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.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 20, 2013
- Home Dates Set for Griffins' First Round Series - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Heat Lose to Barons in Season Finale - Abbotsford Heat
- Texas Stunner, Hogs Battle Back for a 5-3 Win - Rockford IceHogs
- Rampage Drop 5-2 Decision to Houston on Fan Appreciation - San Antonio Rampage
- Crunch Capture Division Title with 4-3 Win over Sharks - Syracuse Crunch
- Big Noise in Phantoms Season Farewell - Adirondack Phantoms
- Monsters End Season on High Note with Shutout Win - Cleveland Monsters
- Texas Stars Clinch Top Seed in Western Conference in Spite of Loss - Texas Stars
- Griffins Blanked by Monsters - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Rivermen Held in Check 5-0 - Peoria Rivermen
- Barons Open Calder Cup Playoffs at Home on April 26 - Oklahoma City Barons
- Falcons Complete Record Season In Fitting Fashion - Springfield Falcons
- Senators Hold off Bears - Hershey Bears
- Aeros Surge Past Rampage 5-2 - Houston Aeros
- Monarchs clinch seventh seed in Post-season; Win sixth straight game - Manchester Monarchs
- Penguins Downed by Monarchs in Regular Season Finale - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sharks Battle for Three Goals in 3rd Period in 4-3 Shootout Loss - Worcester Sharks
- P-Bruins Shut out Sound Tigers 3-0 - Bridgeport Sound Tigers
- B-Sens Take Down Bears in Home Finale, 4-2 - Binghamton Senators
- Americans Defeat Bulldogs 5-1 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Portland defeats Whale - Connecticut Whale
- Albany Breaks Scoreless Stalemate Late, Shuts out Admirals 2-0 - Norfolk Admirals
- Lane Hat Trick Lifts Pirates over Whale - Portland Pirates
- Monarchs Head to 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs - Manchester Monarchs
- Wolves Eliminated from Playoff Hunt with 2-0 Loss to Milwaukee - Chicago Wolves
- Checkers Rout Peoria, Clinch Home Ice - Charlotte Checkers
- Bruins Shutout Sound Tigers - Providence Bruins
- Frazee, Devils Blank Admirals - Albany Devils
- Syracuse Crunch Announce Year End Award Winners - Syracuse Crunch
- B-Sens Present 2012-13 Player Awards - Binghamton Senators
- IceCaps Down Marlies 4-3 in a Shootout - Toronto Marlies
- IceCaps Edge Marlies in Shootout - St. John's IceCaps
- Henderson, Bang Reassigned to Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
- Pirates Sign Chris Rawlings to Amateur Tryout Contract - Portland Pirates
- Monarchs Release O'Connor - Manchester Monarchs
- Defenseman Ben Blood Reassigned to Binghamton - Binghamton Senators
- Falcons Join Forces with Clear Channel Stations to Support 'The One Fund Boston' - Springfield Falcons
- Falcons Game Preview: Springfield at Adirondack, Game #76 - Springfield Falcons
- Pirates Battle Whale in Home Finale - Portland Pirates
- Rampage Unable to Contain Rockford, Fall 9-4 on Friday Night - San Antonio Rampage
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
