BRIDGEPORT, Conn – The Connecticut Whale were defeated on the road, 2-1 in overtime, Sunday afternoon by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. David Ullstrom recorded the overtime game-winner for Bridgeport, who sent the Whale to their first February defeat.
Jon Landry would assist on both of Bridgeport’s goals, with Kelsey Tessier supplying the lone goal for Connecticut.
“It was a back-and-forth game, a pretty close game,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “I thought there were opportunities to shoot pucks…of course, if you don’t take the shot, you’re in a situation where you’re stickhandling one versus one or one versus two or maybe trying to force a pass.”
The Whale would take the first lead of the game at the 12:24 mark of the opening period, as Wojtek Wolski set up Tessier for his eighth goal of the season. Wolski passed across the slot to Tessier, who banged the puck home on the doorstep of Bridgeport goaltender Kevin Poulin (27 saves). It was the fifth point in six games with the Whale for Wolski (3-2-5).
Justin DiBenedetto would tie the game for the Sound Tigers, as he capitalized on a good passing play with Landry and Sean Backman at 17:09. Landry and Backman managed to draw Whale goaltender Chad Johnson (40 saves) far enough to his right that DiBenedetto had an open shot from the right circle, for his 14th goal of the season.
The two in-state rivals would enter the third period still tied at one goal apiece, as neither club could break through in the second period. The Sound Tigers would outshoot the Whale, 15-9, in the second frame, but both goaltenders would stand tall in a period that saw each side receive one power-play chance.
Despite being heavily outshot in the third period, 18-6, the Whale kept the Sound Tigers off the board. The biggest moment came with 2:20 left in the period, as Bridgeport’s Scott Howes was awarded a penalty shot after Sam Klassen interfered with his breakaway. Johnson, however, was up to the task and turned away the bid, eventually forcing overtime.
The Sound Tigers would need just 37 seconds in overtime to beat the Whale, as Ullstrom’s wrist shot beat a screened Johnson for the game-winning tally. The goal stood up even against a lengthy review, breaking the Whale’s five-game winning streak.
Having completed a three-game weekend road trip, the Whale will return home to host the Springfield Falcons at the XL Center on Friday (7:00).
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