ENDINGS AND BEGINNINGS

      VERSUS     

The Connecticut Whale ended their four day holiday break and began their toughest stretch of the season that will see them play five games over the next eight days and as they did earlier in the season blew a lead entering the third period dropping a 3-2 decision on a late Tomas Marcinko goal to give the Bridgeport Sound Tigers the win at the Webster Bank Arena Monday night.

Marchinko’s backhander with just 4:26 left in regulation was the difference, but not before the Whale gave it all they had in the last 30 seconds. Sound Tigers goaltender, Kevin Poulin stoned Andre Deveaux just in front of the net with 29.4 seconds remaining on the clock just after the puck did an Evil Kneivel impression jumping over the stick of a wide-open Kelsey Tessier, who had an empty net to stuff it into. Poulin, who made a plethora of good saves throughout, was named the game’s Third Star.

AHL ALL-ROOKIE TEAM ANNOUNCED

The American Hockey League announced today the 2010-11 AHL All-Rookie Team, as voted by AHL coaches, players and media in each of the league’s 30 member cities.
The team consists of one goaltender, two defensemen and three forwards:

HUMPTY-DUMPTY

VERSUS    

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again

The Connecticut Whale had been, to paraphrase Annie Savoy (New York Rangers’ fan, Susan Sarandon) in the film Bull Durham,  “for whatever reason, were playing hockey with joy and verve and poetry.”

9,276 witnesses at the XL Center on Saturday, on a night that the franchise honored Gordie Howe and his family no less, watched the Connecticut Whale come crashing off the wall like Humpty Dumpty and put forth one of their  worst efforts of the season in a fight filled, undisciplined and very sloppy 5-1 loss to the visiting Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

SANGUINETTI RETURNS, CHECKERS JUMP SOUND TIGERS

VERSUS  

CHECKERS USE SHOOTOUT TO SQUEAK BY SOUND TIGERS
Terry scores team-leading 26th goal; Murphy stops 30 for 20th win

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – After tying the game midway through the second period, the Charlotte Checkers got shootout goals from Jacob Micflikier and Chris Terry to defeat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 2-1, at Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard.