SHARKSPAGE

Turnovers and mental mistakes cost WorSharks in 5-4 loss to Hartford

The Worcester Sharks found themselves down a couple goals early in the third period due to their inability to keep possession of the puck, but two quick strikes got them back to even and when it seemed the contest was bound for overtime a huge mental mistake on a line change resulted in a Hartford Wolf Pack goal with just 18 seconds remaining in regulation to send the sparse crowd home unhappy after a 5-4 loss Tuesday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was the WorSharks first loss of the season.

Worcester Sharks forward Melker Karlsson had a goal and two assists
Tuesday night, but it wasn't enough as the WorSharks caused their own
demise with poor play in a 5-4 loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
File photo courtesy of TEAMSHRED

For the highlight video we once again turn to the Worcester Sharks YouTube channel.

Scratches for Worcester were Daniil Tarasov and Gus Young. J.P. Anderson was the backup goaltender. On Sunday the San Jose Sharks recalled James Sheppard from his rehab assignment, and with head coach Roy Sommer sending an early season message to Tarasov that allowed spaces for fan favorite Jimmy Bonneau and rookie Chris Crane to get into the lineup. Bonneau hadn’t played since opening night in Binghamton, while Tuesday was Crane’s first action of the season. That just leaves Young as the last roster player yet to suit up for the WorSharks.

Despite being just four games into the 2014-15 season turnovers are already a big issue. Nearly every goal scored against the WorSharks this season has come off a turnover. There are two notable exception; on Saturday Dylan DeMelo fanned on a clearing attempt that led to Providence tying the game, and on Tuesday veteran Micheal Haley missed a line change that allowed Hartford to have a five skater on four advantage. By the time Haley could get into the play it was all but over for Worcester. If the WorSharks can cut down on the senseless turnovers and mindless errors they could be a very good team.

Well traveled netminder Cedrick Desjardins started the game for the Wolf Pack, but after twice having Worcester players crashed into him by his defenseman he had to leave the game at 7:54 of the middle period with what looked like an arm injury. Six foot eight inch Jason Missiaen, the tallest goaltender in pro hockey, took over for Desjardins and earned the win.

The WorSharks had two goals disallowed by the referee tandem of Geoff Miller and Olivier Gouin, with one each happening on both ends of the rink. In the first period Worcester had a goal waved off because while the puck was under Desjardins and in the net it appeared the WorSharks forwards may have pushed Desjardins into the net, which is a no-no. The second time, in the middle period, the puck was clearly in the net but the goal disallowed because the referee claimed it was “frozen” by Desjardins. Let’s just say this writer disagrees with the second call, and from my perch just in front of the press box it was clear the puck was loose and not covered by the goaltender.

In the last four periods of regulation hockey Worcester has allowed a goal in the last minute three times. If that turns into a trend it will undoubtedly turn into more losses.

Streaking WorSharks: Melker Karlsson (2g,2a), Haley (2g,a), Taylor Fedun (g,a), Ryan Carpenter (2a), Jeremy Langlois (2a), and Travis Oleksuk (2a) have points in two straight. Fedun is the only player with a shot on goal in each of the four Worcester games.

The three stars of the game were
1. WOR – 15 Melker Karlsson (g,2a)
2. WOR – 18 Micheal Haley (g,a)
3. HFD – 29 Danny Kristo (g,2a)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Taylor Fedun.

Even strength lines
Haley/Karlsson/Carpenter
Lerg/Oleksuk/Emanuelsson
Trupp/Hamilton/Langlois
Bonneau/Schwartz/Crane

Taormina/Tennyson
Fedun/DeMelo
Abeltshauser/Doherty

BOXSCORE

Hartford 2 1 2 – 5
Worcester 1 1 2 – 4

1st Period-1, Worcester, Emanuelsson 3 (Oleksuk), 2:05. 2, Hartford, Allen 1 (Kristo), 11:30. 3, Hartford, Lindberg 3 (Haggerty, Vaive), 19:15. Penalties-Fedun Wor (cross-checking), 6:26; Miller Hfd (tripping), 8:14; Spinell Hfd (interference), 15:32.

2nd Period-4, Worcester, Karlsson 2 (Tennyson, Langlois), 7:54 (PP). 5, Hartford, Kristo 1 (Tarnasky), 11:39. Penalties-Crabb Hfd (hooking), 5:27; Potulny Hfd (hooking), 6:47; Noreau Hfd (holding), 12:23; Haley Wor (slashing), 17:37.

3rd Period-6, Hartford, Bourque 1 (Miller, Haggerty), 1:52 (PP). 7, Worcester, Haley 3 (Karlsson, Carpenter), 2:30. 8, Worcester, Fedun 1 (Haley, Karlsson), 4:25. 9, Hartford, Bodie 1 (Hughes, Kristo), 19:42. Penalties-Hamilton Wor (high-sticking), 0:51; served by Vaive Hfd (bench minor – too many men), 5:30; Trupp Wor (goaltender interference), 6:06; Oleksuk Wor (hooking), 10:09.

Shots on Goal-Hartford 8-11-8-27. Worcester 11-14-11-36.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 1 / 5; Worcester 1 / 6.
Goalies-Hartford, Desjardins 2-0-0 (19 shots-17 saves); Missiaen 1-0-0 (17 shots-15 saves). Worcester, Grosenick 3-1-0 (27 shots-22 saves).
A-1,488
Referees-Geoff Miller (28), Olivier Gouin (66).
Linesmen-Alex Stagnone (7), Robert St. Lawrence (10).