Falcons Game Preview: Springfield Vs. Connecticut, Game #73
April 14, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield Falcons (42-21-5-4) vs. Connecticut Whale (35-29-6-3)
Sunday, April 14, 2013
3:00 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 Northeast Division-champion Springfield Falcons play the final home game of the 2012-13 regular season, closing out Fan Appreciation Weekend at the MassMutual Center when they welcome the Connecticut Whale to town at 3 p.m, presented by the MRI Centers of New England.
Prior to today's contest, the Boston Bruins Alumni Team, featuring legends Ray Bourque and Terry O'Reilly, will play an exhibition game at the MassMutual Center at 12:30 p.m., presented by VizConnect. Following the game, the Falcons will sign autographs for fans in the MassMutual Center concourse. For full details of Fan Appreciation Weekend, click here.
Springfield received the F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy as the winner of the Northeast Division on Saturday night prior to falling at home to Providence, 2-0. Carter Camper and Matt Lindblad scored minutes apart in the second period, while Michael Hutchinson blanked the Falcons with 23 saves. Curtis McElhinney stopped 35 of 37 shots in defeat.
The Falcons close out their regular season next week with games in Worcester, Providence, and Adirondack before venturing into the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs, which begin in late April.
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 ticket packages to watch the Falcons compete in the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs, click here. Springfield's postseason schedule will be announced on FalconsAHL.com when available. The AHL's regular season ends on Sunday, Apr. 21.
Today's broadcast is presented by FalconsWireless.com and starts at 2:45 p.m. on WHYN 560 AM, WHYN.com, the iHeartRadio App, or AHLLive.com.
HOME FINALE TODAY
Springfield plays its final home game of the 2012-13 season today, closing out one of its best campaigns at the MassMutual Center when it hosts the Connecticut Whale. The Falcons have clinched their third-best season at the MassMutual Center in terms of points percentage regardless of today's result. Springfield is 6-5-0-0 against Connecticut this year and can win the season series by earning one point in the final meeting of 2012-13.
'JAM' PROVIDES SPARK
Despite being held scoreless last night, Jonathan Audy-Marchessault led Springfield by recording seven shots on goal for the fifth time this season. His seven shots were one short of his season high of eight, recorded twice this year. Audy-Marchessault leads the Falcons against the Whale, his 2011-12 club, with 14 points (1g-13a). He is tied for sixth in the league with a Falcon-best 63 points (20g-43a). The second-year pro can equal his 2011-12 point total with a goal or an assist this afternoon.
MILESTONE IN SIGHT
The Falcons can move into second place in team history for wins in a season with a victory today. Springfield's 42 wins are tied for the second-most in franchise history, and are three shy of its club-record 45, set in 1997-98.
RARE POWER OUTAGE
The Falcons were unable to score a goal for just the second time all season on Saturday night, and first since they underwent a 3-0 defeat in Syracuse on Feb. 23. Springfield was blanked at home for the first time since Oct. 21, 2011, when it lost 3-0 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Since that date, the Falcons had played in 71-consecutive home contests with at least one goal.
'HOLDEN' HIS OWN
Nick Holden was inactive last night and carries his four-game point streak (1g-7a) into today's contest. Holden is eighth among AHL defensemen with a career-high 39 points (9g-30a). His +23 rating is the highest on the Falcons. The Falcons' record for the highest plus-minus mark in one season is +23, shared by Danny Briere and John Stevens.
PAIR OF STREAKS END
David Savard's four-game assist streak (0g-4a) and Sean Collins' three-game assist streak (3g-3a) each came to an end on Saturday.
CRAIG 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.
BIG DIFFERENCE
The Falcons' +48 goal differential is the highest in the AHL.
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