Whale Weekly, May 8-13
Published on May 8, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release
The Whale have split the first four games of their Eastern Conference Semifinal Calder Cup playoff series with the Norfolk Admirals, evening the series at two games a piece with a 4-1 win Monday night in Hartford. Each team has one once at home and on the road, and the series now shifts to the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport Wednesday night for a pivotal Game Five. Casey Wellman (3-1-4), Kris Newbury (1-3-4) and Marek Hrivik (1-3-4) have led the way in scoring for the Whale with four points each in four games, while goaltender Cam Talbot has posted four strong efforts in goal with a 2.73 goals against average and a .904 save percentage. Hrivik carries a six-game playoff scoring streak into Wednesday's action, gathering five goals and three assists over that span.
This week:
The Whale take on the Admirals again in Game Five Wednesday at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport (7:00), in what will be a crucial game for both teams. Regardless of the outcome of that game, the series is guaranteed to switch back to Norfolk for Game Six on Friday at the Norfolk Scope (7:30). If necessary, a winner-take-all Game Seven is slated for Sunday, May 13 at the Norfolk Scope (5:00).
Game One Wed., May. 2 Norfolk Scope CT 3, NOR 2 (OT)
Game Two Fri., May. 4 Norfolk Scope NOR 4, CT 1
Game Three Sun., May. 6 XL Center NOR 4, CT 3
Game Four Mon., May. 7 XL Center CT 4, NOR 1
(Series tied, 2-2)
Game Five Wed., May. 9 Webster Bank Arena 7:00
Game Six Fri., May. 11 Norfolk Scope 7:30
Game Seven (if necessary) Sun., May. 13 Norfolk Scope 5:00
Tickets for Game Five are on sale now at the Webster Bank Arena box office, as well as on-line at www.ctwhale.com and through TicketMaster Charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000.
Playoff ticket packages are also available that include tickets to all possible home playoff games. To speak to a Whale account executive about a playoff ticket package, call (860) 728-3366. More information is available at www.ctwhale.com.
Wednesday, May 9th, Game Five at Webster Bank Arena 7:00 p.m.
- This is officially a Whale home game, but will be played at Bridgeport's Webster Bank Arena, due to scheduling conflicts at the XL Center.
- The Whale are 2-0 at the Webster Bank Arena in this year's playoffs, having shut out the Bridgeport Sound Tigers twice in their first-round series.
- Norfolk's defeat at the XL Center Monday night was the Admirals' first road loss since February 5 at Springfield. The Admirals had won 16 straight away from home since that defeat.
- The Whale have an all-time record of 14-7 in Wednesday playoff games.
- Radio - CT Whale "Rockin' Hockey", live with Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on "The Rock" 106.9 WCCC-FM, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.
- Video - live video streaming available on a pay-per-view basis at www.ahllive.com.
Friday, May 11th, Game Six at Norfolk (Norfolk Scope), 7:30 p.m.
- Alex Killorn and Mike Kostka have led Norfolk in scoring against the Whale through the first four games of the series, with Killorn tallying two goals and two assists and Kostka adding a goal and three helpers.
- League regular-season MVP Cory Conacher has supplied a goal and an assist in the series for Norfolk.
- Admirals goaltender Dustin Tokarski has played all four games of the series to date, and has posted a 2.48 goals against average and a .909 save percentage.
- The Whale own an all-time playoff record of 5-5 when playing in a Game Six.
- Radio - CT Whale "Rockin' Hockey", live with Bob Crawford on "The Rock" 106.9 WCCC-FM, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.
- Video - live video streaming available on a pay-per-view basis at www.ahllive.com.
Sunday, May 13th, Game Seven at Norfolk, if necessary (Norfolk Scope), 5:00 p.m.
- Should a Game Seven be necessary in the series, the Whale would play their first winner-take-all game in a best-of-seven series since a 5-4 home loss to the Providence Bruins in the 2007 Atlantic Division Semifinals.
- The Whale hold an all-time postseason mark of 3-2 in Game Sevens, with a record of 5-3 in winner-take-all contests.
- Connecticut is 3-1 on the road in this season's playoffs, winning Game One, 3-2 in overtime, in the first game of the series in Norfolk.
- Radio - CT Whale "Rockin' Hockey", live with Bob Crawford on "The Rock" 106.9 WCCC-FM, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.
- Video - live video streaming available on a pay-per-view basis at www.ahllive.com.
Recent Transactions:
None
"Whale TV", presented by Webster Bank:
- The following special "Whale TV" selections are available this week to Comcast Xfinity on Demand customers throughout New England, in the "Get Local" folder of Comcast's On Demand Service:
o Dylan McIlrath Interview (Whale Special Events folder) - a chat between Bob Crawford, voice of the Whale, and new Whale addition, and former New York Ranger first-round draftee, Dylan McIlrath.
o J.T. Miller Interview (Whale Special Events folder) - Bob Crawford sits down with forward J.T. Miller, a first-round Ranger pick from 2011 who joined the Whale April 20 from the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League.
o Game Four Highlights (Game of the Week folder) - a highlights package from the Whale's intense Game Four battle with Norfolk Monday at the XL Center.
- Every week, CPTV Sports will air an edited re-broadcast of a Whale game, on "Whale TV Replay". CPTV Sports is available on Comcast cable channels 185, 187 and 744 and on the Cox Communications cable system channel 144.
o This Tuesday night at 7:00 PM, Whale TV Replay will feature the opening game of the Whale's current series with the Admirals, an overtime thriller in Norfolk Wednesday.
Whale Tales:
Fans have been parking their "tails" at CT Whale games all season long, and receiving free parking at the Morgan Street Garage, with the Hartford Parking Authority's (HPA) unique Fan Loyalty Parking Program. Now, with the Whale in the Calder Cup Playoffs, HPA has announced that they will honor the free parking promotion even after the end of the season. With the CT Whale Loyalty Card, when Whale fans pay $4 for parking on any three weeknight evenings (Monday - Friday) after 5 pm at the Morgan Street Garage, they will get the 4th weeknight parking on a Whale game night for free. As part of the program the Hartford Parking Authority created a designated "Whale Tail" walking trail to and from the Morgan Street Garage to the XL Center.
Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a Whale ticket plan. For information on season seats, mini plans and great group discounts, visit www.ctwhale.com, or call the CT Whale ticket office at (860) 728-3366 to talk with an account executive today.
American Hockey League Stories from May 8, 2012
- Toronto Defeats Abbotsford 3-1 in Game Four - Toronto Marlies
- Heat Face Elimination to Marlies, Down 3-1 - Abbotsford Heat
- Penguins Extend Series to Game 6 - St. John's IceCaps
- Despres' Goal in Double OT Wins It for Penguins - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Rampage Weekly Update - San Antonio Rampage
- Whale Weekly, May 8-13 - Connecticut Whale
- Get Your Season Tickets for 2012-13 - Rockford IceHogs
- Conference Semifinals Tied at Two Games Apiece - Norfolk Admirals
- Barons Take 2-1 Series Lead over San Antonio - Oklahoma City Barons
- Kleinendorst Moving On - Binghamton Senators
- Game 5 Preview: IceCaps at Penguins - St. John's IceCaps
- Heat vs Marlies Game 4 Preview - Abbotsford Heat
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
