Connecticut ripped off four straight goals to win the American Hockey League contest.
Dane Byers gave the Springfield Falcons their only lead of the game in a 6-3 loss to the Connecticut Whale Friday night at Hartford.By NATE OWEN
HARTFORD – Say this about the Springfield Falcons and Connecticut Whale: They usually keep it interesting.
That was the case again Friday night, until Connecticut reeled off four unanswered goals to flip a 3-2 Falcons lead into a 6-3 win at the XL Center.
Tied at two thanks to Cody Bass’ blast from the high slot early in the second, Springfield took its only lead of the night on Dane Byers’ 11th goal of the season.
Tomas Kubalik broke down the right wing and zipped the puck past a pair of defenders and to Byers, who flicked it past Cameron Talbot at 13:43.
The lead was short-lived, as Ryan Bourque tied at 18:21, and Andre Deveaux gave the Whale the lead for good with a power play goal midway through the third.
With Cam Atkinson in the box for hooking, Mats Zuccarello whirled around the net and found Deveaux waiting on the right post. The bulky winger didn’t miss, beating Springfield’s Paul Dainton for his second score.
Bourque and former University of Massachusetts forward Casey Wellman capped off the rally with a goal each late in the third. Wellman finished with two points.
Connecticut went up 1-0 on their first shot of the game when Deveaux took a Kris Newbury pass and motored down the right win, beating Dainton at 3:26.
Springfield took advantage of a slashing penalty against Wellman, tying it on Atkinson’s 28th goal at 12:51. Martin St. Pierre launched a shot from the right circle that bounced off Kubalik to a waiting Atkinson on the opposite post.
Connecticut (25-16-5-5) went ahead under a minute later when Dainton (19 saves) came out of the net and swatted the puck along the end boards to a waiting Newbury, who pushed an odd-angle shot that Zuccarello tipped in off defender Patrick Cullity’s skate at 13:43.
Wellman broke free for a two-on-one rush as the opening period closed, but his shot went high and dinged off the crossbar.
Springfield (23-24-2-2) hosts Providence Saturday night at 7. Fans are encouraged to wear purple as part of March of Dimes night.
NOTES: Dainton had five wins and a .931 save percentage over his last six starts ... Talbot replaced Whale starter Chad Johnson, who left for undisclosed reasons after the first period. He stopped 17 of 19 shots for the win ... Veteran forward Adam Mair returned for Springfield after missing 23 games with an ankle injury ... It was the 10th meeting of the season between the rivals, with Springfield holding a 3-0-1 mark over the prior four meetings.