SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks complete sweep of Senators with 5-2 victory in Binghamton

The Worcester Sharks played their second game in New York in 24 hours and in a contest that was a lot like Friday’s win in Albany the WorSharks fell behind early only to charge back to take control to eventually defeat the defending Calder Cup champion Binghamton Senators 5-2 Saturday night at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, New York in front of 3,430 fans.

In a road trip full of “firsts” Worcester found themselves in need of doing something they hadn’t done all season–win when trailing after the first period. Despite dominating most of the opening stanza and outshooting Bingo it was the Sens that would escape the first 20 minutes with the lead when Mike Bartlett tipped Mark Borowiecki’s intentionally wide blast at the near post past WorSharks goaltender Tyson Sexsmith at 15:28. Worcester outshot Bingo 16-10 in the stanza but thanks to some nice saves by netminder Mike McKenna were held scoreless.

The second period began with Worcester playing on its heels as the Sens took it to the visitors, but a Bingo turnover in the neutral zone turned the tide quickly as Nathan Moon sent Jack Combs and Brodie Reid into the Sens zone two on one. Combs held the puck until defenseman Craig Schira started to go to the ice to block the cross slot pass and then fired a hard pass before Schira could get the lane completely blocked. Reid’s blast went high stick side on the lefty McKenna to light the lamp at 5:05.

The WorSharks red hot first line gave the WorSharks a 2-1 lead after a Tony Lucia bid was stopped by McKenna to force a face-off in the Sens zone. Benn Ferriero won the ensuing draw cleanly to Sena Acolatse at the point. Acolatse skated deeper into the zone with the puck and then fed it back to Tommy Wingels covering at the blue line. Wingels ripped a shot on goal that hit Ferriero in front and dropped right on the stick of John McCarthy, who fired it back on net and beat McKenna at 6:25.

The first line would again light the lamp just a handful of seconds after a WorSharks power play ended. After the Sens sent the puck down the length of the ice Sean Sullivan collected the puck behind his own net to start a break in. His long pass toward the left wing boards to Wingels sent him into the zone, but the Sens defense blocked his path to the net. Wingels wheeled the left face-off dot and with no better option available fired a laser of a wrist shot that beat McKenna just as the Sens were back to full strength at 10:08.

Bingo would continue to make a game of it, and with Tony Lucia in the penalty box came within inches of lighting the lamp when Sexsmith was beaten but got just enough of the puck to stop it before it reached the goal line. Somehow as a huge pile of players converged on the loose puck it didn’t go into the net, but the WorSharks wouldn’t be so lucky on the Sens next bid as some nice tic-tac-toe passing set up Mark Parrish all alone and his blast beat Sexsmith at 12:16 to cut the Worcester lead to 3-2.

Sullivan had a great bid on the power play to get the WorSharks their two goal lead back, but his blast rang off the iron and bounced away harmlessly. He would get another chance just minutes later while he killing a too many men minor on Worcester when he was hauled down by Stephane Da Costa on a shorthanded breakaway. Referee Matt Kirk awarded the defenseman a penalty shot, and Sullivan beat McKenna glove side at 16:50 to cap a four goal period for Worcester.

The third period would see several good bids by each squad, with McKenna and Sexsmith making big saves on breakaway chances and each getting a little help from the goalposts behind them. The Sens threw everything they had at the WorSharks but Worcester held firm, and Moon put the icing on the cake with a late goal in the final minute, assisted by Combs and Mike Moore, for the 5-2 final.

Worcester’s hardest task of their season long seven game trip happened after the game as the WorSharks face a five hour bus ride back home to grab a short nap before hitting the road again for a 3pm EST start in Manchester, New Hampshire against the Monarchs. Not only does the WorShark travel schedule work against them Sunday they will face a team that didn’t play Saturday evening.

GAME NOTES
Just after the late game in San Jose defenseman Matt Irwin was assigned to the WorSharks. It’s unknown if he’ll make it back to the East Coast in time for Sunday’s early game. Scratches for Worcester were Mike Connolly (lower body), Taylor Doherty (healthy), Ben Guite (concussion), Cam MacIntyre (unknown), Brandon Mashinter (concussion), and Antero Niittymaki (healthy). Harri Sateri was the back-up netminder. Niittymaki is the expected starter in Manchester Sunday.

The win gives the WorSharks a season series sweep against the Senators.

Prior to the start of Saturday’s game former WorSharks fan favorite Riley Armstrong was released by the Sens from his PTO. He had a goal and two assists in five games for Bingo.

Benn Ferriero (3g,4a), John McCarthy (2g,6a), and Tommy Wingels (7g,2a) all have five game point streaks. Jack Combs (2g,2a), Nathan Moon (g,2a), Mike Moore (2a), and Brodie Reid (g,2a) each have two game streaks.

The three stars of the game were
1. WOR – Wingels (g,a)
2. WOR – Sullivan (g,a)
3. BNG – Bartlett (g)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Tyson Sexsmith.

Even strength lines
McCarthy/Ferriero/Wingels
Combs/Moon/Reid
Lucia/Del Monte/Livingston
Gogol/Viedensky/Bonneau

Moore/Acolatse
Sullivan/O’Hanley
Petrecki/Pelech

BOXSCORE

Worcester 0 4 1 – 5
Binghamton 1 1 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Binghamton, Bartlett 2 (Borowiecki, Dziurzynski), 15:28. Penalties-Borowiecki Bng (holding), 7:48.

2nd Period-2, Worcester, Reid 3 (Combs, Moon), 5:05. 3, Worcester, McCarthy 5 (Wingels, Ferriero), 6:25. 4, Worcester, Wingels 11 (Sullivan), 10:08. 5, Binghamton, Parrish 9 (Klinkhammer, Locke), 12:16 (PP). 6, Worcester, Sullivan 3 16:50 (SH TXT_PS). Penalties-Hoffman Bng (interference), 8:06; Lucia Wor (hooking), 11:05; Hamilton Bng (slashing), 13:09; served by Combs Wor (bench minor – too many men), 15:46.

3rd Period-7, Worcester, Moon 4 (Combs, Moore), 19:03 (PP). Penalties-Gogol Wor (fighting), 4:03; Conboy Bng (fighting), 4:03; Pelech Wor (delay of game), 12:41; Petrecki Wor (interference), 14:28; Svendsen Bng (holding), 17:37.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 16-15-8-39. Binghamton 10-14-9-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 / 4; Binghamton 1 / 4.
Goalies-Worcester, Sexsmith 7-5-3 (33 shots-31 saves). Binghamton, McKenna 4-8-0 (39 shots-34 saves).
A-3,430
Referees-Francis Charron (46), Matt Kirk (66).
Linesmen-Peter Feola (33), Fraser McIntyre (94).