Falcons Weekly Notes

April 16, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Springfield Falcons News Release


Springfield, Mass. - The Northeast Division-champion Springfield Falcons (43-21-5-4) enter the final week of the 2012-13 regular season in sole possession of second place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Falcons completed their home slate on Sunday, defeating Connecticut at the MassMutual Center, 4-3, behind a late goal from Boone Jenner. Springfield closes out its regular-season schedule with road games this week against Worcester on Wednesday, Providence on Friday, and Adirondack on Saturday. The club is a point away from clinching its best season percentage-wise in its 19-year history.

The Falcons announced dates and times of their first two home games of the 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs on Monday. Springfield will play the first two contests of the best-of-five Eastern Conference Quarterfinals at the MassMutual Center. Game 1 will be played on Saturday, Apr. 27 at 7 p.m., with Game 2 following on Sunday, Apr. 28 at 4 p.m. The Falcons would also host Game 5, if necessary.

The remainder of Springfield's first-round schedule will be announced on FalconsAHL.com once the club's opponent is determined. The AHL's regular season ends this Sunday. The Falcons, as division winners, will have one of the Eastern Conference's top three seeds.

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 postseason ticket packages, call (413) 739-GOAL (4625) or click here.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Springfield 3, Adirondack 2

Friday, Apr. 12

Glens Falls Civic Center

Trent Vogelhuber buried a David Savard centering feed early in the contest, as Springfield took a 1-0 lead. Jason Akeson struck on a power play for Adirondack minutes later to tie the game, but Nick Holden rocketed in a shot from the blue line on a man advantage early in the second, as the Falcons reclaimed the edge, 2-1. Matt Konan's third-period tally evened the contest once more, 2-2, but then Spencer Machacek put Springfield ahead for good with the Falcons' first of two late game winners on the weekend. Machacek deposited a rebound off of a Cody Goloubef blue-line bid with 4:24 remaining in regulation, as the Falcons won, 3-2. With the victory, Springfield improved to 22 games over .500 for the first time in its 19-year history.

Providence 2, Springfield 0

Saturday, Apr. 13

MassMutual Center

The Falcons kicked off Fan Appreciation Weekend with a pre-game ceremony in which club President and General Manager Bruce Landon along with team captain Ryan Craig accepted the F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy as the 2012-13 Northeast Division champions. Springfield was unable to crack Providence netminder Michael Hutchinson in the game, however, as the Falcons fell, 2-0. Carter Camper connected on the power play in the second at 6:45, while Matt Lindblad converted shorthanded moments after at 9:21 for the game's only offensive production.

Springfield 4, Connecticut 3

Sunday, Apr. 14

MassMutual Center

Springfield saved one of its most dramatic victories of the regular season for its final home game before the start of the playoffs. Andrew Joudrey scored early for the Falcons, but Kris Newbury and Micheal Haley fought back with goals later in the first, lifting the Whale in front, 2-1. Michael Chaput snapped in a rebound in the second on a chance created by Dalton Smith, knotting the game, 2-2, but Brandon Mashinter tipped in a loose puck in the crease under four minutes later, as Connecticut grabbed a 3-2 advantage. Jonathan Audy-Marchessault forced a turnover late in the middle stanza, leading to the equalizing tally. Audy-Marchessault knocked down a pass behind the net and centered the puck for Matthew Ford, who fired a shot home, making it 3-3. The Falcons and Whale searched for the go-ahead strike throughout the third, and Springfield found it in the game's final moments. David Savard's wrist shot deflected off of Connecticut goaltender Jason Missiaen's blocker, and Booner Jenner slid in the rebound with 29 seconds to go, as the Falcons celebrated their home finale with a dramatic 4-3 victory.

WEEK AHEAD

Wednesday, Apr. 17 - Springfield at Worcester, DCU Center, 7 p.m.

Friday, Apr. 19 - Springfield at Providence, Dunkin' Donuts Center, 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, Apr. 20 - Springfield at Adirondack, Glens Falls Civic Center, 7 p.m.

FRANCHISE RECORDS IN SIGHT

Springfield enters the final week of the season with franchise records for points percentage, points, wins, and fewest losses in reach.

The highest points percentage in franchise history is .625, set when Springfield notched 100 points over 80 games in its second season of 1995-96. The Falcons would break that mark and record the best year in team history in terms of possible-points earned by collecting one point over the final three games, which would give the club a minimum .632 points percentage in 2012-13.

Springfield's 100 points in 1995-96 is the team record. The Falcons, currently with 95 points, would have to win all three remaining contests to leapfrog that barrier. They would need to accumulate five points over the final three games to tie that mark.

The Falcons' record for victories in a season is 45, posted in 1997-98. Springfield, with 43 wins, needs three victories to set a new mark in that category and two wins to tie the current standard.

Springfield is also in range of setting records for fewest losses in a season. The Falcons have lost 21 games in regulation in 2012-13. The fewest by the team is 22, notched in 1995-96. Springfield has lost 26 games in regulation and overtime combined, and the club low is 27, also registered in 1995-96.

Each of the Falcons' first 17 seasons included an 80-game schedule. The AHL schedule was reduced to 76 contests prior to 2011-12.

SETTING A NEW STANDARD

With their victory on Friday over the Phantoms, the Falcons reached the 22 games above .500 mark for the first time in their franchise history. Prior to Friday, Springfield's record for games above .500 had been 21, initially set on Apr. 13, 1996 and equaled for the first time in nearly 17 years earlier this season.

TEAM AWARDS ANNOUNCED

The Falcons announced their annual team awards prior to Sunday's home finale. Click here for the full press release. Below are the club's 2012-13 awards:

Ross Lowe Memorial Most Valuable Player - Curtis McElhinney

Forward of the Year - Nick Drazenovic

Al Lawrence Best Defensive Player - Nick Holden

Jim Denver Good Guy - Nick Holden

Ronald Brault Player's Player - Ryan Craig

Dick Casey True Grit - Andrew Joudrey

Florence Kurdziel Unsung Hero - Ryan Russell

Stevens Jewelers Diamond in the Rough - Sean Collins

Muriel Strauss Good Sportsmanship - Jake Hansen

PROTECTING 'THE NEST'

Springfield completed its third-best season on home ice in team history and most successful since 1996-97, compiling a 24-10-1-3 record at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons recorded a .684 points percentage in Springfield in 2012-13, just short of their record from 1996-97 of .725.

RULING THE ROAD

The Falcons have clinched their best year in franchise history in road competition. Springfield will finish with a minimum .566 points percentage on the road, higher than its prior mark of .555, registered in 1997-98.

DEFENSE DOMINATES IN 2012-13

The Falcons will set a franchise record this season for fewest goals allowed. Springfield, second in the league in team defense at 2.41 goals against/game, is on pace to allow 183 opposing tallies this season, 32 fewer than its franchise low of 215, set in 1995-96.

IN FRONT FOR GOOD

Springfield has made the most of its leads in 2012-13. The Falcons took over first place in the Northeast on Oct. 26 and did not relinquish the lead, winning the division in nearly wire-to-wire fashion. Springfield has a league-high 33 wins when leading after two periods (33-1-0-0). The Falcons only loss when carrying an advantage into the third this season came on Dec. 19, when Springfield fell in Portland, 3-2, after leading, 2-1, following 40 minutes of play.

MCELHINNEY'S MILESTONE SEASON WINDS DOWN

Curtis McElhinney, named Springfield's Ross Lowe Memorial Most Valuable Player in 2012-13, already has the all-time franchise record with an AHL-best nine shutouts this season and will likely break marks for highest save percentage and lowest goals-against average by a Falcons goaltender in one year. McElhinney, an AHL Second-Team All-Star, is currently fifth in the league with a .925 save percentage and eighth with a 2.24 goals-against average. The highest save percentage in one season by a Falcons netminder is .922, posted by Jean-Marc Pelletier in 2003-04. The lowest goals-against average in a campaign is 2.27, logged by Manny Legace in 1995-96. Both marks assume a minimum of 25 games played. McElhinney's 28 wins are the second most by a Falcon in one season, and two shy of Scott Langkow's record 30, picked up in 1997-98.

'JAM' EQUALS CAREER HIGH

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, honored last week as an AHL First-Team All-Star, assisted on Matthew Ford's tying goal on Sunday, matching his point total from his rookie year of 2011-12 by notching his 64th point (20g-44a). Audy-Marchessault is tied for sixth in the league in scoring and is fourth in the league in assists and in shots (225). He led Springfield against Connecticut, his club last year, with 15 points (1g-14a) in the 12-game season series.

BOONE'S FAVORITE DAY

Boone Jenner, assigned to the Falcons by the Columbus Blue Jackets last week after completing his OHL season with the Oshawa Generals, netted his second-career AHL goal on Sunday exactly one year after recording his first. Jenner scored the game winner versus Connecticut on Apr. 14, 2013 after lighting the lamp for the first time as a pro on Apr. 14, 2012 against St. John's. Both goals came in Springfield's home finale of that respective season. Click here to view photos of Boone Jenner's game-winning conversion.

A MAJOR PLUS

Nick Holden, Springfield's plus-minus leader at +23, is currently tied for the highest rating by a Falcon in one season. John Stevens set the bar with a +23 mark in 1995-96, and Danny Briere matched it in his rookie campaign of 1997-98. Holden leads Falcons defensemen with a career-best 39 points (9g-30a), placing him in a tie for sixth among AHL blueliners.

MAKING AN IMPACT

Since coming over in a trade from the Winnipeg Jets' organization on Mar. 10, Spencer Machacek's role in the Falcons' lineup has become increasingly critical. Machacek has posted eight points (3g-5a) over the last five games, with a +6 mark during that span.

CAPTAIN 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.

CELEBRATING IN STYLE

The Falcons celebrated Fan Appreciation Weekend with two highly-attended, event-filled games. During Saturday's game, New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley signed autographs for fans in the MassMutual Center concourse, presented by Sherwin Williams. Prior to Sunday's game, the Boston Bruins Alumni Team, featuring legends Ray Bourque and Rick Middleton along with color commentators Bob Beers and Andy Brickley, played in an exhibition game at The Nest, sponsored by VizConnect. Proceeds from the event benefited the United Way of Pioneer Valley. Following the game, the entire Falcons team participated in a 90-minute autograph session.

SHOP AT THE FALCONS NEST PRO SHOP!

Fans are encouraged to wear their red, white, and blue apparel to Falcons playoff games. The best place to purchase Falcons gear is at the Falcons Nest Pro Shop, located inside the team office at 45 Falcons Way, during normal business hours or online by clicking here.

The Falcons Nest Pro Shop moves to the MassMutual Center concourse behind section 27 during all home games.

FALCONS NEST PRO SHOP AT 45 FALCONS WAY STORE HOURS

Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

LOCK IN YOUR SEAT FOR 2013-14

Falcons fans are invited to reserve their ticket packages for the 2013-14 season. Fans can to stop by "Ticket Headquarters" behind section 31 at The Nest during any Springfield home game to lock in their spot for the Falcons' 20th AHL season.

Adult season ticket prices remain the same for 2013-14, giving fans the opportunity to watch the Falcons compete in all 38 home contests at the MassMutual Center for only $13/game. Season ticket packages in 2013-14 will come with a no-waste guarantee, giving fans the opportunity to exchange their unused tickets for future home games. Fans can also take advantage of 22 and 10-game ticket packages next season.

The Falcons will also continue to offer flex packages for fans who want to choose what games they want to attend and how many people they want to bring to each contest. Flex packages are broken down into 44, 20, and 12-ticket plans.

Youth ticket packages and flex plans are also available in 2013-14 for children ages 14 and under.

A $50 non-refundable deposit per seat is required.



American Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2013


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