Falcons continue winning ways

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Springfield Falcons scored two goals just 33-seconds apart late in the third period earning a 4-3 win over the red hot Lowell Devils in dramatic fashion Wednesday night. Up 3-2 with two minutes left in the game, the Devils looked like they would get their third win in Springfield of the year, but the Falcons rallied to improve their home record to 6-0-2-1.

The Devils came out fast and aggressive in the final twenty minutes and it paid off early on as they scored on a Matt Taormina power play goal making it 3-2. The game continued on without a goal until Springfield’s Chad Wiseman had his sixth goal of the season to tie the game up 3-3 with less than two minutes left. Only 33 seconds after Wiseman’s goal, Ryan MacMurchy picked the perfect time for his first goal of the season giving the Falcons a 4-3 win.

“It feels unbelievable to come back from behind like that,” said MacMurchy on the win, “It was an exhilarating game and just a huge game in the standings. We’re battling with those guys and trying to get ahead in the division. We just played hard and we sticked with it. We believe in each other and we keep each other up...and you can get two goals like that when you have that attitude.”

This type of win is more than just two points in the standings, but it creates an attitude in the locker room that this team is never out of a game.

“Just as a team it brings you closer together,” said MacMurchy on the effect this win may have, “You’ll never give up and just helps your psyche as a team just to stay focus and play hard.”

It may not have been the prettiest win for the Falcons, but it was a win as a result of the Springfield player’s hard effort.

“We did everything we could to give it away,” said Falcons Head Coach Rob Daum, “But found a way in the end to get the victory. It’s positive for us. There are many games where we would have found a way to lose this so it’s nice under the circumstances to find a way to win.”

In a quiet first period, the Falcons scored the only goal of the period thanks to Ryan O’Marra’s third goal of the season. Assisting on the late period goal were Colin McDonald and MacMurchy. Both teams struggled to get into any kind of sustained rhythm, but fortunately for Springfield they were able to capitalize on an odd man rush.

Lowell’s Alexander Vasyunov tied the game up at one apiece less than five minutes into the second stanza. This was Vasyunov’s third goal of the season and second goal against Springfield this year. Springfield’s Colton Fretter answered with his fourth goal of the season, giving the Falcons a 2-1 lead. Fretter’s goal extended his point streak to five consecutive games. Fretter also now has five points against Lowell this season.

“It was nice to be able to battle back in the third,” said Fretter, “It’s always good for the locker room and the team’s morale. Everyone is in good spirits right now.”

Lowell’s Louis Robitaille tied the game up 2-2 at the 13:35 mark in the second period.

At the end of two periods, Lowell outshot Springfield 22-19, including 17-11 in the second. The teams continued to play discipline, combining for only four penalties in forty minutes of play.

In a game where no fights occurred, there was some physical play out on the ice. This physical play led to Springfield’s Matt Nickerson dropping gloves ready to fight Lowell’s Robitaille halfway through the third period. Interestingly no fight happened, as Robitaille skated away from Nickerson and to his bench.

Springfield has now earned at least one point in each one of their nine home games this season and they have at least one point in 10 of their last 11 games. The Falcons will look to build on this win as they head on the road this weekend to face the Providence Bruins on Friday and Hershey Bears on Saturday.