WHALE WEEKLY: April 4-10 2011 

The Whale (39-30-2-6, 86 pts.) faced three Atlantic Division foes over the past week, dropping a pair of road tilts before finishing the weekend’s action with a victory over Portland at the XL Center. Connecticut was edged, 3-2, by the Providence Bruins on Friday, before falling by a 6-2 score to Springfield on Saturday. The Whale triumphed over the Atlantic Division-leading Pirates by a 4-2 score in Sunday’s contest, allowing them to stay two points ahead of Worcester for the final guaranteed playoff spot in the division. Jeremy Williams and Dale Weise both had two goals during the week, and Mats Zuccarello, just back from the parent New York Rangers, collected four assists in three games.

This week:

The Whale finish their regular season slate this week with three games, starting with a GEICO Connecticut Cup home-and-home set against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  The Whale visit Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard on Friday (7:00 PM faceoff), before hosting their in-state rivals on Saturday at the XL Center (7:00 PM faceoff). Connecticut will face the Norfolk Admirals Sunday at the XL Center in the finale (5:00 PM faceoff).

Friday, April 8 at Bridgeport (Webster Bank Arena at Harbor Yard), 7:00 PM

· The Whale travel to meet the Sound Tigers for the ninth time this season on Friday, their fifth visit to Bridgeport on the campaign.

· Connecticut owns a GEICO Connecticut Cup record of 5-2-0-1 against Bridgeport in their eight previous meetings of the season, splitting their four tilts head-to-head at the Webster Bank Arena.

· The Sound Tigers defeated the Whale, 5-1, when the two clubs last met on Mar. 26 at XL Center.

· Bridgeport still stands seventh in the Atlantic Division, with a record of 27-38-4-7 for 65 points, but is 5-2-1 in its last eight games.

· Rhett Rakhshani (3-3-6) and Rob Hisey (2-4-6) have both recorded six points this season in action against the Whale.

· Hisey tallied two of Bridgeport’s goals in the Sound Tigers’ last tilt with the Whale, adding one assist. Jeremy Colliton and David Ullstrom both scored and notched a helper in the contest.

· The Whale needs to earn one point this weekend against Bridgeport to clinch the GEICO Connecticut Cup, awarded to the winner of the season series between Connecticut and Bridgeport.

· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.CTwhale.com and www.wtic.com.

Saturday, April 9 vs. Bridgeport at the XL Center, 7:00 PM

· 3,000 fans will receive a free Whale travel mug at this game, courtesy of CT DOT.

· There will be a Connecticut Whale Auction and Sale, starting at 5:00 PM in the XL Center atrium.  Harvest-Properties.com Whale Bowl game-used Whalers and Bruins jerseys, as well as Whale Bowl sticks, will be up for bid, and CT Whale used sticks and game equipment will be available for sale at great prices.

· Saturday’s tilt with the Sound Tigers will be their tenth and final GEICO Connecticut Cup meeting of the season.

· The Whale have taken three of the previous four tilts with the Sound Tigers at the XL Center this season.

· Rakhshani, the Sound Tigers’ leading scorer with 59 points (21-38-59), also leads all AHL rookies in points this season.

· Bridgeport defeated the Binghamton Senators in their last action, 4-3, on Saturday in Binghamton. Tyler McNeely scored twice for the Sound Tigers for his first pair of professional goals. Rakhshani tallied a goal and two assists.

· Mikko Koskinen made 28 saves in goal to win the decision in net, and has won three of his last four games between the pipes.

· Radio – This game will be aired live on WTIC NewsTalk 1080, the 50,000-watt AM powerhouse. WTIC NewsTalk 1080’s Scott Gray will join Bob Crawford and Mark Bailey on the broadcast team. The action can also be heard live on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.wtic.com.

Sunday, April 10 vs. Norfolk at the XL Center, 5:00 PM

· 3,000 fans will take home a free Whale t-shirt from this game, sponsored by CT DOT.

· Fans will have a chance to win a Whale player’s jersey in the annual “Shirts off Our Backs” promotion.

· Presentation of the Whale’s team season awards will take place immediately following the game.

· The Whale meet the Norfolk Admirals Sunday for the fourth and final time in the regular season. The Admirals have taken two out of the three prior meetings with Connecticut this season.

· The Whale won the last tilt with Norfolk, 3-2 in overtime, back on Jan. 8 in Norfolk.

· Chris Durno has gathered four points in action against the Whale (2-2-4) and Johan Harju (1-2-3), Blair Jones (1-2-3) and Marc-Antoine Pouliot (0-3-3) have all tallied three points.

· Goaltender Cedrick Desjardins has posted both of Norfolk’s wins in net against the Whale, allowing just three goals for a 1.50 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage.

· The Admirals are currently mired in a four-game slide, as they dropped a pair of home games to the Hershey Bears this weekend.  At 37-24-8-6 for 88 points, Norfolk is currently tied with Binghamton for fourth place in the East Division.

· Norfolk will visit the Charlotte Checkers on Monday night and Binghamton on Wednesday, and then has a pair of tilts in Syracuse on Thursday and Saturday.

· Radio – live with Bob Crawford in HD on WTIC’s 96.5 HD 2 and on-line at www.CTwhale.com and www.wtic.com.

Recent Transactions:

Jason Missiaen – Signed by the Whale to an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement March 30.

Cameron Talbot – Recalled from the Whale by the New York Rangers March 31, and returned later that same day.

Mats Zuccarello – Returned on loan to the Whale on loan by the New York Rangers April 1.

Kris Newbury – Recalled from the Whale by the New York Rangers April 4.

Practice:
All Whale practices are open to the media at the XL Center or Champions Skating Center in Cromwell.  As schedules are subject to last-minute changes, please call the public relations department at (860) 541-4725 before attending a practice.

Tues., April 5                 10:30 AM – 12 Noon, XL Center

Wed., April 6                 10:30 AM – 12 Noon, XL Center
Thurs., April 7                10:30 AM – 12 Noon, Champions Skating Center
Fri., April 8                    10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game at Bridgeport)

Sat., April 9                   10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game vs. Bridgeport)

Sun., April 10                10:00 – 10:30 AM, XL Center (Game vs. Norfolk)

Mon., April 11                10:30 AM – 12 Noon, XL Center

Whale Tales:

Individual tickets for Whale home games are on sale now at the XL Center ticket office and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may also be charged by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.CTwhale.com.  Tickets start at $7 each at the XL Center ticket office on game day.

For information on Whale ticket packages, group sales and VIP packages, call (860) 728-3366

The merchandise stands at the XL Center are carrying a full selection of Whale items, including hats, t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, pucks, mini-sticks and even plush toy whales.  Whale merchandise is also available at the Whale Pro Shop, which is located at 45 Pratt St. in downtown Hartford and is open 10 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and two hours before every home game.  Fans preferring to shop on the web can check out the Whale selection on-line at www.ctwhaleshop.com.

Season tickets for the 2011-12 Whale season are available now, with a special early bird discount.  Call (860) 728-3366 for information on that, as well as all Whale ticket packages, group sales and VIP packages.

Once again this season, the Whale are partnering with WTIC Radio to air Whale hockey action.  All of the Whale’s regular-season and playoff games will air on 96.5 WTIC-FM’s HD 2 channel and will be streamed on-line at www.wtic.com. Select games will be carried live on the 50,000-watt AM powerhouse, WTIC NewsTalk 1080.

The AHL’s Connecticut Whale is operated by Whalers Sports and Entertainment, a Hartford-based sports marketing and event firm founded by Howard Baldwin.  The team is the top player-development affiliate of the NHL’s New York Rangers.

Since 1972, the CT Lottery has generated more than $19.3 billion in sales and has transferred nearly $6.7 billion to the state’s General Fund.  Prizes have exceeded more than $11.1 billion.  Purchasers must be 18 years or older.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-346-6238.  For more information about the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, call (860) 713-2000, or visit the CT Lottery web site at ctlottery.org.

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