Alex Aleardi's first pro goal in his first pro game won it for the Falcons.
Matthew Ford (18) had a goal and two assists in the Springfield Falcons' 5-4 win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
SPRINGFIELD – After starting the last four and six of the last seven games, Curtis McElhinney was a healthy scratch Thursday in order to allow the other two Springfield Falcons goalies to get playing time.
They did, but it wasn't pretty.
Allen York earned his first start since March 2, but his was a crazy night. He was pulled after allowing four first-period goals and came back in when backup Paul Dainton was injured.
Given a second chance, York played much better, as did the offense in front of him. Alex Aleardi's first professional goal, at 4:15 of the third period, gave the Falcons a 5-4 victory over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers before 2,555 at the MassMutual Center.
"I can't imagine leaving the game and having to come back in in that scenario," Falcons coach Brad Larsen said. "I thought he did an excellent job composing himself and making some saves and swallowing some pucks."
Matthew Ford (1 goal, 2 assists) posted his first three-point game since April 7, 2012, when he played for the Adirondack Phantoms, and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (1 goal, 2 assists) had his first multiple-point outing since March 1.
Aleardi, who signed an Amateur Tryout Agreement on March 19, made his pro debut a memorable one. His wrist shot on the power play broke a 4-4 tie and gave the Falcons their only lead of the game, the only one they needed.
"It's a great feeling, working hard in practice, learning the systems," said Aleardi, who came to Springfield from the Windsor Spitfires of the Canadian Hockey League. "It's a lot different game here, obviously, than the CHL, but it's a great feeling.
"But getting the two points (in the standings) is the main thing. It's a team game."
Sean Backman's rebound goal put Bridgeport up 4-2 on only six shots, and York was replaced by Dainton just 12:21 into the first period.
"That's not to blame Allen York totally," Larsen said. "We weren't sharp. We had blown coverages on the first two goals, I mean, way blown coverages. That can't happen."
However, Dainton – who was cheered upon entering – suffered an unspecified lower-body injury at 4:39 of the second, putting York back in the crease. He finished with 19 saves.
Across the rink, Rick DiPietro – who has never lived up to his 15-year-contract with the parent New York Islanders – wasn't spectacular, but he didn't need to be.
One goal he'd like to have back was the one that tied the game 1-1 at 3:39 of the first. DiPietro stopped Ford's initial turnaround shot, but Audy-Marchessault's rebound slowly trickled through his pads.
"It was good to see him burst that bubble a little bit," Larsen said of Audy-Marchessault, who was in a scoring funk.
Ford had the goal of the night early in the third. He broke in alone on DiPietro, faked shooting low and backhanded the puck high to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Falcons captain Ryan Craig got his squad to within 3-2 at 10:45 of the first with his 28th power-play goal as a Falcon – one shy of tying Danny Briere and Jean-Guy Trudel for most in team history. Craig also tied Eric Healey for sixth on the Falcons' list with his 57th overall goal.
Blair Riley banged home a juicy rebound to put Bridgeport up 1-0 2:59 into the game. Scott Campbell and Brock Nelson pushed the lead to 3-1 in the teams' final matchup of the season.