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Falcons Weekly Notes

April 4, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. - The Springfield Falcons (39-19-5-4) enter the 26th weekend of the 2012-2013 season on the cusp of clinching a spot in the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs and winning the F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy as Northeast Division champions. The Falcons have won five of their last six contests, are in a four-way tie for first place in the Eastern Conference, and have a 13-point lead in the division.

Springfield can seal a playoff berth and the division title on Friday night when it heads to Hartford to battle the Connecticut Whale. Below are the Falcons' clinching scenarios:

- Springfield clinches a playoff spot and the Northeast Division with a regulation win over Connecticut

- Springfield clinches a playoff spot with an overtime or shootout win over Connecticut

- Springfield clinches a playoff spot with an overtime or shootout loss to Connecticut AND a loss (regulation/overtime/shootout) by Albany

- Springfield clinches a playoff spot with a regulation loss, AND a regulation loss by Albany, AND a loss (regulation/overtime/shootout) by Manchester

The Falcons' game in Connecticut on Friday begins a four-game road stretch. Springfield then heads to Worcester on Saturday and Portland on Sunday. After playing at Adirondack on Friday, Apr. 12, the Falcons return home for Fan Appreciation Weekend, hosting Providence on Saturday, Apr. 13, and Connecticut on Sunday, Apr. 14. For full details of Fan Appreciation Weekend, click here.

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).

WEEK IN REVIEW

Springfield 5, Bridgeport 4

Thursday, Mar. 28

MassMutual Center

The Falcons had to battle back after allowing four goals to Bridgeport in the opening 13 minutes of the game. Jonathan Audy-Marchessault and Ryan Craig both struck for Springfield in the opening frame, but Blair Riley, Scott Campbell, Brock Nelson, and Sean Backman all connected for the Sound Tigers, as Bridgeport claimed an early 4-2 lead. The Falcons commenced their comeback when Matthew Ford backhanded a puck by Rick DiPietro on a breakaway in the second. Will Weber's shot from the right circle just 26 seconds into the third period tied the game, and then Alex Aleardi, skating in his first pro contest, completed the rally at 4:15 of the last stanza, pushing in a rebound on the power play to give Springfield its first and only lead of the night, 5-4.

Springfield 2, Connecticut 1

Saturday, Mar. 30

MassMutual Center

Michael Chaput and Nick Holden both scored on the power play in the second period, pacing the Falcons to their fifth-straight win. Chaput finished off a centering pass from Spencer Machacek early in the frame. After Brandon Segal scored minutes later to tie the game, Holden rocketed a shot from the blue line past a screen from Andrew Joudrey and into the net, as the Falcons took the lead for good, 2-1. Curtis McElhinney made 25 saves on 26 shots for his 27th victory of the season.

Albany 3, Springfield 1

Tuesday, Apr. 2

MassMutual Center

The Falcons were bidding to become the first AHL team to clinch a playoff spot on Tuesday night when they hosted the Devils. Springfield outshot Albany in the game, 36-19, but fell behind in the first on a pair of goals just 31 seconds apart. Reid Boucher slid in a rebound at 15:50, while Harri Pesonen beat Allen York between the pads on a breakaway at 16:21. Ryan Craig deposited a rebound on a five-on-three power play just 49 seconds into the third period, but Jacob Josefson's goal on an odd-man rush at 2:33 gave Albany the momentum right back, 3-1. The Falcons could not crack Keith Kinkaid the rest of the way. He made 35 saves as Albany exited Springfield with the victory.

WEEK AHEAD

Friday, Apr. 5 - Springfield at Connecticut, XL Center, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, Apr. 6 - Springfield at Worcester, DCU Center, 7:00 p.m

Sunday, Apr. 7 - Springfield at Portland, Cumberland County Civic Center, 4:00 p.m.

BLUE JACKETS ACTIVE AT TRADE DEADLINE

Springfield's NHL affiliate, the Columbus Blue Jackets, were active at the trade deadline on Wednesday, making four moves, including two that directly impacted the Falcons.

- The Blue Jackets acquired forward Marian Gaborik and defensemen Blake Parlett and Steven Delisle from the New York Rangers in exchange for forwards Derick Brassard and Derek Dorsett, along with defenseman John Moore, and a draft pick.

- The Blue Jackets acquired goaltender Michael Leighton and a draft pick from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for goaltender Steven Mason.

- The Blue Jackets acquired forward Blake Comeau from the Calgary Flames in exchange for a draft pick.

- The Blue Jackets acquired goaltender Patrick Killeen from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for future considerations.

The Falcons received Parlett and Killeen from the two trades. Parlett had 28 points (6g-22a) in 67 games with Connecticut this season. Killeen was a combined 10-13-7 between Orlando and Wheeling of the ECHL in 2012-2013

CRAIG TIES BRIERE, TRUDEL

Ryan Craig tied the top two goal scorers in team history, Jean-Guy Trudel and Danny Briere, for the most tallies on the man advantage by a Falcon on Tuesday. Craig's goal was his 29th on the power play with Springfield, including his team-best 12th of the season. He would become the first player in franchise history to amass 30 power-play goals. Craig moved into sole possession of sixth place in the club's all-time goal-scoring list with his 58th marker. Trudel is the franchise leader with 90, while Briere is second with 88.

PROVIDING THE POWER

Nick Drazenovic and Ryan Craig are first and second in the AHL, respectively, in power-play points this season. Drazenovic has 28 points (9g-19a) on the man advantage, while Craig has 26 (12g-14a). The 19 power-play assists by Drazenovic are tied for the most in the league. Craig's 12 power-play goals place him in third in the AHL.

MCELHINNEY DRIVES FOR FIVE

Curtis McElhinney will seek his fifth-straight win this weekend. McElhinney, who has accumulated a Falcons all-time record nine shutouts in 2012-2013 - leading the league in that category - is closing in on the club's single-season victory mark. The eighth-year pro is third in the league with 27 wins. The franchise mark is 30, set by Scott Langkow in 1997-1998. McElhinney is fourth with a .927 save percentage and is sixth with a 2.21 goals-against average. He is on pace to set club records in both of those categories.

BIG WEEKEND AHEAD FOR 'JAM'

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault enters the weekend in reach of the AHL's scoring leaders. Audy-Marchessault tops the Falcons with 60 points (19g-41a), trailing Hershey's Jeff Taffe and Peoria's T.J. Hensick by two points for the league's scoring lead. His 60 points place him in a tie for fourth in the league, while his 41 assists put him in a share of third. Audy-Marchessault leads Springfield in games against Connecticut, his 2011-2012 club, with 14 points (1g-13a) in nine games.

'HOLDEN' DOWN THE FORT

Nick Holden has goals in two of the last four games and has had the most productive offensive season of his five-professional campaigns. The 25-year-old has set career highs in 2012-2013 in points (31), goals (8), and assists (23).

DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP WITHIN REACH

With a regulation win on Friday, the Falcons would seal their third division title in franchise history, and first since 1997-1998. Springfield also won its division in 1995-1996. This would also mark the third time that the Falcons possessed the F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy.

Background information of the F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy comes courtesy of the 2012-2013 AHL Guide & Record Book:

The F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy is named after one of the early pioneers of the sport in the 20th century. Teddy Oke was the owner of the Kitchener team in the Canadian Professional Hockey League, one of two leagues that joined to create the present-day American Hockey League in 1936. One of the oldest trophies in North American sports, the Oke Trophy was first presented more than eight decades ago to the London Panthers, champions of the CPHL in 1927. Through the years, it has gone to the winner of the old International League, the AHL's Western Division winner, the regular-season champion in the one-division AHL, and the winners of the Eastern, Northern, New England and East Divisions. It is now awarded to the winner of the AHL's Northeast Division.

A SEASON TO REMEMBER

The Falcons are threatening to break franchise records for most wins, most points, and fewest combined regulation and overtime losses:

- Springfield is on pace to earn 44 wins, one fewer than its franchise high of 45, set in 1997-1998.

- Springfield is on pace to collect 99 points, one fewer than its franchise high of 100, set in 1995-1996.

- Springfield is on pace to lose 27 games combined in regulation and overtime, equal to the franchise low of 27, set in 1994-1995 and 1996-1997.

CLUB RECORD EQUALED

The Falcons tied the franchise mark for games above .500 in a season of 21 with their win over Connecticut on Saturday. Springfield had been 21-games over .500 in April of 1996 but had not reached that mark since that point prior to Saturday. The Falcons could reach the 22-games above .500 plateau with consecutive wins to begin this weekend.

HOME RULE

Springfield is tied for the most points in the Eastern Conference on home ice (50) and has won 17 of 21 games at the MassMutual Center since Dec. 30.

ROAD RAMPAGE

With a victory on Friday, the Falcons would clinch a winning season on the road for the first time since 1997-1998.

DOMINANT DEFENSE

The Falcons are second in the league in team defense this season, allowing 2.42 goals/game. Springfield is on pace to allow 184 goals this year, 31 fewer than its franchise low of 215, set in 1995-1996.

A POSITIVE APPROACH

Despite the fact that their winning streak was snapped on Tuesday, the Falcons had been able to build up five-straight victories for the second time in 2012-2013. Springfield was a win on Tuesday away from equaling its longest winning streak of the season, and fourth longest in franchise history. The Falcons' record for longest winning streak is nine games, set from Mar. 6 to 28, 1998.

FALCONS PLAYERS TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS AT SARAT FORD LINCOLN

Falcons players will meet fans and sign autographs at Sarat Ford Lincoln in Agawam on Tuesday, Apr. 9.

The players will be available that evening from 6 to 7 p.m. Sarat Ford Lincoln is located at 245 Springfield St. in Agawam. For directions, please call (413) 786-0430.

SHOP AT THE FALCONS NEST PRO SHOP!

Fans can purchase their favorite team gear and apparel at the Falcons Nest Pro Shop, located inside the team office at 45 Falcons Way, during normal business hours or online by clicking here.

The Falcons Nest Pro Shop moves to the MassMutual Center concourse behind section 27 during all home games.

FALCONS NEST PRO SHOP AT 45 FALCONS WAY STORE HOURS

Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TOWER SQUARE STORE HOURS

Wednesday, Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

LOCK IN YOUR SEAT FOR 2013-2014

Falcons fans are invited to reserve their ticket packages for the 2013-2014 season. Fans can to stop by "Ticket Headquarters" behind section 31 at The Nest during any Springfield home game to lock in their spot for the Falcons' 20th AHL season.

Adult season ticket prices remain the same for 2013-2014, giving fans the opportunity to watch the Falcons compete in all 38 home contests at the MassMutual Center for only $13/game. Season ticket packages in 2013-2014 will come with a no-waste guarantee, giving fans the opportunity to exchange their unused tickets for future home games. Fans can also take advantage of 22 and 10-game ticket packages next season.

The Falcons will also continue to offer flex packages for fans who want to choose what games they want to attend and how many people they want to bring to each contest. Flex packages are broken down into 44, 20, and 12-ticket plans.

Youth ticket packages and flex plans are also available in 2013-2014 for children ages 14 and under.

A $50 non-refundable deposit per seat is required.

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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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