Newcomers and veterans combined to give Springfield a Super Bowl Sunday victory.
Springfield Falcon Matt Calvert's (37) shot on goal is blocked by Norfolk Admirals goalkeeper Dustin Tokarski on Sunday.SPRINGFIELD – Just when it seemed that the Springfield Falcons might go 0-for-the-weekend, they scored two goals in 30 seconds.
Bingo. They suddenly had the lead, and went on to defeat the Norfolk Admirals 4-2 on Super Sunday at the MassMutual Center.
This much-needed victory by the Birds came after a 4-1 loss at Providence on Friday, and a 6-1 trouncing by the Admirals Saturday on home ice. With it, the Falcons again moved out of the cellar in the American Hockey League’s tight Northeast Division.
“It was a great comeback after losing two. We had a goal taken away in the first period (because of a hand pass), but our players hung tough and got a win we really needed,” coach Rob Riley said.
A crowd of 2,363 was treated to this impressive show, and still got out of the building well before the Super Bowl kickoff.
Defenseman Pat Cullity of Tewksbury – the only Massachusetts native on Springfield’s roster – woke up the fans with his first AHL goal, which tied the game at 2-2.
It came at 11:29 of the third on what he called “a great pass” from winger Matt Calvert.
“Pat has been a great addition since coming to us in December (on a professional tryout agreement),” Riley said. “He’s been a solid player in every game.”
Just 30 seconds after Cullity’s goal, the Falcons stormed Norfolk goaltender Dustin Tokarski, with Max Mayorov knocking home the game-winner on assists from Andrew Joudrey and Brent Regner.
With five minutes left, the Falcons sealed it, with the help of two valuable veterans. Andre Giroux beat Norfolk’s defense to a loose puck coming out of the Springfield zone, carried it deep, then flipped a perfect little pass to Martin St. Pierre, who sank it for his ninth goal.
The Falcons had taken a 1-0 lead in the first period on Calvert’s 10th goal, but the Admirals scored twice in the second period.
Paul Dainton, the former University of Massachusetts goaltender, took a physical pounding from the aggressive Norfolk offense, but held fast for his fourth victory since rejoining the Falcons two weeks ago.
“Yeah, Paulie got knocked around, but he can take it. He’s a tough kid,” Riley said.
ICE CHIPS: Cullity likely will be signed to a regular contract this week, but he’s not worried about it. “I just concentrate on playing, and take this game shift by shift,” he said ... Falcons defenseman Theo Ruth faces a suspension after an altercation in Saturday night’s game ... Forward Chris D’Alvise, activated last week after sitting out all season because of a concussion, was scratched for the third straight game ... The Western Mass. Knights, a sled hockey team based at Amelia Park rink in Westfield, will face Hampden Bank in a 1 p.m. prelim to the Falcons’ Sunday afternoon game on Feb. 19 ... The Falcons face another three-game weekend, hosting Connecticut on Friday, visiting Bridgeport on Saturday, and hosting Manchester on Sunday afternoon.