Falcons Beat Pirates 5-1 - Move to Within One Point of Playoff Spot
Published on March 16, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Friday's game between the Springfield Falcons and Portland Pirates was previewed as a playoff-type game and it certainly didn't disappoint the 3,769 at the MassMutual Center as the Falcons scored four third period goals on their way to a 5-1 victory over the Pirates. The Falcons improved their record to 29-28-3-3 good for 64 points, one point away from the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
With the game deadlocked at 1-1 heading into the third period, the Falcons offense exploded taking complete control of the game in the final 20 minutes. The Falcons were on the penalty kill when Adam Mair made a nice play to breakaway down the leftwing side and snap a wrist shot past Portland goaltender Peter Mannino for a shorthanded marker and giving the Falcons a 2-1 lead at 2:25 of the final frame.
After Mair's goal, the Falcons continued to apply the attack on Mannino and at 4:19 of the third period, Dalton Prout fired a slap shot through traffic that found the back of the net putting Springfield up by two at 3-1. The Falcons used a strong penalty kill just four minutes later and Matt Calvert took a feed from Nick Drazenovic and Calvert executed a beautiful backhand to forehand finish, giving the Birds a 4-1 cushion. Tomas Kubalik added a late power play marker for the Falcons concluding a strong 20 minutes of hockey for the hometown team.
After a scoreless first period, the Falcons and Pirates exchanged goals in the second period. Portland's Brett Sterling gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead at 4:36 of the middle frame, but Drazenovic tied the score at 1-1 just over a minute later when he one timed a Greg Amadio rebound past Mennino.
The Falcons started the first period strong and recorded the first 11 shots on goal. Falcons rookie goaltender Mike Clemente stopped 24 of 25 shots in his AHL debut after signing an Amateur Tryout Agreement on Tuesday.
The Falcons are 6-1-0-1 against the Pirates this year. Springfield is 4-0-0-1 in their last five home games and 7-1-1-1 in their last 10 games at The Nest.
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