FALCONS HANDED FIRST DEFEAT OF SEASON BY BRUINS
Springfield, Mass. - After recording victories in their first three games of 2012-2013, the Springfield Falcons (3-1-0-0) dropped a 3-1 decision to the Providence Bruins (2-2-0-0) on Saturday night at the MassMutual Center. The game marked the Falcons' initial defeat of the season and was the club's first regulation loss on home ice since Feb. 19, 2012.
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For the fourth-straight game to commence the new season, Springfield registered a power-play tally, as Nick Drazenovic pushed in a rebound from a John Moore shot at 2:26 to give the Falcons a 1-0 edge.
Despite generating early momentum off of Drazenovic's goal, the Falcons could not capitalize on a power play moments after seizing the lead. Providence retaliated to tie the contest up minutes later as Craig Cunningham settled a puck down on the left goal line and lifted it over Falcons goaltender Curtis McElhinney at 5:24, making it 1-1.
The Bruins snatched the advantage at 6:31 of the middle frame when Garnet Exelby blasted a shot from the right point over McElhinney's glove.
Springfield drilled Providence netminder Niklas Svedberg with 12 third-period shots as the Falcons tried to tie the game, but the rookie did not give in. The Bruins took advantage of a late power-play opportunity to grab insurance, as Maxime Sauve flipped in a rebound at 15:08 to extend the lead to 3-1.
McElhinney (3-1-0-0) stopped 27 of 30 shots in experiencing his first loss of the season. Svedberg (2-0-0-0) recorded 33 saves on the game to earn a victory for the second-straight night.
Springfield takes to the road for the first time this season when it battles Providence next Friday, Oct. 26 at 7:05 p.m. at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The Falcons return home on Saturday, Oct. 27 to host the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at 7:00 p.m. and then close out the weekend on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 3:00 p.m. at the MassMutual Center against the Portland Pirates. 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.
Notes:
Springfield had won eight-straight games at home and had not lost a game at The Nest in regulation since Feb. 19, 2012 when the Falcons fell to the Worcester Sharks, 2-1...The eight-straight victories at home dating back to last season tied the franchise's longest such streak, originally accomplished from Feb. 8 to Mar. 9 of 1995...Springfield had earned points in 12-straight home games (11-0-0-1) before Saturday's defeat...The Falcons were bidding for their first four-game winning streak within the same season since Dec. 23 to 30, 2006...Springfield had won five-straight games dating back to the end of last season...The Falcons have scored power-play goals in all four games in 2012-2013
