FALCONS BEAT TIGERS 2-1 IN SHOOTOUT
February 24, 2012 - The Springfield Falcons scored on their final three shots in the shootout and Paul Dainton stopped four of six shooters in the extra frame in leading the Falcons to a 2-1 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in front of 3,696 at the MassMutual Center on Friday night. The Falcons improved their record to 25-25-2-2 moving to within four points of the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
This was a wild and entertaining game right from the start and the shootout completed a hard-fought night for both teams. The first three shooters for each team failed to score, but in round four, Tomas Kubalik converted for the Falcons, but Bridgeport's David Ullstrom answered back for the Tigers. Springfield took a 2-1 advantage in the shootout in round five when Matt Calvert converted, but Jon Landry answered back for Bridgeport. Maksim Mayorov scored in round six and Dainton stopped Kael Mouillierat earning the Falcons a 3-2 edge in the shootout.
The Falcons entered the third period trailing by a goal, and it was veteran Adam Mair who picked a great time to notch his first marker of the year. Mair intercepted a pass from a Bridgeport defenseman and whistled a slap shot past Bridgeport goaltender Anders Nilsson evening the score at 1-1.
Bridgeport took a 1-0 lead at 10:38 of the second period when Blair Riley tapped in a Trevor Frischmon rebound giving the Sound Tigers a one goal edge.
The two teams played a scoreless first period, but it didn't lack excitement. After Springfield's Aaron Bogosian and Bridgeport's Riley dropped the gloves, Mayorov was awarded a penalty shot just 4:10 into the first period, but Nilsson made the save.
The Falcons are now 3-2 against the Sound Tigers this season and they now get ready to host the Connecticut Whale on Saturday night at The Nest.
FRIDAY'S LINEUP
Alexandre Giroux - Martin St. Pierre - Wade MacLeod
Matt Calvert - Ryan Garlock - Maksim Mayorov
Dane Byers - Andrew Joudrey - Tomas Kubalik
Tim Spencer - Adam Mair - Aaron Bogosian
Patrick Cullity - Theo Ruth
Cody Goloubef - Greg Amadio
Brent Regner- Dalton Prout
Paul Dainton
Manny Legace
Not dressed: Anton Blomqvist, Nick Holden (Injured), Mark Dekanich (Injured), Nick Drazenovic (Injured), Cody Bass (AHL Suspension), Chris D'Alvise
Bridgeport Sound Tigers 1 at Springfield Falcons 2 (SO) - Status: Final SO
Friday, February 24, 2012 - MassMutual Center
Bridgeport 0 1 0 0 - 1
Springfield 0 0 1 0 - 2
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Riley Bri (fighting), 2:44; Bogosian Spr (instigating, fighting, misconduct - instigating), 2:44; St. Pierre Spr (elbowing), 14:56; Howes Bri (cross-checking), 19:03.
2nd Period-1, Bridgeport, Riley 2 (Frischmon, Ness), 10:38. Penalties-Amadio Spr (boarding), 4:17; Landry Bri (interference), 7:28.
3rd Period-2, Springfield, Mair 1 9:24. Penalties-No Penalties
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout - Bridgeport 2 (Backman NG, Romano NG, Howes NG, Ullstrom G, Landry G, Mouillierat NG), Springfield 3 (Regner NG, MacLeod NG, Byers NG, Kubalik G, Calvert G, Mayorov G).
Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 10-9-5-3-0-27. Springfield 10-11-10-5-1-37.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 3; Springfield 0 / 2.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Nilsson 14-6-2 (36 shots-35 saves). Springfield, Dainton 7-4-0 (27 shots-26 saves).
A-3,696
Referees-Chris Cozzan (18).
Linesmen-Robert St. Lawrence (10), Luke Galvin (2).
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GAME PREVIEW – The Springfield Falcons and Bridgeport Sound Tigers meet for the fifth time this year when they drop the puck on Friday night at the MassMutual Center starting at 7:30 pm. The Falcons are 2-2 against the Sound Tigers this year including 1-1 on home ice. Springfield and Bridgeport will play each other four more times as we head down the stretch of the regular season.
Martin St. Pierre leads the Falcons in scoring against the Sound Tigers this year with seven assists in four games played. Alexandre Giroux leads Springfield in goals against Bridgeport this year with five markers in four games played. Goaltender Manny Legace has appeared in all four games against the Tigers posting a 2.57 goals against average and .918 save percentage.
Matt Donovan and Kael Mouillierat lead the Sound Tigers in scoring against the Falcons with four points each. Micheal Haley is first in goals against Springfield during the 2011-12 campaign with three tallies in three games played.
The Falcons enter tonight’s contest having won two of their last three home games and 3-1-1-0 in their last five contests at The Nest. Springfield will host Bridgeport Friday, Connecticut on Saturday and conclude their weekend in Portland on Sunday. The Falcons are currently five points behind the Worcester Sharks for the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Bridgeport heads into Springfield having won their last five consecutive games and overall, the Sound Tigers are 16-1-0-1 in their last 18 contests since January 2. The Sound Tigers return home for back-to-back home games this weekend as they host Providence on Saturday and Albany on Sunday.
FALCONS PLAYER/TEAM NOTES
ATKINSON RECALLED BY COLUMBUS: Cam Atkinson, who was recalled by the Columbus Blue Jackets Friday morning, remains second in the AHL in goals with 29 entering this weekend and he is tied for the league lead in goals among rookies. Atkinson is seven goals shy of tying Daniel Briere for the Falcons’ rookie record for most goals in a single season and he is one goal away from becoming Springfield’s first 30 goal scorer since Ryan Potulny tallied 38 during the 2008-09 campaign. John LeBlanc holds the Falcons record for most goals in a season with 39 set in 1994-95.
List of Falcons 30 goal scorers in franchise history: John Leblanc (39 goals in 1994-1995), Ryan Potulny (38 goals in 2008-09), Daniel Briere (36 goals in 1997-1998), Ravil Gusmanov (36 goals in 1995-1996), Jean-Guy Trudel (34 goals in 2000-01 and 1999-00), Trevor Letowski (32 goals in 1998-99), Reggie Savage (32 goals in 1996-97), Kevin Brown (32 goals in 1996-97), and Robert Petrovicky (30 goals in 1994-95).
Alexandre Giroux has recorded at least a point in six of his last seven games collecting three goals and seven assists for 10 points in that span.
Captain Dane Byers has scored a goal in three straight games entering this weekend.
Martin St. Pierre has collected a point in four of his last five contests posting one goal and six assists in that span.
Chris D’Alvise was recalled from the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder on Friday.
The AHL announced that Cody Bass has been suspended 3 games as a result of a hit in the Falcons game on February 17 at Connecticut.
BRIDGEPORT TEAM/PLAYER NOTES
Justin DiBenedetto has points in four of his last five games collecting two goals and two assists.
David Ullstrom has scored a goal in three of his last four games totaling four markers in that span.
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers announced Thursday that forward Blair Riley and defenseman Steve Oleksy have agreed to terms on one-way, American Hockey League contracts.
Riley, 26, joined the Sound Tigers on Nov. 26, 2011 on a professional tryout contract (PTO) after beginning the season with the Chicago Express of the ECHL. The Kamloops, BC native has posted three points (one goal, two assists) and 39 penalty minutes in 31 games with the Sound Tigers.
Oleksy, 26, has appeared in 30 games with the Sound Tigers on two separate PTOs, after starting the 2011-12 campaign with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL. The Chesterfield, MI native shows six assists and 68 penalty minutes in 30 games with the Sound Tigers this season.
The New York Islanders announced Thursday that forward Casey Cizikas has been recalled from loan from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League (AHL). The club also removed Travis Hamonic from injured reserve and returned goaltender Kevin Poulin and defenseman Aaron Ness on loan to the Sound Tigers. In a separate move, the Sound Tigers have released defenseman Wes Cunningham from his professional tryout contract (PTO).
Cizikas, 20, leads all Sound Tigers in scoring with 44 points, including a team-high 29 assists. The Toronto, ON, native also leads the team with a plus-25 plus-minus rating and ranks second on the Sound Tigers in goals with 15. Since Jan. 1, Cizikas has posted 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) and a plus-19 rating in 18-games to lead the Sound Tigers to a 16-1-0-1 record. He represented Bridgeport at the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic on Jan. 30 and was named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for January.
Poulin, 21, returns to the Sound Tigers after appearing in three games during his most recent NHL stint and posting a 1-2-0 record. The Montreal, PQ native returns to Bridgeport where he's posted a 14-13-1 record with a 2.72 GAA and a .909 sv%.
Ness, 21, returns to the Sound Tigers after his first career NHL stint. The Roseau, MN native appeared in nine games and posted two penalty minutes. Ness returns to the Sound Tigers where he shows two goals and 15 assists in 46 games.
Cunningham, 24, appeared in three games this past weekend with the Sound Tigers during his second stay in Bridgeport this season. The Dresden, ON did not record a point in three games and returns to the Greenville Road Warriors of the ECHL where he has recorded two goals and 20 assists in 38 games.
