SPRINGFIELD, Mass – The St. John’s IceCaps opened the 2012-13 AHL season with a loss, falling 4-2 to the Springfield Falcons on Saturday night.
The IceCaps failed to display any get-up-and-go early in the game and fell behind 3-1 by the mid-way point of the second period. Despite a late push they were unable to catch the Falcons.
Carl Klingberg and Hunter Tremblay scored for St. John’s in the loss, while Derek Meech and Spencher Machacek picked up assists for the IceCaps.
Scoring for the Falcons were Dalton Smith, Ryan Craig, Matt Calvert and Tomas Kubalik. Tim Erixon had two assists for the winning team, with Calvert and Kubalik each adding a helper.
Eddie Pasquale made 29 saves in net for the IceCaps and was credited with keeping his team in the game through the first two periods when St. John’s was outshot 25-13. Curtis McElhinney stopped 23 shots, including 11 in the third period, to lead Springfield to victory.
The IceCaps opened the scoring Saturday with a power play goal from Klingberg at 8:03 of the first period. The Falcons tied the game with a marker from Craig at 16:03 of the opening frame.
Calvert scored just 19 seconds into the second period to give Springfield its first lead of the game, while Smith’s goal at 13:24 of the second put the Falcons up 3-1. St. John’s cut the lead to one when Tremblay found the back of the net at 8:57 of the third period, only to watch Kubalik seal the deal for Springfield with a power play goal at 15:15 of the final period.
The game’s three stars were Kubalik, Calvert and Erixon respectively.
The IceCaps next see action today when they visit the Connecticut Whale.
Notes: The IceCaps have named Jason Jaffray the team’s captain for the 2012-13 season. Jaffray also served as captain during the club’s inaugural AHL campaign in 2011-12. Pro hockey veterans Jason King and Dean Arsene will serve as assistant captains … The IceCaps are currently missing a number of players due to injury, including Jaffray and defenseman Paul Postma. Jaffray is still recovering from off-season neck surgery while Postma has a minor hamstring injury. Both players are expected to return to the lineup in time for the IceCaps’ home opener on Oct. 19.
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