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Falcons Game Preview: Springfield At Bridgeport, Game #46

February 12, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield Falcons (28-11-3-3) at Bridgeport Sound Tigers (21-19-2-3)

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

7:00 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 commence a four-game week when they trek to Bridgeport to take on the Sound Tigers at Webster Bank Arena, with the opening face-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Springfield has won three-straight games to begin February, leads the Eastern Conference with 62 points, and has the top points percentage in the AHL of .689 at the start of the 19th week of the 2012-2013 regular season. The Falcons are coming off of a 3-0 blanking of the Portland Pirates this past Sunday at The Nest. Wade MacLeod, Ryan Johansen, and David Savard all scored for the Falcons, while Curtis McElhinney made 28 saves for his league-leading seventh shutout of the season. Bridgeport has not played since Feb. 2 after having its home games this past Saturday and Sunday rescheduled due to Winter Storm Nemo. The Falcons are 2-0-0-1 versus the Sound Tigers this season and prevailed in the most recent meeting in Bridgeport on Jan. 20, 4-1.

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 tonight's contest, the Falcons return home for three games over three days this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the MassMutual Center.

Fans attending Friday's "Battle of the Bay State" against the Worcester Sharks, presented by Comcast, will have the opportunity to win a brand new, high-definition television courtesy of Manny's TV & Appliances as part of "Flat-Screen Friday." As part of USA Hockey's "Hockey Weekend Across America," the Falcons encourage all fans to wear their favorite hockey jersey to The Nest on Friday evening.

On Saturday, when Springfield welcomes Portland back to the Pioneer Valley, the first 1,000 fans into the building will receive a Falcons winter hat, courtesy of Health New England. Fans can also win a free bicycle from Gus Coelho Auto Repair at 442 Holyoke St. in Ludlow as part of "Cycle Saturday."

The Falcons will hold their annual team poster giveaway, courtesy of Friendly's, on Sunday versus the Adirondack Phantoms. Following the action, fans are invited to participate in a postgame skate, presented by Western New England University, before having their posters signed by Falcons players in the MassMutual Center concourse.

Friday and Saturday's games begin at 7:00 p.m. Sunday's contest starts at 3:00 p.m.

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 ADDS TO RECORD MARK

After setting a franchise record for shutouts in a season with his sixth on Dec. 22, Curtis McElhinney notched his seventh perfect outing of 2012-2013 on Sunday to match a career high. The 29-year-old also compiled seven shutouts in his second pro season of 2006-2007 with Omaha. McElhinney, who has appeared in 30 games as a Falcon, is one shy of equaling Manny Legace's club mark for career shutouts of eight, set in 153 outings with Springfield. The eighth-year pro is also a shutout away from matching the single-season mark of eight in the 70-year history of AHL hockey in Springfield, set by the Indians' Marcel Paille in 1960-1961.

DRAZENOVIC, CRAIG EXTEND STREAKS

With assists on David Savard's power-play goal on Sunday, Nick Drazenovic and Ryan Craig extended their point streaks to four games. Drazenovic has seven points (2g-5a), while Craig has six points (2g-4a) during their streaks.

APPROACHING THE SUMMIT

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault is tied for third in the league with a Falcons-best 45 points (16g-29a), while Nick Drazenovic is fifth in the AHL with 44 points (15g-29a). Audy-Marchessault and Drazenovic are tied for the team lead with 29 assists, placing them third in the AHL.

STRONG RETURNS

Ryan Johansen and David Savard played their first game with the Falcons on Sunday since being assigned by Columbus earlier in the week, and each scored in their return to the AHL.

POWERED UP

The Falcons struck on the man advantage for the fourth-straight game on Sunday and are second in the AHL on the power play at 21.6%. Springfield has power-play goals in 34 of 45 contests this season. Nick Drazneovic leads the AHL with 26 power-play points (9g-17a).

DAZZLING DIFFERENTIAL

Springfield has a +44 goal advantage this season, +14 ahead of second-place Binghamton in that department. The Falcons are second in the league on offense at 3.36 goals scored/game and are third in the AHL on defense at 2.38 goals against/game.

STAYING HOT

Springfield has won nine of its last 11 games and is 10-2-1-0 in its last 13 contests.

PHENOMENAL PACE

The Falcons are on pace to collect 47 wins and 105 points, both of which would be franchise records.

SIZZLING ON SUNDAY

The Falcons are now 10-1-0-0 in Sunday action in 2012-2013.

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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.

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