Springfield goal with 28.8 seconds left costs Whale a win and a point

Kris Newbury scored his 19th goal of the season for Connecticut Sunday against Springfield.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., April 14 – This could be a point that keeps the Connecticut Whale out of the AHL playoffs.

Springfield scored with 28.8 seconds left in the third period to lift the Northeast Division champion Falcons to a stunning 4-3 win over Connecticut Sunday in the regular season home finale for Springfield at the MassMutual Center.

Rookie Boone Jenner, playing in just his second AHL game for the Falcons, got his stick free at the side of the goal crease and stuffed the puck in. Teammate David Savard passed it to the net from the right point.

Connecticut (35-30-6-3) remains tied for seventh place in the AHL’s Eastern Conference with Norfolk. But Manchester and Hershey each moved with two points of Connecticut and Norfolk. The Whale have two more games left – both on the road next weekend at Albany and Portland.

It looked as if the game was going into overtime before the Falcons scored. A tie in regulation would have earned Connecticut a point.

Jenner’s tally late finished off a strong shift by the Falcons, as Springfield brought the puck into Connecticut’s end and maintained it. Michael Chaput fed Savard at the right point, and the defenseman’s ensuing shot created a rebound for Jenner in the crease. Jenner charged the goal and pushed the puck by Missiaen’s stick.

Springfield (43-21-5-4) moved within two wins of the franchise record for wins in the regular season set in 1997.

Andrew Joudrey ignited the Falcons early, snapping a puck over Whale netminder Jason Missiaen’s glove on a rush in the left circle at 6:50 of the first period, giving Springfield a 1-0 lead.

Connecticut stormed back in the as Kris Newbury scored on a power play, sending in a rebound off a Mike Vernace while Micheal Haley batted in a centering feed from Christian Thomas on the doorstep to put Connecticut on top, 2-1. It was Newbury’s 19th goal of the season and his team-leading 61st point. For Haley, it was his 10th goal of the season.

Springfield tied the game in the second period as Dalton Smith’s wraparound chance squirted off of Missiaen to Michael Chaput in the slot.

Connecticut’s J.T. Miller led a rush into Springfield’s end moments later to help put the Whale back in front. Miller cut in front of Springfield’s net and guided a puck toward the goal from the left circle. Falcons goaltender Allen York slowed down the shot, but Brandon Mashinter tipped in the rebound with nine minutes left in the period to provide the Whale with a 3-2 edge.

Jonathan Audy-Marchessault caused a turnover in Connecticut’s zone late in the second period, knocking a puck down behind the net and centered it for Matthew Ford, who snapped the opportunity by Missiaen with 1:06 left tying the contest, 3-3.

York (12-6-0) stopped 16 of 19 shots to win his second start of the weekend. Missiaen (10-8-2) allowed four goals on 21 attempts.

NOTES: Springfield won the season series with Connecticut, 7-5. … The Falcons finished 24-10-1-3 at home, the third-best mark in franchise history and the best since 1997. … Audy-Marchessault’s assist was his team-best 64th point (20 goals, 44 assists ), matching his 2011-12 total. He paced Springfield with 15 points (1 goal, 14 assists) against Connecticut this season.

Information from the Connecticut Whale, Springfield Falcons and AHL.com used in compiling this report.

For more of our coverage of the Connecticut Whale, search for AHL or CT Whale on our website.

Springfield 4, Connecticut 3
At Springfield
Connecticut 2 1 0 – 3
Springfield   1 2 1 – 4
1st Period: 1, Springfield, Joudrey 9 (Russell, Parlett), 6:50. 2, Connecticut, Newbury 19 (Pyett, Vernace), 10:43 (PP). 3, Connecticut, Haley 10 (Thomas), 14:53. Penalties-McIlrath Ct (roughing, roughing), 0:18; served by Collins Spr (bench minor – too many men), 1:32; Chaput Spr (holding), 2:19; Parlett Spr (holding), 9:56; Ferriero Ct (fighting), 15:45; Audy-Marchessault Spr (fighting), 15:45; McIlrath Ct (fighting), 16:40; Newbury Ct (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:40; Smith Spr (fighting), 16:40.
2nd Period: 4, Springfield, Chaput 12 (Smith, Machacek), 7:11. 5, Connecticut, Mashinter 12 (Miller, Ferriero), 11:00. 6, Springfield, Ford 8 (Audy-Marchessault), 18:54. Penalties-Vernace Ct (roughing, roughing), 14:36; Smith Spr (roughing), 14:36.
3rd Period: 7, Springfield, Jenner 1 (Savard, Chaput), 19:31. Penalties-McIlrath Ct (high-sticking), 1:12; Vogelhuber Spr (holding), 4:58; Chaput Spr (delay of game), 9:56.

Shots on Goal: Connecticut 9-5-5-19. Springfield 6-11-5-22.
Power Play Opportunities: Connecticut 1 / 4; Springfield 0 / 4.
Goalies: Connecticut, Missiaen 10-8-2 (22 shots-18 saves). Springfield, York 12-6-0 (19 shots-16 saves).
A-5,585