By Brian Ring
HARTFORD, CT April 1, 2012 – The Connecticut Whale were defeated by the Providence Bruins, 3-2, in overtime Sunday afternoon at the XL Center. Carter Camper scored twice for the Bruins, including the overtime game-winner, which came with 2.1 seconds remaining in the extra session.
Kris Newbury had a goal and an assist and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault had two helpers for the Whale.
“If we had capitalized a little bit earlier on some of our chances, it doesn’t get to that point,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “They’re all one goal games or close games and your margin of error is such that you’re not afforded mistakes.”
The two teams played a scoreless but physical first period, with the Whale outshooting Providence, 10-7. The Whale were afforded three power-play chances in the first period, but Michael Hutchinson (33 saves) was up to the task to help keep Connecticut off the board.
The period began with a fight between the Whale’s Jared Nightingale and Providence’s Lane MacDermid, dropping the gloves just eight seconds into the game.
The Bruins would open the scoring with 5:24 left to play in the second period, as Camper redirected a Zach Trotman shot from the point past Whale goaltender Cam Talbot (28 saves). The goal ended a span of nearly seven shutout periods for Talbot.
That would be all of the scoring through two periods, despite the Whale continuing to outshoot their guests, 22-19, over the first 40 minutes.
Wade Redden would tie the game up almost immediately to start the third period, scoring just 37 seconds into the frame. Nice passing between Audy-Marchessault and Newbury allowed Redden to sneak behind the Providence defense and beat Hutchinson from the slot.
Kyle MacKinnon would give the Bruins a 2-1 lead with 9:49 left in the third, as Calle Ridderwall’s shot deflected in off of his chest and past Talbot for MacKinnon’s 13th goal of the season.
The Whale, however, would strike right back, as Newbury beat Hutchinson over his glove to tie the game back up 1:23 later. Audy-Marchessault had the only assist on the score, his second of the game.
The teams headed to the extra-session for the second Sunday in a row for the Whale, and once again the game looked destined for a shootout.
Camper, however, would bury a rebound against Talbot for the game-winner as the Whale fell in heartbreaking fashion in overtime, two weeks in a row with two seconds remaining.
The Whale are back in action this Friday night, April 6, when they play host to the Manchester Monarchs at XL Center (7:00 PM).
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.
To continue reading, please click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.
Providence Bruins 3 (OT) at Connecticut Whale 2
Sunday, April 1, 2012 – XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Providence 0 1 1 1 – 3
Connecticut 0 0 2 0 – 2
1st Period- No Scoring. Penalties-MacDermid Pro (fighting), 0:08; Nightingale Ct (fighting), 0:08; Bodnarchuk Pro (boarding, roughing), 7:17; Grant Ct (roughing), 7:17; Staal Pro (slashing), 14:07; Miller Pro (boarding), 18:49.
2nd Period-1, Providence, Camper 16 (Trotman, Sauve), 14:36. Penalties-Thuresson Ct (slashing), 3:25.
3rd Period-2, Connecticut, Redden 4 (Newbury, Audy-Marchessault), 0:37. 3, Providence, MacKinnon 13 (Ridderwall), 9:49. 4, Connecticut, Newbury 24 (Audy-Marchessault), 11:12. Penalties-Deveaux Ct (boarding), 12:18; Bodnarchuk Pro (cross-checking), 17:26.
OT Period-5, Providence, Camper 17 (Bodnarchuk, Miller), 4:57. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Providence 7-12-9-3-31. Connecticut 10-12-12-1-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Providence 0 / 2; Connecticut 0 / 4.
Goalies-Providence, Hutchinson 9-13-1 (35 shots-33 saves). Connecticut, Talbot 13-13-0 (31 shots-28 saves).
A-3,218
Referees-Jon McIsaac (39), Jean Hebert (43).
Linesmen-Luke Galvin (2), Mike Baker (11).
Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.
