharks Have Win-Streak Snapped in 4-2 Loss to Springfield - Worcester Sharks
- Griffins Defeat Wild 4-1 - Iowa Wild
- B-Sens Remain Atop East Division with 5-2 Win over Admirals - Binghamton Senators
- Klingberg, Lunden Net Two as IceCaps Whip Wolf Pack 6-1 - St. John's IceCaps
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- Comets in the Community - Utica Comets
- Elson Assigned to Alaska - Abbotsford Heat
- Weekend Preview: Games 65, 66 vs. Hamilton Bulldogs & Toronto Marlies - Abbotsford Heat
- Gameday: Comets vs Adirondack - Utica Comets
- B-Sens Sign Trudeau to ATO - Binghamton Senators
- Comet Tales: Behind Enemy Lines with Bruno Gervais - Utica Comets
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- Morin to Chicago, Gilbert to Rockford - Rockford IceHogs
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