SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks stumble in third period, lose 4-3 in shootout to Providence

The Worcester Sharks took their second trip of the new season south down route 146 to take on the Providence Bruins and controlled play early, but the late game problems from last season reared their ugly heads again as the WorSharks dropped a two goal third period lead on their way to losing a 4-3 shootout contest Friday night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence, Rhode Island in front of a crowd announced at 6,869.

Both teams came out flying and the end to end action looked more like a pick-up basketball game than a pro hockey contest, with the first whistle to stop play coming almost five minutes into the period. The WorSharks up-tempo style didn’t take a break while shorthanded either, as penalty killer John McCarthy had the best scoring chance for both teams early and only an incredible glove save by P-Bruins netminder Anton Khudobin kept Worcester off the board.

For the the third time in three games Worcester would get on the board first after the teams had two minutes of high intensity four on four play. Nathan Moon broke in alone and his attempt was stoned by Khudobin, who also managed to block James Livingston’s return volley. Jumping into the play from out of the penalty box was Curt Gogol, who crashed the net and banged the puck into the yawning net at 10:31.

The official scorer doesn’t list Moon as having an assist on the play and instead has the second helper going to Mike Connolly. Although a replay was not available by posting time Sharkspage is reasonably certain Connolly was not on the ice at the time of the goal, and after review the assist should be given to Moon.

Worcester would also have the second goal of the contest while on their first power play attempt of the game, and there is also some doubt on who was involved in the scoring on that goal. Cam MacIntyre threaded a pass from the right wing half boards to Brandon Mashinter at the near post. Khudobin made the initial save but Moon was there to bang the puck home at 13:22. The scorer has given the second assist to WorSharks captain Mike Moore, so an additional review will also be in order.

Down 2-0 Providence took the the fisticuffs to fire up their team, with Tyler Randell taking on Gogol in a no-defense bout with both player landing huge bombs on each other at 13:57. After the ensuing face-off Lane MacDermid took on Mashinter in a fight where Mashinter couldn’t really get his feet under him. The battles may or may not have had anything to do with it, but it would be the P-Bruins that grabbed the next goal, the only one of the middle stanza. After a two on one break Tyson Sexsmith would make a kick save on Kirk MacDonald’s shot, but the rebound would end up right on the tape of MacDermid at 6:14 of the second.

Just like last Saturday’s contest against Albany the WorSharks would grab an early goal in the third period, ironically at the same 28 seconds into the frame as Saturday, when Connolly banged home a rebound to make it 3-1 after Khudobin turned aside multiple chances for Worcester. Brodie Reid and Ben Guite had the assists.

Unfortunately for the WorSharks it would take Providence just 78 seconds to get it back to a one goal deficit when a defensive misplay sent Calle Riverwall in all alone on Sexsmith. Worcester had several great chances to get their two goal lead back, but Khudobin was there each time. Providence would get the equalizer with 29.1 seconds remaining when defenseman Matt Barkowski threw a shot from the point into a scrum of players in front of the Worcester net that winger Jamie Tardif was able to get a stick on and deflect past Sexsmith.

Both clubs would have great chances in overtime but the goalies stood firm, and after Moon answered Jamie Arniel’s shootout goal Carter Camper sent the WorSharks back home with just a single point.

GAME NOTES
Worcester’s scratches were Taylor Doherty, Jimmy Bonneau, and Marek Viedensky. Both Bonneau, who joined WorSharks broadcaster Eric Lindquist in the radio booth for the game, and Viedensky are injured but are expected to be ready to play soon. Sean Acolatse made his pro debut at forward instead of what will be his usual spot on the blueline. Tony Lucia returned to the line-up for the first time since October 10, 2010 after missing 80 games due to a concussion.

There have been a handful of transactions in the past week, with the Worcester Shuttle making a stop to drop off goaltender Harri Sateri and pick up Benn Ferriero. Netminder Thomas Heemskerk also went west on the shuttle, but his stop was Stockton (ECHL) and not San Jose. The WorSharks also signed, and then released, Ian O’Connor to a PTO. O’Connor became just the third non-goaltender in WorSharks history to be signed to a PTO and not appear in a game. Josh Ciocco and Chris Murray were the other two.

Mike Connolly has a two game goal scoring streak, and Ben Guite extended his WorSharks point streak to three games (six overall). Mike Moore currently has a two game point streak, although that may change after a review of the scoring on Worcester’s goals. If Ferriero returns he’ll pick up his goal scoring streak at two games.

The three stars of the game were
1) PRO – Camper (SO GWG)
2) WOR – Connolly (g,a)
3) PRO – MacDermid (g)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Nathan Moon.

Even strength lines
Connolly/Guite/Reid
Mashinter/Moon/MacIntyre
Lucia/McCarthy/Livingston
Acolatse/Del Monte/Gogol

Irwin/Sullivan
Petrecki/Pelech
Moore/Braun

BOXSCORE

Worcester 2 0 1 0 – 3
Providence 0 1 2 0 – 4

1st Period-1, Worcester, Gogol 2 (Livingston, Connolly), 10:31. 2, Worcester, Moon 1 (Mashinter, Moore), 13:22 (PP). Penalties-Moon Wor (cross-checking), 6:06; Gogol Wor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:16; MacDermid Pro (unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:16; MacDermid Pro (hooking), 11:49; Gogol Wor (fighting), 13:57; Randell Pro (fighting), 13:57; Mashinter Wor (fighting), 13:59; MacDermid Pro (fighting), 13:59; Pelech Wor (high-sticking), 19:32.

2nd Period-3, Providence, MacDermid 2 (MacDonald), 6:14. Penalties-Petrecki Wor (hooking), 0:53; Tardif Pro (roughing), 9:49.

3rd Period-4, Worcester, Connolly 2 (Reid, Guite), 0:28. 5, Providence, Ridderwall 1 (Cunningham), 1:46. 6, Providence, Tardif 2 (Bartkowski, Hamill), 19:30. Penalties-Moore Wor (interference), 4:53; Connolly Wor (slashing), 9:50; Ridderwall Pro (holding), 13:17.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Worcester 1 (Connolly NG, Reid NG, Mashinter NG, Moon G, Guite NG), Providence 2 (Hamill NG, Ridderwall NG, Arniel G, Hennessy NG, Camper G).
Shots on Goal-Worcester 18-12-9-4-0-43. Providence 13-11-9-2-1-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 / 3; Providence 0 / 5.
Goalies-Worcester, Sexsmith 2-0-1 (35 shots-32 saves). Providence, Khudobin 3-3-0 (43 shots-40 saves).
A-6,869
Referees-Keith Kaval (40).
Linesmen-Bob Paquette (18), Brian MacDonald (72).