FALCONS FALL TO PENGUINS 3-0

By:  Sean Seifert

October 21, 2011 – The pucks wouldn’t fall for the Falcons on Friday night as they lost an energized game to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in front of 2,532 at the MassMutual Center. Veteran goaltender Manny Legace made his return to Springfield with the starting spot in goal, but the Falcons were unable to get on the board losing by a score of 3-0 and dropping their season record to 3-3-0.

Legace put up 20 saves in his first game back with the Falcons, playing a steady game that coach Rob Riley says will have an impact on his team this season. 

“Manny has a calming influence,” said Riley.  “We have a lot of defensemen who are new to this league and sometimes they might get a little rattled. Having someone like Manny at practice and at games should really help them.”

Legace says he enjoyed his first game back and that his team wasn’t too far off the mark tonight. “I thought we battled extremely hard and I thought their goalie played very well. We just couldn’t get a bounce tonight,” said Legace

The Falcons set the pace early in a high-energy first period, killing off 6-straight penalty minutes with their 76.9% success rate. Springfield moved the puck well on its' own power plays in the first period, but couldn’t find a way past Penguin’s goaltender Brad Thiessen. Neither team was able to find the back of the net as Legace turned away 8 shots of his own, sending the teams to the locker room scoreless after the first period of play.

The second period saw the same high-energy hockey as the first with the Falcons driving 7 shots on net in an attempt at the go ahead goal. Despite two breakaway efforts by Falcons' left wing Dane Byers, the Penguins were able to score first with a power play goal by Geoff Walker at 17:33 of the second period. The second frame came to a close with the Falcons trailing by a goal 1-0.

The Penguins increased their lead to 2-0 at 10:30 of the third period when Bryan Lerg found Eric Tangradi open in front of the net following a sprawling defensive stop by Dalton Prout. The Falcons couldn’t make their case and Lerg sealed the win with an empty net goal, dealing the Falcons a loss by a score of 3-0.

“It was a good game and it was well played on both ends. They only have one win so they were playing like it was a playoff game so I give credit to them,” said Riley. “It was an exciting game.”

The Falcons return to action tomorrow night when they take on the Connecticut Whale at 7:00 p.m. at the MassMutual Center.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3 at Springfield Falcons 0 - Status: Final
Friday, October 21, 2011 - MassMutual Center

W-B/Scranton 0 1 2 - 3
Springfield 0 0 0 - 0

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Byers Spr (roughing, roughing), 4:42; Goloubef Spr (boarding), 8:12; Tangradi Wbs (hooking), 9:31; Sill Wbs (slashing), 12:38; Tangradi Wbs (fighting), 16:23; Byers Spr (fighting), 16:23.

2nd Period-1, W-B/Scranton, Walker 3 (Sneep), 17:33 (PP). Penalties-Dimitrakos Wbs (roughing), 10:47; Garlock Spr (roughing), 10:47; Moore Spr (cross-checking), 15:57.

3rd Period-2, W-B/Scranton, Tangradi 3 (Lerg), 10:30. 3, W-B/Scranton, Lerg 5 (Picard), 18:51 (SH EN). Penalties-Russell Spr (goaltender interference), 6:56; Lerg Wbs (tripping), 7:51; Despres Wbs (roughing), 17:56.

Shots on Goal-W-B/Scranton 7-9-7-23. Springfield 8-7-11-26.
Power Play Opportunities-W-B/Scranton 1 / 5; Springfield 0 / 4.
Goalies-W-B/Scranton, Thiessen 2-2-0 (26 shots-26 saves). Springfield, Legace 0-1-0 (22 shots-20 saves).
A-2,532
Referees-Ryan Fraser (14), Chris Brown (86).
Linesmen-Rich Patry (52), Jim Briggs (83).

Not dressed:  Paul Dainton, Theo Ruth (Injured), Tomas Kubalik (Injured), Nick Drazenovic (Injured), Anton Blomqvist (Injured)