SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks stumble and bumble way into 3-1 loss to Manchester

The Worcester Sharks came into Friday night’s contest with the Manchester Monarchs as one of the hottest teams in the American Hockey League with points in six straight games, but unfortunately Worcester looked colder than the frigid temperatures outside in dropping a 3-1 contest to the Monarchs at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts in front of a crowd of 3,355.

WorSharks forward Bracken Kearns screens Manchester goalie Jean-Francois Berube as Daniil Tarasov's shot goes
five-hole for a 1-0 Worcester lead. The WorSharks would eventually fall 3-1 to the Monarchs.
Photo courtesy of T&G Staff/STEVE LANAVA

For video highlights, which despite the loss are pretty much a “must see” just to check out Daniil Tarasov’s first period goal, we point to AHLlive.com

Scratches for Worcester were Jimmy Bonneau, Dylan Demelo, Nick Petrecki (back, day to day), Lane Scheidl (knee), and Sebastian Stalberg. The Worcester Shuttle was dispatched from San Jose to the east coast to drop off forward Freddie Hamilton. He did not dress but should be available Saturday against Portland. Harri Sateri was the back-up goaltender. Just as the team was getting healthy the WorSharks may have taken a major hit when Tarasov, their leading goal scorer, reaggravated his groin. It’s the second time this season Tarasov has had groin issues.

Prior to the start of the game Dan DaSilva, who was signed to a try-out contract about a month ago, had his contract upgraded to a standard player’s deal for the remainder of the season. It’s a smart move as despite his not scoring a goal yet the team flat out plays better when he’s out there. His two for three in shootout attempts doesn’t hurt either.

The WorSharks didn’t do themselves any favors last night on the power play, going just one for eight with the man advantage. It seems so odd to watch a team fire shots from all over the ice at even strength suddenly not shoot the puck on the power play. Way too much passing looking for the perfect and not enough getting the puck to the net. If Worcester can fix the power play they would have a pretty formidable team. On a related note, with all the power plays in the game (13 total) it took until 17:26 remaining in regulation for the first icing of the game.

Every player except Travis Oleksuk had a shot on goal for the WorSharks. The fact Oleksuk didn’t have one is a bit troubling considering he often plays the point on the first power play unit and he took Tarasov’s spot on the top line in the third period. Seeing as you can’t score if you don’t shoot having a player play those roles and not shooting is an issue.

The three stars of the game were
1. MCH – 35 Jean-Francois Berube (39 saves)
2. MCH – 17 A.J. Gale (2g)
3. MCH – 2 Andrew Campbell (g)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Daniil Tarasov.

BOXSCORE

Manchester 0 1 2 – 3
Worcester 1 0 0 – 1

1st Period-1, Worcester, Tarasov 9 (Tennyson, Comrie), 19:04 (PP). Penalties-Bishop Mch (hooking), 3:28; Pearson Mch (slashing), 5:34; Gogol Wor (goaltender interference), 8:01; Bodnarchuk Mch (hooking), 13:50; Weal Mch (slashing), 17:46; Forbort Mch (holding), 19:39.

2nd Period-2, Manchester, Campbell 1 (Shore, O’Brien), 16:04. Penalties-Tennyson Wor (interference), 0:25; Campbell Mch (cross-checking), 7:16; Andreoff Mch (holding, unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:45.

3rd Period-3, Manchester, Gale 2 (Sabourin), 3:28. 4, Manchester, Gale 3 (Sabourin, Bodnarchuk), 6:49. Penalties-Tennyson Wor (tripping), 11:47; Livingston Wor (holding), 14:38; DaSilva Wor (tripping), 19:48.

Shots on Goal-Manchester 4-8-13-25. Worcester 13-15-12-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Manchester 0 / 5; Worcester 1 / 8.
Goalies-Manchester, Berube 8-4-2 (40 shots-39 saves). Worcester, Grosenick 5-3-0 (25 shots-22 saves).
A-3,355
Referees-Mark Lemelin (41).
Linesmen-Bob Bernard (42), Chris Millea (33).