Falcons Game Preview: Springfield Vs. Bridgeport, Game #65

March 28, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield Falcons (37-18-5-4) vs. Bridgeport Sound Tigers (27-26-6-5)

Thursday, March 28, 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 return to the MassMutual Center to take on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7 p.m. for the final time in the regular season. In their most recent outing this past Saturday, the Falcons defeated the Sound Tigers on the road in a shootout, 4-3. Trent Vogelhuber scored twice while Nick Holden also connected for Springfield. Nick Drazenovic, Cody Goloubef, and Andrew Joudrey each converted for the Falcons in the shootout, while Curtis McElhinney made 36 saves for his 100th-career AHL victory. The Falcons have taken points in all seven games against the Sound Tigers this season (4-0-2-1) and have not fallen in regulation to Bridgeport since Apr. 4, 2012.

Springfield has won three-straight games and leads the Northeast Division by 11 points over Connecticut with two games in hand on the Whale entering tonight's contest. The Falcons currently sit in third place in the Eastern Conference standings, trailing Syracuse by three points for the top spot with two games in hand on the Crunch.

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.

Springfield finishes off the week at home against Connecticut at the MassMutual Center on Saturday, presented by Z Airport Parking (ZAirportParking.com) at 7 p.m. The first 250 people into the building that night will receive a Falcons removable wall graphic, courtesy of Super Big Pics, while the first 500 fans will get an LED flashlight keychain from Z Airport Parking. All fans will be given a coupon for two free days of parking at Z Airport Parking. Fans can also participate in a raffle held by Z Airport Parking during the game.

During the second intermission of Saturday's game, the Springfield Team Final for the 2013 Labatt Blue AHL Bubble Hockey Tournament of Champions will be held on the MassMutual Center ice. The Team Final champion will move onto the Tournament Finals at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. on Sunday, Apr. 21. Falcons players Jake Hansen and Allen York kicked off the Springfield 2013 tournament on Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Pasquale's Restaurant in East Longmeadow. The 2013 Labatt Blue AHL Bubble Hockey Tournament of Champions winner receives a Super Chexx Bubble Hockey game.

Fans will also have a chance to win a free bicycle at Saturday's game, courtesy of Gus Coelho Auto Repair at 442 Holyoke St. in Ludlow, as part of "Cycle Saturday." Additionally, characters from Six Flags New England in Agawam will be in attendance.

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).

MILESTONE WIN FOR MCELHINNEY

Saturday's win was the 100th AHL victory in Curtis McElhinney's career. In addition to posting a Falcons all-time record nine shutouts this season, McElhinney is tied for second in club history for victories in one year with 26, matching Jeff Deslauriers' output in 2007-2008. Scott Langkow's 30 wins in 1997-1998 are the team standard.

HOLDEN HELPS OUT

Nick Holden scored on the power play on Friday and Saturday to set a career high for goals in a season (7). Holden leads Springfield with a +19 rating. John Stevens and Danny Briere share the club record for the highest plus-minus mark in one season of +23.

TWO FOR VOGELHUBER

Trent Vogelhuber netted his first-career AHL multi-goal game on Saturday, scoring at even strength in the opening frame while also striking on the penalty kill in the second. Vogelhuber also had a two-goal game earlier this season with the ECHL's Evansville IceMen.

RARITY FOR RUSSELL

Ryan Russell took two minor penalties in the second period on Saturday, doubling his 2012-2013 PIM output.

PENALTY-KILLING PERFECTION

Springfield set a season high with 10-successful penalty kills on Saturday night and has fended off 25-straight opposition power plays dating back four games to Mar. 17. The Falcons are third in the league on the penalty kill at 86.8%.

DEFENSE DELIVERS

Springfield continues to be second in the AHL on defense at 2.41 goals against/game, trailing only Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (2.35 goals against/game) for the league lead in that category. The Falcons are on pace to allow 183 goals, 32 fewer than their franchise low of 215, set in 1995-1996.

LUCKY THIRTEEN

Saturday's game was the Falcons' 1,500th in their regular-season history. They became the 13th AHL team to reach that mark.

WINS PILE UP

The Falcons' 37 wins are the fourth most in team history. Springfield is eight victories away from equaling its franchise mark of 45, set in 1997-1998.

GOOD POINTS

The Falcons are on pace to pick up 99 standings points, threatening their club-record 100, posted in 1995-1996.

PROTECTING 'THE NEST'

Springfield has won 15 of its 18 home games since Dec. 30 and is 21-8-1-3 at the MassMutual Center this season. The team record for home wins in a season is 26, set in its third campaign of 1996-1997.



American Hockey League Stories from March 28, 2013


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