SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks can’t put away IceCaps, lose 3-2 in overtime

The Worcester Sharks took a two goal lead into the third period against the St. John’s IceCaps Wednesday night but despite still holding a one goal advantage late in the third period and going on the power play couldn’t hold on and ended up dropping a 3-2 contest in overtime at the Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland in front of a sellout crowd of 6,287.

Worcester Sharks defenseman Sena Acolatse reacts to the St. John's IceCaps scoring a shorthanded
game tying goal with 1:45 remaining in regulation. The WorSharks would lose 3-2 in overtime.
Photo courtesy of the ST. JOHN'S ICECAPS

Scratches for the WorSharks were Jimmy Bonneau (leg), Adam Comrie, Dylan Demelo, Matt Pelech (suspended, game one of two), and Lane Scheidl (knee). Harri Sateri was the backup goaltender. As the scratches note, Pelech was suspended two games by the AHL for his check to the head penalty in Saturday’s loss to Providence. Riley Brace was recalled from San Francisco to take his place on the game roster. Bonneau did not make the trip to Newfoundland with the team.

One big question that needs to be asked is why Worcester head coach Roy Sommer went with Travis Oleksuk to start the four on four overtime period. Oleksuk hasn’t scored a goal since March 23rd of last season and has just two assists and was -11 since that point. Knowing Sommer’s difficulty with setting his lineup perhaps he meant to put Freddie Hamilton (#21) on the ice instead of Oleksuk (#21). We won’t even get into that whole giving up a shorthanded goal that late in a game thing.

Worcester has twice been called for delay of game – closing hand on puck, a penalty that will thanks to Michael Fornabaio of the ConnPost will forever be referred to as DOGCHOP, and in both instances the player called for the penalty was crosschecked onto the puck by an opponent. Is it too much to ask that the crosscheck be called at some point? And while we’re whining about officiating, referee Keith Kaval called Taylor Doherty for interference just 15 seconds after Eriah Hayes was called for DOGCHOP. After watching the game video twice I’m uncertain if Doherty commented that infraction even once in the entire sixty plus minutes of the game, never mind while Worcester was already a man down.

WorSharks beat reporter Bill Ballou didn’t make the trip to Newfoundland, so the Telegram and Gazette is using a stringer named Ed Veilleux. It would have been nice of Mr. Veilleux to talk to a person from Worcester for his game story. Maybe next time.

The three stars of the game were
1. STJ – 17 Jerome Samson (game tying & winning goals)
2. STJ – 40 Eddie Pasquale (23 saves)
3. WOR – 1 Troy Grosenick (27 saves)

The Sharkspage player of the game is Rylan Schwartz.

BOXSCORE

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

1st Period-1, Worcester, Schwartz 1 2:03 (SH). Penalties-Acolatse Wor (holding), 1:31; Schnell Stj (tripping), 8:49; Petrecki Wor (cross-checking), 14:24; Mouillierat Stj (goaltender interference), 18:28.

2nd Period-2, Worcester, Tarasov 7 (Viedensky, Hamilton), 6:58 (PP). Penalties-Abeltshauser Wor (roughing), 3:47; Gogol Wor (roughing, roughing), 3:47; Riley Stj (roughing), 3:47; Schnell Stj (roughing), 3:47; Mouillierat Stj (slashing), 6:03; Hill Stj (hooking), 8:17; Davison Wor (fighting), 11:25; Schnell Stj (goaltender interference, fighting), 11:25; Tennyson Wor (slashing), 12:32; Schwartz Wor (high-sticking), 17:46; Jaffray Stj (tripping), 18:06.

3rd Period-3, St. John’s, Gordon 6 (O’Dell, Kichton), 5:32 (PP). 4, St. John’s, Samson 3 (Jaffray, Melchiori), 18:15 (SH). Penalties-Hayes Wor (closing hand on puck), 3:50; Doherty Wor (interference), 4:05; Gordon Stj (interference), 17:12.

OT Period-5, St. John’s, Samson 4 (Gordon, Fredheim), 0:26. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Worcester 8-11-6-0-25. St. John’s 8-8-12-2-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 / 7; St. John’s 1 / 7.
Goalies-Worcester, Grosenick 2-2-0 (30 shots-27 saves). St. John’s, Pasquale 7-6-0 (25 shots-23 saves).
A-6,287
Referees-David Banfield (77), Keith Kaval (40).
Linesmen-Todd Horwood (34), Jim Vail (5).