Falcons Playoff Game Preview: Game 4, Eastern Conference Semifinals
Published on May 17, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
2. Springfield Falcons (3-4) at 3. Syracuse Crunch (6-0)
Game 4
Syracuse leads series, 3-0
Eastern Conference Semifinals (best-of-seven)
Friday, May 17, 7 p.m.
War Memorial Arena
RADIO: (presented by FalconsWireless.com) WHYN NewsTalk 560 AM/WHYN.com
WEBCAST: AHLLive.com
IN JUST A FEW HOURS...
The Springfield Falcons will attempt to prolong their postseason run and the Eastern Conference Semifinals when they battle the Syracuse Crunch in Game 4, with the opening face-off at the War Memorial Arena set for 7 p.m. tonight. Syracuse, which has won the first three contests of the best-of-seven series, shut out Springfield at home in Game 3 on Wednesday night behind 24 saves from Cedrick Desjardins and three points (1g-2a) from Ondrej Palat. The Falcons, with a victory tonight, would lengthen the series to Game 5 on Saturday in Syracuse.
If the Falcons win each of the next two games, Springfield would host Game 6 on Tuesday, May 21 and, if necessary, Game 7 on Wednesday, May 22. Fans can purchase tickets for the two remaining 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.
All games in the series begin at 7 p.m.
Below is the Falcons' Eastern Conference Semifinals schedule:
Game 1 - Friday, May 10, MassMutual Center, Syracuse 5, Springfield 2
Game 2 - Saturday, May 11, MassMutual Center, Syracuse 5, Springfield 3
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 15, War Memorial Arena, Syracuse 3, Springfield 0
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)
FALCONS PUSHED TO BRINK
Springfield faces elimination for the first time in the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs. Two teams have overcome a 3-0 deficit to win a best-of-seven series in AHL history. Rochester won four-straight games after trailing Cleveland, 3-0, to win the 1960 AHL Semifinal, while Adirondack beat Hershey after losing the first three contests of the 1989 Southern Division Final. The Falcons have a 5-6 record all-time when facing elimination. Springfield's largest series comeback came in the 1997 Southern Conference Quarterfinals, when the Falcons made up a 2-0 gap to win the best-of-five series over the Portland Pirates, 3-2.
SPORADIC SHUTOUT
Springfield was shut out for only the third time this season on Wednesday night. The Falcons were also blanked by Cedrick Desjardins and the Crunch at the War Memorial Arena on Feb. 23, 3-0. Springfield has not scored in either of its two games in Syracuse this season. Springfield was also silenced on Apr. 13 by Providence at the MassMutual Center. Wednesday's whitewash marked the third time the Falcons were shut out in their postseason history, and first since Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Hamilton on Apr. 15, 2003, a 4-0 defeat.
TOP PRODUCERS
Cody Bass (2g-2a), Nick Drazenovic (2g-2a), and Ryan Russell (1g-3a) are tied for Springfield's postseason scoring lead with four points each.
LEADING THE WAY
Boone Jenner led the Falcons in shots on goal for the second-straight game on Wednesday night. Jenner registered four shots for Springfield, after sending six toward Cedrick Desjardins in Game 2. He paces Springfield in the playoffs with 24 shots on net.
THREE FOR TWO
Blake Parlett, Ryan Russell, and Trent Vogelhuber are all tied for the Falcons' postseason lead with a +2 rating.
PROVIDING THE PUNCH
The line of Tyler Johnson, Ondrej Palat, and Richard Panik has been Syracuse's most productive this series. Johnson (5g-3a) and Palat (1g-7a) are tied for the team lead with eight points in the series, while Panik (3g-2a) is third with five points. Syracuse has scored three shorthanded goals against Springfield over the last two games. The Falcons allowed eight shorthanded goals during the 2012-13 regular season.
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