SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks blanked again, lose 4-0 to Providence

The Worcester Sharks picked right up from where they left off in Hershey just before the Christmas break, but that wasn’t a good thing as for the second game in a row the WorSharks were whitewashed after dropping a 4-0 Boxing Day contest to the Providence Bruins Thursday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts in front of a loud crowd of 5,186. Worcester has now gone 127:48 without scoring a goal.

Worcester Sharks forward Riley Brace can't convert in close in Thursday's 4-0 loss to Providence.
Bruins goaltender Niklas Svedberg had 34 saves in the win.
Photo courtesy of STEVE LANAVA | Worcester T&G

For a video package of the game–in no way could they be called “highlights”–we point to AHLlive.com. Save yourself some time and don’t bother.

Scratches for the WorSharks were Konrad Abeltshauser, Matt Pelech (shoulder), Nick Petrecki (back), Brodie Reid, Lane Scheidl (knee), and Sebastian Stalberg. Harri Sateri was the backup goaltender.

With Worcester’s goalless streak at 127:48 they are within a period of the longest streak in team history at 144:48. As the WorSharks have scored the fewest first period goals in the American Hockey League this season their scoreless record is unfortunately likely in jeopardy. Amazingly the longest scoreless streak took place in the WorSharks inaugural year with a roster that contained three 30-goal scorers (Mathieu Darche, 35; Graham Mink, 31; and Mike Iggulden, 30). Worcester hasn’t had a thirty goal scorer since.

The WorSharks record in games after being shutout is just about even as they are 14-13-1-4. Three times they were blanked again after being shutout the first game.

One other thing a tad irksome about Worcester being unable to score Thursday night was P-Bruins goaltender Niklas Svedberg looked less than a hundred percent throughout most of the game after it seemed like he injured himself during warm-ups. But unlike the shutout loss to Hershey where Bears netminder David Leggio looked like a sheet of plywood Thursday’s loss was due primarily to the WorSharks just being totally disinterested in the game. Thursday night was a very winnable game against a division opponent that Worcester just flat out failed to show up for.

The Worcester Sharks Booster Club announced their October and November players of the month prior to the game, with Daniil Tarasov winning for October and Troy Grosenick winning November’s award. Each was presented with a small trophy at center ice after the ceremonial puck drop.

WorSharks beat writer Bill Ballou of the Worcester Telegram and Gazette was not in his usual perch in press row for the game, with his seat being taken by correspondent Carl Setterlund. This writer doesn’t keep track of the WorSharks record when Ballou is not in attendance at the DCU Center, but one would bet it’s not very good as he always seems to miss the stinkers. Perhaps he knows something the rest of us don’t.

The three stars of the game were
1. PRO – 1 Niklas Svedberg (34 saves)
2. PRO – 19 Carter Camper (g,a)
3. PRO – 7 Joe Morrow (no idea why)

The Sharkspage player of the game, only because he got into his first pro fight and won the battle against a more experienced player, was Marek Viedensky.

BOXSCORE

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

1st Period-1, Providence, Camper 5 (Griffith, Florek), 3:33. 2, Providence, Campbell 1 17:55 (SH). Penalties-Robins Pro (fighting), 1:31; Acolatse Wor (fighting), 1:31; Viedensky Wor (high-sticking), 9:33; Flick Pro (high-sticking), 14:18; Flick Pro (fighting), 16:58; Viedensky Wor (fighting), 16:58; Camara Pro (hooking), 17:30.

2nd Period-3, Providence, Camara 3 (Cunningham), 6:16. Penalties-Flick Pro (high-sticking, roughing, fighting, misconduct – abuse of officials, game misconduct – abuse of officials), 6:54; Brace Wor (interference), 6:54; Gogol Wor (fighting), 6:54; Moore Pro (interference), 11:07; Miller Pro (cross-checking), 19:41.

3rd Period-4, Providence, Griffith 7 (Cunningham, Camper), 13:02 (PP). Penalties-Tarasov Wor (goaltender interference), 1:33; Cross Pro (interference), 3:46; Livingston Wor (hooking), 10:52; Acolatse Wor (double minor – high-sticking), 12:54.

Shots on Goal-Providence 14-10-8-32. Worcester 9-14-11-34.
Power Play Opportunities-Providence 1 / 5; Worcester 0 / 6.
Goalies-Providence, Svedberg 11-5-3 (34 shots-34 saves). Worcester, Grosenick 6-4-0 (32 shots-28 saves).
A-5,186
Referees-Mark Lemelin (41), Keith Kaval (40).
Linesmen-Bob Bernard (42), Jack Millea (23).