Mayorov Scores Game Winner Extends Whale Losing Streak

Eurohockey.com

The winning play came as result of a rookie mistake by Whale winger Scott Tanski whose blind drop pass found its way to Falcons center martin St. Pierre who quickly fed winger Cam Atkinson. Atkinson who grew up nearby in Avon and played his prep school hockey at Avon Old Farms raced up the right wing and laid a perfect pass along the ice as Mayorov whizzed past Whale defenseman Jared Nightingale redirecting the puck past Whale goalie Cam Talbot at the 6:03 mark of the third period.

"We make a mistake there late, an odd man rush and we pay the price for it," said a clearly distressed Whale head coach Ken Gernander. "Our margin of error isn't one where we can afford a lot of mistakes."

Nightingale was thoughtful on this difficult patch the Whale are experiencing.

"Its puck luck! You can't put a price on these experiences and I think at the end of the season we will see this as a positive experience." 

Springfield clearly kept the Whale in check and caught a break in the second period. With 6;50 left in the second period Whale center Kelsey Tessier just inside the blue line got off a shot,but Falcons goalie Paul Dainton made the stop, the puck was bouncing in the crease and Savard saw the loose biscuit placed his hand over the puck and swept it out of the blue area-a clear penalty shot violation.

The first 42 minutes the Whale seemed tentative and afraid to initiate play, but that was because a series of bad penalties has cost them games during this losing streak that they could have won.

The Whale tied the game Norwegian forward Mats Zucarrello on his way to Atlantic City for the AHL All Star in his second game back after missing 17 due to ankle injury used his speed for a crossing play as he redirected rookie Jonathan Audy-Marchessault pass at 18:08 of the second past Falcons rookie goalie Paul Dainton, a native of Nanuvut, Canada. 

The goal allowed the teams best crowd of the season to cheer for the Whale after being completely silent to that point.

Dainton who was in the the ECHL a week with Reading and heading to Florida for a road trip had little work for the most of the game, but he was splendid in the final 22 minutes of the game.

He stopped Francois Bouchard early in the third period, stopped one of the AHL's best rookies Marchessault with glove saves. In the final six minutes he denied Ryan Bourque and Cayman Islander by birth Andre Deveaux from 30 feet out with 5:55 to go.

Springfield garnered a 1-0 lead in the first period as enforcer Tim Spencer deflected a right point shot from defenseman Theo Ruth at the 17:00 mark. The play was made possible by Falcons center and former Whale player Ryan Garlock who won the draw from Whale center Jordan Owens and MacLeod quickly tapped it back to Ruth.

NOTE: EHN can exclusively report Whale defenseman Russian Pavel Valentenko was scratched because he has suffered a concussion. Valentenko was pushed in the boards heavily Friday night by Wilkes Barre 6'6 250 lb. Steve MacIntyre who played for Hartford Wolf Pack 6 years ago. MacIntyre was given a major for boarding and a game misconduct. "I never had a concussion before. I am very, very foggy right now."

Based on previous concussion situations Valentenko will be out a minimum two weeks as they follow the medical protocol that is used with all post concussion situations. It also an in opportune time for his team that is struggling, but he and his wife  are also expecting the birth of their first child any day now.

Not only have the Whale lost 11 games, but they lost first place as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers have been traveling in the complete opposite direction putting together and 11 game inning streak winning last night in Syracuse and now have a two point lead over their in-state and inter division rival….The only other Nanuvut to make it professional Jordin Tootoo currently plays with Nashville. Tootoo's older brother Terence made it to Roanoke (ECHL) 2001-2002,but tragically committed suicide that off season…The only other AHL team to lose all their games in one month was the Springfield Falcons of 2009-2010….The Whale elected to play a man short at forward scratching Sean Avery and Aaron Voros.

 

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