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Falcons Game Preview: Springfield Vs. Manchester, Game #19

December 1, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield Falcons (11-3-1-3) vs. Manchester Monarchs (9-7-2-1)

Saturday, December 1, 2012

7:00 p.m.

MassMutual Center

TICKETS: Ticketmaster.com/MassMutual Center Box Office

RADIO: WHYN NewsTalk 560 AM/WHYN.com

WEBCAST: AHLLive.com

IN JUST A FEW HOURS...

The Springfield Falcons welcome the Manchester Monarchs to the MassMutual Center at 7:00 p.m. on Gary Rome Auto Group Night. On Friday evening, the Falcons staged their most dramatic comeback of the season, marching back from a 3-0 deficit in the third period by scoring five goals to register a 5-4 win on the road over the Monarchs. Ryan Craig collected his 100th-career AHL goal to tie the game in the final frame before striking again while short handed with four minutes left to put the Falcons ahead for the first time in the contest. Nick Holden, Matt Calvert, and Dalton Smith also scored for Springfield. With the win, Springfield pulled even with the Syracuse Crunch at 26 points for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Tonight's game will begin with a ceremonial puck drop by Gary Rome, owner of Gary Rome Auto Group and one of the Falcons' valued corporate partners, along with his dog Jack. The first 3,000 fans into the building that night will receive a postcard with details about a Gary Rome Auto Group Facebook promotion, which includes a grand prize of dinner for two at Picks Restaurant, an overnight stay at the Sheraton Monarch Place, and tickets to a Falcons game. Visit GoToGary.com for details on Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke, Mass. and Gary Rome Kia in Enfield, Conn.

As part of the evening, fans are encouraged to bring a toy to donate to Toys for Tots, a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The Toys for Tots bins will be located at a table in the concourse under section 1 and will be manned by on-site Marines. As an incentive to support this program, any fan who brings a toy for donation will receive a free ticket voucher for the Falcons' home game on Saturday, Dec. 15 when Springfield welcomes St. John's to the MassMutual Center at 7:30 p.m. (one voucher per person).

Fans can also purchase limited-edition, Falcons-autographed holiday glass ornaments for $5 each along with select autographed merchandise at a table behind section 1, with all proceeds going directly to Springfield Falcons Charities, the club's official charitable organization.

During the intermissions, fans will be invited to participate in a holiday sing-a-long. Santa Claus will also be venturing down from the North Pole to meet and greet Falcons fans and hang out with his friend Screech.

Fans can save $5 off a full-price adult ticket by showing their Big Y card at the MassMutual Center Box Office up to two hours before this Saturday's game.

Tonight's game is also "Cycle Saturday," as one fan will have a chance to win a free bicycle, courtesy of Gus Coelho Auto Repair at 442 Holyoke Street in Ludlow.

Single-game tickets to see the Falcons in 2012-2013 can be purchased at the MassMutual Center Box Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. through game time on Saturday home dates, and starting four hours prior to Sunday home contests. Fans can also purchase tickets by logging onto Ticketmaster.com. For information about discounted group packages to Falcons home games, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625).

NOTES ON THE COMEBACK

The Falcons won their first game of the season last night when trailing entering the third period. Springfield had last earned two points when facing a deficit after 40 minutes on Apr. 1, 2012, when Alexandre Giroux and Andrew Joudrey each connected in the third to down the Worcester Sharks, 3-2. The last time Springfield had overcome a three-goal deficit to win a game was on Oct. 28, 2011, when the Falcons battled back from 3-0 down in the second to secure a 4-3 overtime win over the Hershey Bears. The Falcons had last rallied from a three-goal, third-period deficit to win on Dec. 13, 2008, when Springfield clawed back from a 3-0 hole in the final frame to prevail over the Hartford Wolfpack in a shootout, 4-3. Springfield has responded from margins of two and three goals in its pair of games against Manchester this season to take three of a possible four points with a shootout defeat and a regulation victory.

SHORT-HANDED SUCCESS

The Falcons have scored four short-handed goals this season and have not allowed a goal while on the power play to an opposing team. Springfield is one of just three AHL clubs to have not given up a short-handed goal in 2012-2013.

FIRST TO TEN

Curtis McElhinney became the first AHL netminder to register 10 wins this season with his 25-save effort on Friday night. McElhinney's four shutouts are also the most in the league.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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