FALCONS SALUTE THEIR GREAT FANS
April 1, 2009 - The Springfield Falcons once again battled back from a third period deficit and competed hard to the end, but fell just short losing to the Worcester Sharks 3-2 in overtime in front of 4,515 at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons completed the home portion of their 2008-09 schedule and will now finish with five straight road games starting on Friday night in Manchester.
The Falcons fell behind in the first period when Worcester's Jason Demers scored at 13:41 giving the Sharks a 1-0 lead, but Springfield's Ryan Potulny tallied his team-leading 33rd goal of the year evening the score at 1-1 late in the opening session.
FALCONS AUDIO - Head Coach Rob Daum Recaps The Night
FALCONS AUDIO - Ryan Potulny Recaps Game And Thanks Fans
The Sharks regained their advantage in the second period when Matt Jones scored his second goal of the season at 4:15 giving Worcester a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes of play.
With the Falcons applying non-stop pressure in the Sharks' defensive zone throughout the third period, Guillaume Lefebvre finally tied the score for Springfield at 13:42 of the final frame. Colin McDonald provided a solid bodycheck on Worcester's Patrick Traverse to start the play, with Rob Bina able to find Lefebvre at the top of the crease for the equalizer.
With Springfield's Bryan Young whistled for a questionable hooking penalty in overtime, Traverse netted the game-winner at 2:17 of the extra session giving the Sharks a 3-2 win.
GAME NOTES
The Falcons finished 2-4-4-0 against the Sharks in the season series.
The Falcons handed out their end of the season awards:
True Grit Award - Mathieu Roy
Forward of the Year - Ryan Potulny
Defensive Player of the Year - Jake Taylor
Players' Player Award - Hans Benson
Unsung Hero - Guillaume Lefebvre
Sportsmanship - Colin McDonald
Community Service - Geoff Paukovich and Tyler Spurgeon
MVP - Devan Dubnyk
Friendly's Player of the Year - Devan Dubnyk
FALCONS LINEUP
Willis - O'Marra - Schremp
Stone - Potulny - Eberle
McDonald - Spurgeon - Potulny
Czuy - Urquhart - Benson
Young - Roy
Bina - Gabinet
Kinley - Wild
Sabourin
Dubnyk
FALCONS SCRATCHES - Charles Linglet, Bryan Lerg, Tim Sestito, Jeffrey Lee, Slava Trukhno, Stephane Goulet, Gilbert Brule, Milan Maslonka, Cleve Kinley
THREE STARS
3- SPR. Dany Sabourin, 33 SV
2- WOR, Thomas Greiss, 30 SV
1- WOR, Patrick Traverse, 1 G (GW), 1 A
LIVE IN-GAME BLOG: YOUR FALCONS UPDATES FROM THE FACE-OFF TO THE FINAL
OVERTIME
End -- The Falcons fell 3-2 to the Sharks in the final home game for Springfield of the season. The shots-on-goal advantage also went to the Worchester 36-32.
2:43 -- Worchester tallied the final and decisive goal in overtime to take the contest for the Sharks. The fateful powerplay blast came off of the stick of Patrick Traverse, his 9th goal of the season.
THIRD PERIOD
End -- The Falcons and Sharks remained locked at 2 goals each. The shots-on-goal read 32-32 as well with the match-up headed to overtime.
6:18 -- The Springfield Falcons notched their second goal of the night, tying the game 2-2. The goal was scored by Guillaume Lefebvre, his 4th of the season. He was helped by Rob Bina and Colin McDonald.
SECOND PERIOD
End -- The Sharks led the contest 2-1, and the shots-on-goal by a 25-22 advantage.
15:45 -- The Sharks added their second goal of the evening, taking the lead 2-1. The unassited goal was shot by Matt Jones, only his second goal of the season.
FIRST PERIOD
End -- The Falcons and Sharks were even at one goal apiece. Springfield held the shots-on-goal advantage, 16-8.
5:24 -- The Springfield Falcons tallied thier first marker of the contest, evening the score 1-all. The powerplay goal was scored by Ryan Potulny (33) and assisted by Mathieu Roy and Rob Schremp.
6:19 -- The Worchester Sharks opened scoring with a goal scored by Steven Zalewski, his 13th, and assisted by Jason Demers and Patrick Traverse. The Sharks led 1-0.
Pre-Game Notes
THANK YOU FANS!!
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April 1, 2009 - The Springfield Falcons conclude the home portion of their 2008-09 schedule on Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center when they host the Worcester Sharks starting at 7 pm. Since March 22, this will be the third meeting between the Falcons and Sharks with each team picking up a win in that span.
The Falcons will finish the 2008-09 schedule with five straight road games after Wednesday night. The United Bank warm-up jerseys the Falcons have displayed during home games this year will be for sale on E-Bay starting later this week. The Falcons will also host their annual booster club award ceremony before Wednesday's contest.
Rookie Jordan Eberle, who joined the Falcons last week, has registered at least a point in all three of his pro games collecting one goal and two assists in that span. Eberle will not turn 19 until May 15, but he has made a nice transition from junior hockey to pro hockey thus far. Eberle has had a chance to play on a line with Ryan Potulny and Ryan Stone with Eberle scoring his first AHL/pro goal on March 29.
Ryan Potulny has 32 goals entering Wednesday's game and he is the first Falcons player since Jean-Guy Trudel in 2000-01 to reach the 30-goal plateau. John Leblanc holds the Falcons team record for goals in a season with 39 set in 1994-95. Potulny is currently on a six-game scoring streak collecting five goals and four assists in that span.
Kelly Czuy recorded his first point as a member of the Falcons when he collected an assist on March 29.
Cory Urquhart scored his first goal as a member of the Falcons on March 29.
Bryan Young scored his second goal of his pro career and of the season on March 29 against Portland. Both of Young's goals have come against Portland.
Ryan Stone has recorded at least a point in five of his last six games.
Taylor Chorney was recalled by the Edmonton Oilers on Monday and joins Theo Peckham on the Oilers roster.
TOP 5 HOME GAMES OF THE YEAR
1. November 21, 2008 - W-7-6 Vs. Norfolk - After a pregame fight between Theo Peckham and Jay Rosehill, Tyler Spurgeon scores game-winning goal in third period.
2. November 22, 2008 - W-5-1 Vs. Providence - The Falcons use a balanced attack to beat the Bruins on home ice.
3. January 2, 2009 - W-3-2 Vs. Manchester - In probably one of the most exciting shootouts you will ever see, Bryan Lerg finally ended the marathon shootout with a goal in the ninth round capping off five straight goals in the extra session for the Falcons. Trailing 3-2 in the shootout heading into their final shooter, Springfield's Derek Bekar converted in the fifth round sending the shootout to extra frames. The two teams swapped goals for three rounds before Manchester's David Meckler was stopped by Jeff Deslauriers, and Lerg slid one past Jonathan Bernier.
4. February 21, 2009 - W-3-2 Vs. Bridgeport - For the second time this season, the Falcons hosted a marathon shootout as this extra session went 10 rounds. The two teams were tied after five rounds, and in the eighth round, Springfield's Charles Linglet converted sending the contest to a ninth round. After a pair of Dany Sabourin saves, Shane Willis finally ended the night with his goal in round 10.
5. January 24, 2009 - SELLOUT CROWD - 6,789 Vs. Providence - The Falcons host sellout crowd of 6,789.
