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Whale earn important win

April 5, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


Hartford, CT - The Connecticut Whale picked up a critical 4-3 win over the Springfield Falcons on Friday at the XL Center. Despite being outshot severely in the first period, and trailing two goals early on, the Whale climbed back and scored four unanswered goals in the second to secure the win. Kris Newbury assisted three scoring efforts for Connecticut.

Whale coach Ken Gernander was pleased with the effort and scoring from new members of the team. "It's a huge win," he said. "We need those two points, we had a poor start, no excuses for that but we overcame it. Everyone in the lineup made contributions."

In the first period, with a delayed penalty upcoming, Springfield's Nick Holden took a pass from Michael Chaput on the blueline. Holden's try from the point was deflected home by Spencer Machacek to open the scoring at 11:04.

Just 21 seconds later, Holden picked up a second assist, passing to the right point to avid Savard, whose shot was tipped out of the air by Matthew Ford. Ford's seventh of the season gave Springfield a 2-0 edge.

Connecticut killed a Micheal Haley crosschecking penalty late in the period, and came into the first break trailing 12-1 in the shooting column.

Looking like a new team in the second, the Whale took a mere 13 seconds to get on the board. Before the team's second shot of the game, Chris Kreider, returned to Hartford from the New York Rangers, poked the puck around to Newbury, who fed Mike Vernace at the left point. Vernace's seeing-eye shot found the back of the net to cut the deficit and earn the Whale blueliner his season's eighth goal.

Not long after, Marek Hrivik, returning from a 35-game injury absence, knotted the score up at two apiece with a well-placed, but less than graceful one-timer. He fell as he took a feed from Christian Thomas and buried it top shelf at 11:29.

Midway through the second, a flat Whale attack began to show signs of life. Brandon Mashinter took a wraparound try and a scrum ensued. The play ultimately ended with Whale newcomer Jesper Fast sitting for goaltender interference at 12:22. It was the second of two Connecticut penalties on the night; the Whale killed both and Ryan Bourque was particularly effective on the PK unit.

Brandon Segal picked up his 23rd goal, giving Connecticut the lead, with exactly four minutes to play in the second. Kreider executed a strong forecheck and got the puck loose for Segal in the high slot. After quick give and go to Newbury in the circle, Segal's shot beat Curtis McElhinney down low. Kreider said after the game, "I like playing with [Newbury]. But this is the kind of game to build on in a crucial part of the season."

Newbury had praises for Kreider as well, saying, "When he's at his best it really helps our team. Any time I can get him the puck and get him to get a good shot off it's good for us."

Connecticut then converted their only power play of the night on a Springfield too many men penalty. Newbury found Kreider, who delivered to Fast on a low angle. Fast shot for the roof and gave the Whale a 4-2 edge with his first North American pro goal in the last minute of the second.

Seven and a half minutes in to the third, Andrew Joudrey tipped another puck past Whale netminder Cam Talbot to cut the deficit in half. Recently traded former Whale Blake Parlett got the secondary assist on Joudrey's score.

Springfield made an effort in the last minute, getting McElhinney out of the net following a timeout, but could not get the one goal they needed. McElhinney finished with 12 stops on 16 shots, while Talbot saved 21 of the 24 he faced in goal.

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