FALCONS COME UP SHORT AGAINST SHARKS
By Andrew Tressler:
November 25, 2009- The Springfield Falcons lost to the Worcester Sharks 3-2 in front of 2,536 at the MassMutual Center Wednesday night. This contest marked the first time this season that Springfield hasn’t earned at least a point on home ice as they now have a record of 6-1-2-1 at The Nest.
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The game featured a battle of rookie goaltenders as Worcester’s Alex Stalock earned the victory over Springfield’s Aaron Sorochan, but special teams came into play throughout the 60 minutes.
“Penalties took the momentum and game away,” said Falcons Head Coach Rob Daum, “And they didn’t give us any opportunities to get back into any type of flow. They took some of our guys out of the game because of that and when we are at our best we’re playing 5 on 5.”
However, the difference in the first period was the Falcons special teams outplaying Worcester’s special teams. Springfield took advantage of their one and only power play in the first with a Colton Fretter goal halfway through the period. The goal was set up by Theo Peckham’s shot that hit off the post. The goal extended Fretter’s scoring streak to eight games overall as well as nine straight home games with a point.
“He’s been playing extremely well...,” said Coach Daum on Fretter, “Ever since [Chris] Minard went out of the lineup. He’s been one guy that has really picked it up for us.”
Worcester had their chances in the first period with four power play chances including a 2-man advantage early on in the stanza. However, the Sharks could not find the back of the net against Falcons goalie Sorochan. Sorochan made his third career start tonight and first home start at the MassMutual Center. Sorochan played well stopping 29 of 32 shots.
“He was fine,” said Coach Daum on Sorochan’s play in goal, “Goaltending wasn’t the issue in this game. He gave us a chance to win and that’s what you need from your goalie every night and he did that. We just didn’t take advantage of it.”
Springfield came out aggressive in the first period outshooting the Sharks 12-8 through the first twenty minutes. This is a little surprising because coming into the game, Springfield ranked last in shots on goal per game in the AHL and the Sharks are second in the AHL in shots on goal.
Worcester continued to get their chances on the power play in the second period with three more opportunities. Worcester’s first power play of the second period was technically not successful, but only one second into even strength Worcester’s Trent Campbell scored his first goal of the year to tie the game up. Later in the period, Worcester recorded their first official power play goal thanks to Ryan Vesce’s third goal of the season. The Sharks had a 2-1 lead with less than five minutes left in the second period.
After a Peckham check on Nick Petrecki, the teams both got into a melee and dropped the gloves. This led to a Falcons power play opportunity which Fretter seemed to score on immediately, but was later ruled not a goal. The ruling was that a tripping penalty on the Sharks occurred before the puck crossed the goal line. Springfield was now on a 5 on 3 advantage and this time Fretter did convert as he scored his second goal of the game. Cody Wild assisted on the play.
“Confidence is a big thing in hockey,” said Fretter on his quality play recently, “Right now I got a good line going and I’m just going to keep going with it.”
The Worcester power play chances continued to increase as the third period started. Less than four minutes into the period, the Sharks’ Logan Couture gave Worcester the 3-2 lead. Springfield had their chance halfway through the final period with a power play opportunity of their own, but were not able to find a way past Stalock.
Later in the third, Springfield’s Kip Brennan dropped the gloves with Worcester’s Joe Loprieno. Brennan got in a few more punches than Loprieno as he won the scuffle. During the last 40 minutes of play, the physical play between the teams intensified leading to a combined total of 62 penalty minutes.
The Sharks outshot Springfield 24-14 in the final two periods and 32-26 overall. Worcester was 0-4 on the power in the first period, but went 2-4 after.
“We had a good start,” said Fretter on the team’s first home loss in regulation, “But penalties got us in trouble today. If you take that many penalties you can’t really expect to win...If you don’t get a point obviously you didn’t do what you came to do, so it’s pretty disappointing.”
The Falcons will continue their busy week of games on Friday when they travel to Manchester, NH to take on the Monarchs. The Falcons would like to wish all the fans out there a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.
Game Notes
Center Jason Morgan played in a Springfield Falcons uniform for the first time since the 2000-01 season...The official attendance in the game was 2,536...Falcons leading goal scorer Chris Minard missed his tenth consecutive game due to injury. Springfield is 5-3-2-0 in those games...This is the first game since October 25 where Devan Dubnyk did not start in goal for the Falcons.
Three Stars of Game
1st Star- Ryan Vesce (1 G, 1 A) - WOR
2nd Star- Colton Fretter (2 G) - SPR
3rd Star- Mike Moore (2 A) - WOR
Falcons Lineup
Charles Linglet – Chad Wiseman – Colton Fretter
Slava Trukhno – Jason Morgan – Bill Thomas
Ryan MacMucrhy – Ryan O’Marra – Colin McDonald
Kip Brennan – Geoff Paukovich – Bryan Lerg
Johan Motin – Chris Armstrong
Jake Taylor – Cody Wild
Theo Peckham – Alex Plante
Aaron Sorochan
Andrew Perugini
Scratches
Chris Minard (Injured), Jamie Bates (Healthy), Bryan Young (Healthy), Matt Nickerson (Healthy)
PRE-GAME NIGHT NOTES.....................
Game Setup: The Springfield Falcons and Worcester Sharks will meet at the MassMutual Center on Wednesday in the third of eight games between these two teams this season. The first two meetings both were in Worcester, MA, and both times the Sharks came away with two points. The Falcons lost on October 24 to Worcester 1-0 in overtime with the only goal of the game coming in the extra session off the stick of rookie Logan Couture. The last game between these two Atlantic Division rivals came on November 1 where the Sharks won 4-1. The only player for either team to record more than one point in these two games has been Worcester’s Danny Groulx, who had one assist in each game. In those games, the Falcons combined for 33 shots (15 and 18), while the Sharks launched a combined 81 shots on goal (34 and 47). The Falcons have struggled to find the net behind Worcester goalies, Tyler Sexsmith and rookie Alex Stalock, each started one game against Springfield this season with Stalock getting the shutout. The next game between these two teams will be Friday, December 4, in Springfield.
Charles Linglet is the Falcons points leader this season earning 23 points (7 G, 16 A), which places him third in the AHL. Linglet also leads the team with a +9 rating. Linglet also is tied for third in the AHL in assists recording 16 in 20 games played this season. Despite missing nine games this season, Chris Minard leads Springfield with nine goals on the season. Rookie goalie Aaron Sorochan will make his third career start tonight for the Falcons. Sorochan has appeared in three games this season posting a 3.86 GAA and .886 save percentage in 140 minutes.
Danny Groulx leads the Sharks in points and assists this season totaling 2 goals, 14 assists, and 16 points, placing him tied for fourth in the AHL in points among defensemen. The leading goal scorer for Worcester this season is Steven Zalewski with seven goals in 21 games. Alex Stalock leads Worcester goalies with a 2.52 GAA and .907 save percentage in 15 games this season. Left Wing John McCarthy leads the Sharks with a +6 rating in 21 games played this season.
Springfield comes into the game earning at least one point in 11 of their last 13 games (7-2-3-1) recording 18 points in that span. Springfield has yet to lose at home in regulation this season with a 6-0-2-1 record at The Nest. The Falcons will be busy following the Worcester game as they travel to Manchester, NH on Friday to play the Atlantic Division leading Monarchs before hosting the Monarchs on Saturday, followed by a contest with the Portland Pirates on Sunday at the MassMutual Center.
The Sharks come into the game winners of their last two games. Worcester has a 4-4-0-1 road record this season so far. Following the game against Springfield on Wednesday, the Sharks will travel to Providence, RI to take on the Bruins on Friday before hosting the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Saturday.
Falcons Transactions: 11-20-09- The Springfield Falcons, proud members of the American Hockey League, announced they have signed forward Jason Morgan to a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO). Morgan is a veteran of 580 career AHL games splitting time between Springfield, Hamilton, Saint John, Lowell, Norfolk, Houston, and Hershey. He set a career high in goals with Hershey during the 2007-08 campaign scoring 19 markers with Hershey.
11-22-09- The Springfield Falcons, proud members of the American Hockey League, announced that goaltender Devan Dubnyk has been recalled by their National Hockey League affiliate, the Edmonton Oilers. Dubnyk has started 18 of Springfield’s 20 games this year posting a 9-8-1 record with a 2.77 GAA and .924 save percentage. The 6-foot-5, 194-pound native of Calgary, Alberta had started the Falcons’ previous 10 straight games prior to his recall to Edmonton. Dubnyk continues to lead the AHL in minutes played (1,081) and saves (608) this season.
11-23-09- The Springfield Falcons, proud members of the American Hockey League, announced they have recalled goaltender Andrew Perugini from their ECHL affiliate, the Stockton Thunder. Perugini is in his second professional season and currently leads all Stockton goaltenders with a record of 4-4-2 with a 2.79 GAA and .913 save percentage in 11 games played, including one shutout.
Sharks Transactions: 11-19-09- The Worcester Sharks NHL affiliate, San Jose Sharks, recalled Logan Couture, Jamie McGinn, and Benn Ferrier. Couture has 14 points (5 G, 9 A) in 9 games played with Worcester. McFerrier has played in five games this season for Worcester recording one goal and two assists. McGinn has six points (3 G, 3 A) in five games for Worcester this season. Later in the week on Nov. 22, the San Jose Sharks sent Couture and McFerrier back to the Worcester team.
11-20-09- The Worcester Sharks announced they have signed 24-year old Mathieu Curadeau to a PTO. Curadeau has played in three games since joining the team recording one goal. Curadeau has since been released by the team.
11-21-09- The Sharks announced they have signed Left Wing Trent Campbell to a PTO. Campbell has appeared in two games since joining Worcester.
11-21-09- The San Jose Sharks recalled Worcester Center Ryan Vesce. The next day Vesce was returned back to the Worcester Sharks. Vesce has played in seven games for Worcester this season recording two goals and three assists.
11-22-09- The San Jose Sharks recalled Torrey Mitchell from Worcester on Sunday. Mitchell has played well for Worcester this season recording three points (1 G, 2 A) in five games played this season.
Falcons Team and Player Notes:
· The Falcons are the AHL’s fifth best power play team at 22.0% and are third in the AHL at home on the power play with a 29.4% rating.
· Ryan O’Marra now has a goal in three straight games.
· Colton Fretter and Chad Wiseman have extended their scoring streak to seven games.
· Colton Fretter is also currently on an 8-game home point scoring streak, where he has recorded a total of 12 points.
Sharks Team and Player Notes:
· Worcester is 8-2-0-1 in 11 games they have scored the first goal of the game. The Sharks are just 2-8-0-0 when allowing the first goal.
· The Sharks are second in the AHL with 34.57 shots per game.
