SHORT ON THE MEASURING STICK

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On Friday night the theme approaching Saturday night’s battle with the AHL leading Norfolk Admirals was that the game would be a measuring stick as to where the team was in facing the best. After a 3-1 loss that was an exceptionally tight game right through to the end when an empty net goal sealed the win for the visitors, the answer was a resounding, not too far off.

“I think in general we stacked up pretty well. It was a close game.” Head Coach Ken Gernander said. “It was a close game. But when things are going to be that tight and decided by small margins you have to be that much more diligent. I think we made a couple of mistakes and obviously it cost us.”

WHALE WEEKLY: March 5 – 11, 2012

BY: Bob Crawford, Voice of the CTWhale

The Whale won two out of three games this past week, starting with a thrilling 2-1 shootout win over the Worcester Sharks Tuesday at the XL Center. The Whale would see a third-period lead slip away Friday, as they lost, 3-2, in Portland, but Connecticut would recover with a rousing 3-2 road victory over the Manchester Monarchs on Sunday afternoon. Wade Redden would score his first goal of the year in Friday’s contest, and Saturday he was named the sixth captain in franchise history. Kris Newbury would crack the 20-goal barrier with his score on Sunday, reaching that mark for the second time in his AHL career.

This week:

The Whale face a tough three-games-in-three-days run against teams in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt, beginning with a GEICO Connecticut Cup contest vs. the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Friday night at the XL Center (7:00 PM faceoff). The conference-leading Norfolk Admirals come to town on Saturday on Connecticut Hockey Hall of Fame night (7:00), before the Whale finishes out the weekend with another road tilt with the Manchester Monarchs on Sunday (3:00).

WHALE WEEKLY: February 6 – 12, 2012

BY: Bob Crawford, Voice of the Connecticut Whale

The Whale finished the first week of February with their best stretch of 2012 to date, snapping an eleven-game winless streak with back-to-back wins over Albany and Hershey. Connecticut knocked off the Albany Devils, 3-2, at the XL Center on Friday night, before besting the Hershey Bears, 4-1, on the road Saturday before nearly 11,000 fans. Tommy Grant and Kris Newbury both had two-goal weekends, and Mats Zuccarello had three assists, to highlight the Whale’s offense. Chad Johnson made 39 saves in Saturday night’s win, his second of two victories to begin the month.

SPOTLIGHT: AHL ALL-STAR GAME

BY: Bruce Berlet

The Eastern Conference lost a four-goal lead and a shootout in the AHL All-Star Game on Monday night that had a definite Connecticut Whale flavor.

Rookie Jonathan Audy-Marchessault scored on his first shift of the game and had a goal and two assists in the first period with teammate and linemate Mats Zuccarello before the Western Conference rallied for an 8-7 victory before 6,113 at historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.

Audy-Marchessault, one of the few undrafted players among the AHL’s elite, scored only 2:06 into the game and set up Zuccarello for a breakaway goal late in the first period as the Eastern Conference took a 6-2 lead after 20 minutes.

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.

WHALE DROWN IN COLD PORTLAND WATERS

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BY: Bob Crawford, Voice of the Connecticut Whale

The Connecticut Whale’s losing streak stretched to seven games Wednesday night, as they lost a 4-2 decision to the Portland Pirates at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

Connecticut (19-15-2-4, 44 pts.) did maintain first place in the Northeast Division despite the loss, remaining two points ahead of the Albany Devils, who lost 5-4 at home to the Norfolk Admirals.

Four different Pirates scored in the victory for Portland, Andy Miele had two assists, and Justin Pogge Pogge (7-5-3) made 22 saves.  Erik Christensen and Scott Tanski scored the Whale goals, and Kris Newbury assisted on both.

WHALE WEEKLY: January 16 – 22, 2012

BY: Bob Crawford, Voice of the Connecticut Whale

The Whale visited Norfolk, VA this past weekend for their only road action against the Norfolk Admirals this season. Connecticut dropped both ends of the two-game set, falling by a 3-1 score Friday night at the Norfolk Scope, and by a 4-2 margin on Saturday night. Aaron Voros scored twice on the weekend for the Whale, and defenseman Sam Klassen recorded his first AHL point with an assist in Saturday’s action. The Whale still own a two-point edge over the Adirondack Phantoms for first place in the Northeast Division.

WHALE WEEKLY: January 9 – 15, 2011

BY: Bob Crawford, Voice of the CTWhale

The Whale went 0-2-0-1 in three games this past weekend, but still maintained their grasp on first place in the Northeast Division. Connecticut was edged by the defending Calder Cup champion Binghamton Senators, 3-1, Friday in Binghamton. The Whale fell in a shootout, 5-4, to the Springfield Falcons on Saturday in the front end of a home-and-home series with their I-91 rivals, before dropping a 4-2 decision in Springfield to wrap up the week on Sunday. Kris Newbury gathered three goals and three assists in the week’s action, as did All-Star Jonathan Audy-Marchessault.

This week:

The Whale heads to Virginia to face the Norfolk Admirals for two games this weekend, clashing with their East Division foe Friday and Saturday. It will be the only trip of the season to Norfolk for the Whale, who will host the Admirals Jan. 21 and Mar. 10 at the XL Center.

CT HOCKEY HALL OF FAME OPENS MARCH 10th AT THE XL CENTER

CT HOCKEY HALL OF FAME NIGHT

MARCH 10 at WHALE HOME GAME

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2012 Inductees to be Honored

BY: Bob Crawford, Voice of the Connecticut Whale

Whalers Sports & Entertainment announced today that the Connecticut Whale and the CT Hockey Hall of Fame will partner to hold a CT Hockey Hall of Fame night at the Whale’s home game at the XL Center Saturday, March 10 vs. the Norfolk Admirals.

That night will mark the enshrinement of a new class of 2012 inductees into the CT Hockey Hall of Fame, which has adopted eight members from the storied Hartford Whalers Hall of Fame.  There will be an induction ceremony before the game, which faces off at 7:00 PM on March 10, and the new inductees will also be recognized on the ice during the first intermission.