(We return with our regular coverage starting tonight)
Hartford, CT, March 30, 2012 – The Connecticut Whale were defeated by the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, 3-0, Friday night at the XL Center. Penguins goaltender Scott Munroe blanked the Whale with a 32-save performance, the fourth-straight defeat for the Whale (0-3-1-0).
The Penguins would strike fast and furious in the first period, tallying three goals in a span of 2:12 to get the jump on the Whale for good.
“It wasn’t a very good period,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “A lot of the things we talked about beforehand transpired, as far as what the [Penguins] are going to bring to the table, and from our side of the things, the things we needed to bring to the table weren’t there for the first twenty minutes.
“We can’t spot teams a lead, teams that are ahead of you in the standings.”
The scoring began with former Whale Jason Williams’ score 6:49 into the opening period, Williams converting on the power-play as he snuck one past goaltender Chad Johnson (10 saves). Williams’ score, his 12th of the season, was assisted by Colin McDonald and Geoff Walker.
Ben Street would tally his 26th goal of the season less than a minute later at 7:23, corralling the puck and firing a shot over the catching glove of Johnson and into the top right corner of the net to quickly give the visitors a two goal lead. Nick Petersen assisted on the tally.
The Penguins would chase Johnson in favor of Cam Talbot (perfect with 18 saves) with their third goal of the period at the 9:01 mark, as Cody Wild’s shot had just enough on it to squeak through the pads of the Whale goaltender and in for his first goal of the campaign. Brian Gibbons and Ryan Craig both assisted on the goal.
The Whale would carry the flow of the game in the scoreless second period, outshooting the Penguins, 10-4. Munroe, however, kept Connecticut in check with several quality saves, including an up-close one-time opportunity by Ryan Bourque.
The Whale had three power-play opportunities in the second, but they would finish the first two periods zero-for-six with the extra attacker.
Despite playing another strong third period, the Whale could not push anything across against Munroe, as Connecticut was shut out at home, the second time they have been blanked in three games against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The Whale take to the ice again Saturday night at the XL Center, when they host the Adirondack Phantoms in a key Northeast Division tilt (7:00 PM).
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3 at Connecticut Whale 0
Friday, March 30, 2012 – XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum
W-B/Scranton 3 0 0 – 3
Connecticut 0 0 0 – 0
1st Period-1, W-B/Scranton, Williams 12 (McDonald, Walker), 6:49 (PP). 2, W-B/Scranton, Street 26 (Petersen), 7:23. 3, W-B/Scranton, Wild 1 (Gibbons, Craig), 9:01. Penalties-Deveaux Ct (hooking), 5:32; MacIntyre Wbs (double minor – high-sticking), 12:19; Erixon Ct (holding), 15:16; Samuelsson Wbs (slashing), 18:02.
2nd Period– No Scoring.Penalties-Munroe Wbs (delay of game), 2:56; Deveaux Ct (high-sticking), 3:51; Walker Wbs (hooking), 5:27; Grant Wbs (tripping), 8:00; Walker Wbs (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:01; Newbury Ct (unsportsmanlike conduct), 12:01; Vernace Ct (interference), 14:17.
3rd Period– No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-W-B/Scranton 13-4-14-31. Connecticut 10-10-12-32.
Power Play Opportunities-W-B/Scranton 1 / 4; Connecticut 0 / 6.
Goalies-W-B/Scranton, Munroe 18-8-3 (32 shots-32 saves). Connecticut, Johnson 21-17-5 (13 shots-10 saves); Talbot 12-13-0 (18 shots-18 saves).
A-3,169
Referees-Jarrod Ragusin (54), Chris Brown (86).
Linesmen-Kevin Redding (16), Jim Briggs (83).
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
PRE-GAME: WOLF PACK CAN CLOSE OUT BRUINS TONIGHT
PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACK LOOK TO CLOSE OUT SERIES AGAINST BRUINS AT XL CENTER By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack welcome the Providence Bruins to town tonight for Game 4 of their Atlantic Division Semifinals series. Thanks to…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…