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SPRINGFIELD FALCONS (13-4-4) 5, ST. JOHN'S ICECAPS (11-11-1) 3
Mile One Centre | St. John's, NL
Attendance: 6,287

THE RUNDOWN
St. John's put the pedal down early in this game, but once the Falcons got settled, everything changed.

Looking to even things up after being swept by Springfield at MassMutual Center on opening weekend, the IceCaps came out flying on home ice (as they usually do). A capacity crowd at Mile One Centre was roaring from the outset, and showed its approval for a deserved 1-0 lead when Kael Mouillierat scored at 2:22 of the first period.

But the Falcons countered with an enormous second period, scoring three times and taking all the momentum out of St. John's. Ryan Craig cleaned up a rebound off David Savard's wrister from the point to tie the game at 2:51 of the second, giving him points in four consecutive games.

Later in the middle stanza it was Jonathan Audy-Marchessault working his magic, stealing a puck at the offensive blue line and putting a nifty backhand move on IceCaps goalie Eddie Pasquale to give Springfield a 2-1 lead. Less than 90 seconds later it was Nick Drazenovic capitalizing on a heads-up play by Cam Atkinson inside his own end, leading a 3-on-1 across the line and snapping it by Pasquale for a two-goal bulge.

Though it seemed to be the Falcons in total control, there was a stretch in the third period when the IceCaps looked to have clawed back into the game. Kevin Clark scored early in the period to make it a one-goal game, and Ray Sawada tallied on a breakaway to even things up at 3-3.

But just 2:23 after St. John's leveled the score, Atkinson buried the lead goal -- and it was a heart-breaker. Pasquale was scrambling around his crease and made a couple of nice stops, but the Falcons were overwhelming at the front of the net.

Curtis McElhinney pulled his weight down the stretch, totaling 33 saves on the night and several of high quality in the closing minutes as St. John's poured it on.

And with an empty netter inside the final 90 seconds of regulation, Atkinson secured a four-point night for himself and a vital two points for his club.

PIVOTAL MOMENT
St. John's emptied the tank in the third period and even had a few good shifts after the game was tied at 3-3, but Atkinson's goal was the dagger. The IceCaps ran a little ragged inside their own blue line, and Springfield just had them outnumbered in the net mouth. Atkinson was in the right spot at the right time to swat it in for the game-winner.

THREE STARS
1. Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (SPR) - goal, assist

2. Ray Sawada (STJ) - goal

3. Curtis McElhinney (SPR) - 33 saves

NEXT
at St. John's IceCaps
Mile One Centre | St. John's, NL
Saturday, 6 p.m. ET