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SHARKS JUMP WHALE AT QUINNIPIAC

      VERSUS      

BY: Brian Ring

Hamden, CT, September 30, 2011 – The Connecticut Whale were defeated by the Worcester Sharks, 2-1, Friday night in AHL preseason action at the TD Bank Sports Center at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT.

Despite outshooting their opponent by a sizable margin for the majority of the game, the Whale could not convert many of their chances.

A two-goal flurry by the Sharks’ Ryan Del Monte and Nick Petrecki in the early stages of the second period sank the Whale, who fell to 1-2 in preseason contests this season. Jared Nightingale scored the only goal of the game for Connecticut.

“Early on, we had a good pace to our game, good tempo,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “We got shots, not necessarily lots of chances but pressure, and (the Sharks) didn’t really generate a lot. But then they get two quick goals and it looks pretty good for them.”

The Whale and the Sharks played to a scoreless first period, despite Connecticut being afforded five power-plays by Worcester and outshooting their opponent, 7-1.

Worcester came out with more attack in the second, as they scored twice within a span of less than a minute to take a 2-0 lead. Del Monte was given credit for the Sharks’ first goal, which hit off a skate trickled past Whale goaltender Chad Johnson (15 saves) on Worcester’s first power-play of the night at 3:36.

“The one power-play goal was tough,” said Gernander. “It was a rebound that went off our defenseman’s skate, then we had a turnover in the middle of the ice for two quick goals.”

Just 28 seconds after Del Monte’s goal, Petrecki beat Johnson for the 2-0 lead with an unassisted score, as he picked up a Whale turnover.

“It is what it is, you capitalize on your chances. It’s a game of inches, or there’s momentum swings,” said Gernander, of the quick lapse.

The Whale finally broke through at 15:11 of the third period on a slap shot by defenseman Jared Nightingale, which went through a crowd in front of the net and eluded Worcester goaltender Tyson Sexsmith (21 saves).  A penalty taken immediately after the goal, however, seemed to dull Connecticut’s momentum and they could not come up with the equalizer.

The Whale will conclude their preseason slate with a game against the same Worcester Sharks, Sunday at Cromwell’s Champions Skating Center (2:00). Connecticut will begin the regular season on Saturday October 8, when they head to Glens Falls, NY to face the Adirondack Phantoms.

Worcester Sharks 2 at Connecticut Whale 1
Friday, September 30, 2011 – TD Bank Sports Center
Worcester 0 2 0 – 2
Connecticut 0 0 1 – 1
1st Period- No Scoring. Penalties-Livingston Wor (hooking), 1:08; DeAngelis Wor (hooking), 4:27; Levesque Wor (hooking), 6:38; Del Monte Wor (high-sticking), 8:13; Petrecki Wor (cross-checking), 10:34.
2nd Period-1, Worcester, Del Monte 1 (Zulyniak, Acolatse), 3:34 (PP). 2, Worcester, Petrecki 1   4:02. Penalties-Petrecki Wor (interference), 0:23; Tanski Ct (goaltender interference), 1:51; Thuresson Ct (interference), 9:04; Petrecki Wor (interference), 9:34; Gogol Wor (fighting), 12:20; Wilson Ct (fighting), 12:20; Petrecki Wor (fighting), 15:25; McKelvie Ct (fighting), 15:25; Perdicaro Wor (fighting), 18:39; Deveaux Ct (interference, fighting), 18:39.
3rd Period-3, Connecticut, Nightingale 1 (Thuresson, Audy-Marchessault), 15:11. Penalties-Grant Ct (hooking), 5:27; Prough Ct (high-sticking), 11:30; Deveaux Ct (checking to the head), 15:59.
Shots on Goal-Worcester 1-7-9-17. Connecticut 7-8-7-22.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 / 6; Connecticut 0 / 7.
Goalies-Worcester, Sexsmith 1-0-0 (22 shots-21 saves). Connecticut, Johnson 2-1-0 (17 shots-15 saves).
Referees-Tim Mayer (19).
Linesmen-Brent Colby (7), Derek Wahl (46).

Mitch Beck

Mitch Beck was a standup comedian and radio personality for over 25 years. His passion for hockey started with Team USA in 1980 when they defeated the Soviets at Lake Placid. He has also worked in hockey as a coach and administrator. He also works for USA Hockey as a Coach Developer. Mitch has been reporting on the New York Rangers, and exclusively on the Hartford Wolf Pack since 2005.

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