SPRINGFIELD, Mass, – The Connecticut Whale were defeated by the Springfield Falcons, 2-0, Saturday night at the MassMutual Center. The Falcons’ Maksim Mayorov had the game-winning goal and an assist, and defenseman Brent Regner added two assists. Springfield goaltender Paul Dainton made 30 saves to record the shutout in goal, the first of his AHL career, and the first against the Whale since the second game of the season.
“We had a couple good opportunities,” said Whale head coach Ken Gernander. “We couldn’t bury any of them, it could have been a different game. That being said, [Springfield] did a good job protecting the front of the net. Dainton challenged and we didn’t get a lot of second and third chances on him.”
The Falcons would get on the board at 12:15 of the first period, as Dane Byers got a greasy goal past Whale goaltender Chad Johnson (29 saves) just seconds after Springfield’s first power-play expired. Mayorov’s shot was deflected in front of the Whale net and underneath Johnson, squeaking through just enough so that Byers could tap it in. Regner would collect the secondary assist on the score, Byers’ fifth of the season against his former team.
Springfield would bump the lead to 2-0 off the stick of Mayorov, who converted on a down-low three-on-two on a feed from Martin St. Pierre at 5:10 of the second period. Regner recorded his second assist of the night on the goal. Mayorov had an easy one-time opening, as Johnson was committed to the other side of the cage.
Neither team would break through in the third period, as the Whale struggled to amount any consistent attack in the Springfield end. Their best chance of the period came off of a Kris Newbury shot that found iron behind Dainton midway through.
The period saw 68 minutes in penalties doled out, largely the result of a brawl with 37 seconds remaining in the game.
“You want emotion, but it’s got to be directed and it’s got to make a positive impact on the game,” said Gernander.
The teams combined to go 0-for-12 on the power-play in the contest, with the Whale failing to score in five attempts.
The Whale will be back on home action this Tuesday, when they host the Worcester Sharks at the XL Center for a special 11:00 AM start time.
The Whale and the CT Hockey Hall of Fame will partner to hold a CT Hockey Hall of Fame night at the Whale’s home game at the XL Center Saturday, March 10 vs. the Norfolk Admirals.
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