FALCONS TOP PIRATES 4-3 IN OT
February 25, 2009 - The Springfield Falcons continued their strong play over the last week with a 4-3 overtime win over the Portland Pirates on Wednesday night in front of 2,216 at the MassMutual Center. Rookie defenseman Cody Wild tallied the winning goal just 15-seconds into the extra session, his fourth marker of the campaign. The win improved the Falcons record to 3-1-1-0 over their last five games and Wednesday's victory was Springfield's first overtime win of the year.
The Falcons got off to a fast start against the Pirates as Ryan Potulny scored his team-leading 24th goal of the year just two minutes into the first period giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Gilbert Brule would score a shorthanded goal at 12:14 of the opening frame giving Springfield a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes of play.
FALCONS AUDIO - Head Coach Rob Daum Recaps The Win
FALCONS AUDIO - Cody Wild Recaps Overtime Winner
Early in the second period, Shane Willis expanded the Falcons lead to 3-0 with a power play goal just 2:07 into the middle session. Portland would battle back as Mathieu Darche converted on a Portland power play at 3:57 of the second period cutting the Pirates' deficit to 3-1. Colton Fretter cut Portland's deficit to 3-2 at 13:41 of the middle period heading into the final 20 minutes of play.
It took the Pirates just 36-seconds into the third period to tie the score at 3-3 when Mark Mancari tallied his team-leading 23rd goal of the year.
GAME NOTES
Gilbert Brule returned to the lineup after missing five games due to injury.
Geoff Paukovich also returned from injury after missing three games.
FALCONS LINES
Trukhno - Paukovich - O'Marra
Schremp - Potulny - Willis
Stone - Brule - Linglet
Young - Roy
Bina - Taylor
Wild - Chorney
Sabourin
Dubnyk
FALCONS SCRATCHES
Bryan Lerg (Healthy), Mike Gabinet (Healthy), Guillaume Lefebvre (Injured), Stephane Goulet (Injured), Hans Benson (Healthy)
THREE STARS
3- Mark Mancari, 1 G, 1 A
2- Gilbert Brule, 1 G
1- Cody Wild, 1 G, GW
IN-GAME BLOG
FIRST PERIOD
18:00 -- Springfield Falcons opened the scoring with a goal scored by Ryan Potulny (24). The marker was assisted by Shane Willis (8) and Rob Schremp (28). The Falcons led the contest by a score of 1-0.
7:46 -- The Springfield Falcons added a second goal. The shorthanded effort from Gilbert Brule, his 12, gives Springfield a 2-0 lead. The goal was helped by Charles Linglet, his 10. In the penalty box leaving the Falcons a man short was Ryan O'Marra with a two minute minor for tripping.
End -- The Falcons lead the game 2-0, but trail shots-on-goal by a tally of 8-11 in favor of Portland after one period.
SECOND PERIOD
17:53 -- Soringfield added a third goal on the evening. The powerplay goal was scored by Willis, his second. Assists were handed out to Schremp (29) and Taylor Chorney (12). Added to the lead, now 3-0.
16:03 -- The Portland Pirates notched a powerplay goal of their own to take back some of the lead. They still trailed by two goals, the score 3-1. Scoring for Portland was Mathieu Darche (18) who was assisted by Nathan Gerbe (18) and Mark Mancari (30).
6:19 -- The Pirates scored a second goal to trim the lead to one, 3-2. The goal was scored by Colton Fretter (18). He was assisted by Darche (29) and Marc-Andre Gragnani (31).
End -- The Springfield Falcons lead the contest by a score of 3-2. The edge in shots-on-goal went to Portland, 24-15. The Falcons will start the third period a man down with Tim Sestito in the sin bin for the :48 remaining on the two minute minor for hooking.
THIRD PERIOD
19:24 -- A second powerplay goal of the evening Mancari (23) for the Portland Pirates. Gerbe (19) and Mike Kostka (15)added the assits on the tying goal. The Falcons and Pirates were knotted at 3-3.
End -- The Pirates and Falcons remained tied at 3-3 and were headed to overtime. Shots-on-goal again favored Portland 33-22 over Springfield.
OVERTIME PERIOD
4:45 -- Fifteen seconds into overtime, the Falcons netted the game winning goal to end the contest. Cody Wild (4) added the game winner and was assisted by Linglet (11).
End -- The Falcons trailed in shots-on-goal by a mark of 33-23, but were victorious nonetheless, 4-3 in a thrilling overtime win at home.
PRE-GAME NIGHT NOTES………………
GAME SETUP: The Springfield Falcons and Portland Pirates meet for the eighth time this season when they get together on Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons are 3-3-0-1 against the Pirates this year, including 2-1-0-0 at The Nest.
Falcons right wing Colin McDonald leads Springfield in scoring against Portland this year with three goals and three assists for six points in seven games. Defenseman Mike Gabinet is second in points against the Pirates this year with one goal and four assists for five points in five games. Defenseman Taylor Chorney is tied with McDonald for the club lead in goals against Portland this year with three.
Rookie Nathan Gerbe leads the Pirates in scoring against the Falcons this year with four goals and four assists for eight points in six games played. Mathieu Darche (2-3-5) and Marc-Andre Gragnani (1-4-5) are tied for second in points against Springfield this year.
Springfield beat Portland last Tuesday by a score of 6-3 at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons used six different goal scorers and they had 12 different skaters record at least a point in snapping their 11-game winless streak that evening. Bryan Young earned the game’s first star that night when he scored his first AHL/Pro goal and was a +1 rating. Young, Taylor Chorney, Colin McDonald, Geoff Paukovich, Sebastien Bisaillon and Ryan Stone all scored for the Falcons in last week’s victory. Mike Gabinet and Shane Willis both added two assists, while goaltender Dany Sabourin stopped 32 of 35 shots in earning his first win with the Falcons.
The Pirates head into Springfield playing the sixth game of a current seven-game road trip in which they have gone 1-3-1-0 in that span. Portland continues to battle for playoff positioning in the Atlantic Division. Portland has a record of 28-23-2-5 good for 63 points and third place in the Atlantic Division. Portland is two points behind second place Hartford and six points behind first place Providence.
FALCONS PLAYER MOVEMENT: The Springfield Falcons, proud members of the American Hockey League, announced Monday that they have assigned defenseman Sebastien Bisaillon to their ECHL affiliate, the Stockton Thunder. Bisaillon has split the season between the Falcons and Thunder. In 31 games with the Falcons, Bisaillon has scored five goals and added seven assists for 12 points and 21 penalty minutes. In 10 games with the Thunder, he has totaled one goal and three assists four points and six penalty minutes.
FALCONS NOTES:
• Rob Bina scored his first AHL goal on Sunday, February 22 at Providence.
• Rob Schremp played in his 200th career pro game on February 21 against Bridgeport scoring his seventh goal of the season.
• Charles Linglet has recorded a point in two of the three games he has played since joining the Falcons on February 20.
• Viacheslav Trukhno has recorded at least a point in three of his last four games totaling one goal and two assists in that span.
PIRATES NOTES:
• Pirates forward Tim Kennedy continues to lead all AHL rookies in scoring with 12 goals and 35 assists for 47 points in 52 games played.
• Fellow rookie Nathan Gerbe leads the league in goals by a rookie with 21 and he also ranks eighth in the AHL in rookie scoring with 38 points in just 35 games.
• Mark Mancari continues to lead Portland in scoring with 22 goals and 29 assists for 51 points in 51 games. He ranks 16th in the AHL’s scoring race.
