Someone finally got back on the score sheet tonight. (Photo: clyde/flickr)

After last nights’ game, the Whale needed a good showing to avoid their coaches’ wrath at practice tomorrow. While Gernander probably won’t forget the game against the Pirates, a game at Worcester was just the medicine needed and the Whale did exactly what was necessary to get back in his good graces.

One line-up change as Andrew Yogan was out due to an injury he sustained during the game against Portland last night (he was seen leaving the arena with his arm in a sling). Since the Whale had no healthy forwards to replace him, they signed Shayne Wiebe to a PTO so they would be able to call him up from Greenville. This was Wiebe’s second game of the season as he played the first game of the year before being released and signing with the Road Warriors.

The Whale came out buzzing in the first period knowing they needed a sixty-minute effort. Unfortunately Alex Stalock was up to the test as he stopped all seven of Connecticut’s shot in the period. The Sharks however managed to get one behind Talbot with two and a half minutes remaining in the period to take the 1-0 lead.

Second period was much of the same as the Whale pushed for the tying goal but were unable to get one in the back of the net. Chris Kreider and Chad Kolarik each hit the post giving fans the feeling either a goal was coming or this was going to be one of those nights where it wasn’t meant to be. The good news is Cam Talbot was up to the test and it remained a one goal game going into the third.

It turned out to be the former as 1:37 into the period the Sharks were called for too many men on the ice giving the Whale their third power play of the game. It only took four seconds for the Whale to win the face-off, get the puck to Matt Gilroy who got a shot on net allowing Kreider to bury the rebound.

Then just 1:17 later, Ryan Bourque stole the puck behind the net and surprised Stalock to get his third of the season and give the Whale a 2-1 lead. The goal was unassisted and all the Whale would need.

Things got a little dicey eight minutes later when Logan Pyett lost control of stick after getting knocked down and received a four-minute high sticking penalty. Less than 15 seconds into the penalty kill, Brandon Segal was hit in the face with a puck and raced off to the locker room. The Whale managed to kill the penalty and fortunately both players (Segal and the Sharks player who was hit by Pyett) returned before the end of the period.

While the remaining six minutes included back and forth action, the Whale were able to keep the Sharks from tying it up to get their second win in two consecutive Saturdays at Worcester. Unfortunately this is the last game of the year at the DCU Center as the boys seem to play well here.

The Whale’s next game is Friday in Bridgeport. My hope for that game (besides a Whale victory) is we see no stretchers this time. You hear that Sound Tigers? Don’t play dirty you bratty little Islanders!