Falcons Tricked By Crunch In Game 2
Published on May 11, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release
Springfield, Mass. - The Springfield Falcons (3-3) fell victim to the Syracuse Crunch (5-0) and a hat trick by Tyler Johnson on Saturday night at the MassMutual Center, undergoing a 5-3 loss in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Johnson, who posted a goal and two assists in Syracuse's Game 1 win on Friday, sparked the Crunch on Saturday to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Ryan Russell, Trent Vogelhuber, and Boone Jenner scored for Springfield, which lost back-to-back contests for the first time this postseason.
Richard Panik and Mike Angelidis sparked the Crunch with a pair of goals on the club's first two shots just 13 seconds apart in the game's early stages. Panik tipped in an Ondrej Palat shot on the power play at the 1:02 mark of the contest, while Angelidis deflected a J.T. Brown centering pass with his body by Springfield goaltender Curtis McElhinney at 1:15, as Syracuse bagged a 2-0 lead.
The Falcons, playing in front of a passionate 2013 club-playoff-high crowd of 4,252 fans, fought back consistently throughout the evening to keep the game within reach. Russell deflected a Dalton Prout blue-line blast by Syracuse netminder Cedrick Desjardins at 14:40 of the first, bringing Springfield to within a goal, 2-1.
Johnson, the Les Cunningham Award winner as the AHL's most valuable player in the regular season, notched the first of his trio of tallies at 8:31 of the second period. With Syracuse working on a five-on-three power play, Johnson fired a one-timer in from the left circle to put the Crunch back up by a pair, 3-1.
He completed the special-teams perfecta minutes later. Johnson, with Syracuse shorthanded, took possession at his blue line, skated into Springfield's end, and wristed a puck by McElhinney's stick from the right circle at 14:05, making it 4-1.
The Falcons chiseled into the deficit, as Vogelhuber redirected a Cody Goloubef shot from the high slot at 14:29 of the middle frame to close Springfield to within two, 4-2.
Springfield was unable to capitalize on the momentum from Vogelhuber's goal and a carryover power play into the third. Johnson sealed the first hat trick in Crunch postseason history at 6:47 when he delivered a shot past McElhinney from the left circle on the power play to up Syracuse's cushion to 5-2.
Jenner tipped in a Nick Holden shot at 8:04 of the third, as Springfield stayed within range, 5-3.
The Falcons put together several chances over the final few minutes of the game, but Desjardins and the Crunch staved off the late charge. Syracuse took Game 2, 5-3.
After allowing goals on each of the first two shots of the game, McElhinney (3-3) set aside 20 of the final 23 attempts. Desjardins (5-0) made 28 saves on 31 tries.
The Falcons and Crunch will move to Syracuse's War Memorial Arena for Games 3 and 4 on Wednesday, May 15 and Friday, May 17.
If necessary, Syracuse will host Game 5 on Saturday, May 18. Springfield would be at home for Games 6 and 7 on Tuesday, May 21 and Wednesday, May 22 should the series reach those points.
All games in the series begin at 7 p.m.
Below is the Falcons' Eastern Conference Semifinals schedule:
Game 1 - Friday, May 10, MassMutual Center, Syracuse 5, Springfield 2
Game 2 - Saturday, May 11, MassMutual Center, Syracuse 5, Springfield 3
Game 3 - Wednesday, May 15, 7 p.m., War Memorial Arena
Game 4 - Friday, May 17, 7 p.m., War Memorial Arena
Game 5 - Saturday, May 18, 7 p.m., War Memorial Arena (if necessary)
Game 6 - Tuesday, May 21, 7 p.m., MassMutual Center (if necessary)
Game 7 - Wednesday, May 22, 7 p.m., MassMutual Center (if necessary)
American Hockey League Stories from May 11, 2013
- Texas Stifles Oklahoma City 2-1 to Level Series - Texas Stars
- Falcons Tricked By Crunch In Game 2 - Springfield Falcons
- P-Bruins Defeat Penguins 4-2 - Providence Bruins
- Fast Start Leads Bruins Past Penguins in Game 2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- MVP Johnson's Hat Trick Leads Crunch Past Falcons - Syracuse Crunch
- Marlies Respond with 4-2 Win in Game 2 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Marlies Even Series After 4-2 Victory - Toronto Marlies
- Red Wings Return Lashoff, Recall McCollum - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Falcons Playoff Game Preview: Game 2, Eastern Conference Semifinals - Springfield Falcons
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