TWO POINTS ARE TWO POINTS

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The Connecticut Whale should be happy they came away with the two points they got for the 5-3 win Sunday afternoon in Manchester when they faced the Monarchs at the Verizon Wireless Arena, because they certainly weren’t going to be getting any style points – if there was such a thing.

“It’s going to be a grind, with a short night and travel last night,”  Whale head coach Ken Gernander told Brian Ring afterwards. “But the guys stuck with  it, got a big goal by Casey [Wellman], and we were able to get our two points.”

CLASH OF THE TITANS

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It doesn’t get more exciting than that!

The Connecticut Whale came from behind three separate times capped by Kris Newbury’s goal off a fluke bounce with 4.9 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime and then after a thrilling extended period went three-for-three in the shootout defeating their franchise and intra-state rivals, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers in front of a crowd of 3,245 at the XL Center Friday night.

The win also pulled the Whale within one point the Sound Tigers for first place in the division.

NOW THAT’S MORE LIKE IT

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Amazing what the changing of the calendar and some personnel changes can do for a team. After the Connecticut Whale spent the month of January making up for being so good from mid-November to mid-December by not winning a game, the team has found their footing again and won their third straight 3-1 over the visiting Syracuse Crunch Tuesday night.

“It wasn’t a great start. Fortunately we picked it up toward the end there and got some big goals on special teams that helped and we were able to get our two points tonight,” Said a much more relaxed Whale head coach Ken Gernander. (Chad Johnson) was real strong again in net (Tuesday) and made some big saves.”

NEWBURY, TOUGH AS NAILS AND OTHER NEWS

Kris Newbury has been an incredible addition to the Connecticut Whale. As you may recall he came to Hartford in a trade for Jordan Owens on March 3rd 2010.

Newbury has had a few call-ups and played in seven games with the Rangers this season has not made the scorer’s sheet with the exception of 24 PIMs and sports a minus-1. Rangers head coach has spoken to the media and been complimentary of the Brampton, Ontario native noting his toughness, that he can play on the wing or at center, has skill, brings energy and will bang bodies and that he will not back down from anyone.

IS THIS ROCK BOTTOM?

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Throughout the 2011-2012 season the Whale have had two glaring problems: allowing quick back-to-back goals and not holding third period leads. Both of those Achilles Heel issues haunted the Whale Saturday night as they dropped a 5-4 decision, their ninth straight in a ten round shootout to the visiting Norfolk Admirals in front of a lively crowd of 5,557 on Wade Redden Bobblehead night at the XL Center.

Scott Tanski had a very strong game for the Whale with his first multi-goal game punching two into the Norfolk net while Kelsey Tessier added two assists.

FALCON CREST

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The Springfield Falcons scored twice in two separate bursts including one late before winning in a shootout over a forward-depleted Connecticut Whale at the XL Center Saturday night 5-4.

Kris Newbury, Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, Andreas Thuresson and Jordan Owens were unsuccessful in their shootout attempts. Only Brendan Bell managed to score for the Whale while Brent Regner tied the shootout in the Falcon’s fourth attempt and Matt Culvert made a tremendous move that beat Chad Johnson (10-6-4, 26 saves) clinching the win.

WHALE OBJECTION OVERRULED

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If the Connecticut Whale are going to make a serious run at a Calder Cup championship they are going to have to learn how to play with a lead and that it takes a full sixty minutes to win. Friday night in Binghamton, New York the Whale took on the Ottawa Senators top farm team and surrendered goals to forwards Andre Peterrsson and Pat Carrone in exactly sixty seconds and ex-Hartford Wolf Pack center Corey Locke would add an empty net goal in the final minute and the Whale lost for the eighth time in their last thirteen games (5-6-1-1) and saw their record when leading after the first period to 5-4-1-3 as they dropped a 3-1 decision in front of 3,684 at the Brome County Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

“I thought in the third period, when we pushed harder, we got more consistent offensive output,” Whale head coach Ken Gernander told the team’s Brian Ring afterwards. “In the first two periods, we tried forcing plays, we turned down shots, we didn’t put pucks deep and consequently we didn’t generate much offense. I think that was the difference between the third period and the first two.”

TRADING CARDS II COMING JAN. 27th

“TRADING CARD WEEKEND” AT WHALE HOME GAMES JANUARY 27 AND 28

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Includes Postgame Autograph Opportunity January 28 at XL Center

Whalers Sports & Entertainment announced today that Connecticut Whale fans can pick up some collectible goodies at Whale home games January 27 and January 28, which will be “Trading Card Weekend” at the XL Center.

BRUINS SWALLOWED UP BY WHALE TOTAL TEAM EFFORT

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The Connecticut Whale played one of their most sound two way games of the season in shutting out the visiting Providence Bruins 3-0 in front of at the XL Center Saturday night.

Head Coach Ken Gernander talks frequently in his post-game press conferences about players stepping up when the opportunity arises. Saturday night, the lower body injury sustained by forward Mats Zuccarello in Friday night’s 5-3 loss to Hershey created that exact kind of opportunity for Chris McKelvie. The 6’1” 195-pounder from New Brighton, Minnesota seized the chance and was strong on both ends of the ice and scored what proved to be the game-winner 5:08 into the third period.

SPOTLIGHT: SCOTT TANSKI

BY: Bruce Berlet

When Scott Tanski roofed a shot under the crossbar to win his second practice-ending shootout in three days last week, he was mobbed by virtually all of his Connecticut Whale teammates, many of whom leaped into the plexi-glass to try to get at the personable curly-haired redhead.

“It might have been my new stick,” a smiling Tanski said of his latest skills competition victory. “I like to keep it light in practice, and I know the guys knew I hadn’t had a goal yet, so when I win the shootout, it’s pretty special. We’d won a few games, and I just go to practice and try to have fun and work on a lot of things, though a shootout isn’t my specialty. I’ll leave that to Newbs (Kris Newbury) and Zucc (Mats Zuccarello) because they have some pretty moves. I don’t think too much, just think, ‘Shoot the puck,’ and I was lucky to squeeze a few in there. It must be some confidence with that new stick.”