PLAYOFF PUSH CONTINUES FOR FALCONS

The Springfield Falcons have 11 games remaining in the regular season as they post a record of 30-29-3-3 through 65 games.  The following is a breakdown of opponents for the Falcons’ remaining 11 regular season contests:   St. John’s (3), Bridgeport (3), Adirondack (2), Providence (1), Wilkes-Barre (1), Worcester (1).

The Falcons are one point out of the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Eastern Conference Standings

1.    Norfolk – 93 pts – 10 games remaining
2.    St. John’s – 83 pts – 13 games remaining
3.    CT Whale – 76 pts – 12 games remaining
4.    Wilkes-Barre – 83 pts – 11 games remaining
5.    Hershey – 78 pts – 12 games remaining
6.    Bridgeport – 72 pts – 13 games remaining
7.    Manchester – 69 pts – 11 games remaining
8.    Worcester – 67 pts – 13 games remaining
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9.  Syracuse – 66 pts – 12 games remaining
10.  Springfield – 66 pts – 11 games remaining
11.  Albany – 65 pts – 12 games remaining
12.  Portland – 65 pts – 12 games remaining
13.  Adirondack – 63 pts – 12 games remaining
14.  Providence – 63 pts – 11 games remaining
15.  Binghamton – 55 pts – 11 games remaining

Rookie goaltender Mike Clemente played in all three games this past weekend, starting both Friday and Saturday nights.  He stopped 24 of 25 shots in his AHL debut on Friday in a 5-1 win over Portland earning the game’s third star and his first AHL win.  On Saturday, he stopped all 27 shots he faced in a 3-0 win over the Connecticut Whale for his first AHL shutout.  On Sunday, he relieved Paul Dainton and stopped 12 of 13 Providence shots in the final 39 minutes of the game.  For the weekend, he turned aside 63 of 65 shots posting a 0.76 goals against average and .969 save percentage in leading the Falcons to 4 of a possible 6 points on the weekend.

Mike Clemente’s shutout on the road on Saturday was the first shutout for the Falcons on the road since February 14, 2010 when J.P. Levasseur made 49 saves at Bridgeport in a 4-0 win.  The last three shutouts for the Falcons have been Allen York (April 8, 2011), Paul Dainton (February 25, 2012) and Mike Clemente (March 17, 2012).  It was the first AHL shutout for each of those three goalies. 

Martin St. Pierre continues to rank in the top 10 in scoring for the AHL this year.  St. Pierre leads the Falcons with 10 goals and 48 assists for 58 points in 63 games.  He is third in the league in assists this year.  (Most assists in a season by a Falcons player:  Jean-Guy Trudel (65, 2000-01), Daniel Briere (56, 1997-1998), Charles Linglet (55, 2009-10), Brad Tiley (54, 1999-00), Rob Schremp (53, 2007-08), Robert Petrovicky (52, 1994-1995).

Nick Drazenovic scored a goal in all three games over the weekend collecting three goals and two assists in three games played. 

Matt Calvert is on a three game scoring streak collecting two goals and two assists in that span.  Calvert has registered a point in four of his last five games posting three goals and three assists.

Brent Regner leads all Falcons defensemen in scoring with two goals and 25 assists for 27 points in 64 games.  Regner leads all Falcons players in games played (64) and is third on the team in assists.  Regner also is second on the squad in power play assists with 12 on the year. 

The Falcons scored two shorthanded goals on Friday night against Portland, the third time this season they have scored two shorthanded goals in a game against Portland.  The Falcons are tied for the league lead in shorthanded markers on the year with 13.

The Falcons won their 30^th game of the season on Saturday night, the second straight year they have collected 30 or more wins in a year.  This marked the first time the Falcons have had back to back seasons with 30 or more wins since the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 campaigns.