Falcons Game Preview: Springfield Vs. Worcester, Game #55
March 3, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield Falcons (33-14-4-3) vs. Worcester Sharks (26-22-1-5)
Sunday, March 3, 2013
3:00 p.m.
MassMutual Center
TICKETS: (413) 739-GOAL/MassMutual Center Box Office/Ticketmaster.com
RADIO: (presented by FalconsWireless.com) WHYN NewsTalk 560 AM/WHYN.com
WEBCAST: AHLLive.com
IN JUST A FEW HOURS...
The Springfield Falcons seek a rare eight-point weekend when they welcome the Worcester Sharks to the MassMutual Center at 3:00 p.m. The Falcons celebrated "Pink in the Rink Night" on Saturday with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Providence Bruins. Cody Bass scored the tying goal for Springfield, while Sean Collins and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault struck in the shootout. Allen York denied each of the Bruins' four attempts in the skills competition to clinch the victory for the Falcons. Springfield now has three wins in two days on the weekend after sweeping its doubleheader with Adirondack on Friday at The Nest and beating Providence on Saturday. The Falcons moved to two points back of Syracuse with two games in hand for first place in the Eastern Conference. Springfield created even more distance between itself and Connecticut for the Northeast Division's top spot, and now has a 14-point advantage. The Falcons reclaimed the league's top points percentage of .676 following Saturday's action.
The first 1,000 fans into the building 12 and under today will receive a youth specialty Falcons jersey from Dunkin Donuts. Following the game, fans can skate on the MassMutual Center ice with Falcons players. Fans are also encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the game to benefit the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Today's broadcast is presented by FalconsWireless.com and starts at 2:45 p.m. on WHYN 560 AM, WHYN.com, the iHeartRadio App, or AHLLive.com.
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).
YORK UP TO THE TASK
Allen York has been perfect in both shootouts this weekend, setting aside all five Adirondack shots in the completion of the Feb. 17 game on Friday before turning back each of Providence's four bids on Saturday. York has not allowed a goal on nine shots in his AHL shootout career and has a 2-0 record. Since Jan. 18, York is 5-2-0-0 with a .935 save percentage and a 1.83 goals-against average.
SHOOTOUT STUDS
Since dropping its first three shootouts of the season, Springfield has prevailed in each of its last four skills competitions for a 4-3 record in 2012-2013.
CODY COMES UP CLUTCH
Cody Bass' goal on Saturday eventually pushed the contest into overtime. Bass has collected two goals and two assists in seven games since returning from an injury that sidelined him for over three months.
SCOTT STRUTS HIS STUFF
Scott Howes garnered the primary assist on Cody Bass' goal on Saturday, and now has five goals and two helpers for seven points in nine games since signing with Springfield in early January. Howes scored the tying goal in the completion of the Feb. 17 game Friday and struck again in the latter contest.
HIGHS GET HIGHER
The Falcons exited an evening 19 games over .500 for the first time this season on Saturday. However, Springfield did have a retroactive record of 31-12-4-3 after winning its Feb. 22 contest following the completion of the Feb. 17 game on Friday. Springfield was last 19 games over .500 when it closed out the 1997-1998 season with a 45-26-5-2 mark. The Falcons' record for games above .500 is 21, set when they defeated the Rochester Americans on Apr. 13, 1996 to claim a record of 42-21-10-5.
BACK ON TOP
Springfield moved back into first place in the league in goal differential last night at +46, one better than Syracuse's +45.
SUNNY SUNDAYS
The Falcons are 11-2-0-0 in Sunday competition this season. Springfield has not lost at home on a Sunday since Nov. 25 against Connecticut.
CAPTAIN CLOSES IN
Ryan Craig is two power-play goals shy of tying Danny Briere and Jean-Guy Trudel for the most tallies on the man advantage in team history. Craig has 27 power-play goals, while Briere and Trudel each accumulated 29 while donning a Falcons sweater.
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