WAYNE, NJ – When two teams meet eleven times in a season, bad blood is bound to build up. Toss in a little controversy and you’ve got a recipe for a high-intensity, rugged battle.
Anthony Battaglia scored his second goal of the game with 49 seconds left
New Jesey%27s Anthony Battaglia scored two goals including the game winner Saturday night.
The game-winning goal came with controversy attached. With under a minute left before an overtime period was needed, New Jersey defenseman Craig Cole battled Danbury blue liner James Sanford for the puck. Cole dislodged Sanford’s stick with a hook, allowing him to take the puck when no penalty was called. Cole pushed it to teammate Kevin Cooper who fed Battaglia who beat Whalers’ goalie Peter Vetri for the key score.
It led to an outburst by several Whalers players and coach Phil Esposito, who was not pleased with the officiating for much of the final period. Kelly Miller and Chris Seifert were given game misconducts for protesting. Miller was so irate that the linesmen had a difficult time getting him to the penalty box before he and Seifert were ushered to the locker room.
The ending spoiled what turned out to be an exciting contest, played with plenty of hard hitting and for the most part void of penalties as the game officials kept their whistles in their pockets through several calls that both teams felt should have been made but weren‘t. Being that it was the final time that the two teams would meet in the regular season, both sides wanted to leave a lasting impression on the other in case they meet in the playoffs.
The first period was quiet with only one goal and one penalty called. The goal came off the stick of the Whalers’ Miller, who used a brilliant toe drag to clear Outlaws’ net minder Dan McWhinney before sliding his 17th goal of the season (14th with Danbury) home. The assists on the tally went to James Kirkwood and Vetri.
As the second period started, fans wondered what New Jersey coach Chris Firriolo said during the intermission. Whatever it was worked as the Outlaws popped home two before the stanza was a minute and a half old. The first came 27 seconds in when Travis Kauffeldt and Dan Mercer set up Jason Reese for the tying tally. Then at the 1:22 mark, Matt Miller and Gentry Zollars combined to feed Battaglia for his first of the night to put New Jersey in front.
With time winding down in the period, Danbury launched one last flurry when Kirkwood fed Martin Mucha who streaked in on McWhinney. Moucha made a beeline to the net, shooting from a tough angle that McWhinney stopped but Moucha was able to poke home the rebound just before the horn sounded. The goal was ruled good and posted on the score sheet at the 20:00 minute mark, send the teams to the break tied.
The final period was about as tense a third period in January could be. Both teams had one opportunity on the power play but Danbury’s Vetri (31 saves) and New Jersey’s McWhinney (34 saves) held their respective forts until the final minute and Battaglia’s winner.
The win allowed the Outlaws to solidify their lead in the FHL standings, giving them 85 points, six more than second place 1000 Islands. Danbury, which saw its season-high five game winning streak come to an end, currently sits in fourth place with 56 points.
New Jersey fan favorite Matt Puntureri.
A Matt Puntureri fan enjoying th game.
Danbury%27s Kelly Mller (44%2C green) scores the lone first period goal as New Jersey%27s Gentry Zollars (5%2C white) and goalie Dan McWhinney try to stop him.
New Jersey goalie Dan McWhinney (31%2C white)makes a big save on Danbury%27s Martin Moucha 9%2C green) during the second period.
Moments after the save%2C referee Tom Steinel whistles the play down even though the puck appears to be loose.
Danbur%27s Matin Moucha (9%2C green) scores a disputed goal as the second period ended as New Jersey%27s Dan Mercer (4%2C white) looks on
Contact the author at gary.marchese@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at bill.thebert@prohockeynews.com
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