Falcons Game Preview: Springfield At Bridgeport, Game #39

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


Springfield Falcons (23-9-3-3) at Bridgeport Sound Tigers (19-16-2-2)

Sunday, January 20, 2013

3:00 p.m.

Webster Bank Arena

RADIO: (presented by FalconsWireless.com) WHYN NewsTalk 560 AM/WHYN.com

WEBCAST: AHLLive.com

IN JUST A FEW HOURS...

The Springfield Falcons travel to Bridgeport for the first of four times this season to take on the Sound Tigers at Webster Bank Arena in a Northeast Division battle at 3:00 p.m. The Falcons have won four-straight games for the first time since Dec. 23 to 30, 2006 and completed the best opening half of a season in franchise history on Saturday night, prevailing with a 2-1 shootout victory over the Albany Devils in Springfield. Paul Dainton stopped 35 of 36 shots and made several key saves down the stretch to help Springfield maintain its 10-point division lead over Bridgeport. With a win today, Springfield would match Binghamton's 54 points and pull into a tie for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Today's broadcast, presented by FalconsWireless.com, begins at 2:45 p.m. on WHYN 560 AM, WHYN.com, the iHeartRadio App, or AHLLive.com.

Springfield returns home on Friday to host the Worcester Sharks at 7:00 p.m. at the MassMutual Center. The first 1,000 fans into the building 12 and under will receive a youth specialty Falcons jersey, courtesy of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts. Fans in attendance on Friday will also have the opportunity to win a brand new, high-definition television courtesy of Manny's TV & Appliances (MannysTV.com) as part of "Flat-Screen Friday."

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).

DRIVE FOR FIVE

After failing in each of their last 12 attempts, including three this season, to win four-straight contests, Springfield broke through on Friday with a fourth-consecutive victory and now looks ahead to the five-straight wins mark. The Falcons have not won five-straight games in the same season since accumulating a franchise-record nine-consecutive victories from Mar. 6 to 28, 1998. Springfield has fallen in six attempts over the last 14-plus years at achieving five-consecutive wins. The Falcons also won four-straight games a seventh time during that stretch, taking two points in each of the last four contests of the 1999-2000 season.

RECORD SET

Springfield's record of 23-9-3-3 (.684) through the first half of the season is the best in franchise history. The Falcons' previous mark for the best opening half was in 1995-1996, when Springfield went 23-9-5-3 (.675) in the first 40 games of the 80-contest campaign.

DEFENDING THE NEST

Springfield has won five-consecutive home games within the same season for the first time since ending the 2011-2012 campaign with victories in five-straight games at the MassMutual Center.

STREAKS EXTENDED

Nick Drazenovic, Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, and Tim Erixon teamed up on Springfield's only goal Saturday, and all three contributed to their point streaks on that play. Drazenovic has points in four-straight games (2g-7a), Audy-Marchessault has points in six-straight (7g-6a), and Erixon has points in three-straight (1g-4a).

MIDDLE RIDDLE ANSWERED

Springfield won the middle contest of a three-in-three stretch for the first time this season last night, improving to 1-2-1-2.

TWO GOOD SIGNS

The Falcons are 8-1-0-0 in Sunday action this season and are 4-1-0-0 in the final leg of a three-in-three stretch in 2012-2013.

SHOOTOUT STUDS

Wade MacLeod and Sean Collins each scored on their first opportunities in the skills challenge this season on Saturday. Springfield has won back-to-back shootouts after dropping its first three of 2012-2013. Paul Dainton collected his first shootout win as well.

POWER STAYS ON

Springfield has power-play goals in 10-straight games.

NUMBER ONE

The Falcons' +36 goal differential is tops in the AHL.



American Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2013


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