Falcons Game Preview: Springfield At Albany, Game #57
March 9, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield Falcons (34-15-4-3) at Albany Devils (24-20-1-10)
Saturday, March 9, 2013
5:00 p.m.
Times Union Center
RADIO: (presented by FalconsWireless.com) WHYN NewsTalk 560 AM/WHYN.com
WEBCAST: AHLLive.com
IN JUST A FEW HOURS...
The Springfield Falcons play the second contest of their four-game road stretch when they trek to the Times Union Center in Albany to meet the Devils at 5:00 p.m. Springfield dropped its weekend opener on Friday night in Glens Falls, receiving a power-play goal from Andrew Joudrey but falling short of the Adirondack Phantoms, 2-1. Curtis McElhinney made 32 saves on 34 shots in the defeat, while Michael Chaput and Ryan Craig each registered assists. Springfield moved into second place in the Eastern Conference with the loss and now trails Syracuse by two points with three games in hand on the Crunch for the top spot. The Falcons held their 13-point lead over Connecticut with three games in hand on the Whale for Northeast Division supremacy.
Tonight's broadcast is presented by FalconsWireless.com and starts at 4:45 p.m. on WHYN 560 AM, WHYN.com, the iHeartRadio App, or AHLLive.com.
After starting off next week in Bridgeport and Providence, the Falcons return to The Nest to host the Bruins on Saturday, Mar. 16 at 7:00 p.m. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive a free Falcons baseball hat. Fans can also win a free bicycle from Gus Coelho Auto Repair at 442 Holyoke St. in Ludlow as part of "Cycle Saturday."
Falcons game-worn jerseys from last week's "Irish Night" at the MassMutual Center are on the auction block now and can be bid on through the Falcons' eBay store by clicking 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).
NO BLACKJACK THIS TIME
The Falcons were attempting to tie their franchise mark for games above .500 of 21, set nearly 17 years ago, on Friday, but dropped to 19 games over .500 in the loss to the Phantoms. The franchise high water mark of 21 games over .500 was set when the Falcons beat Rochester on Apr. 13, 1996. Springfield had been a season-high 20 games over .500 heading into Friday's action for the first time since beating Portland on Mar. 28, 1998, its final victory of a franchise-record nine-game winning streak.
SWITCHING ROLES
Penalty-killing specialist Andrew Joudrey scored his first power-play goal as a Falcon on Friday night, as the veteran earned time on the man advantage due to recent recalls and injuries. Joudrey has three shorthanded goals as a Falcon, including two this season, putting him one shy of equaling the all-time franchise record.
STUBBORN DEFENSE
The Falcons allowed two goals or less for the 32nd time in 56 games this season on Friday. Springfield is second in the AHL on defense at 2.36 goals against/game. The Falcons' +47 goals differential is the highest in the league.
FRIDAY FUN FIZZLES
Springfield dropped its first Friday decision since Jan. 25, ending a four-game Friday winning streak. The Falcons fell in regulation on a Friday for just the third time this season. Springfield's Friday record is 12-3-2-1 in 2012-2013.
ROAD BECOMES RUDER
Springfield has lost four-straight road games since its last away victory on Feb. 2, going 0-3-1-0 during that stretch. The Falcons have posted a combined two goals in their last three road appearances, getting outscored, 10-2.
MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD
Springfield's penalty kill allowed a goal on Friday, but the Falcons are 48/52 while shorthanded dating back to Feb. 2. The Falcons are fourth in the league on the penalty kill at 86.2%.
LOG'JAM' OF POINTS
Jonathan Audy-Marchessault is tied for third in the AHL with 52 points and 35 assists, and is all square for the Falcons lead with 17 goals.
CAPTAIN CLOSES IN
Ryan Craig is two power-play goals shy of tying Danny Briere and Jean-Guy Trudel for the most man-advantage tallies in team history. Craig has 27 power-play goals, while Briere and Trudel netted 29 with the Falcons.
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