Bluefins forward Billy Tibbetts makes a play for the puck. Danbury Whalers would hold on to win 3-2. (PHOTO: Ron Morin)

Lewiston, ME– It was a change of plans for the Danbury Whalers, which left the Federal Hockey League scrambling, Thursday night, in the third game of five games dubbed ‘The Maine Event’ at the Androscoggin Bank Colisee.

The Akwesasne Warriors were scheduled to face the Cape Cod Bluefins, but travel issues prevented them from making the trip, leaving the FHL to summon the Danbury Whalers up I-95 to face the Bluefins before heading to Danville, Illinois to face the Dashers the next day.

With short notice, the Whalers came away with the 4-2 victory before 1,086 at the Colisee.

“I got up at 7am to go to my office because we weren’t supposed to leave for Danville until 3pm today,” said Danbury Whalers head coach Phil Esposito. “I get a call at 7:30am (from the league) ‘Listen you got to do us a favor, we got to reroute the bus to Maine first’. Then go from Maine to Danville. It was one of those things.”

Originally, it was the Vermont Wild, who was scheduled to appear at the Colisee, but in late November the team folded and replaced by Akwesasne.

Things don’t get easier as the Danbury with already a depleted roster to call ups and injures is losing player/assistant coach Kelly Miller to Elmira of the ECHL.

“Kelly Miller is going to Elmira,” said Esposito. “I am going to lose him again. I am going to be down another guy tomorrow. We just have to go in and plug it out in Danville.”

The Bluefins broke the ice when James Gordon found Jamie Jelinek, who roofed it past Whalers’ goalie Peter Vetri at the 9:24 mark.

“I love how our guys play,” said Cape Cod coach Mike Nugnes. “We are the lowest payroll in the league. We have kids just out of juniors or right out of college, even without playing in college. I am excited for our team. We are a young team, and they get better after every game. We outshot them 46-27.”

The Whalers responded in the second period with three unanswered goals.

Sean O’Malley notched the first as he jammed the puck home at the 3:29 mark with Matt Moffatt setting the goal up.

“We had some bus legs and some shock legs that we were actually playing a game tonight,” Esposito said. “I think after we got through the first period and got a little sweat going. We decided we were going to a more passive 1-2-2 forecheck.”

With 12:27 remaining Bluefins’ Luke Frey and Danbury’s James Ryerse dropped the gloves.

Former NHL player Billy Tibbetts played 82 NHL games with New York and Pittsburgh, scoring 10 points with 269 PIM's (PHOTO: Ron Morin)

Cape Cod’s Billy Tibbetts, a former NHL’er with the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins and some with a checkered past, received a roughing call and a game misconduct. Nugnes received a two minute unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and a game misconduct after Tibbetts ejection from the game.

“We got caught up in the moment,” said Nugnes.

With 8:56 remaining left in the period, Matt Moffatt recorded his second point as he gave Danbury a 2-1 lead.

Devin Guy lit the lamp with an unassisted goal only 46 seconds later as the Whalers extended its lead, 3-1.

The Bluefins got within one as AJ Tesoriero recorded a goal with Corey Bellamy getting the assist at 16:59 of the second period. Bellamy is the brother of former Maine Black Bear, Rob Bellamy.

Lynn Beedle notched the empty-net goal with one second remaining in the contest.

Both teams were 0-for-4 on the man advantage.

Peter Vetri made 44 saves for the Whalers while Wes Vesprini stopped 24 shots.

NOTES: Todd Chinova, a former Lewiston Maineiac, who played for Danbury when they were last in Lewiston for an FHL game against Danville was listed as a member of Cape Cod, but did not dress.