SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks Run Aground By Pirates, 8-3

The Worcester Sharks couldn’t hold on to three different one goal leads and then apparently forgot there was a third period to play as they gave up six consecutive goals to lose Saturday night’s contest 8-3 to the Portland Pirates at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine. T.J. Trevelyan and Steven Zalewski each had a goal and an assist for the WorSharks, with Dan DaSilva grabbing his second goal in as many games to round out the scoring. Portland was led by defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani’s five assist and had eight different goal scorers.

For those interested in the particulars they can check out Bill Ballou’s game story and notes column in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Ballou also has a nice feature on newly signed defenseman Ryan Lannon. Paul Betit has Portland’s side for the Press Herald.

As usual, the WorSharks and Pirates official sites have their unique points of view.

GAME NOTES
Worcester went with the same line-up as Friday night with two exceptions; James Marcou dressed in place of Kevin Henderson (illness), and Carter Hutton was in goal.

A quick statistical look at the third period organizationally:
Worcester
Tied for last in the AHL with 51 goals allowed in the third period.
Their goal differential in the period is (-18), the worst in the AHL.
Despite those stats, Worcester is amazingly 15-0-0-1 when leading after two periods.

San Jose
Tied for 26th in the NHL with 49 goals allowed in the third period.
Their goal differential in the period is (-14), which is 25th in the NHL.
San Jose is 16-3-2 when leading after two periods…that sounds decent, but that .762 winning percentage is 29th in the NHL.

Perhaps it’s time something is done about the strategy used by the organization in the third period?

BOXSCORE
Worcester 2 1 0 – 3
Portland 2 1 5 – 8

1st Period-1, Worcester, Trevelyan 8 (Zalewski, Lannon), 0:58. 2, Portland, Gongalsky 1 (Gragnani, Mancari), 6:36. 3, Worcester, DaSilva 8 (Trevelyan, MacIntyre), 16:52 (PP). 4, Portland, Brennan 5 (Tropp, Parrish), 18:38 (PP). Penalties-MacIntyre Wor (fighting), 6:42; McCauley Por (fighting), 6:42; Leach Wor (slashing), 7:59; Bowers Por (boarding), 15:27; McLaren Wor (cross-checking), 17:08; Lawrence Wor (holding), 18:52.

2nd Period-5, Worcester, Zalewski 3 (Marcou, Irwin), 18:12 (PP). 6, Portland, Whitmore 14 (Roloff), 18:46 (SH). Penalties-Legault Por (interference), 2:59; Zalewski Wor (tripping), 6:11; Parrish Por (slashing), 17:16; Mancari Por (tripping), 18:31.

3rd Period-7, Portland, Tropp 6 (Gragnani, Byron), 3:28. 8, Portland, Mancari 18 (Gragnani, Ellis), 10:35 (PP). 9, Portland, Legault 9 (Whitmore, Gongalsky), 13:07. 10, Portland, Byron 14 (Parrish, Gragnani), 17:45 (PP). 11, Portland, Schiestel 5 (Gragnani), 19:41. Penalties-Loprieno Wor (boarding), 9:39; DaSilva Wor (unsportsmanlike conduct, misconduct – unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:15; Loprieno Wor (tripping), 17:15.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 7-8-9-24. Portland 13-10-13-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 2/4; Portland 3/7.
Goalies-Worcester, Hutton 3-2-2 (36 shots-28 saves). Portland, Leggio 11-4-0 (24 shots-21 saves).
A-5,339
Referees-Ian Croft (87), David Banfield (44). Linesmen-Jeremy Lovett (78), Joe Andrews (32).