WHALE WEEKLY: April 11-17, 2011 

The Whale (40-32-2-6, 88 points) wrapped up a playoff spot this past week with a win over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday, which will enable them to enter postseason play for the 13^th time in the 14-year history of the franchise. Connecticut also clinched their second straight GEICO Connecticut Cup in Friday’s action.  The GEICO Connecticut Cup is awarded to the winner of the season series between Connecticut and Bridgeport. The Whale fell to the Sound Tigers in Saturday’s rematch at the XL Center, 4-3, and were defeated again on Sunday by the Norfolk Admirals, 6-3, in their regular season finale.

This week:

The Whale, the third-place finishers in the Atlantic Division, begin their quest for the Calder Cup this Thursday night, April 14^th at the Cumberland County Civic Center, with Game One of their best-of-seven Atlantic-Division Semifinal series against Head Coach Kevin Dineen and the Atlantic Division-champion Portland Pirates.  Faceoff is 7:00 PM, and Game Two of the series is this Saturday, April 16^th, also in Portland and also facing off at 7:00.  The matchup then switches to Hartford for Games Three and Four, this Sunday, April 17^th at 6:00 and Tuesday, April 19^th at 7:00 PM.  The full series schedule is as follows:

Tickets for the Whale’s first two home games in the series (Games “A” and “B”) 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.

Playoff ticket packages are also available that include tickets to all 16 possible home playoff games, plus rollover options and incentives for next year’s season tickets.  To speak to a Whale account executive about a playoff ticket package, call (860) 728-3366.  More information is available at www.ctwhale.com.

Thursday, April 14^th, Game One at Portland (Cumberland County Civic Center), 7:00 p.m.

· This season marks a return to the postseason for the Whale franchise for the first time since the 2008-09 season, after falling short in last year’s campaign.

· The Whale franchise has made the playoffs in 13 of its 14 seasons in Hartford. The Pirates have made a postseason appearance in each of the last four seasons, missing just once during Kevin Dineen’s tenure as head coach (2006-07).

· The Pirates won their second Atlantic Division title this season, finishing the year with a record of 47-24-07, good for 103 points. That total is the team’s highest since the 2005-06 season (114 points).

· The two teams last met in the playoffs during the 2007-08 season, as the Pirates defeated the Wolf Pack, four games to one, in their first-round matchup.  The two clubs also locked horns in the 2004 Atlantic Division Semi-finals, won by the Wolf Pack in five games, and the 2006 Atlantic Division Finals, in which the Pirates prevailed in six games.

· 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 16^th, Game Two vs. Portland at the Cumberland County Civic Center, 7:00 p.m.

· Portland’s leading scorer among forwards, Mark Mancari (32-32-64 in 56 games), and leading scorer among defensemen, Eddie Shore Award-winner Marc-Andre Gragnani (12-48-60 in 63 GP), are currently on recall to the Pirates’ parent Buffalo Sabres, who fill face the Philadelphia Flyers in their first-round playoff matchup.

· The Whale won five of eight meetings with the Pirates this season, including the last two head-to-head tilts. Six of the games between the two teams were decided by just one goal, with the Whale winning three games in overtime.

· Connecticut took three of four games from the Pirates at the Cumberland County Civic Center this season, with their only loss coming in a 3-0 shutout back on Jan. 14.

· 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.

Sunday, April 17^th, Game Three vs. Portland at the XL Center, 6:00 p.m.

· Wade Redden leads all active Whale players with seven points in action against the Pirates (1-6-7), and Kris Newbury and Dale Weise have both gathered two goals and two assists. Former Pirate Dov Grumet-Morris has won both of his appearances in net against Portland this season.

· Nick Crawford (1-5-6) and Corey Tropp (0-6-6) have both tallied six points for Portland against the Whale, and goaltender David Leggio has posted a 3-1-0 mark against Connecticut.

· The Whale were defeated on their home ice twice this season by the Pirates, both times losing 3-2 in regulation to Portland.

· 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:
Chris McKelvie – Returned by the Whale to Greenville (ECHL) April 4.
Kris Newbury – Returned to the Whale by the New York Rangers April 5.
Dylan McIlrath – Signed by the Whale to an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement April 6.
Shayne Wiebe – Signed by the Whale to an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement April 7.
Andrew Yogan – Signed by the Whale to an Amateur Tryout (ATO) agreement April 7.
Mats Zuccarello – Recalled from the Whale by the NY Rangers April 8.

Whale Tales:

Individual tickets for the Whale’s first two home playoff games (Games “A” and “B”) 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.

Playoff ticket packages are also available that include tickets to all 16 possible home playoff games, plus rollover options and incentives for next year’s season tickets.  To speak to a Whale account executive about a playoff ticket package, call (860) 728-3366.  More information is available at www.ctwhale.com.

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 playoff games will air on 96.5 WTIC-FM’s HD 2 channel and will be streamed on-line at www.wtic.com.

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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