FALCONS FALL TO PHANTOMS 3-1
March 24, 2012 - The Springfield Falcons dropped a 3-1 decision to the Adirondack Phantoms at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, NY on Saturday night. The Falcons head into Wilkes-Barre on Sunday with a record of 31-30-3-3 and are three points behind the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Saturday was a big game for both teams and the two divisional rivals played a very fast paced first period with each team generating some scoring chances, but Falcons goaltender Paul Dainton and Adirondack netminder Michael Leighton each making multiple key saves to keep the game scoreless.
In the second period, Adirondack opened the scoring at 6:02 when Oliver Lauridsen's slap shot from the left point went through a ton of traffic in front of Dainton and found the back of the net giving the Phantoms a 1-0 lead.
The game would remain a one goal contest until 1:19 of the third period when Brandon Manning's slap shot from the point also went through a ton of traffic in front of Dainton putting Adirondack on top 2-0. The Phantoms extended their advantage to 3-0 just 2:50 into the final frame when Matthew Ford tallied his 22nd goal of the year.
The Falcons wouldn't go quietly and at 13:13 of the third period, Nick Drazenovic one-timed a Wade MacLeod feed past Leighton cutting Springfield's deficit to 3-1.
The Falcons lost forward Tomas Kubalik to an upper body injury in the first period and the forward didn't return to action.
Springfield Falcons 1 at Adirondack Phantoms 3 - Status: Final
Saturday, March 24, 2012 - Glens Falls Civic Center
Springfield 0 0 1 - 1
Adirondack 0 1 2 - 3
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Garlock Spr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:58; Giroux Spr (roughing), 17:58; Bourdon Adk (roughing), 17:58; Roe Adk (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:58; Byers Spr (cross-checking), 18:49.
2nd Period-1, Adirondack, Bordson 2 (Lauridsen, Harper), 6:02. Penalties-MacLeod Spr (high-sticking), 1:11; MacLeod Spr (holding), 12:10; Manning Adk (diving), 12:10; Amadio Spr (interference), 16:29.
3rd Period-2, Adirondack, Manning 6 (Testwuide), 1:19. 3, Adirondack, Ford 22 (Jancevski, Hamel), 2:50. 4, Springfield, Drazenovic 11 (MacLeod), 13:13. Penalties-Walker Adk (tripping), 4:40; Bogosian Spr (fighting), 7:57; Ford Adk (fighting), 7:57; served by MacLeod Spr (bench minor - too many men), 9:15.
Shots on Goal-Springfield 7-9-9-25. Adirondack 15-10-6-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Springfield 0 / 1; Adirondack 0 / 4.
Goalies-Springfield, Dainton 11-10-1 (31 shots-28 saves). Adirondack, Leighton 23-23-0 (25 shots-24 saves).
A-4,037
Referees-Chris Brown (86).
Linesmen-Jim Harper (59), Steeve Lemay (64).
SATURDAY'S LINEUP
Alexandre Giroux - Martin St. Pierre - Tomas Kubalik
Matt Calvert - Nick Drazenovic - Wade MacLeod
Dane Byers - Nate Longpre - Maksim Mayorov
Aaron Bogosian - Andrew Joudrey - Ryan Garlock
Patrick Cullity - David Savard
Cody Goloubef - Greg Amadio
Brent Regner- Dalton Prout
Paul Dainton
Mike Clemente
Not dressed: Anton Blomqvist, Nick Holden (Injured), Tim Spencer, Adam Mair, Jake Morley, Cody Bass (Injured), Manny Legace (Injured)
The Springfield Falcons have 9 games remaining in the regular season as they post a record of 31-30-3-3 through 67 games. The following is a breakdown of opponents for the Falcons’ remaining 9 regular season contests: St. John’s (3), Bridgeport (2), Adirondack (1), Providence (1), Wilkes-Barre (1), Worcester (1).
The Falcons are three points out of the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Eastern Conference Standings
1. Norfolk – 97 pts – 8 games remaining
2. St. John’s – 86 pts – 10 games remaining
3. CT Whale – 76 pts – 10 games remaining
4. Wilkes-Barre – 83 pts – 9 games remaining
5. Hershey – 82 pts – 10 games remaining
6. Bridgeport – 73 pts – 11 games remaining
7. Syracuse – 71 pts – 9 games remaining
8. Manchester - 71 pts – 9 games remaining
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9. Springfield – 68 pts – 9 games remaining
10. Worcester – 67 pts – 12 games remaining
11. Portland – 67 pts – 10 games remaining
12. Adirondack – 67 pts – 10 games remaining
13. Albany – 67 pts – 9 games remaining
14. Providence – 67 pts – 9 games remaining
15. Binghamton – 59 pts – 9 games remaining
PREGAME NOTES - Falcons goaltender Paul Dainton stopped 34 of 36 shots on Friday night in a 3-2 shootout win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Dainton is now tied with Manny Legace for the team lead in wins by a goaltender with 11.
Rookie goaltender Mike Clemente played in all three games last weekend, starting both Friday and Saturday nights. He stopped 24 of 25 shots in his AHL debut on Friday in a 5-1 win over Portland earning the game’s third star and his first AHL win. On Saturday, he stopped all 27 shots he faced in a 3-0 win over the Connecticut Whale for his first AHL shutout. On Sunday, he relieved Paul Dainton and stopped 12 of 13 Providence shots in the final 39 minutes of the game. For the weekend, he turned aside 63 of 65 shots posting a 0.76 goals against average and .969 save percentage in leading the Falcons to 4 of a possible 6 points on the weekend.
Mike Clemente’s shutout on the road on March 17 was the first shutout for the Falcons on the road since February 14, 2010 when J.P. Levasseur made 49 saves at Bridgeport in a 4-0 win. The last three shutouts for the Falcons have been Allen York (April 8, 2011), Paul Dainton (February 25, 2012) and Mike Clemente (March 17, 2012). It was the first AHL shutout for each of those three goalies.
Martin St. Pierre continues to rank in the top 10 in scoring for the AHL this year. St. Pierre leads the Falcons with 10 goals and 48 assists for 58 points in 64 games. He is third in the league in assists this year. (Most assists in a season by a Falcons player: Jean-Guy Trudel (65, 2000-01), Daniel Briere (56, 1997-1998), Charles Linglet (55, 2009-10), Brad Tiley (54, 1999-00), Rob Schremp (53, 2007-08), Robert Petrovicky (52, 1994-1995).
Nick Drazenovic has scored a goal in four straight games collecting four goals and two assists in his last four games played.
Matt Calvert is on a four game scoring streak collecting two goals and three assists in that span. Calvert has registered a point in five of his last six games posting three goals and four assists.
Brent Regner leads all Falcons defensemen in scoring with two goals and 25 assists for 27 points in 65 games. Regner leads all Falcons players in games played (65) and is third on the team in assists. Regner also is second on the squad in power play assists with 12 on the year. Regner scored in the shootout on Friday night and he is now 2-6 in the shootout this year.
Cody Goloubef scored in the shootout on Friday and he is now a perfect 2 for 2 in the shootout this year.
