Falcons Game Preview: Springfield at Worcester, Game #74
April 17, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield Falcons (43-21-5-4) at Worcester Sharks (30-33-4-6)
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
7:00 p.m.
DCU 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 begin the final week of the 2012-13 season when they head to Worcester to take on the Sharks at 7 p.m. Springfield is coming off of a dramatic 4-3 win over Connecticut in its regular-season home finale on Sunday. Boone Jenner scored with 29 seconds to go in regulation to lift the Falcons past the Whale. The victory placed Springfield in sole possession of second place in the Eastern Conference standings with three road games left before the start of the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs.
Tonight's game is the last meeting between the Falcons and their in-state rival, the Sharks. Springfield has won the season series with Worcester, with a 4-2-1-0 mark through the first seven games. The Falcons have collected victories in four of the last five battles with the Sharks. Springfield heads to Providence on Friday before finishing its 76-game schedule in Glens Falls, N.Y. against Adirondack on Saturday.
The Falcons announced dates and times of their first two home games of the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs on Monday. Springfield 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. The Falcons 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.
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.
RECORDS WITHIN REACH
Springfield enters the final week of the season with franchise records for points percentage, points, wins, and fewest losses in reach.
The Falcons would set a record for points percentage by registering one point over the final three games. The current mark is .625, set in 1995-96.
Springfield's 100 points in 1995-96 is the team high. Currently with 95 points, the Falcons would have to win all three remaining contests to break that record.
The Falcons need three wins to set a new victory mark and two to tie the current standard of 45, accomplished in 1997-98.
Springfield has lost 21 games in regulation in 2012-13. The fewest by the team is 22, notched in 1995-96. The Falcons have lost 26 games in regulation and overtime combined, and the club low is 27, also logged in 1995-96.
Each of the Falcons' first 17 seasons included an 80-game schedule. The AHL schedule was reduced to 76 contests prior to 2011-12.
SETTING A NEW PEAK
Springfield, which reached the 22 games over .500 mark for the first time in team history on Friday, will try to set a new standard of 23 games above .500 tonight.
PROTECTING 'THE NEST'
The Falcons completed their third-best season on home ice in team history and most successful since 1996-97, compiling a 24-10-1-3 record at the MassMutual Center. Springfield recorded a .684 points percentage in Springfield in 2012-13, just short of its best of .725, set in 1996-97.
RULING THE ROAD
The Falcons have clinched their best year in franchise history in road competition. Springfield will finish with a minimum .566 points percentage on the road, higher than its prior mark of .555, accomplished in 1997-98.
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
Springfield, second in the league in team defense at 2.41 goals against/game, is on pace to allow 183 opposing tallies this season, 32 fewer than its franchise low of 215, set in 1995-96.
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Springfield has a league-high 33 wins when leading after two periods (33-1-0-0). The Falcons only loss when carrying an advantage into the third this season came on Dec. 19, when Springfield fell in Portland, 3-2, after leading, 2-1, following 40 minutes of play.
BOONE'S BEST DAY
Boone Jenner scored the game winner versus Connecticut, his second pro tally, on Apr. 14, 2013 after lighting the lamp for the first time in his career on Apr. 14, 2012 against St. John's.
A MAJOR PLUS
Nick Holden, Springfield's plus-minus leader at +23, is currently tied for the highest rating by a Falcon in one season, shared by Danny Briere and John Stevens.
CAPTAIN CLOSES IN
Ryan Craig is tied for the most goals in Falcons history on the power play with 29, matching Danny Briere and Jean-Guy Trudel.
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