By Brian Ring
March 17, 2012 – The Connecticut Whale were defeated by the Springfield Falcons, 3-0, Saturday night at the XL Center. Springfield goaltender Mike Clemente, making just his second professional start, recorded his first pro shutout with 27 saves.
Nick Drazenovic scored and had an assist to lead the Falcons offense, while the Whale were blanked for the third time this season.
“It was disappointing,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander, who felt the team did not have enough urgency in the first two periods.
“Not until the third period, but by then we were short-staffed and we’d already given them the lead.”
The first period was scoreless, with special teams playing a large role in a frame that saw large chunks of the game played in transition. The Whale negated three Springfield power-play opportunities, while Clemente helped the visitors to kill off two Connecticut extra-man chances.
Nick Drazenovic gave the Falcons the first lead of the game 7:31 into the second period, converting on the power-play for his eighth goal of the season. Wade MacLeod fed Drazenovic from across the slot, with Drazenovic one-timing the pass past Whale goaltender Chad Johnson (20 saves). Dalton Prout picked up the secondary assist on the goal.
Springfield would make the goal stand up as the game-winner, as they went on to score twice more in the period while continuing to limit quality Whale chances.
The Falcons would make it 2-0 at 14:21 of the second period, when Matt Calvert snapped a shot over the glove of Johnson for his 15th goal of the season, from Brent Regner and Drazenovic.
Maksim Mayorov would send Springfield into the third period with a 3-0 lead, as he sent a wrist shot through the legs of Whale defenseman Wade Redden, and in off of Johnson’s right pad, for his ninth goal three minutes later. The score came unassisted.
That would be all of the scoring for Springfield, who won their second straight game after defeating Portland on Friday night.
The Whale are back in action Sunday afternoon at the XL Center, finishing their three-games-in-three-days slate with afternoon tilt against the Portland Pirates (3:00).
Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.
College students can get discounted tickets to Whale weekday games with the Whale’s “Ditch the Dorms” deal. For Monday through Friday home games, students who show a valid student ID at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center can get $2 off Upper Level tickets and $5 off Lower Level seats.
Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale’s 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. For information on season seats, mini plans and great group discounts, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.
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Springfield Falcons 3 at Connecticut Whale 0
Saturday, March 17, 2012 – XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Springfield 0 3 0 – 3
Connecticut 0 0 0 – 0
1st Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Amadio Spr (interference), 7:41; Giroux Spr (hooking), 10:41; Nightingale Ct (hooking), 12:59; Giroux Spr (tripping), 13:08; Owens Ct (slashing), 17:28.
2nd Period-1, Springfield, Drazenovic 8 (MacLeod, Prout), 7:31 (PP). 2, Springfield, Calvert 15 (Regner, Drazenovic), 14:21. 3, Springfield, Mayorov 9 17:21. Penalties-Klassen Ct (interference), 5:58; Newbury Ct (cross-checking), 9:23.
3rd Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Tessier Ct (hooking), 2:52; Goloubef Spr (charging), 7:26; Amadio Spr (roughing), 16:49; Owens Ct (slashing), 16:49.
Shots on Goal-Springfield 6-11-6-23. Connecticut 8-8-11-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Springfield 1 / 5; Connecticut 0 / 4.
Goalies-Springfield, Clemente 2-0-0 (27 shots-27 saves). Connecticut, Johnson 21-14-5 (23 shots-20 saves).
A-4,514
Referees-David Banfield (44).
Linesmen-Paul Simeon (66), Luke Galvin (2)
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