Falcons Game Preview: Springfield Vs. St. John's, Game #24
December 15, 2012 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield Falcons (14-5-1-3) vs. St. John's IceCaps (11-14-0-1)
Saturday, December 15, 2012
7:30 p.m.
MassMutual Center
TICKETS: Ticketmaster.com/MassMutual Center Box Office
RADIO: WHYN NewsTalk 560 AM/WHYN.com
WEBCAST: AHLLive.com
Falcons Game Notes (PDF)
IN JUST A FEW HOURS...
The Springfield Falcons return to the MassMutual Center to host the St. John's IceCaps at 7:30 p.m. The Falcons last night had their seven-game road points streak and four-game road winning streak come to an end in Providence, as Springfield's comeback bid fell short to the Bruins, 6-3. Tomas Kubalik, Nick Drazenovic, and Cam Atkinson scored third-period goals for the Falcons, but Springfield could not overcome a three-goal deficit in the defeat. Springfield is 3-0-0-0 against St. John's this season and 6-1-0-0 all-time versus the IceCaps, including a 3-0-0-0 mark at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons maintained their second-place position in the Eastern Conference standings with the loss, dropping to three points behind the Syracuse Crunch for the top spot. Springfield leads the Northeast Division by six points over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers entering today's action.
Fans tonight can win a free bicycle courtesy of Gus Coelho Auto Repair at 442 Holyoke St. in Ludlow as part of "Cycle Saturday" at the MassMutual Center. Santa Claus will also be venturing down from the North Pole to meet and greet Falcons fans at the game.
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 BIDS DENIED
The Falcons were bidding to tie their longest road points streak and longest away winning streak in franchise history, but could not equal those marks Friday. Springfield had entered the contest attempting to take a point for an eighth-straight road game for just the third time in franchise history and trying to register a fifth-consecutive away win for the second time in the club's 19 years. The Falcons also were unable to win their fourth-straight overall game, falling in their 12th attempt at a four-game winning streak since last accomplishing the feat from Dec. 23 to 30, 2006.
RED-HOT ATKINSON
Cam Atkinson added a goal and an assist on Friday night to extend his point streak to six games (6g-5a) and increase his goal streak to five contests. Atkinson leads the Falcons with 14 goals and 27 points, putting the second-year pro third in the league in each category. He is now alone in ninth in Falcons history with 46 goals in a Springfield sweater.
MOORE SHINES IN DEFEAT
John Moore was +2 in Friday's loss and is now tied for third in the league with a Falcons-best +15 rating.
FOUR FIRSTS
Friday's game marked the first time the Falcons allowed a shorthanded goal, an unassisted goal, an empty-net goal, and a hat trick in 2012-2013. Lane MacDermid's shorthanded goal was the first allowed by Springfield since Mar. 18, 2012, also in Providence (Trent Whitfield). The Falcons had been one of two teams entering Friday's action which had not relinquished a shorthanded goal, along with the Chicago Wolves. The hat trick was the first against the Falcons since Apr. 7, 2012 when Eric O'Dell scored three times for St. John's.
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