News

Good news/bad news:

SPR-4
POR-5 (OT)

The good news is the Falcons got a point finally after a long drought. The bad news is that they blew a 3-0 lead and had to scramble for a 3rd period tying goal just to get that point. Ryan Vesce led the way for Springfield with the key tying goal and an assist while veteran Jim Campbell dropped in two assists. Goaltender Brian Eklund stopped 36 of 41 shots faced in the loss.

Honest question: How much longer does Jonathan Boutin stay in the ECHL while Eklund and Coleman continue to give up 4+ goals a night?

Game sheet from TheAHL.com.

TSN.ca reports Lightning Associate Coach Craig Ramsay will undergo surgery for prostate cancer. In his absence, Springfield assistant coach Darren Rumble will assume Ramsay's duties in handling the defense pairings for the Lightning. Bolt Prospects wishes Coach Ramsay speedy recovery.

Metallurg Magnitogorsk won their first Spengler Cup today defeating Canada in the final match 8-3. Veteran NHLer Dimitri Yushkevich was named Russia's best player in the match while HC Davos' Josef Marha was named best player in the tournament. Morgan Cey did not play leaving Andy Chiodo to concede all eight goals allowed to Magnitogorsk.

After facing arguably the two best teams in the tournament right from the jump, Finland finally broke through with a win in their third game beating hapless Norway 9-1. Finland's victory was quick and decisive as they went to the first intermission up 7-0. Tuukka Rask started and stopped 16 of 17 shots faced to move the team to 1-2 for the tournament.

With his agent no more able to engineer a trade than Jay Feaster was, LW Chris Dingman has cleared waivers and has been assigned to Springfield of the AHL. Dingman's reassignment may necessitate the demotion of a forward like Justin Kelly or Dennis Packard back to Johnstown of the ECHL.