Falcons Game Preview: Springfield At Adirondack, Game #56
March 8, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield Falcons (34-14-4-3) at Adirondack Phantoms (21-30-2-2)
Friday, March 8, 2013
7:00 p.m.
Glens Falls Civic Center
RADIO: (presented by FalconsWireless.com) WHYN NewsTalk 560 AM/WHYN.com
WEBCAST: AHLLive.com
IN JUST A FEW HOURS...
The Springfield Falcons begin a four-game road stretch when they head to the Glens Falls Civic Center to meet the Adirondack Phantoms at 7:00 p.m. The Falcons are tied for first place in the AHL standings with three games in hand on both Syracuse and Texas after collecting eight points in under 48 hours last weekend at the MassMutual Center. Springfield's lead in the Northeast Division is 13 points with three games in hand on Connecticut heading into the 22nd weekend of the 2012-2013 season. The Falcons are 3-0-0-0 against the Phantoms this year after sweeping the home season series versus the Phantoms. Springfield closes out the weekend on Saturday in Albany.
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.
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).
MCELHINNEY'S MILESTONE DAY
Curtis McElhinney added to his Falcons single-season record with his eighth shutout of 2012-2013 on Sunday. McElhinney also tied Manny Legace's record for most shutouts in a Falcons career of eight. The eighth-year pro reached that mark in 36 appearances with Springfield, accomplishing the feat in 117 fewer outings than Legace, who played in 153 games as a Falcon. The Falcons' netminder also matched Marcel Paille for the most shutouts in a season in the 70-year history of AHL hockey in Springfield. Paille registered eight shutouts in 1960-1961 with the Indians during their second of seven Calder Cup championship seasons. McElhinney's eight shutouts lead the AHL, while his 23 wins place him in third. He is fifth in the league with a .924 save percentage and is 11th with a 2.30 goals-against average.
20/20 VISION
The Falcons are a season-high 20 games over .500 for the first time since improving to 42-22-9 with a two-point outing in Portland on Mar. 28, 1998, their final victory of a franchise-record nine-game winning streak. Springfield is a win on Friday shy of equaling the franchise standard of 21 games above .500, set when the Falcons beat Rochester on Apr. 13, 1996.
DEFENSE, GOALTENDING PAVE THE WAY
The Falcons played 213 minutes and 42 seconds of hockey last weekend but allowed only three goals to move into second in the AHL on defense. Springfield's team goals-against average dipped to 2.36, and the club will likely shatter its franchise record for goals allowed in a season. The Falcons are on pace to give up 179 goals, 36 fewer than their low of 215 in 1995-1996. The Falcons' +48 goals differential is the highest in the league.
IMPECCABLE PENALTY KILL
Springfield's penalty kill stopped nine of 10 opposing power plays on the weekend and is third in the league in shorthanded situations at 86.4%. Since allowing Syracuse to score three times on the power play in a 5-3 win over the Crunch on Feb. 1, Springfield has gone 45/48 on the PK in its last 12 games.
BEST DAYS OF THE WEEK
Springfield has had its greatest success of the season on Fridays and Sundays. The Falcons are 12-2-2-1 in Friday action, and are 12-2-0-0 in Sunday competition for a combined record on those two days of 24-4-2-1. Curtis McElhinney has five of his eight shutouts in Sunday contests this year.
'MARCH'ING TO THE TOP
Jonathan Audy-Marchessault is tied for third in the AHL with 52 points, is even for second with 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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