Falcons Game Preview: Springfield At Connecticut, Game #68
April 5, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield Falcons (39-19-5-4) at Connecticut Whale (33-27-5-3)
Friday, April 5, 2013
7:00 p.m.
XL Center
RADIO: (presented by FalconsWireless.com) WHYN NewsTalk 560 AM/WHYN.com
WEBCAST: AHLLive.com
IN JUST A FEW HOURS...
The Springfield Falcons travel 26 miles south on I-91 to battle the Connecticut Whale at the XL Center, with the opening face-off set for 7 p.m. Springfield enters tonight's game with a chance to clinch a spot in the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs and to win the F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy as the Northeast Division champion. The Falcons are part of a four-way tie for first place in the Eastern Conference and lead Connecticut by 13 points for the division's top spot entering Friday's action. Springfield has been in first in the Northeast since play ended on Oct. 26.
Below are the Falcons' clinching scenarios for tonight:
- 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 have won five of their last six contests as they kick off a four-game road stretch. Springfield heads to Worcester on Saturday and Portland on Sunday to close out the weekend. 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.
Tonight's broadcast is presented by FalconsWireless.com and starts at 6:58 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).
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 moved into sole possession of sixth place on the club's all-time goal-scoring list with his 58th marker.
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.
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 AHL, while his 41 assists put him in a share of third. 'JAM' leads Springfield in games against Connecticut, his 2011-2012 club, with 14 points (1g-13a) in nine games.
CLOSING IN
Springfield can reach the 40-win mark for the fourth time in franchise history tonight, and first since 1997-1998.
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, 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.
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