Falcons Game Preview: Springfield Vs. Adirondack, Game #49/#53

March 1, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield Falcons (30-14-4-3) vs. Adirondack Phantoms (21-27-2-1)

Friday, March 1, 2013

6:05 p.m./7:30 p.m.

MassMutual Center

TICKETS: (413) 739-GOAL/MassMutual Center Box Office/Ticketmaster.com

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

WEBCAST: AHLLive.com

Falcons Game Notes (PDF)

IN JUST A FEW HOURS...

The Springfield Falcons and the Adirondack Phantoms resume their suspended Feb. 17 contest at 6:05 p.m. before playing a full game at 7:30 p.m. on "Irish Night" at the MassMutual Center. The Phantoms will have a 2-1 lead with 3:42 remaining in the second period and the Falcons embarking on a two-minute power play upon continuation of the Feb. 17 game tonight. Once that game ends, the teams will head to their respective locker rooms for a short break before returning to the ice for a brief warm-up prior to the start of the 7:30 p.m. contest.

The public is invited to attend the conclusion of the Feb. 17 game free of charge. After the game has ended, fans will be asked to exit the MassMutual Center before reentering the building to have their tickets for the 7:30 p.m. contest scanned.

Springfield, coming off back-to-back regulation losses for just the third time this year, enters the 21st weekend of the 2012-2013 regular season leading the Connecticut Whale by 10 points with four games in hand for first place in the Northeast Division.

The Falcons will wear green specialty jerseys for the 7:30 p.m. contest as part of tonight's Irish celebration. Corned-beef sliders will be available in the concourse, and traditional Irish music will play throughout the game. Fans are encouraged to wear green attire as part of the festivities.

The Falcons welcome the Providence Bruins to The Nest on "Pink in the Rink Night presented by TD Bank" on Saturday to benefit the Mary Kay Foundation at 7:00 p.m. Springfield closes out its home three-in-three on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. against the Worcester Sharks, presented by Dunkin Donuts.

For complete details of this weekend's promotions, click here.

Tonight's broadcast is presented by FalconsWireless.com and starts at 6:00 p.m. on WHYN 560 AM, WHYN.com, the iHeartRadio App, or AHLLive.com.

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).

PERFECT PENALTY-KILL STREAK ENDS

Springfield was perfect on its first 11 penalty kills of last weekend before Danny Groulx scored late for Worcester on Sunday. Including their Feb. 17 suspended game, the Falcons had successfully thwarted 26-straight opposing power plays and were 34/35 on the kill dating back to Feb. 2 before Groulx's goal. Worcester became the first team to score on the power play against Springfield since Bridgeport did on Feb. 12. The Falcons are fourth in the league on the penalty kill at 86.1%.

STILL IN FIRST

Springfield moved into first place in the Northeast Division when play ended on Oct. 26, and has held that spot for four-straight months.

CAPTAIN CLOSES IN

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.

HELMER REACHES MILESTONE

Bryan Helmer participated in his 1,300th professional contest on Sunday in Worcester at the DCU Center, a building in which he once served as captain for the IceCats.

NEAR THE TOP

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault is fourth in the AHL with 49 points and is tied for second place in the league with 33 assists while also posting 16 goals.

SUNDAY RUN ENDS

The Falcons lost their first Sunday road game of the season in Worcester and fell for the first time on the final day of the weekend since Nov. 25 against Connecticut. Springfield is now 10-2-0-0 in Sunday competition this season, with a 5-1-0-0 mark on the road.

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS

The Falcons had not allowed more than two goals in a period in 26-straight games prior to last weekend. Springfield's impressive streak was snapped in back-to-back contests, as the Falcons gave up three goals in the third period in each of their losses to Syracuse and Worcester.

RECAPPING FEBRUARY

Springfield went 5-3-1-0 during the second month of the 2013 calendar year. Ryan Craig led the Falcons with 10 points (4g-6a), while Nick Drazenovic topped Springfield with a +4 rating.

HEADING FOR ONE HUNDRED

The Falcons are on pace to earn 100 points this season, which would tie their team record, set in 1995-1996. Springfield is also on pace to match its single-season victory total of 45, recorded in 1997-1998.



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