Falcons Game Preview: Springfield at Adirondack, Game #76

April 20, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield Falcons (44-22-5-4) at Adirondack Phantoms (30-37-3-4)

Saturday, April 20, 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 Northeast Division-champion Springfield Falcons play their final game of the 2012-13 regular season when they meet the Adirondack Phantoms at the Glens Falls Civic Center, with the opening face-off set for 7 p.m. Springfield leads Syracuse by two points for second place in the Eastern Conference standings and can clinch that spot tonight with a victory combined with any form of a Crunch loss to Worcester. The Falcons underwent a 5-3 setback on Friday in Providence, putting together a three-goal rally to take a second-period lead before the Bruins responded with three-unanswered tallies. Springfield is 4-1-0-0 against Adirondack this year, having already clinched the season series.

The Falcons will host the first two contests of the best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at the MassMutual Center. Game 1 will be played on Saturday, Apr. 27 at 7 p.m., with Game 2 following on Sunday, Apr. 28 at 4 p.m. Springfield would also host Game 5, if necessary.

The remainder of Springfield's first-round schedule will be announced on FalconsAHL.com once the club's opponent is determined. The AHL's regular season ends this Sunday. The Falcons, as division winners, will have one of the Eastern Conference's top three seeds.

Single-game tickets to watch the Falcons compete in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals are on sale now at the MassMutual Center Box Office, or online at Ticketmaster.com. For information on cost-saving postseason ticket packages, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or click here.

SEARCHING FOR AN OPPONENT

Springfield's first-round opponent, either the conference's sixth or seventh seed, will be determined upon the conclusion of play on Sunday. The Falcons will play either Connecticut, Hershey, Manchester, Norfolk, Portland, or Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Falcons will be one of 10 teams to not play on Sunday, the final day of the regular season.

RECORDS STILL IN REACH

Despite falling in an attempt to match certain franchise marks on Friday, Springfield can close out the regular season by equaling those records tonight. The Falcons, already guaranteed the highest points percentage in their 19 years, can win their 45th game tonight, tying their club record for victories in a season, set in 1997-98. With a victory, or an overtime or shootout loss, Springfield would clinch a tie for the fewest regulation losses in franchise history of 22, posted in 1995-96. Springfield could also tie for the fewest losses in regulation and overtime combined of 27, garnered both in 1995-96 and 1996-97.

DEFENSIVE MARK TO BE SET

The Falcons will set franchise records for fewest goals allowed and lowest team goals-against average in one season. Springfield's current records in both categories were set in 1995-96. That season, the Falcons allowed 215 goals, with a 2.69 goals-against average. The Falcons have relinquished 184 goals this season, with a 2.45 goals-against average.

ROAD STREAK PUT ON ICE

Springfield was bidding for the second time this season on Friday to tie the longest road winning streak of five games, but fell short of matching that mark, set from Nov. 19 to Dec. 7, 2005.

MCELHINNEY'S MILESTONE SEASON ENDS

Curtis McElhinney, who has a Falcons all-time record of nine shutouts this year, is completing one of the best seasons by a Springfield netminder this weekend. McElhinney has a .923 save percentage, which would be a franchise record (current mark: Jean-Marc Pelletier, .922, 2003-04). He has a 2.32 goals-against average, just higher than Manny Legace's mark of 2.27, picked up in 1995-96. McElhinney is a win away from equaling Scott Langkow's team-best 30 victories, notched in 1997-98.

PLUS-MINUS STANDARD IN DANGER

Nick Holden (+23) and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (+22) can each tie or break the team record for highest plus-minus rating in one season, shared by Danny Briere (1997-98) and John Stevens (1995-96).

'JAM' ADDS TWO MORE

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault collected two points Friday, and leads the Falcons in all three major scoring categories (21g-46a-67p).

SALUTING THE CAPTAIN

Ryan Craig's 29-career power-play goals with as a Falcon are tied for the most in team history with Danny Briere and Jean-Guy Trudel.



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