FALCONS BEAT PENGUINS 7-4
October 14, 2011 - For the second straight game, the Springfield Falcons used a variety of goal scorers to earn two points in the standings. The Falcons had seven different players register a goal en route to a 7-4 commanding win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on Friday night in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The Falcons have now scored 13 goals in their last two games on their way to earning a two-game winning streak heading into their home opener against Providence on Saturday.
"We had a lot of guys contributing again tonight," said Falcons head coach Rob Riley. "The power play was good for us and we had some guys score the first pro goals, just a good team win."
The Falcons came out of the gates fast and furious and quickly built a 2-0 lead with a pair of specialty team goals. Martin St. Pierre started the scoring with a power play goal just 1:48 into the game, followed by Nick Drazenovic recording a shorthanded marker at 4:52 of the opening frame giving the Falcons a two-goal cushion.
The Penguins would battle back as Paul Thompson cut Wilkes-Barre's deficit to 2-1 at 6:07 of the first period. Wilkes-Barre would even the score at 2-2 when Geoff Walker converted on the power play at 8:29 of the second period, but Springfield would regain their lead at 11:01 of the middle period when Mike Thomas scored his first pro goal.
Once again, the Penguins tied the score when Bryan Lerg scored his second goal of the year at 13:03 of the middle frame. With the game deadlocked at three, the Falcons used their power play once again to take control of the game. Cam Atkinson tallied on the man advantage at 15:08, followed by John Moore adding a power play marker at 16:09 giving the Falcons a 5-3 lead through 40 minutes.
"The power play goals was obviously a big moment in the game," said Riley. "It's a tie game at that point, we were able to take advantage and it helped us maintain momentum."
Lerg added his second goal of the game just 1:43 into the third period pulling the Penguins to within one, but Ryan Russell scored just 36-seconds later regaining Springfield's two-goal advantage. Oliver Gabriel added his first pro goal late in regulation finishing off a 7-4 Falcons’ win.
Goaltender Paul Dainton relieved Allen York in the second period when York suffered an upper body injury and didn't return.
Dane Byers - Nick Drazenovic - Cody Bass
Ryan Russell - Andrew Joudrey - Adam Mair
Oliver Gabriel - Ryan Garlock - Mike Thomas
Cody Goloubef - Nick Holden
John Moore - Dalton Prout
Brent Regner - Anton Blomqvist
Paul Dainton
Not dressed: Tomas Kubalik, Steven Delisle, Aaron Bogosian
Springfield Falcons 7 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4 - Status: Final
Friday, October 14, 2011 - Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
Springfield 2 3 2 - 7
W-B/Scranton 1 2 1 - 4
1st Period-1, Springfield, St. Pierre 1 (MacLeod, Goloubef), 1:48 (PP). 2, Springfield, Drazenovic 2 (Mair), 4:52 (SH). 3, W-B/Scranton, Thompson 1 (Sill, Strait), 6:07. Penalties-DeFazio Wbs (hooking), 0:57; Byers Spr (hooking), 2:55; Sneep Wbs (interference), 10:53; Goloubef Spr (interference), 17:57.
2nd Period-4, W-B/Scranton, Walker 1 (Tangradi, Despres), 8:29 (PP). 5, Springfield, Thomas 1 (Garlock), 11:01. 6, W-B/Scranton, Lerg 2 (Thompson, Walker), 13:03. 7, Springfield, Atkinson 1 (St. Pierre, Holden), 15:08 (PP). 8, Springfield, Moore 1 (Bass, Drazenovic), 16:09 (PP). Penalties-Thompson Wbs (slashing), 3:38; Prout Spr (hooking), 6:59; served by Walker Wbs (bench minor - too many men), 13:57; Picard Wbs (boarding), 14:51.
3rd Period-9, W-B/Scranton, Lerg 3 (McDonald, Strait), 1:43. 10, Springfield, Russell 1 (Joudrey, Mair), 2:19. 11, Springfield, Gabriel 1 (Garlock, Thomas), 13:38. Penalties-Goloubef Spr (cross-checking), 9:02; Prout Spr (interference), 16:50.
Shots on Goal-Springfield 9-12-5-26. W-B/Scranton 11-11-10-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Springfield 3 / 5; W-B/Scranton 1 / 5.
Goalies-Springfield, York 1-0-0 (13 shots-12 saves); Dainton 1-1-0 (19 shots-16 saves). W-B/Scranton, Munroe 0-1-1 (21 shots-16 saves); Thiessen 1-1-0 (5 shots-3 saves).
A-4,333
Referees-Jon McIsaac (39).
Linesmen-Francis Trempe (56), Chris Allman (11).
PRE-GAME NOTES
The Falcons stopped at the United States Military Academy at Westpoint to get a tour of the facilities, as well as get a chance to speak with individuals who have served in missions to Afghanistan and Iraq. The afternoon was set up by Falcons head coach Rob Riley, who spent 18 years as head coach of the Army Black Knights. Riley wanted the players to get a chance to view Westpoint and take in so much of the tradition that makes the place so special.
"I thought it was important for the players to meet so many of the special people at Westpoint," said Riley. "We had a chance to speak with individuals who know so much about leadership, team work, commitment and character. I think everyone enjoyed the afternoon.'
Rob Riley's brother Brian is the current head coach of Army and he added some great insight into some of the Army players who have gone on to serve in active duty in the United States Military, and he told some emotional stories of former Army players who have given their life to our country in missions to the Middle East.
After the stop at Westpoint, the Falcons continued on to Wilkes-Barre and settled into a quiet evening before gameday on Friday. Ironically, the Falcons beat the Penguins to Wilkes-Barre due to the fact that the Penguins were in Rochester, NY on Thursday beating the Americans 5-1. Former Falcon forwards Bryan Lerg and Colin McDonald both scored for Wilkes-Barre.
GIROUX UP - ATKINSON TO FALCONS
The Falcons did have some roster juggling on Thursday as Alexandre Giroux was recalled by the Columbus Blue Jackets and Cam Atkinson was assigned to the Falcons by Columbus. Giroux practiced with the Falcons on Thursday morning before jumping on a plane later in the day. Atkinson joined the Falcons in Wilkes-Barre and is expected to be in the lineup on Friday.
The Falcons will skate on Friday morning, stay tuned for more updates.....
Listed below is the Falcons current roster:
Goaltenders – Paul Dainton, Allen York (2)
Defensemen – Steven Delisle, Dalton Prout, Nick Holden, John Moore, Cody Goloubef, Brent Regner, Anton Blomqvist (7)
Forwards – Cam Atkinson, Nick Drazenovic, Adam Mair, Ryan Garlock, Mike Thomas, Tomas Kubalik, Wade MacLeod, Oliver Gabriel, Andrew Joudrey, Cody Bass, Aaron Bogosian, Dane Byers, Martin St. Pierre, Ryan Russell (14)
Injured - Theo Ruth
