Whale defeat Springfield in OT

Published on February 10, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


Springfield, MA - The Whale defeated the Springfield Falcons, 3-2 in overtime, Friday night at the MassMutual Center. Wojtek Wolski had two goals, including the overtime game-winner, as the Whale won their fourth straight game in the month of February.

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault also scored for the Whale to force overtime late in the third, with goaltender Chad Johnson making 33 saves for his fourth straight personal win in net.

"That was a great goal by [Audy-Marchessault]," said Whale head coach Ken Gernander of the winger's late tying goal. "A great shot, that was a huge goal."

Cam Atkinson scored twice for Springfield, notching his league-leading 26th of the season in the third period.

The game started off quickly, as the Whale took advantage of an early power-play to give themselves a 1-0 lead just 1:04 into the contest. Wolski converted his second goal of the season for the Whale with the man-advantage, burying a pass from Mats Zuccarello behind Springfield goaltender Manny Legace (37 saves). Brendan Bell received the secondary assist on the goal.

The lead would not last long, as Atkinson would tie the game just 16 seconds later. Alexandre Giroux's pass from behind the Whale goal line found the stick of the open Atkinson in the slot. Johnson appeared to get a big piece of the shot, but it still snuck in for Atkinson's 25th goal of the campaign, assisted by Giroux and Patrick Cullity.

Legace did his part to keep the game tied for the Falcons, as the Whale fired a team season-high 23 shots on goal in the first period.

Neither team would manage to score in the second period, with the Falcons outshooting the Whale in the middle stanza, 11-8. Both power-plays were held off the board despite another pair of chances for the Whale in the second, and one extra-man opportunity for the Falcons.

The Falcons would take a 2-1 lead 6:50 into the third period on the power-play, as Atkinson was able to score his second goal of the night. A shot from Giroux rebounded off of Johnson and to Atkinson, who was able to one-time it home from the left-wing side.

Audy-Marchessault would tie the game for Connecticut with just 3:06 left to play in the third period, as he took the puck up the ice nearly end-to-end and scored on Legace with a quick snap-shot. The goal was Audy-Marchessault's 17th of the season and came unassisted, as he intercepted a Ryan Garlock pass in the Whale zone before turning and sprinting up ice.

The Whale would need just 1:04 to win the game once it was sent to the extra session, as Wolski backhanded the game-winner past Legace to send Connecticut to their fourth straight victory. Legace dove to poke the puck away from Wolski, whose long reach enabled him to corral the puck and net the winner.

"[Wolski] was able to pressure Legace and he gave it right back to him," said Gernander.

Connecticut will be back in action with a pair of road games this weekend, as they take on the Manchester Monarchs Saturday (7:00) and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Sunday (3:00). The Whale will return home next Friday, when they host Falcons at the XL Center (7:00).

Tickets to all 2011-12 Whale home games, are on sale now at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 10, 2012


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