SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks Lose to Charlotte, Now Out Of Playoff Contention

Heading into the final week of the regular season the Worcester Sharks needed a lot of luck to make the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup playoffs, but no amount of luck can help you if you don’t win, and the offensively challenged WorSharks again couldn’t put the puck in the net when the opportunity arose and dropped a 2-1 decision to the Charlotte Checkers at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina in front of 9,813 fans. John McCarthy had the lone goal for Worcester. The loss, coupled by Connecticut’s win over Bridgeport, eliminated the WorSharks from the playoff chase.

Sharkspage didn’t make the trip to The Tar Heel State, and neither did WorSharks beat reporter Bill Ballou of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. In an oddity, the Charlotte Observer does have an article about the game written by Jack Horan. The oddity is Horan is apparently in St. Paul, Minnesota covering the Frozen Four. The T&G does have a staff and wire report about the game.

As usual, the WorSharks and Checkers both have their unique points of view on their official sites.

There is another story out of Charlotte about the Checkers that is worth mentioning, and Elisabeth Arriero describes it all in her story in the Observer. The website for NewsChannel 36, WCNC.com, has a video news story online about it also.

The two team play again Saturday night in a contest that means nothing for either squad.

GAME NOTES
During the week Brandon Mashinter was recalled by San Jose, and the WorSharks signed left wing Matt Francis to a PTO to take his place. Francis became the 49th player to suit up for the Sharks this season, which sets a franchise record. With nothing left to play for but pride it seems likely that Sena Acolaste will play Saturday, which would raise that total to 50 different players used by Worcester this season. Harri Sateri was the starting netminder Friday, with Carter Hutton being the back-up.

The three stars of the game were
1. CHA – 18 Jacob Micflikier (g)
2. CHA – 1 Justin Pogge (21 saves)
3. CHA – 23 Cedric McNicoll (g)

The Sharkspage player of the game was John McCarthy.

BOXSCORE
Worcester 0 1 0 – 1
Charlotte 0 2 0 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Bellemore Cha (tripping), 18:21; FitzGerald Cha (slashing), 19:08.

2nd Period-1, Charlotte, Micflikier 29 (Terry, Bellemore), 3:49. 2, Charlotte, McNicoll 6 (Boychuk, Dalpe), 10:05 (PP). 3, Worcester, McCarthy 7 (Wingels, Schaus), 10:48. Penalties-Petrecki Wor (interference), 9:25.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Rodney Cha (hooking), 4:10; Sutter Cha (double minor – high-sticking), 18:41.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 6-7-9-22. Charlotte 10-9-8-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0/4; Charlotte 1/1.
Goalies-Worcester, Sateri 1-3-1 (27 shots-25 saves). Charlotte, Pogge 22-18-4 (22 shots-21 saves).
A-9,813
Referee-David Banfield (44). Linesmen-Paul Carnathan (93), Mark Hamlett (81).