By: Mike Hopey
April 11, 2010- The Springfield Falcons rattled off seven unanswered goals, including two each from Chad Wiseman and Jordan Eberle, as they defeated the Manchester Monarchs 7-3 in the season finale at the MassMutual Center Sunday afternoon in front of 5,678 fans. Chris Minard scored a goal and notched four assists as he, Eberle and Wiseman combined for 12 points in the win.
“We generated offense, scored some pretty goals, and didn’t give up a lot defensively,” said head coach Rob Daum. “We’re a better team then our record would indicate. But it was a nice way to go out.”
Eberle’s two goals came in the second period. The first, at 6:22, was tipped out of the air after a Minard shot was deflected. Eberle’s second goal was a one-timer wrist shot from Wiseman and Minard at the 15:57 mark of the middle frame and made the game 6-1.
Wiseman scored his second of the night at the 2:55 mark of the third period as Minard picked up his fourth assist of the game and Eberle got his third point of the night.
After Thomas Hickey gave the Monarchs the lead with his 1st goal of the season past Olivier Roy at the 2:04 mark of the first period, the Falcons rattled off four un-answered goals in the first frame. The four goals came on only nine shots.
Wiseman tied the game with his 23rd goal of the season roofed past Manchester starter Jean-Francois Berube. Minard picked up his first assist of the game on the goal and Jeff Petry was credited with the second, his third of the season.
The Falcons capitalized with 40 seconds left on a five-minute power-play with Ryan O'Marra's 12th goal of the campaign. Bryan Lerg took the puck to the net and kept his balance as Manchester defenders tried to knock him off the puck as he picked up an assist on the goal. O'Marra took the Lerg rebound and put it back on net as it trickled through Berube's legs.
The Falcons earned the five-minute power-play when Manchester captain Drew Bagnall was given a major penalty for kneeing Geoff Paukovich. In addition to the major, Bagnall was given a game misconduct.
The Falcons added the third goal at the 13:01 mark of the period. Minard snapped a one-timer feed from Liam Reddox, who had two assists, past Berube for the short-handed goal. Reddox picked up his second assist of the night and Las Vegas native Eddie Del Grosso picked up his second assist of the season on the goal.
At the 16:21 mark of the first period, Colton Fretter increased his team-lead in goals and netted the Falcons’ final goal of the period when he put his 26th off the post and into the net. Ryan Donald picked up his first career point on the Falcons' goal that made it 4-1.
The Yale alum, Donald, also mixed up with Monarchs’ players twice. In the second period, Donald and Juraj Mikus received roughing penalties after a pushing and shoving match in front of the Falcons net. In the third, Donald dropped the gloves with heavyweight Kevin Westgarth.
Roy was solid as he picked up his first career AHL win, making 28 saves in the win. The Amqui, Quebec native was appearing in his third game for the Falcons after playing this season with the Cape Brenton Screaming Eagles.
David Kolomatis scored his 8th goal of the season 16:42 and John Zeiler added his 11th goal at 18:23 to cut the Falcons lead to 7-3 and end the Falcons streak of seven unanswered goals.
Three Stars of the Game presented by Springfield College
1. SPR Chris Minard (1 goal, 4 assists, +7)
2. SPR Chad Wiseman (2 goals, 2 assists)
3. SPR Jordan Eberle (2 goals, 1 assist)
Game Night Notes ...
Game Setup: The final game of the season will be the 8th time that the Falcons will meet the Manchester Monarchs. In the previous seven match-ups, the Falcons are 1-5-0-1 against the Monarchs in the previous games. Springfield's lone win came back on October 16 at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons won 4-1 on the strength of goals from Geoff Paukovich, Chad Wiseman, Colin McDonald, and Colton Fretter who picked up the game-winner in the second period.
In the most recent meeting the Monarchs skated away with a 5-2 win over the Falcons on February 24 in Manchester. Springfield fell behind 4-0 before Charles Linglet and Chris Minard cut the Monarchs lead in half in the second period. Unfortunately, the Falcons could not complete a comeback. Devan Dubnyk made 35 saves in the game for the Falcons.
Manchester has already locked up a playoff spot and have clinched at least the third seed in the Atlantic Division.
Falcons Player Notes:
• Chad Wiseman has two goals and two assists in six games against the Monarchs this season.
• Colton Fretter had a goal in the Falcons one win over Manchester this season back on October 16. Fretter has added another goal playing in all seven games. Fretter leads the Falcons with 24 goals on the season.
• Bryan Lerg has a goal and an assist playing in six games against the Monarchs this season.
• Chris Minard has two of his 18 goals this season against Manchester in only four games.
Monarchs Player Notes:
• Manchester goalie Jonathan Bernier was named the Aledge “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award winner for the 2009-10 season. The award is given to the most outstanding goaltender in a season. Bernier has played in 57 games this season for the Monarchs this season going 30-20-6-9 with a 2.03 goals against average and 0.937 save percentage. Bernier leads the league in saves and shutouts with nine. Bernier leads the league in save percentage and is second in GAA.
• Bud Holloway has scored three goals and tallied seven assists while playing in every game against the Falcons.
• Justin Azevedo has six points, two goals and four assists, in just four games this season against the Falcons.
• Marc-Andre Cliche and David Meckler have both scored thee goals against the Falcons this season.
Falcons Player Movement Recap:
Jordan Bendfeld was re-assigned to the Stockton Thunder this week. Bendfeld played in 10 games for the Falcons this season picking up an assist and seven penalty minutes.
The Falcons also signed two players to Amateur Tryout Agreements. The first player was Chris Vande Velde, a 6’2” 204-pound Moorhead, Minnesota native who played four years at the University of North Dakota. Vande Velde was a fourth round selection, 97th overall, by the Oilers in 2005. With the Fighting Sioux, Vande Velde put 18 goals and 17 assist in the 2008-09 season.
Ryan Donald was the second player signed to an ATO this week. Donald, a native of St. Albert, Alberta, is coming off four seasons playing for the Bulldogs at Yale University. While at Yale, Donald scored five goals and notched 19 assists in 123 career games. Donald’s best season game this year when he scored twice and assisted on six other goals.
Monarchs Player Movement Recap:
This week the Monarchs released goalie Dave Wilson from his ATO. Wilson was signed on April 2 to replace Jonathan Bernier who had been on loan to the Los Angles Kings, the Monarchs NHL affiliate. Wilson did not appear in a game during his brief stint with the Monarchs.
Doug Nolan was also released from his Professional Tryout Agreement this week. The Quincy, Mass native played in 19 games for the Monarchs this season picking up three assists and 31 penalty minutes. Nolan played four years for the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks before beginning his professional hockey career that has taken him around the world, including stints in Russia and Finland. Nolan was originally an 11th round selection by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
*Reprinted by Oilers Jambalaya with permission by the Springfield Falcons AHL Hockey Club. The Springfield Falcons are a proud affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers (NHL)*
