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IceCaps Beached by Whale

February 9, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
St. John's IceCaps News Release


ST. JOHN'S, NL - The St. John's IceCaps couldn't muster any offence in a 4-1 loss to the Connecticut Whale Saturday night at Mile One Centre.

St. John's fired 38 shots at Whale netminder Cameron Talbot but the Caledonia, Ontario native was equal to the task, making 37 saves for his 16th victory of the season. Michael Haley scored the winner and added an assist, while Christian Thomas scored into the empty net and collected two assists for a three-point effort. The line of Haley, Thomas and Kelsey Tessier combined for three goals and seven points on the night.

Carl Klingberg notched the IceCaps' only goal - a first period tally - and Eddie Pasquale made 16 saves on 19 shots, picking up the loss.

For the third straight contest, St. John's again allowed the game's opening goal when Tessier snapped home his 10th of the season just 5:07 into the opening period of play. Thomas attempted a pass out front that came off the side of the net and squeaked through a trio of players before Tessier found the loose puck and knocked it past Pasquale, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.

At the 6:32 mark - just 1:25 later -Haley gave Connecticut a 2-0 advantage. Thomas won a battle for the puck in the corner and sent a backhand pass into the slot for Haley, who wristed a shot that beat Pasquale to put the IceCaps down two goals before the game was seven minutes old.

Carl Klingberg beat Talbot at 9:41 of the frame to cut the lead in half for St. John's. Kael Mouillierat threw the puck at the net from the left side boards and it redirected off Klingberg for his eighth of the season to make it a 2-1 game.

The Whale returned the favour with a power play marker by Mike Vernace just minutes later. Brandon Mashinter sent a blind backhand pass through the crease that was gobbled up by a pinching Vernace, who went top shelf over a sprawled Pasquale to restore the Whale's two-goal advantage heading into the first intermission.

Despite outshooting the Whale 25-12 over the final two periods, the lead would hold up for the rest of the game. Thomas added the empty-netter with 2:14 left in regulation to seal the victory for Connecticut.

St. John's was shut out on the power play, going 0-for-3. Connecticut converted once on three man advantages.

The IceCaps and Whale do battle again Sunday afternoon at Mile One Centre beginning at 4:00 p.m. Catch all the action with broadcaster Brian Rogers at stjohnsicecaps.com and 930 AM This Is Newfoundland Labrador, or watch online at ahllive.com. Pregame show begins at 7:00 (all times Newfoundland).

Notes: F Carl Klingberg snapped a personal 12-game scoring drought with his first period marker... G Eddie Pasquale has started 13 consecutive games for St. John's... The IceCaps have allowed a power play goal in seven of their last eight games... St. John's fell to 6-18-1-1 this season when allowing the first goal... F John Albert (upper body), F Hunter Tremblay (head), F Jason King (head), F Shawn Weller (finger), F Aaron Gagnon (lower body), and F Ivan Telegin (undisclosed) all missed the game with injuries. D Will O'Neill was a healthy scratch.

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