SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks not so special in 3-1 loss to IceCaps

The Worcester Sharks fired 31 shots on goal but could only connect once in a 3-1 loss to the St. John’s IceCaps Saturday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA in front of 3,534 very disappointed fans. The loss extends the WorSharks winless streak to three games.

Unlike Tuesday when the WorSharks came out flat Saturday night saw Worcester playing their normal aggressive style from the opening puck drop. But like Tuesday special teams were a big issue, and a turnover while on the penalty kill lead to the IceCaps first goal. With Mike Connolly in the box for tripping John McCarthy’s clearing attempt from behind the net up the right side boards was picked off at the blueline by Jason DeSantis. The defenseman’s blast from the point was going well wide but Shawn Weller was able to get a stick on the puck and tip it through his own legs and over WorSharks goaltender Tyson Sexsmith at 14:25.

In the second period Worcester returned the favor after Brandon Mashinter stole Zach Redmond clearing pass up the left side. With Mashinter standing at the top of the crease Redmond telegraphed his pass and Mashinter was able to get a stick on it, and after collecting the loose puck fired a backhander on net. IceCaps goaltender Edward Pasquale made the save, but Brodie Reid was there to bang home the rebound for his first professional goal at 9:20 of the middle stanza.

After failing to score on two early power play chances in the third period WorSharks fans knew that at some point Worcester would find itself shorthanded, and when Ben Guite was called for a very borderline trip their fears were soon realized. St. John’s would capitalize on their extra man advantage when Weller took a feed at the blueline and broke in on Sexsmith all alone. Weller’s backhander over Sexsmith’s glove at 11:32 was an NHL-quality goal that gave the IceCaps the lead for good.

Worcester did have a golden chance to tie the game last when they skated five on three for 1:21, but the WorSharks showed no signs of desperation and passed up several chances to blast the puck on net. The two shots they did take were nothing more than attempts to jam a bouncing puck home and both were squashed by Pasquale. Patrice Cormier would add an empty net goal with 11 seconds to go for the 3-1 final.

GAME NOTES
Worcester had three healthy scratches; Jimmy Bonneau, Nathan Moon, and Matt Pelech. Harri Sateri was the back-up netminder.

Just as Marek Viedensky comes off the injured list it looks like Ryan Del Monte will be added to it after Del Monte was kneed in the thigh by Patrice Cormier. The hit looked accidental, but both Sean Acolatse and captain Mike Moore took exception nonetheless, and it was Moore that got to Cormier first. Not many punches landed as Cormier slipped and fell to the ice before either could get anything really going.

In an earlier bout Curt Gogol (6′ 185#) took on Ben Chiarot (6’3” 224#) in a spirited fight where Chiarot landed a few good shots but Gogol really pounded his opponent, knocking him down twice.

Worcester’s tumble down the special teams ranks continues as their power play is down to 7th in the AHL (23.1) and their penalty kill has gone from tops in the league to 15th (81.6).

With both Worcester and San Jose losing Saturday night it was up to the Stockton Thunder to prevent an oh-fer night for the organization, and Sharks prospect netminder Thomas Heemskerk did just that as he lead the Thunder to a 3-2 win over Utah. Heemskerk had 27 saves and was the #2 star of the game.

The three stars of the game were:
1. STJ – Weller (2g)
2. WOR – Reid (g)
3. STJ – Pasquale (30 saves)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Brandon Mashinter.

Even strength lines
Connolly/Guite/Wingels
Mashinter/McCarthy/Reid
Lucia/Viedensky/Livingston
Gogol/Del Monte/MacIntyre

Irwin/Sullivan
Petrecki/Doherty
Moore/Acolatse

BOXSCORE

St. John’s 1 0 2 – 3
Worcester 0 1 0 – 1

1st Period-1, St. John’s, Weller 3 (DeSantis), 14:25 (PP). Penalties-Redmond Stj (hooking), 5:50; Petrecki Wor (roughing), 7:58; DeSantis Stj (slashing), 8:44; Chiarot Stj (fighting), 12:48; Gogol Wor (fighting), 12:48; Connolly Wor (tripping), 14:15.

2nd Period-2, Worcester, Reid 1 (Mashinter), 9:20. Penalties-Cormier Stj (fighting), 12:29; Moore Wor (fighting), 12:29; Ramsey Stj (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:37; Doherty Wor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:37; Mashinter Wor (roughing), 17:37.

3rd Period-3, St. John’s, Weller 4 (DeSantis, Gagnon), 11:32 (PP). 4, St. John’s, Cormier 2 (Redmond), 19:49 (EN). Penalties-DeSantis Stj (interference), 3:53; Kulda Stj (high-sticking), 6:30; Guite Wor (tripping), 10:46; Petrecki Wor (slashing), 12:16; Albert Stj (tripping), 15:19; Ramsey Stj (hooking), 15:58.

Shots on Goal-St. John’s 7-8-5-20. Worcester 7-12-12-31.
Power Play Opportunities-St. John’s 2 / 5; Worcester 0 / 6.
Goalies-St. John’s, Pasquale 4-0-0 (31 shots-30 saves). Worcester, Sexsmith 2-1-2 (19 shots-17 saves).
A-3,434
Referees-Chris Ciamaga (24), Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Joe Ross (92), Jeremy Lovett (78).