FALCONS WEEKLY NOTES - WEEK 2 RECAP
FALCONS IN FIRST-PLACE AFTER SECOND WEEKWEEK IN REVIEW
OCTOBER 12 Springfield-6 Vs. Portland -4 (Goal scorers – Simon, Reddox, Trukhno, Bodie, Stortini, Schremp)
OCTOBER 13 Springfield-3 At Manchester-4 (Goal scorers – Thoresen (2), Reddox)
OCTOBER 14 Springfield-4 Vs. Norfolk-3 (Goal scorers – Reddox, Nilsson (2), Peckham)
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
OCTOBER 20 Springfield At Albany 7:00 PM Pepsi Arena
OCTOBER 21 Springfield At Portland 4:05 PM Cumberland County Civic Center
*Radio Broadcasts on WHYN AM 560
*Watch Live on the B-2 Network
THIS WEEK’S GAME PREVIEWS
--SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2007 – SPRINGFIELD FALCONS AT ALBANY RIVER RATS--
The Springfield Falcons make their first and only visit to Albany on Saturday night to battle the River Rats. Albany is 1-1-0-1 on the season good for four points in the AHL’s East Division. After winning their opening game 3-1 on October 6 at Binghamton, Albany lost in regulation to Philadelphia by a score of 3-0 on October 12, followed by a 2-1 shootout loss to Norfolk on October 13. Right wing Jerome Samson leads Albany in goals with two and tied for the club lead in points with teammate Keith Aucoin with two. Goaltender Michael Leighton has appeared in all three games for Albany posting a 1.64 goals against average and .945 save percentage. Springfield will be catching Albany in the middle of a four-game homestand.
--SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2007 – SPRINGFIELD FALCONS AT PORTLAND PIRATES--
For the third straight week, the Falcons and Portland Pirates will meet each other in an Atlantic Division match-up. The Falcons are a perfect 2-0 against Portland this year, including a 6-4 Falcons win in their most recent meeting on October 12 in Springfield. The Falcons beat the Pirates 3-2 on opening night, October 5 in Portland. Springfield used six different goal scorers against Portland on October 12 in their win and for the season series, the Falcons have used seven different goal scorers for production up front. Stephane Goulet, Viacheslav Trukhno (2), Ben Simon, Zack Stortini (2), Rob Schremp, Troy Bodie and Liam Reddox have all converted against Portland this year. Springfield goaltender Jeff Deslauriers has been between the pipes for both Springfield wins against Portland this year. Portland center Jason King has three goals against the Falcons this year, including a pair on October 5. King leads the team in scoring with four goals and two assists for six points in four games played. Andrew Ebbett is tied with King with six points in five games. Portland is currently in seventh place in the Atlantic Division with a record of 1-4 and the Pirates have lost three straight games.
LAST WEEK’S GAME RECAPS
---SPRINGFIELD Vs. PORTLAND, OCTOBER 12 – W 6-4---
The Springfield Falcons beat the Portland Pirates 6-4 on Friday night at the MassMutual Center improving their record to 3-1 on the season.
The Falcons used three third period goals in breaking open a 3-3 deadlock and earning their second consecutive win. Zack Stortini gave Springfield a 4-3 lead at 2:03 of the third period, followed by Liam Reddox providing the Falcons a two-goal cushion at 6:56 of the final frame. Portland pulled to within a single goal at 7:38 of the third period when Brendan Mikkelson tallied his first marker of the year, but the Falcons capped off the night with an empty net goal by Ben Simon.
"Guys played hard tonight, and it's a big win for our team," said Reddox, whose third period goal was his first AHL goal. "Our line had some good pressure and we were able to finish, we came out in the third period and battled hard and it paid off."
The Falcons took a 2-1 lead into the second period, but Portland evened the score at 2-2 when Pirates defenseman Brian Salcido scored at 10:12 of the middle period on the power play. Portland regained a one-goal lead at 11:31 of the second period once again on the man advantage when Jason King tallied his third goal of the year. Springfield evened the score at 3-3 when Rob Schremp scored his second marker of the year at 18:07 of the second period on the power play.
After Portland took a 1-0 lead at 13:16 of the opening period on a Clay Wilson marker, Springfield responded with a pair of goals by Viacheslav Trukhno and Troy Bodie taking a 2-1 advantage. Trukhno's marker was on the power play at 17:13 of the opening period, followed by Bodie's even strength tally just 34-seconds later.
---SPRINGFIELD At MANCHESTER, OCTOBER 13 – L - 4-3---
The Springfield Falcons battled back from an early 2-0 deficit, but in the end, the Birds ended up one goal short as they had their two-game winning streak snapped on Saturday night losing to the Manchester Monarchs 4-3 at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
Trailing 3-2 late in the third period, Patrick Thoresen scored a beautiful highlight film goal sliding the puck between Manchester defenseman Richard Petiot's legs and snapping a quick wrist shot to the back of the net tying the score at 3-3, but Manchester answered right back with the eventual game-winner just one-minute later. Gabe Gauthier's goal at 17:58 of the third period gave Manchester a 4-3 lead and a one-goal victory as well.
"I thought we were a little flat in the first period, but we tied it up late and they came right back," said Falcons head coach Kelly Buchberger. "It was a close game and we had a chance, but Manchester responded and we will get ready for Sunday."
Springfield fell behind early in the first period when David Meckler scored just 39-seconds into the opening period, followed by Matt Moulson converting on the power play at 9:20 of the first period giving Manchester a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of play.
The Falcons cut their deficit to 2-1 when Liam Reddox scored his second goal in as many games at 2:56 of the second period when he redirected Ladislav Smid's snap shot. The Monarchs regained a two-goal lead at 11:56 of the middle frame when Trevor Lewis tipped a shot past Springfield netminder Devan Dubnyk putting the Monarchs on top 3-1. Dubnyk was relieved in favor of Jeff Deslauriers after Lewis' marker after Dubnyk stopped 21 of 24 shots in 31:56 of action.
Springfield would once again pull within a goal at 16:53 of the middle frame when Thoresen scored his first goal of the evening on a setup from Robert Nilsson.
"Just came up short tonight," said Falcons captain Rick Berry. "We battled back, but just couldn't pull it out, we will regroup and be ready for Sunday."
---SPRINGFIELD Vs. NORFOLK, OCTOBER 14 – W- 4-3---
The Springfield Falcons are quickly becoming a third period team as they scored three third period markers on their way to a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Norfolk Admirals on Sunday afternoon at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons are now 4-2 on the season and in first place in the Atlantic Division.
"I thought the guys battled very hard in the third period and found a way to get it done," said Falcons head coach Kelly Buchberger. "We have stressed all along to be a hard-working team and built that as our identity and we continue to make strides in the right direction."
Trailing 2-1 entering the third period, the Falcons tied the score at 2-2 when Liam Reddox tipped home a Rick Berry slap shot from the right point at 6:09 of the third period. Springfield took their first lead of the night just 28-seconds later when Robert NilssonTheo Peckham one-timed a Patrick Thoresen pass behind Norfolk goaltender Morgan Cey. The Falcons built a 4-2 lead when Theo Peckham scored his first pro goal at 9:22 of the final frame on the power play.
"It was a big win for our team," said Peckham, who made his AHL debut on Saturday after being recalled from Stockton of the ECHL on Saturday. "I just tried to get the puck on goal and it went in, it's a nice feeling to help the team win, it was a team effort once again tonight."
Norfolk wouldn't quit as former Falcon Blair Jones pulled the Admirals to within a single goal at 10:32 of the third period, but the Falcons held the fort late in the game to earn their fourth win of the season.
In the second period, the Falcons tied the score at 1-1 when Nilsson one-timed a pass from Sebastien Bisaillon on a two-on-way breakout at 4:15 of the second period, only to see Norfolk's Kyle Wanvig score his third goal of the year just 17-seconds later giving Norfolk a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes of play.
The Admirals opened the scoring with 43-seconds remaining in the first period when Zbynek Hrdel converted on a feed from Jones. The Falcons fell into penalty trouble in the opening 20 minutes of play as Norfolk had four first period power plays, including a 5-on-3 man advantage for 45-seconds.
PLAYER NOTES:
Springfield Falcons center Patrick Thoresen collected two goals and three assists for five points and a +5 rating in three games with Springfield this past week earning the RBK / AHL Player of the Week. Thoresen assisted on Liam Reddox’s game-winning goal on Friday against Portland, scored a pair of goals on Saturday at Manchester and picked up two assists on Sunday against Norfolk. Thoresen leads Springfield in scoring with three goals and four assists for seven points in six games played. He has recorded at least a point in five of six games this year.
Defenseman Theo Peckham was recalled from the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder on Saturday, October 13 and made his AHL debut that same evening at Manchester. Peckham scored his first pro and AHL goal on Sunday, October 14 earning the game’s third star.
Center Robert Nilsson was reassigned to the Falcons on Saturday, October 13 and also made his Falcons debut that same night in Manchester. Nilsson collected a pair of assists on Saturday against the Monarchs, while scoring his first two goals in a Springfield uniform on Sunday. Nilsson also played in his 100th career AHL game on Sunday, October 14
Defenseman Sebastien Bisaillon made his Falcons and AHL debut on Saturday, October 13 at Manchester. Bisaillon has collected an assist in each of his first two games with Springfield.
Liam Reddox has goals in three straight games after collecting his first AHL goal, the game-winner, on Friday, October 12 against Portland.
INJURY REPORT
Falcons forward Ryan Flinn, defenseman T.J. Reynolds, defenseman T.J. Kemp and defenseman Danny Syvret missed games due to injury.
TRANSACTIONS
10-9-07 – Edmonton Oilers recall Jean-Francois Jacques from the Springfield Falcons.
10-13-07 – Edmonton Oilers reassign Jean-Francois Jacques and Robert Nilsson to the Springfield Falcons.
10-13-07 – Edmonton Oilers recall Rob Schremp and Zack Stortini from the Springfield Falcons.
10-13-07 – Springfield Falcons recall defenseman Theo Peckham from Stockton.
10-16-07 – Springfield Falcons reassign center Jonas Almtorp to Stockton.
ON THE FARM – STOCKTON THUNDER
The Stockton Thunder begin their 2007-08 regular season on Friday night when they travel to Bakersfield. The Thunder and Fresno Falcons split the two-game preseason series, with Stockton taking the first matchup in a 4-3 win at Save Mart Center on October 10. The Thunder capitalized with a 3-for-9 effort on the power-play, including two goals from rookie Geoff Paukovich. Fresno retaliated with a 6-3 win at Stockton Arena on October 13, led by Brett Hemingway’s two goals to cap a run of six unanswered goals in the first period. The Thunder turned the tide by scoring the final three goals of the game and outshooting Fresno 33-14 in the final two periods, led by two points each from Jesse Bennefield (1g-1a), Jacob Micflikier (1g-1a) and Brandon Schwartz (two assists).
