FALCONS BEAT WHALE 5-4
January 7, 2012 - The Springfield Falcons rallied from two goals down late in the third period to rally for a 5-4 shootout win over the Connecticut Whale at the XL Center in Hartford, CT on Saturday night. The Falcons have now won back-to-back contests heading into Sunday's showdown with the Whale at the MassMutual Center.
The Falcons took a 2-1 lead into the third period, but Connecticut evened the score at 2-2 just 1:24 into the third period when Jordan Owens scored his fourth goal of the year. The Whale took a 3-2 lead at 6:40 of the third period when Jonathan Audy-Marchessault scored on the power play. Kris Newbury added his second goal of the game at 13:07 of the final frame giving Connecticut a 4-2 cushion.
The Falcons started their rally at 16:25 of the third period when Matt Calvert scored on the power play, followed by Martin St. Pierre's equalizer at 19:25 sending the game to extra time.
After a scoreless overtime, the Falcons fell behind 1-0 in the shootout before Brent Regner scored on the team's fourth attempt, followed by Calvert converting on the final shot of the shootout to give the Falcons the win.
The Falcons scored just 18 seconds apart in the final minute of the first period to take a 2-1 lead through 20 minutes. Alexandre Giroux tied the score at 1-1 with his 11th goal of the year at 19:04 of the opening period. Andrew Joudrey gave the Falcons a 2-1 lead at 19:22 of the first frame.
The Whale opened the scoring at 4:19 of the first period Kris Newbury converted on the man advantage.
The Falcons ended up on a five-minute power play midway through the first period when Andre Deveaux was whistled for boarding.
Saturday's Lines
Alexandre Giroux - Martin St. Pierre - Tomas Kubalik
Dane Byers - Ryan Garlock - Matt Calvert
Wade MacLeod- Andrew Joudrey - Aaron Bogosian
Mike Thomas - Chad Costello - Tim Spencer
Brett Lebda - Theo Ruth
Dalton Prout - Brent Regner
Patrick Cullity - Anton Blomqvist
Mark Dekanich
Manny Legace
Not dressed: Adam Mair (Injured), Nick Holden (Injured), Nick Drazenovic (Injured), Cody Bass (Injured), Cody Goloubef (Injured), Cam Atkinson (Injured), Steven Delisle
Springfield Falcons 5 (SO) at Connecticut Whale 4 - Status: Final SO
Saturday, January 7, 2012 - XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum
Springfield 2 0 2 0 - 5
Connecticut 1 0 3 0 - 4
1st Period-1, Connecticut, Newbury 14 (Deveaux, Audy-Marchessault), 4:19 (PP). 2, Springfield, Giroux 11 (St. Pierre), 19:04. 3, Springfield, Joudrey 3 (Calvert), 19:22. Penalties-Blomqvist Spr (roughing), 2:56; Deveaux Ct (slashing), 9:25; Lebda Spr (interference), 9:44; St. Pierre Spr (high-sticking), 13:20; Deveaux Ct (major - boarding, game misconduct - boarding), 14:01.
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Blomqvist Spr (hooking), 3:00; Regner Spr (boarding, roughing), 6:01; Grant Ct (roughing), 6:01; Calvert Spr (cross-checking), 10:02; Audy-Marchessault Ct (slashing), 10:02; Grant Ct (high-sticking), 14:05.
3rd Period-4, Connecticut, Owens 4 (Thuresson), 1:24. 5, Connecticut, Audy-Marchessault 13 (Newbury, Erixon), 6:40 (PP). 6, Connecticut, Newbury 15 (Erixon, Audy-Marchessault), 13:07. 7, Springfield, Calvert 5 (Byers, Prout), 16:25 (PP). 8, Springfield, St. Pierre 7 (MacLeod, Giroux), 19:25. Penalties-Parlett Ct (tripping), 4:36; Lebda Spr (hooking), 5:39; Prout Spr (tripping), 6:31; Audy-Marchessault Ct (slashing), 14:57.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
Shootout - Springfield 2 (Kubalik NG, St. Pierre NG, Giroux NG, Regner G, Calvert G), Connecticut 1 (Newbury NG, Audy-Marchessault NG, Bell G, Thuresson NG, Owens NG).
Shots on Goal-Springfield 9-9-12-0-1-31. Connecticut 13-11-8-6-0-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Springfield 1 / 5; Connecticut 2 / 7.
Goalies-Springfield, Dekanich 1-0-0 (38 shots-34 saves). Connecticut, Johnson 10-6-4 (30 shots-26 saves).
A-7,159
Referees-Keith Kaval (40).
Linesmen-Paul Simeon (66), Luke Galvin (2).
