HARTFORD, Conn – The Connecticut Whale were defeated by the Springfield Falcons, 3-0, Saturday night at the XL Center. Springfield goaltender Mike Clemente, making just his second professional start, recorded his first pro shutout with 27 saves.
Nick Drazenovic scored and had an assist to lead the Falcons offense, while the Whale were blanked for the third time this season.
“It was disappointing,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander, who felt the team did not have enough urgency in the first two periods.
“Not until the third period, but by then we were short-staffed and we’d already given them the lead.”
The first period was scoreless, with special teams playing a large role in a frame that saw large chunks of the game played in transition. The Whale negated three Springfield power-play opportunities, while Clemente helped the visitors to kill off two Connecticut extra-man chances.
Nick Drazenovic gave the Falcons the first lead of the game 7:31 into the second period, converting on the power-play for his eighth goal of the season. Wade MacLeod fed Drazenovic from across the slot, with Drazenovic one-timing the pass past Whale goaltender Chad Johnson (20 saves). Dalton Prout picked up the secondary assist on the goal.
Springfield would make the goal stand up as the game-winner, as they went on to score twice more in the period while continuing to limit quality Whale chances.
The Falcons would make it 2-0 at 14:21 of the second period, when Matt Calvert snapped a shot over the glove of Johnson for his 15th goal of the season, from Brent Regner and Drazenovic.
Maksim Mayorov would send Springfield into the third period with a 3-0 lead, as he sent a wrist shot through the legs of Whale defenseman Wade Redden, and in off of Johnson’s right pad, for his ninth goal three minutes later. The score came unassisted.
That would be all of the scoring for Springfield, who won their second straight game after defeating Portland on Friday night.
The Whale are back in action Sunday afternoon at the XL Center, finishing their three-games-in-three-days slate with afternoon tilt against the Portland Pirates (3:00).
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