FALCONS GAME PREVIEW: SPRINGFIELD VS. WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON, GAME #3

Springfield Falcons (2-0-0-0) vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (0-1-0-0)
Friday, October 19, 2012
7:00 p.m.
MassMutual Center

TICKETS: Ticketmaster.com/MassMutual Center Box Office
RADIO: WHYN NewsTalk 560/WHYN.com
WEBCAST: AHLLive.com

Falcons Game Notes (PDF)

IN JUST A FEW HOURS...

The Springfield Falcons embark on a search for their first-ever 3-0 start in their 19-year history when they host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at the MassMutual Center, with the opening face-off set for 7:00 p.m. The Falcons swept their way through opening weekend of the 2012-2013 season, defeating St. John's on Saturday, 4-2, and Adirondack on Sunday, 4-0, to earn a 2-0 start for the first time since 2005-2006. Springfield, which has won seven-straight home games dating back to the end of the 2011-2012 season, suffered its most recent loss at the MassMutual Center to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Mar. 11 in a shootout.

CRAIG SCORES TWICE, FACES FORMER CLUB

Falcon captain Ryan Craig scored a goal in each of the Falcons' first two games and now faces the team tonight that he wore the "C" for over the past two seasons in the Penguins. Craig posted 78 points (30g-48a) in his two seasons as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's captain. The Abbotsford, British Columbia native was Springfield's captain in 2005-2006, the only other time the club started off 2-0. Craig's next goal will be his 100th in the AHL.

SCOUTING THE PENGUINS

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which has been affiliated with the Pittsburgh Penguins since commencing play in 1999, played just one game on opening weekend, falling 2-1 in Binghamton on Saturday. Trevor Smith had the Penguins' lone goal, while Jeff Zatkoff stopped 23 of 25 shots in the loss. The Penguins are 11-7-2 all-time against the Falcons. John Hynes is in his third season as the club's head coach.