Connecticut Wins on Zuccarello Game Winner

October 22, 2011 | Posted by Leslie Treff

The Connecticut Whale were heavily outshot tonight by the Springfield Falcons, and for about 70 minutes all the play was pretty much in the Whale zone, but at the final buzzer the score was 2-1 Whale, so the ride home tonight is a happy one for the Connecticut team.

There were many mistakes, particularly by the defense, but Connecticut just coming after Springfield, and every time the Falcons shot the puck, Cam Talbot was there to stop it. Talbot was excellent tonight, challenging the shooters, showing good lateral movement and staying up long enough to block some shots and get some others with his glove. Talbot is looking better and better, and should be considered the number one netminder, at least for the time being. Expect Chad Johnson to play tomorrow, in third game of the three in three, but Talbot has been much better overall, and he should get the quality starts while he’s hot.

It was Wade MacLeod who scored first, for the Falcons, at 5:49 of the second period. It was an excellent shot that went through Talbot. Jonathan Audy-Marchessault answered in the third period, posting his first professional goal at 2:41. The Whale tried to come back, but Springfield had possession for most of the period. It was only near the end of the third period, with 4:53 left in the game, did Mats Zuccarello make an amazing play. He actually was below the goal line and put the puck toward the net. It banked off the Springfield netminder and went in.

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