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Falcons Game Preview: Springfield At Syracuse, Game #50

February 23, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield Falcons (30-12-4-3) at Syracuse Crunch (31-14-2-4)

Saturday, February 23, 2013

7:30 p.m.

Oncenter War Memorial Arena

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

WEBCAST: AHLLive.com

IN JUST A FEW HOURS...

The Springfield Falcons try to reclaim their spot atop the Eastern Conference standings when they square off against the Syracuse Crunch at 7:30 p.m. at the Oncenter War Memorial Arena. The Falcons, with two games in hand on Syracuse, trail the Crunch by one point for conference supremacy heading into Saturday's action. Springfield prevailed on Friday night at the MassMutual Center over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 5-2, in a fight-filled contest that featured a 2012-2013 AHL single-game high 242-combined penalty minutes. Cody Goloubef, Cody Bass, Ryan Russell, Andrew Joudrey, and Ryan Johansen all scored for the Falcons, while Curtis McElhinney turned aside 20 shots for his 21st victory of the year. Springfield extended its Northeast Division lead to 11 points with four games in hand over the Connecticut Whale. The Falcons' upped their league-high points percentage to .684 with the win.

Tonight's broadcast is presented by FalconsWireless.com and starts at 7:15 p.m. on WHYN 560 AM, WHYN.com, the iHeartRadio App, or AHLLive.com.

Springfield closes out the weekend on Sunday in Worcester against the Sharks at 3:00 p.m.

The Falcons return to the MassMutual Center to host Adirondack next Friday, concluding their suspended Feb. 17 contest at 6:05 p.m. before playing a full-game versus the Phantoms at 7:30 p.m. Springfield welcomes Providence to The Nest on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. and finishes its home three-in-three on Sunday, taking on the Sharks 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).

BUCKING THE TREND IN GRAND FASHION

The Falcons entered Friday's game as the only team in the AHL without a 10-minute misconduct and one of three without a game misconduct or a match penalty. Dalton Smith received a game and a 10-minute misconduct during the game's first brawl, while Cody Bass also picked up a game misconduct at that juncture. Ryan Craig notched a game misconduct later during a fight with Nathan McIver. Springfield, which had a previous 2012-2013 single-game peak of 29 penalty minutes, compiled 95 during Friday's donnybrook-laden affair. The Falcons' last game misconduct had occurred on Apr. 1, 2012 at Worcester (Aaron Bogosian). Their most recent 10-minute misconduct came on Apr. 8, 2012 in St. John's (Greg Amadio). Bridgeport set a new 2012-2013 AHL single-game mark with 147 penalty minutes.

SHORTHANDED SPECIALIST STRIKES

Penalty-killing anchor Andrew Joudrey converted on a shorthanded penalty shot in the third period Friday, as Springfield went 6/6 while down a man. The penalty-shot goal was Springfield's first of the season. The last one came on Mar. 10, 2012 versus Syracuse (Cody Bass). The Falcons have not allowed an opponent to score on the power play in five of the last six full games and are third in the league on the penalty kill at 86.2%.

A NEW STANDARD

Springfield reached the 30-win mark in its 49th game, the fastest in franchise history. The Falcons accumulated 30 victories in 55 contests in 1995-1996, their previous record.

PICKING UP WHERE HE LEFT OFF

Cody Goloubef scored in his first game back from Columbus on Friday and now has goals in three-straight AHL outings dating back to Feb. 1.

MILESTONE WITHIN REACH

Ryan Craig is two power-play goals shy of equaling Danny Briere and Jean-Guy Trudel for the most tallies on the man advantage in team history. Craig has 27 power-play goals, while Briere and Trudel each accumulated 29 while donning a Falcons sweater.

MOVING UP

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault had two assists Friday, moving into a tie for second in the AHL at 48 points (16g-32a). He is tied for first place in the league with 32 assists.

STREAKS EXTENDED

Ryan Craig increased his point streak to nine games (4g-7a) on Friday, while Ryan Johansen extended his to seven games (5g-4a). Nick Drazenovic now has points in six-straight outings (3g-6a). Craig's point streak ties Cam Atkinson for the longest by a Falcon this season.

TIED UP

Ryan Johansen collected his 17th goal of the season Friday, tying Cam Atkinson for the Springfield lead.

CAREER NIGHTS

Nick Drazenovic and Nick Holden both tied their career highs for points in a season on Saturday. Drazenovic matched the 47 points he produced with Peoria in 2010-2011, while Holden equaled his 25 points with the Falcons that same year.

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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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