Falcons crown Monarchs in OT

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - David Savard scored his second goal of the game at 3:13 of overtime sending the Falcons home with a 5-4 win over the Manchester Monarchs at the MassMutual Center on Friday night. The Falcons improved their record to 26-25-1-3 on the season and moved to within three points of a playoff spot within the Atlantic Division.

Friday's game was a contest that featured momentum swings all night long and featured three different lead changes. The Falcons held a 4-3 lead heading into the third period, but Manchester's Dwight King tied the score at 5:34 of the final period with a nifty backhand goal. In the overtime, both teams exchanged scoring chances during the extra session before Savard's slap shot from the right point slid past a screened Jeff Zatkoff and into the back of the net.

The night started out well for Springfield as they built a two-goal lead in the first period. Dane Byers used a shorthanded marker at 4:32 of the opening frame giving the Falcons a 1-0 lead. Late in the first period, Savard converted on the power play with just 13 seconds remaining in the session giving Springfield a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes.

In the second period, Manchester used three goals in a span of 3:19 to erase a 2-0 deficit and take a 3-2 advantage. Oscar Moller started the comeback for the Monarchs at 1:19 of the second period, followed by Bud Holloway and Brandon Kozen scoring just 25-seconds apart. After Kozen's goal, Falcons head coach Rob Riley called a timeout and the club regrouped.

Just over a minute after Manchester took the lead, Nikita Filatov wristed a shot past Zatkoff evening the score at 3-3. At 15:32 of the second period, Maksim Mayorov gave the Falcons a 4-3 lead with his 16th goal of the year.

Ben Guite finished the night with two assists, while Jonathan Sigalet also collected a pair of helpers.