Falcons Shutout Whale 2-0 Whale Go To Springfield

10 Nov 2012 | By Gerry Cantlon

Springfield,MA-Swedish defenseman Tim Erixon continues to haunt his former teammates with two powerplay goals in the third period to help the first place Springfield Falcons to a 2-0 win before 5,653 at the Mass Mutual Center.

Eurohockey.com

The win keeps the Falcons in first place in the AHL's Northeast Division at 7-1-0-2 for 16 points and the Whale slipped to 4th place at 4-5-0-1 and nine points. The Whale go to Worcester tomorrow night and are in Bridgeport Sunday afternoon. The Falcons are off till Sunday when they host Norfolk.

A late second period penalty by Tommy Grant opened the door for the Falcons as Erixon veering off the right point wound up and blasted a 35 foot shot with a semi-screen off a pass from Jonathan Audy-Marchessault with his second of the year at 1:03 on a five on four powerplay.

Sadly, a fairly well played hockey game degenerated in a series of powerplays as referees Chris Cozzan and T.J. Luxmore seem to be in a contest to see how many they could call. A nearly eight and half minute span no five on five hockey was played with either a five on four, four on three and five on three situations arose.

On a shorthanded breakaway chance at 10:48 Whale center Kelsey Tessier went backhand to forehand, but Curtis McElhinney made the stop. The slash on Tessier though went uncalled, but defenseman Mike Vernace had been called for a slash 16 seconds earlier.

Things exploded finally at 12:15 when Kris Newbury was called by Luxmore for an awful boarding call as he put a strong legal hit on Dalton Prout who was carrying the puck behind the net and Luxmore at center ice near the Whale bench made the call.

Newbury was tossed after arguing with the referee and head coach Ken Gernander was assessed a bench minor-the first he has ever had as a head coach. He was explicit in the reasons he was tagged for the call.

"I couldn't get the referees to come over and explain the call to me. I felt there was a discrepancy in the call or who was going to make the call. I asked for clarification and no one would come to the bench and give me that answer, " remarked a clear angered Gernander.

So you were called for the penalty that led to the powerplay ?

"Yes, it is. I asked for clarification on their ruling and nobody would come and appease me. I can't comment on their interpretation of the rule. I wanted a clarification of some things (the penalties) on the ice and I wasn't granted that." seethed Gernander as he spoke with an off ice official seeking to have a league official in attendance meet with him as soon as possible.

The subsequent 5 on 3 powerplay once again Erixon dented the twine with his 3rd of the season. Once again Erixon after having just been denied at the right side of the net the Falcons powerplay in motion found him at the right point and Nick Drazenovic put a perfect pass on his stick blade and again Erixon drilled one low glove side at 13:55 on a 4 on 3 powerplay courtesy of the bench minor.

Gernander who has been critical of the team because of their early season penchant for bad and ill timed penalties was willing to take a shot himself.

"We can't take penalties, but I'm probably (more) upset with my own (the bench minor)".

His post game remarks to the team speaks volumes.

"He came in and said I can't do that as the leader of the team you can't let your emotions get the best of you. (in getting the penalty),but who could blame him ? " remarked winger Chad Kolarik.

Kolarik, had a golden opportunity to score on a five on three advantage by Falcons netminder Curtis McElhinney at 9:27 with a seemingly wide open left side of the net,but was able to extend his right leg and keep the puck from entering the net.

In the second period, the Falcons kept up the pressure,but once again Talbot was a stonewall. At 9:56 defenseman John Moore swept around the left side to the right,but Talbot stood tall in denying the scoring bid.

Then at 14:10 the duo that destroyed them on Sunday Jonathan Audy-Marchessault on the left wing hit Ryan Johansen,but Talbot slid over to deny what was a sure goal. Then with 1:30 left in the period Nick Drazenovic was wide open dead center of Talbot,but eh puck bounced over his stick.

The Whale got a great glorious chanced as Tommy Grant snuck behind the Falcons went in all alone,but Curtis McElhinney stacked the pads and robbed Grant's attempt to break the scoreless hockey game with 30.1 seconds left in the period.

After the play Grant and Ryan Craig had a scrap after Craig and Newbury nearly went at it on his breakaway and Grant got an odd holding minor that set the wheels in motion for the third period.

NOTES: The Whale made several lineup changes inserting Kelsey Tessier for Andrew Yogan, Finnish defenseman Jyri Niemi for Matt Gilroy and putting winger Chad Kolarik on the 4th line….Falcons again outshot the Whale this time 40-20 for the game…. Finn Niemi and Czech winger Tomas Kubalik dropped the mitts with 8 seconds to go neither got an instigator…Big night in Montreal at the Bell Centre as the hockey mad city saw the Canadians AHL team Hamilton Bulldogs and Syracuse Crunch squared off before 18,582…..Former Falcon and Hartford Wolf Pack goalie David LeNeveau who played in Oklahoma City last year signed with EHC Linz in Austrian Elite League. Ironically, he replaces another former Wolf Pack goalie and Yale University stand out Alex Westlund who was released and is expected to sign with a new European team next week….

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