Falcons Game Preview: Springfield Vs. Albany, Game #67
April 2, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield Falcons (39-18-5-4) vs. Albany Devils (28-26-1-11)
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
7:00 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
IN JUST A FEW HOURS...
The Springfield Falcons can become the first AHL team to clinch a spot in the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs when they host the Albany Devils at the MassMutual Center at 7:00 p.m., presented by Mohawk Communications. Springfield would lock up a spot in the AHL's postseason tonight with a regulation or overtime win against Albany. The Falcons can also wrap up a berth with a shootout victory over the Devils combined with a loss by the Norfolk Admirals to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
Springfield has won five-straight games, most recently defeating Connecticut, 2-1, to pull into a four-way tie for first place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Falcons lead the Whale by 13 points for the division's top spot and can clinch the Northeast title with a regulation win in Connecticut on Friday regardless of Tuesday's results. With a win tonight, the Falcons would set a franchise record by moving to 22 games over .500 for the first time in club history.
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.
The Falcons begin a four-game road stretch following today's game, heading to Connecticut on Friday, Worcester on Saturday, and Portland on Sunday. After playing at Adirondack on Friday, Apr. 12, the Faclons return home for Fan Appreciation Weekend, hosting Providence on Saturday, Apr. 13, and Connecticut on Sunday, Apr. 14. For full details of Fan Appreciation Weekend, click here.
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).
HIGH FIVE
Springfield has been victorious in five-straight games for the second time this season and will try to equal its longest winning streak of the year tonight. The franchise record for the longest winning streak is nine games, set from Mar. 6 to 28, 1998.
FRANCHISE RECORD MATCHED
The Falcons equaled the franchise record of 21 games above .500 with their victory on Saturday. Springfield can increase its record to 22 games above .500 for the first time in its 19-year history tonight.
WINS PILE UP
Springfield can reach the 40-win mark for the fourth time in franchise history tonight, and first since 1997-1998.
RULING 'THE NEST'
Since Dec. 30, the Falcons have won 17 of 20 games at the MassMutual Center. Springfield's 50 points at home are tied for the most in the AHL.
BUSINESS AS USUAL
Curtis McElhinney finished off a successful month of March by making 25 saves on 26 shots on Saturday. McElhinney went 6-3-1 with a .942 save percentage, a 1.67 goals-against average, and two shutouts during the third calendar month of 2013. The eighth-year pro has 27 wins, three shy of Scott Langkow's franchise single-season record of 30, set in 1997-1998. McElhinney tops the AHL with a Falcons all-time record nine shutouts. He is fourth in the league with a .927 save percentage and is sixth with a 2.21 goals-against average.
'MARCH'ING TO THE TOP
Jonathan Audy-Marchessault had an assist on Saturday to increase his Falcons-leading point total to 59 (19g-40a). Audy-Marchessault is three points shy of the league scoring lead, currently held by Hershey's Jeff Taffe and Peoria's T.J. Hensick. The second-year pro led the Falcons in March with 10 points (3g-7a).
'HOLDEN' HIS OWN
Nick Holden scored for the third time in the last four games on Saturday, driving in the game-winning goal in the second period.
CRAIG CLOSES IN
Ryan Craig has 28 power-play goals in a Falcons uniform, one shy of equaling Danny Briere and Jean-Guy Trudel for the most in team history. Craig is tied with Eric Healey for sixth in franchise history with 57 goals.
LOVING THE LEAD
Springfield is 30-1-0-0 when leading after two periods this season. The 30 wins in that situation are the most by any AHL team.
• Discuss this story on the American Hockey League message board...
American Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2013
- Stanton, Karlsson Lead Hogs to Victory - Rockford IceHogs
- Rampage Fall Behind Early, Drop 6-3 Decision to Chicago - San Antonio Rampage
- Francis Pare Has Historic Night in Griffins 5-1 Victory over Aeros - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Admirals Fall to Rockford 2-1 - Milwaukee Admirals
- Strome Leads Sound Tigers to Win over Sharks - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolves Start Six-Game Road Trip with 6-3 Triumph at San Antonio - Chicago Wolves
- Falcons' Winning Streak Doused By Devils - Springfield Falcons
- Barons Beat Bulldogs 4-1 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Admirals' Comeback Falls One Goal Short vs. Penguins - Norfolk Admirals
- Griffins Skate Past Aeros 5-1 - Houston Aeros
- Paradis Dealt to Tampa Bay - Rockford IceHogs
- Penguins Hold on for Road Win over Admirals - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Sharks Skid Hits Five Games After 4-2 Loss to Sound Tigers - Worcester Sharks
- Devils Winners at Springfield - Albany Devils
- Lightning Acquire LW Philippe Paradis from Blackhawks - Syracuse Crunch
- Dallas Makes Seven Player Moves with Texas Stars; Cameron Signs SPC - Texas Stars
- Dallas Stars Acquire Cameron Gaunce from Colorado in for Tomas Vincour - Texas Stars
- Cundari Joins Heat; Howse and Martin to Utah - Abbotsford Heat
- Kings Trade Drewiske - Manchester Monarchs
- Minnesota Wild Recalls Johan Larsson from the Houston Aeros - Houston Aeros
- Blues Place Oshie on IR, Recall Allen and Cracknell - Peoria Rivermen
- Canadiens Assign Nathan Beaulieu to Bulldogs - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Amerks Enter Home Stretch of Regular Season as Playoff Race Heats Up - Rochester Americans
- Admirals Recall D Nick Schaus from ECHL, Sign D Kevin Gagne to Amateur Tryout Contract - Norfolk Admirals
- AHL Weekly - AHL
- Dan Miner Bobbleheads Unveiled - Adirondack Phantoms
- Admirals Raise More Than $60,000 in 13th Annual MDA Jersey Auction - Norfolk Admirals
- Oilers Acquire Garrett Stafford from Washington for Dane Byers - Oklahoma City Barons
- Crunch to Wear Orange in Support of Syracuse University Final Four Appearance - Syracuse Crunch
- Nashville Predators Recall Mueller from Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
- Bruins Acquire Jaromir Jagr From Dallas - Providence Bruins
- Matthew Roeder of Victor Wins 2012-13 Thomas M. Nichols Scholarship - Rochester Americans
- SJ Sharks Sign Crane, Nieto, Tarasov and Tierney - Worcester Sharks
- Forward Dane Byers Joins Hershey Bears - Hershey Bears
- Midwest Division Showdown Tonight - Rockford IceHogs
- Connauton Included in Roy Trade - Chicago Wolves
- Schroeder Returned to Chicago - Chicago Wolves
- Reduce Carbon Footprint and Win IceCaps Memorabilia - St. John's IceCaps
- Worcester Sharks Team up with March of Dimes on April 6 at DCU - Worcester Sharks
- Forward Joel Rechlicz Returns to Hershey - Hershey Bears
- Pirates Acquire Matt Clackson from Hershey - Portland Pirates
- Panthers Recall Forward Greg Rallo from Rampage - San Antonio Rampage
- Blackhawks Reassign Hayes and Morin - Rockford IceHogs
- Pirates Sign Justin Feser to Amateur Tryout Contract - Portland Pirates
- Sabres Recall Defenseman Adam Pardy from Rochester - Rochester Americans
- IceCaps Centre Aaron Gagnon Named CCM/AHL Player of the Month - St. John's IceCaps
- Niklas Svedberg Named CCM/AHL Rookie of the Month - Providence Bruins
- Gagnon, Svedberg, Leggio Named American Hockey League Award Winners - AHL
- Amerks' David Leggio Named Ccm/AHL Goaltender of the Month - Rochester Americans
- Falcons Game Preview: Springfield Vs. Albany, Game #67 - Springfield Falcons
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.
