SHARKSPAGE

Sullivan, Sexsmith lead WorSharks over Providence, 4-1

The Worcester Sharks started off their 2011-2012 season by taking an hour bus trip south down route 146 and then taking it to the Providence Bruins in a contest where they dominated every aspect of the game along the way to a 4-1 victory Sunday afternoon at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island in front of an announced crowd of 3,579.

Both teams spent the very early part of the opening period feeling each other out, but it didn’t take long for Worcester to pick up the pace and force Providence to chase them all over the ice. Several big saves by P-Bruins goaltender Anton Khudobin kept the game scoreless. The WorSharks best chance early was Justin Braun’s two on one break in while short handed, but Khudobin was there with a big glove save. Khudobin was also there to make a big save when Curt Gogol surprised the netminder with a booming slapshot from the point through traffic. A few moments later Gogol would get a second chance.

After Nick Petrecki collected a Taylor Doherty pass and fed Ryan Del Monte the center found Gogol streaking down the left wing side. Gogol let a shot rip from the top of the circle that beat Khudobin five hole for his first professional goal at 14:35.

Worcester had a great chance to get another goal late in the period when Matt Irwin’s blast broke through Khudobin, but the Providence defense was there to sweep the puck away. Worcester outshot Providence 14-4 in the opening 20 minutes, with WorSharks netminder Tyson Sexsmith not being really tested.

Sean Sullivan grabbed Worcester’s second goal at 4:10 of the middle period when he picked up a loose puck and blasted a shot off the far post. Irwin and Ben Guite had the assists on the goal. Sullivan had an assist on Worcester’s third goal when he dumped the puck in from the blue line while on the power play. The puck was gathered by Nathan Moon, who flipped a backhand pass to Brandon Mashinter all alone in the slot. The big left winger buried it at 15:37 to make it 3-0.

Sandwiched between the two second period tallies for Worcester was a huge save by Sexsmith on a Calle Ridderwall shorthanded breakaway, as the netminder was able to get a piece of the shot and it rolled wide.

Providence was finally able get one past Sexsmith, and it took a lucky bounce to do it. After Mike Moore blocked a Lane MacDermid shot the puck bounced right back to the forward. Sexsmith, who had reacted to the first shot, was unable to get his glove back up to catch the laser that went just under the crossbar at 18:54 to make it 3-1.

The WorSharks would get a little more breathing room at 1:31 of the third period when Benn Ferriero connected to make it 4-1. The goal was assisted by Brodie Reid and Petrecki, although the box score doesn’t reflect the defenseman’s assist as of posting time. The Baby-Bs carried the play for the rest of the third period, but some great team defense by Worcester limited their scoring chances. Sexsmith, who wasn’t called upon to make many big saves, was there for the chances when he needed to be.

Worcester opens their home schedule with their next game on Saturday, October 15 against the Albany Devils.

GAME NOTES
Scratches for the WorSharks were Sena Acolatse, Matt Pelech, and Marek Viedensky. Thomas Heemskerk was the back-up netminder.

There was two fights in the contest, with new WorSharks enforcer Jimmy Bonneau taking on Lane MacDermid in the first half of the middle stanza. As both fighters went to the ice Bonneau looked to get his leg caught under him, and he didn’t return to the game after testing out the leg during a stoppage in play later in the period. Curt Gogol and Tyler Randell went at it off a face-off early in the third after Gogol caused some havoc in the P-Bruins end. Sharkspage gives the Baby-Bs the nod in both bouts.

There were a few uniform number changes for Worcester from last season, with Cam MacIntyre going from #41 to #24, Taylor Doherty moving from #28 to #4, and Ryan Del Monte, who wore both #9 and #42 under a PTO last season, wearing #16. Acolatse, when he suits up, will officially change from #36 to #14. Bonneau is the first WorShark to wear #43 in a game, and Brodie Reid is the first to wear #51.

The win improves Worcester’s record in season openers to 4-1-0-1. All the games have been on the road.

Defenseman Marvin Degon, who plays for Providence, is originally from Worcester. His father, Marvin Degon Sr, is a member of the Worcester Hockey Hall of Fame and holder of many DIII college records for scoring. In the early 70s Degon Sr. averaged nearly a hat trick per game for Worcester State.

The three stars of the game were
#1 – WOR: Sullivan (g,a)
#2 – WOR: Sexsmith (19 saves)
#3 – PRO: MacDermid (g)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Nick Petrecki.

Even Strength Lines
Connolly/Ferriero/Reid
Mashinter/Moon/MacIntyre
McCarthy/Guite/Livingston
Bonneau/Del Monte/Gogol

Moore/Braun
Petrecki/Doherty
Irwin/Sullivan

Power Play Lines
Connolly/Ferriero/Reid
Mashinter/Moon/MacIntyre

Irwin/Braun
Sullivan/Doherty

Penalty Kill Lines
Guite/McCarthy
Del Monte/Livingston

Moore/Braun
Petrecki/Doherty

BOXSCORE

Worcester 1 2 1 – 4
Providence 0 1 0 – 1

1st Period-1, Worcester, Gogol 1 (Del Monte, Petrecki), 14:35. Penalties-Randell Pro (tripping), 2:54; Moon Wor (slashing), 8:32; Button Pro (closing hand on puck), 15:30.

2nd Period-2, Worcester, Sullivan 1 (Guite, Irwin), 4:10. 3, Worcester, Mashinter 1 (Moon, Sullivan), 15:37 (PP). 4, Providence, MacDermid 1 (Cohen), 18:54. Penalties-Bonneau Wor (fighting), 6:36; MacDermid Pro (fighting), 6:36; Cantin Pro (high-sticking), 7:16; Tardif Pro (elbowing), 11:52; MacDonald Pro (tripping), 14:06; Gogol Wor (cross-checking), 16:44; Doherty Wor (roughing), 17:04; Hamill Pro (roughing), 17:04.

3rd Period-5, Worcester, Ferriero 1 (Reid), 1:31. Penalties-Gogol Wor (fighting), 6:05; Randell Pro (fighting), 6:05; Moore Wor (tripping), 17:14; Hamill Pro (tripping), 19:26.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 14-10-7-31. Providence 4-6-10-20.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 / 6; Providence 0 / 3.
Goalies-Worcester, Sexsmith 1-0-0 (20 shots-19 saves). Providence, Khudobin 0-2-0 (31 shots-27 saves).
A-3,579
Referees-Mark Lemelin (41), Ryan Hersey (46).
Linesmen-Bob Bernard (42), Bob Paquette (18).