News

The Springfield Falcons have announced the recall of goaltender Jonathan Boutin from Johnstown of the ECHL. The move comes less than 24 hours after Boutin's start in the 2005-06 ECHL All-Star Game in Fresno. No word as of yet on either Gerald Coleman or Brian Eklund going down to Johnstown to make room.

(More on the flip.)

Today was the second installment of a budding rivalry between two of the best young goaltenders in Finland as HPK squared off against Ilves Tamperre. The match featured the second SM-liiga contest between Karri Ramo and Tuukka Rask. Rask, who beat Ramo for the starting job for the Finnish junior team at the World Junior Championships, carried the first matchup less than a month before the tournament. Today, however, was different.

In a shootout, Karri Ramo defeated Tuukka Rask and Ilves 2-1. Ramo made a remarkable 40 saves on 41 shots including a remarkable 21/21 third period to be named third star of the game. Rask, for his part, was named the game's second star making 41 saves on 42 shots faced. The victory moves Karri Ramo's record to 7-5-3 on the season.

Note: this thread contains spoilers. If you're going to watch the game on tape delay on OLN tomorrow night and don't want to know the score, do not continue on.

The results of last night's ECHL skills competition are in. Jonathan Boutin scored middle of the pack in the rapid fire and breakaway events. The ECHL All-Star game takes place tonight at 10pm ET.

Center Jason Jaspers has been reassigned to Springfield of the AHL. The transaction actually took place Sunday once it became clear Tim Taylor's injuries were too minor to hold him out of the lineup. Springfield plays the Hartford Wolfpack Wednesday night.