Whale defeated by Worcester
September 30, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release
Hamden, CT - 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.
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