Whale Weekly

Published on April 16, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


The Whale (36-26-7-7, 86 points) finished up the regular season with three games this past week, earning two points with a pair of shootout losses. Connecticut began the week with a 2-1 road defeat to the Portland Pirates Wednesday night, before dropping a 5-4 shootout decision to the Manchester Monarchs Friday night in Hartford, in the regular-season home-ice finale. The Whale finished the regular-season slate with another shootout, falling short in a 2-1 road matchup with the Syracuse Crunch. The Whale will now prepare for their first round playoff matchup with their GEICO Connecticut Cup rivals, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, in their first-ever playoff series. The series begins Thursday at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, and the Whale's first home game in the set is Sunday at 5:00 PM.

FINAL AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE REGULAR SEASON STANDINGS

Atlantic Division

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT GF GA STK P10 S/O PIM

1 y St. John's IceCaps 76 43 25 5 3 94 0.618 240 216 0-2-0-0 4-6-0-0 4-3 1047

2 x Manchester Monarchs 76 39 32 2 3 83 0.546 207 208 3-0-0-0 6-2-2-0 6-3 1325

3 Portland Pirates 76 36 31 4 5 81 0.533 223 254 0-1-0-0 6-2-1-1 5-5 1296

4 Providence Bruins 76 35 34 3 4 77 0.507 193 214 1-0-0-0 6-4-0-0 7-4 1097

5 Worcester Sharks 76 31 33 4 8 74 0.487 199 218 1-0-0-0 3-6-0-1 2-8 1620

Northeast Division

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT GF GA STK P10 S/O PIM

1 y Bridgeport Sound Tigers 76 41 26 3 6 91 0.599 233 219 1-0-0-0 8-2-0-0 4-6 1334

2 x Connecticut Whale 76 36 26 7 7 86 0.566 210 208 0-1-0-2 3-3-2-2 7-7 1236

3 Adirondack Phantoms 76 37 35 2 2 78 0.513 204 217 0-1-0-0 5-4-0-1 3-2 1288

4 Springfield Falcons 76 36 34 3 3 78 0.513 217 231 2-0-0-0 5-5-0-0 5-3 1256

5 Albany Devils 76 31 34 6 5 73 0.480 190 226 0-1-0-0 3-7-0-0 2-5 1252

East Division

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT GF GA STK P10 S/O PIM

1 y Norfolk Admirals 76 55 18 1 2 113 0.743 273 180 28-0-0-0 10-0-0-0 3-2 1437

2 x Wilkes-Barre/Scr. Penguins 76 44 25 2 5 95 0.625 235 215 0-1-0-0 6-4-0-0 7-5 1198

3 x Hershey Bears 76 38 26 4 8 88 0.579 244 225 0-6-0-2 2-6-0-2 7-8 1611

4 x Syracuse Crunch 76 37 29 5 5 84 0.553 238 234 2-0-0-0 6-2-1-1 8-5 1238

5 Binghamton Senators 76 29 40 5 2 65 0.428 201 243 1-0-1-0 3-5-2-0 2-2 1189

North Division

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT GF GA STK P10 S/O PIM

1 y Toronto Marlies 76 44 24 5 3 96 0.632 217 175 0-1-1-0 7-2-1-0 2-3 1134

2 x Rochester Americans 76 36 26 10 4 86 0.566 224 221 4-0-2-0 4-3-3-0 6-4 1067

3 Lake Erie Monsters 76 37 29 3 7 84 0.553 189 210 0-1-0-0 5-3-0-2 5-7 1287

4 Grand Rapids Griffins 76 33 32 7 4 77 0.507 245 249 0-3-0-0 3-6-1-0 4-4 1183

5 Hamilton Bulldogs 76 34 35 2 5 75 0.493 185 226 2-0-0-0 5-5-0-0 2-5 1214

Midwest Division

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT GF GA STK P10 S/O PIM

1 y Chicago Wolves 76 42 27 4 3 91 0.599 213 193 2-0-1-0 6-2-2-0 2-3 1065

2 x Milwaukee Admirals 76 40 29 2 5 87 0.572 210 190 2-0-0-1 6-2-0-2 4-5 1050

3 Charlotte Checkers 76 38 29 3 6 85 0.559 209 214 0-1-0-0 5-5-0-0 6-6 1067

4 Peoria Rivermen 76 39 33 2 2 82 0.539 217 207 0-3-0-0 3-6-0-1 5-2 1102

5 Rockford IceHogs 76 35 32 2 7 79 0.520 207 228 1-0-0-1 5-3-0-2 7-7 1391

West Division

Rank Team GP W L OTL SL PTS PCT GF GA STK P10 S/O PIM

1 y Oklahoma City Barons 76 45 22 4 5 99 0.651 213 176 0-1-0-0 5-5-0-0 5-5 1121

2 x Abbotsford Heat 76 42 26 3 5 92 0.605 200 201 8-0-0-1 8-1-0-1 6-5 1251

3 x San Antonio Rampage 76 41 30 3 2 87 0.572 197 204 1-0-0-0 6-4-0-0 5-2 987

4 x Houston Aeros 76 35 25 5 11 86 0.566 202 206 2-0-0-0 3-3-2-2 5-11 960

5 Texas Stars 76 31 40 3 2 67 0.441 224 251 0-2-1-0 3-6-1-0 3-2 983

This week:

As the sixth-place finishers in the AHL' Eastern Conference, the Whale will open up their first-round playoff series against the third-seeded Bridgeport Sound Tigers on the road, beginning Thursday at the Webster Bank Arena (7:00). Game Two will also be in Bridgeport Saturday, another 7:00 PM start. The series will shift to the XL Center for Game Three Sunday (5:00). Game Four, if necessary, will be played Wednesday, April 25 (7:00) in Hartford, with the series shifting back to Bridgeport, if needed, for a decisive Game Five Saturday, April 28 (7:00).

Game One Thu., Apr. 19 Webster Bank Arena 7:00

Game Two Sat., Apr. 21 Webster Bank Arena 7:00

Game Three Sun., Apr. 22 XL Center 5:00

Game Four (if necessary) Wed., Apr. 25 XL Center 7:00

Game Five (if necessary) Sat., Apr. 28 Webster Bank Arena 7:00

Fans can purchase two Upper Level XL Center tickets for first-round Whale home games for only $10. Also, all Whale full-season seat-holders will receive four free lower-level tickets for each home game in the first round, and all mini-plan-holders will be offered two complimentary tickets for each first-round home game. To take advantage of the complimentary ticket opportunity, season seat-holders and mini-plan-holders are asked to contact their account representative in the Whale office at (860) 728-3366.

Tickets for Game Three at the XL Center 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.

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.

Thursday, April 19th, Game One at Bridgeport (Webster Bank Arena), 7:00 p.m.

- This season marks a second straight trip to the postseason for the Whale, who have made the Calder Cup playoffs as a franchise in 14 of 15 seasons in Hartford.

- The Sound Tigers return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009-10, when current New York Islanders coach Jack Capuano led Bridgeport into a first-round playoff series against the Hershey Bears.

- The Sound Tigers won their second division title in franchise history this season, finishing the year with a record of 41-26-3-6, good for Northeast Division-best 91 points. That total is the team's highest since the 2008-09 season (106 points).

- The two teams have never met in the Calder Cup playoffs in Bridgeport's eleven seasons of existence. The series will be just the second time that two Connecticut teams have faced each other in the AHL playoffs. The Hartford Wolf Pack swept the Beast of New Haven in the first round of the 1997-98 playoffs.

- Radio - CT Whale "Rockin' Hockey", live with Bob Crawford on "The Rock" 106.9 WCCC-FM, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.

Saturday, April 21, Game Two at Bridgeport (Webster Bank Arena), 7:00 p.m.

- Justin DiBenedetto (4-3-7) and Matt Donovan (2-5-7) both tallied seven points in action against the Whale this season. Kris Newbury (3-10-13) and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (6-6-12) paced the Whale in action against the Sound Tigers.

- The Whale won four of ten meetings against the Sound Tigers in the regular season, with six of the ten meetings going to at least an overtime period. Connecticut did not win a game in Bridgeport this season, but three of the Whale's losses there were in overtime (0-2-3-0).

- Connecticut posted a 4-0-0-1 record against the Sound Tigers on home ice this season, winning four straight at the XL Center after a 5-4 shootout loss back in the Whale's home opener on Oct. 15.

- Radio - CT Whale "Rockin' Hockey", live with Bob Crawford on "The Rock" 106.9 WCCC-FM, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.

Sunday, April 22nd, Game Three vs. Bridgeport at the XL Center, 5:00 p.m.

- Whale goaltender Chad Johnson posted 4-2-1 record against the Sound Tigers on the season, showing a 2.58 goals against average and a .916 save percentage. Bridgeport's Kevin Poulin bested the Whale six times this season in nine appearances, compiling a 2.56 goals against average and a .926 save percentage.

- The Sound Tigers finished the regular season with two wins in three games, and since March 25, finished the season with a 9-2-0-0 record.

- Bridgeport's leading scorer, Rhett Rakhshani (20-29-49), finished the season with a goal and an assist in his final game and has five points in his last two games (2-3-5).

- Radio - CT Whale "Rockin' Hockey", live with Bob Crawford, Garry Swain and Mark Bailey on "The Rock" 106.9 WCCC-FM, and on-line at www.ctwhale.com.

Recent Transactions:

Lee Baldwin - Reassigned by the NY Rangers to the Whale from Greenville (ECHL) April 10

Blake Parlett - Reassigned by the NY Rangers to the Whale from Greenville (ECHL) April 10

Chris McKelvie - Recalled by the Whale from loan to Greenville (ECHL) April 10

Jason Missiaen - Reassigned by the NY Rangers to the Whale from Greenville (ECHL) April 10

Jeff Prough - Recalled by the Whale from loan to Greenville (ECHL) April 10

Jason Wilson - Reassigned by the NY Rangers to the Whale from Greenville (ECHL) April 10

"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 Christian Thomas Interview (Whale Special Events folder) - Whale youngster Christian Thomas, son of former long-time NHL scoring ace Steve Thomas, sits down with Bob Crawford, the voice of the Whale, to chat about Thomas' first pro hockey experience.

o Whale vs. Manchester Highlights (Game of the Week folder) - highlights package of the Whale's final regular-season home game, a tight, see-saw battle with the Manchester Monarchs this past Friday.

- 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 a re-broadcast of the Whale's regular-season home finale this past Friday vs. Manchester.

Whale Tales:

Whale season seat-holders who reserve their full-season 2012-13 Whale tickets by May 1 will receive access for four people to the luxurious CT Whale Director's Suite at the XL Center, for one Whale 2012-13 home game. This allows the opportunity to watch the game alongside Whale executive personnel and special guests, and to enjoy all of the high-end amenities of the Director's Suite. Additionally, all Whale full-season 2012-13 subscribers who purchase by May 1 will receive a custom-made, high-quality season ticket-holder jersey fleece. The jersey fleece will be exclusive to Whale full-season ticket-holders, and will feature a "Season Ticket Holder 2012-13" patch that designates it as a unique item. For more information on purchasing Whale season tickets, call (860) 728-3366, visit the Season Ticket Holder table behind Section 101 at a Whale home game or log on to www.ctwhale.com.

College students can get discounted tickets to Whale weekday games with the Whale's "Ditch the Dorms" deal. For Monday through Friday home games, students who show a valid student ID at the Public Power Ticket Office at the XL Center can get $2 off Upper Level tickets and $5 off Lower Level seats.

Save on your tickets, and get the best seats, with a ticket plan for the Whale's 2011-12 AHL campaign, which are on sale now. 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.

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American Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2012


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