Falcons Playoff Game Preview: Game 1, Eastern Conference Semifinals
Published on May 10, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
2. Springfield Falcons (3-1) vs. 3. Syracuse Crunch (3-0)
Game 1
Eastern Conference Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Friday, May 10, 7 p.m.
MassMutual Center
TICKETS: Ticketmaster.com/MassMutual Center Box Office/(413) 739-GOAL (4625)
RADIO: (presented by FalconsWireless.com) WHYN NewsTalk 560 AM/WHYN.com
WEBCAST: AHLLive.com
IN JUST A FEW HOURS...
The Springfield Falcons begin the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinals when they host the Syracuse Crunch at the MassMutual Center for Game 1 at 7 p.m. The Falcons defeated the Manchester Monarchs, 3-1, while the Crunch beat the Portland Pirates, 3-0, in the best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Both clubs were perfect in overtime in the opening round of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Springfield became the second team in AHL history to win three overtime games in a best-of-five series, while Syracuse was victorious in each of its two sudden-death appearances against Portland. Springfield is making its first Conference Semifinals appearance since 1997, and third in franchise history. The winner of the series will meet either the Providence Bruins or the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Eastern Conference Final.
Postseason package holders should use "Round 2, Game D" tickets for tonight's game.
Springfield and Syracuse play Game 2 of the series on Saturday, May 11 at the MassMutual Center. The clubs then move to Syracuse's War Memorial Arena for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday, May 15 and Friday, May 17.
If necessary, Syracuse will host Game 5 on Saturday, May 18. Springfield would be at home for Games 6 and 7 on Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22 should the series reach those points.
All games in the series will begin at 7 p.m.
Fans can purchase tickets for all four potential home games of the series now at the MassMutual Center Box Office, or through Ticketmaster.com. 10-Flex Playoff Packs, which allow fans to purchase 10 vouchers that are redeemable at any home game during the postseason, remain on sale by calling (413) 739-GOAL (4625). Unused vouchers can be returned to the Falcons' front office until Jun. 30 for a credit toward any 2013-14 ticket package.
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.
Below is the Falcons' Eastern Conference Semifinals schedule:
Game 1 - Friday, May 10, 7 p.m. MassMutual Center
Game 2 - Saturday, May 11, 7 p.m., MassMutual Center
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 15, 7 p.m., War Memorial Arena
Game 4 - Friday, May 17, 7 p.m., War Memorial Arena
Game 5 - Saturday, May 18, 7 p.m., War Memorial Arena (if necessary)
Game 6 - Tuesday, May 21, 7 p.m., MassMutual Center (if necessary)
Game 7 - Wednesday, May 22, 7 p.m., MassMutual Center (if necessary)
HISTORY BETWEEN SPRINGFIELD, SYRACUSE
The Falcons and Crunch, who split the two-game season series this year, each joined the AHL on the same day before the 1994-95 season. Each club has been affiliated with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Springfield, currently Columbus' AHL affiliate, took over in 2010 after Syracuse spent 10 seasons with the Blue Jackets beginning in 2000. Nick Holden is the lone Falcon who is a former Crunch skater. J.F. Jacques and Jared Nightingale, each on Syracuse's postseason roster, previously played with Springfield. The Springfield Indians and Syracuse Stars were two of the AHL's original teams in the inaugural season of 1936-37. The city of Springfield has seen seven Calder Cup champions. Syracuse won the AHL's first-ever Calder Cup championship in 1937. The Falcons and Crunch have not met in the postseason prior to this year's Eastern Conference Semifinals.
SCOUTING THE CRUNCH
The Crunch are in their first season as the Tampa Bay Lightning's AHL affiliate and have 10 players on their postseason roster who saw action in the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs with the champion Norfolk Admirals. Norfolk, Tampa Bay's AHL club at the time, won a professional hockey-record 28-consecutive games to close out the 2011-12 regular season before rolling to the Calder Cup championship. Tampa Bay's AHL developmental teams have won 13-straight playoff games dating back to the Admirals' Calder Cup run last year. Tyler Johnson, who collected six points (2g-4a) in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, won the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL's Most Valuable Player in the 2012-13 regular season.
DRAZENOVIC'S TIMELY TALLY
Nick Drazenovic's first goal since Mar. 16 clinched the Falcons' series against the Monarchs and helped Springfield become the second team in AHL history, and first since the 1956 Cleveland Barons, to win three games in a best-of-five series in overtime. Springfield is now 3-0 in overtime in the playoffs, and 9-3 in its postseason history. Each of the Falcons' three series victories in the Conference Quarterfinals have been sealed by an overtime goal.
THE EARLY LEADER
Cody Bass led Springfield with four points (2g-2a) in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Bass registered sudden-death goals in Games 1 and 2, becoming the third player in AHL history to score in overtime in back-to-back contests of a playoff series.
BOUNCING BACK
After allowing three goals in the first 25:17 of Game 4, Curtis McElhinney refused all remaining Manchester attempts over the final 42:49 to backstop the Falcons to the series victory.
JENNER, CHAPUT SPARK COMEBACK
Boone Jenner and Michael Chaput scored their first-career Calder Cup Playoff goals in the second period to carry the Falcons back from a two-goal deficit in Game 4.
HOT ON HOME ICE
Springfield is 2-0 at home in the playoffs and, combined with the regular season, is 26-10-1-3 at the MassMutual Center this year. Dating back to Dec. 30, the Falcons have won 20 of 25 games on home ice.
WINNING IN NAILBITING FASHION
All four games in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals were decided by one goal. Each of the Falcons' last seven wins dating back to the regular season have been by one goal.
American Hockey League Stories from May 10, 2013
- Griffins Open Round Two with Second Straight 7-0 Win - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Falcons Bitten By Crunch In Game 1 - Springfield Falcons
- Marlies Drop Game One against Grand Rapids - Toronto Marlies
- P-Bruins Defeat Penguins 8-5 - Providence Bruins
- Bruins Repel Late Penguins' Surge to Take Game 1 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Crunch Soar Past Falcons 5-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Kings Recall Anthony Stewart - Manchester Monarchs
- Bears Assign Patrick Wellar to Reading Royals - Hershey Bears
- 12 Former Admirals Alive for the Stanley Cup - Milwaukee Admirals
- Capitals Recall Five Players from the Hershey Bears - Hershey Bears
- St. John's IceCaps to Hold Stick and Merchandise Sale - St. John's IceCaps
- Falcons Playoff Game Preview: Game 1, Eastern Conference Semifinals - Springfield Falcons
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.
