By Brian Ring
Worcester, MA, December 30, 2011 – The Connecticut Whale were defeated, 4-3, Friday night by the Worcester Sharks at the DCU Center. Tim Erixon had a goal and an assist for the Whale, but it was Brandon Mashinter’s game-winning tally that would propel the Sharks past Connecticut.
“It was a good, competitive game tonight,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander.
“We seemed to swing the momentum in the second period, play better,” said Gernander. “I think things were going our way, but they were negated by penalties.”
The Sharks struck first, as Tony Lucia backhanded a Mashinter rebound past Whale goaltender Cam Talbot (27 saves) at 5:20 of the opening period. Mashinter’s shot bounced off the glove of Talbot to Lucia, who was in position for his third goal of the season. Marek Viedensky also assisted on the goal.
Jonathan Audy-Marchessault opened the scoring in the second period, tying the game at one for the Whale at 5:02 of the frame. Pavel Valentenko’s slap shot from the point was tipped past Sharks’ goaltender Harri Sateri (30 goals) by Audy-Marchessault. Kris Newbury set up the play, earning himself the secondary assist.
Worcester retook the lead in a four-on-four situation, as John McCarthy walked in on Talbot and shot the puck under the crossbar for a 2-1 advantage. Mike Connolly received an assist on the score, which was McCarthy’s eighth of the season, coming at 7:10.
The Whale special teams struck back to tie the game for Connecticut, as Erixon wristed a shot past Sateri while in the left faceoff circle. Newbury had fed Erixon for his second assist of the evening, with Brendan Bell recording the other helper.
The third period saw more back-and-forth action, as the Sharks regained the lead on Jack Combs’ goal at 8:49.
Connecticut would tie the game at three apiece on Andreas Thuresson’s eighth of the season, as he tipped Erixon’s shot past Sateri at 13:32.
The Sharks would take the lead for good on Mashinter’s goal with just 2:56 remaining in the final period. Uncovered in front of the Whale crease, Mashinter had time to corral the puck and fire it over Talbot’s shoulder, with assists going to Lucia and Ryan Del Monte.
The Whale are right back on home ice Saturday, New Year’s Eve, taking on Springfield. That game has a special holiday start time of 5:00, and all upper-level tickets are discounted to $5 each. Also, in celebration of New Year’s Eve, the Hartford Parking Authority is offering free parking at the Morgan Street garage and $2 parking at both the Church Street and MAT garages.
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Connecticut Whale 3 at Worcester Sharks 4
Friday, December 30, 2011 – DCU Center
Connecticut 0 2 1 – 3
Worcester 1 1 2 – 4
1st Period-1, Worcester, Lucia 3 (Viedensky, Mashinter), 5:20. Penalties-Deveaux Ct (boarding), 2:44; Deveaux Ct (fighting), 18:00; Acolatse Wor (fighting), 18:00.
2nd Period-2, Connecticut, Audy-Marchessault 11 (Valentenko, Newbury), 5:02. 3, Worcester, McCarthy 8 (Connolly), 7:10. 4, Connecticut, Erixon 2 (Newbury, Bell), 9:50 (PP). Penalties-Valentenko Ct (boarding), 1:24; Wingels Wor (holding), 6:30; Newbury Ct (interference), 6:34; Combs Wor (interference), 8:32; Pelech Wor (interference), 12:31; Bell Ct (tripping), 19:54; Deveaux Ct (slashing), 19:54; Nightingale Ct (fighting), 19:54; Mashinter Wor (fighting), 19:54; Pelech Wor (roughing), 19:54.
3rd Period-5, Worcester, Combs 4 (Moore, Sullivan), 8:49. 6, Connecticut, Thuresson 8 (Erixon, Bell), 13:32. 7, Worcester, Mashinter 4 (Lucia, Del Monte), 17:04. Penalties-McKelvie Ct (high-sticking), 4:17; Deveaux Ct (kneeing), 6:43; Sullivan Wor (roughing), 11:29.
Shots on Goal-Connecticut 10-8-16-34. Worcester 13-7-11-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Connecticut 1 / 4; Worcester 0 / 6.
Goalies-Connecticut, Talbot 8-6-0 (31 shots-27 saves). Worcester, Sateri 7-4-0 (34 shots-31 saves).
A-5,091
Referees-Ryan Hersey (46), Geno Binda (22).
Linesmen-Ed Boyle (81), Bob Paquette (18).
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