WHALE WEEKLY: February 28-March 6, 2011 

The Whale (28-24-2-6, 64 pts.) started off a three-game road trip this past week with a big win over the Pirates last Monday afternoon, topping Portland 2-1 in overtime on Wade Redden’s shorthanded game-winner. Connecticut then made one of their longest trips of the season to battle the Charlotte Checkers in a two-game set on Thursday and Saturday, falling by a 5-1 score in the first tilt before dropping a 1-0 duel in the second. In addition to Redden, Whale goal-scorers in this week’s action included Brodie Dupont and Evgeny Grachev.  Dov Grumet-Morris stopped 35 of the 36 shots he faced in 83 minutes of action on the week.This week:

The Whale return home to face their I-91 rivals, the Springfield Falcons, Wednesday night at the XL Center in an important Atlantic Division contest (7:00 PM faceoff), before heading back on the road to play two of the first three games of a three-game road trip. The Whale will head north to face Springfield again on Saturday (7:00 PM faceoff), before visiting another Atlantic Division opponent in the Worcester Sharks on Sunday afternoon (3:00 PM faceoff).

Wednesday, March 2 vs. Springfield at the XL Center, 7:00 PM

· There will be a “Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl Appreciation Night” promotion for this game, as Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl ticket purchasers who present their Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl ticket stub at the XL Center ticket office can purchase one $19 or $12 ticket for the March 2 game, and receive a second of equal or lesser value free.  On top of that, the Whale will add a coupon for 15% off all Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl merchandise.  The coupon is redeemable at the Whale Pro Shop, which is located in the Hartford Store at 45 Pratt St. in downtown Hartford and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 4:30 PM.  The coupon is good only for Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl merchandise.

· This will be the sixth meeting of the season between the Whale and the Falcons and the third between the teams at XL Center, Springfield’s first visit since November 13.

· The Whale holds a record of 2-1-1-1 in their five games versus Springfield, winning the last two clashes by outscoring the Falcons by a combined margin of 10-3.

· Mike Blunden (2-2-4) and John Moore (1-3-4) pace the Falcons in scoring against the Whale with four points apiece.

· The Falcons had a three-game winning streak snapped on Sunday, as they lost 5-4 on the road to the AHL-leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

· Springfield (30-27-1-3) has won six of its last eight games (6-2-0-0), to put them in a tie for fourth place in the Atlantic Division with the Whale with 64 points.

· Rookie and team-leading point-getter Tomas Kubalik ranks second among AHL rookie scorers with 40 points (19-21-40), and has two goals in his last three games.

· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.CTwhale.com and www.wtic.com.

Saturday, March 5 at Springfield (MassMutual Center), 7:00 PM

· The Falcons are 15-14-1-1 on home ice this season, but have won five of their last six tilts on home ice (5-1-0-0).

· Springfield owns the AHL’s third-best penalty-killing unit at 85.2% and the Falcons have scored seven shorthanded goals this season.

· Nick Holden scored twice for the Falcons in Sunday’s defeat against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, while Captain Ben Guite and Brent Regner both scored once.  David Savard tallied two assists in the contest.

· The Falcons have scored at least four goals in four straight games, scoring 17 times during those contests.

· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.CTwhale.com and www.wtic.com.

Sunday, March 6 at Worcester (DCU Center), 3:00 PM

· The Sharks snapped a three-game skid (0-1-0-2) with a 5-2 home win over the Atlantic Division-leading Manchester Monarchs on Sunday.

· Jamie McGinn tallied two goals in Worcester’s victory over Manchester, and both Benn Ferriero and Brandon Mashinter recorded two assists. Nick Schaus, Tommy Wingels and T.J. Trevelyan each also scored once.

· McGinn has posted 11 points (7-4-11) in just 13 games for the Sharks this season.

· The Whale are 3-1-0-1 in five games against the Sharks on the year, and have a win and a shootout loss to show for two previous visits to Worcester.

· Worcester will visit the Portland Pirates Tuesday night, before starting a four-game homestand beginning with tilts against Manchester on Friday and Charlotte on Saturday.

· The Sharks took three of five home dates in February, earning seven out of a possible ten points in the process (3-1-0-1).

· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.CTwhale.com and www.wtic.com.

Recent Transactions:

Cam Talbot – Loaned by the Whale to Greenville (ECHL) February 21.

Alexandre Imbeault – Signed by the Whale to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement February 21 and released February 27.

Francis Lemieux – Signed by the Whale to a Professional Tryout (PTO) agreement February 20 and released February 27.

Tim Kennedy – Recalled by the New York Rangers from the Whale, and traded to Florida, February 26.

Michael Del Zotto – Returned to the Whale by the New York Rangers February 26.

Whale Tales:

Individual tickets for Whale home games are on sale now at the XL Center ticket office and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be charged by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.CTwhale.com.  Tickets start at $7 each at the XL Center ticket office on game day.

For information on Whale ticket packages, group sales and VIP packages, call (860) 728-3366

The merchandise stands at the XL Center are carrying a full selection of Whale items, including hats, t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, pucks, mini-sticks and even plush toy whales.  Whale merchandise is also available at the Whale Pro Shop, which is located at 45 Pratt St. in downtown Hartford and is open 10 AM to 4 PM Monday through Saturday, and two hours before every home game.  Fans preferring to shop on the web can check out the Whale selection on-line at www.ctwhaleshop.com.

Once again this season, the Whale are partnering with WTIC Radio to air Whale hockey action.  All of the Whale’s regular-season and playoff games will air on 96.5 WTIC-FM’s HD 2 channel and will be streamed on-line at www.wtic.com. Select games will be carried live on the 50,000-watt AM powerhouse, WTIC NewsTalk 1080.

The AHL’s Connecticut Whale is operated by Whalers Sports and Entertainment, a Hartford-based sports marketing and event firm founded by Howard Baldwin.  The team is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers.

Since 1972, the CT Lottery has generated more than $19.3 billion in sales and has transferred nearly $6.7 billion to the state’s General Fund.  Prizes have exceeded more than $11.1 billion.  Purchasers must be 18 years or older.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-346-6238.  For more information about the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, call (860) 713-2000, or visit the CT Lottery web site at ctlottery.org.

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