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Falcons hitting their stride with second weekend sweep

Date: 11/26/2014

SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Falcons completed their second consecutive weekend sweep as they downed the Providence Bruins, 5-4,  at the Dunkin' Donuts Center Nov. 22.

Austin Madaisky notched two goals for the second night, while captain Ryan Craig tallied three assists and Sean Collins picked up a goal and an assist in their multi-point performances against the Bruins.

The victory puts the Falcons on a six-game winning streak and gives them control of the Northeast Division with 25 points. The team also advances to 12-7-1-0 and builds a 3-1-0-0 lead in the 10-game season series against the Bruins. The home-and-home losses against the Falcons this weekend drop the Bruins to 9-8-1-0 on the season.

Falcons netminder Anton Forsberg earned his fifth straight win, turning away 19 of 21 shots after replacing Oscar Dansk in the first period. Dansk allowed two goals on six shots. Bruins netminder Jeremy Smith recorded his fourth loss of the season, allowing five goals on 35 shots. Springfield was unable to score on three man-advantages, while allowing two power-play tallies on four Bruins opportunities.

The Bruins took what appeared to be a commanding lead in the first period with two goals just 13 seconds apart. However, the Falcons were able to cut the lead in half before the first intermission. Chris Casto held the puck in at the blue line and fed it down to Jordan Caron the right wing circle to put the Bruins on the board at the 3:58 mark. Craig Cunningham picked up a point for the secondary assist. Thirteen seconds later, Matt Lindblad sent off a shot from the left corner that snuck behind Dansk and chased him from the game. Tyler Randell and Zach Trotman assisted on the play.

At the 11:02 mark, Madaisky kicked off a four-goal run that put the Falcons on top. Collins took possession of the puck and sent it to Craig behind the cage. Craig threw a feed out to Madaisky at the right point to cut the Bruins lead in half.

Springfield dominated the second period, lighting the lamp three times before Providence answered. Just a minute into the frame, Collins evened the score from the slot off the rebound of Craig's shot. Jaime Sifers earned credit for the secondary assist. A minute later, Marko Dano gave the Falcons the lead. Mike Hoeffel skated the puck into the zone, where he fired off a shot from the right circle. Smith made the save but left the rebound out for Dano to send to the back of the net.

Madaisky potted his second goal of the game at the 12:07 mark to build up a 4-2 lead. Craig grabbed control of the puck in the right corner and sent it up to T.J. Tynan at the point. A feed to Madaisky in the high slot set up a one-timer for the Falcons' fourth consecutive goal.

Providence finally struck with 4:43 remaining in the second. With a five-on-four advantage, Justin Florek shoveled in a rebound with the help of Ryan Spooner and Cunningham to cut the Falcons lead down to 4-3.

One goal by each team in the third frame confirmed a 5-4 victory over the Bruins. The Falcons went up by two thanks to Corey Cowick at the 10:46 mark. Nathan Oystrick earned his first Falcons point with an assist on the eventual game-winner, while Thomas Larkin extended his point streak with the secondary helper.

The Bruins came within one with a power-play goal 14:52 mark, but were unable to catch the Falcons. Lindblad netted his second of the game off assists from Floreck and Spooner, but the Falcons stopped them short of a comeback, defeating the Bruins, 5-4.

The night before, the Falcons triumphed over the Bruins, 5-2, at the MassMutual Center.

Forsberg turned away 24 of 26 shots. Bruins goaltender Adam Morrison stopped 19 of 24 in defeat. Springfield was able to convert on two of four power play opportunities, while stopping three of four Providence man-advantages.

After a battle for the lead, the Falcons were able to take over and enter the first intermission leading, 3-2. The Bruins opened scoring at the 4:14 mark. Anthony Camara sent the puck up to Ben Youds at the blue line. A quick pass down to Spooner gave Providence their only lead of the game.

The score was evened halfway through the frame. Jerry D’Amigo received a pass from Jaime Sifers and threw the puck on net. After a scramble for possession in front of the cage, Mike Hoeffel was able to push the puck across the goal line and put the Falcons on the board.

Collins added another Falcons tally with 7:39 remaining in the first to take a 2-1 lead while on the power play. A shot from Tynan ricocheted off Morrison and out into the crease. Collins swept the puck in for the go-ahead goal. Madaisky was credited with the secondary assist.

The score was knotted again a minute later. Ethan Werek netted a power-play goal from the top of the right wing circle with the help of Frankie Simonelli to tie the teams, 2-2.

With 1:09 remaining in the first, Madaisky took back the lead for the Falcons with a one-timer from the left point. Thomas Larkin sent a pass to Tynan at the right point. His cross-ice pass set up Madaisky to put the Falcons ahead.

Springfield struck again at the 6:48 mark of the second period to carry a 4-2 lead after 40 minutes of play. Madaisky lit the lamp for the second time from the high slot to build up a two goal lead. Michael Chaput started the play down low in the right corner. He pushed the puck to Kerby Rychel, who set up Madaisky to earn his third point of the night.

A final power-play goal in the third frame sealed a 5-2 victory over the Bruins. Tynan fired a slap shot from the right point off a cross-ice feed from Marko Dano. Collins’ secondary assist earned him his second multi-point game of the season.

The sweep of Providence was preceded by a Nov. 21 win in which the Falcons throttled the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 5-2.

Forsberg turned away 23 of 25 shots on goal. Sound Tigers netminder Kevin Poulin allowed three goals on 18 shots before being replaced by David Leggio to start the second period. Leggio stopped 19 of 21. Springfield was able to convert on one of five power-play opportunities, while stopping two of four Bridgeport man-advantages.

Springfield struck three times in the first period to carry a 3-0 lead into the first intermission and chase Poulin from the game. The first goal came just 1:27 into the contest. Dana Tyrell received the puck at the blue line from Michael Chaput and sent a cross-slot pass to Kerby Rychel in the left circle. Rychel netted his fifth goal of the season with a quick wrist shot.

The Falcons went up 2-0 after Collins was awarded a penalty shot with 3:38 remaining in the opening frame. Collins skated in, faked a shot and beat Poulin with a backhander over his left pad.

With 1:10 on the clock, Rychel tallied his second goal of the game while on the power play to build a 3-0 lead over the Sound Tigers. Poulin stopped Chaput’s shot from the left wing circle, but left the rebound out for Rychel to grab by the right post. Tyrell picked up his second point of the game for the helper.

The Sound Tigers were able to get on the board with 6:39 remaining in the second period. While on a 4-on-3 man-advantage, Kael Mouillierat passed the puck up to Griffin Reinhart at the blue line. A feed out to the left point set Ryan Pulock up for a one-timer that beat Forsberg stick side.

The Falcons extended their lead to four before getting a response from the Sound Tigers to end the game. The Rychel-Chaput-Tyrell line notched their third goal at the 4:44 mark. Tyrell shoveled the puck to Rychel, who put a backhanded shot on net. Chaput picked up the rebound and earned his first Falcons goal of the season.

Lukas Sedlak added one more to the Falcons tally three minutes later. Josh Anderson carried the puck through the neutral zone and across the blue line. He dropped a pass for Sedlak to fire from the left point.

Bridgeport cut one off Springfield’s lead with 1:58 remaining in the game, but still fell to the Falcons, 5-2. While on the power play, Pulock powered an unassisted shot from the high slot to earn his second goal of the game.