SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks not spooked by Phantoms, beat Lehigh Valley 4-3

The Worcester Sharks got two goals from rookie Jeremy Langlois, a shorthanded goal by Ryan Carpenter, and multiple point night from Freddie Hamilton and Matt Taormina, along with a 32 save performance from goaltender Troy Grosenick to defeat the Lehigh Valley Phantoms 4-3 at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. The win was Grosenick’s sixth on the season, which leads the American Hockey League.

Worcester Sharks forward Daniil Tarasov lifts a backhander over Lehigh Valley
Phantoms goaltender Anthony Stolarz to tie the game 3-3. Ryan Carpenter would
add a shorthanded goal 61 seconds later to give the WorSharks a 4-3 victory.
Photo courtesy of TEAMSHRED

For video highlight we once again get to use the WorSharks YouTube channel.

Scratches for the WorSharks were Chris Crane, Petter Emanuelsson (shoulder), Travis Oleksuk (shoulder), and Tyler Shattock. J.P. Anderson returned to his usual spot as backup goaltender. During the week there was a stop of the Worcester Shuttle as Tyler Kennedy was recalled from his conditioning loan by the San Jose Sharks. Just before posting time it was announced that San Jose had loaned Chris Tierney to Worcester. Tierney will wear #50 for Worcester, the first time a WorSharks player has worn that number.

Determining scratches for the game is usually easy, they’re listed pregame for the media. The last couple games Worcester head coach Roy Sommer has had this writer (and the team’s social media person) scrambling to figure out who was scratched because he changes his mind after warm-ups. In the case of last night defenseman Gus Young was listed as a scratch but played. Because of the early power play against it was difficult to determine who the last scratch for the WorSharks was. After three different players showed up on Worcester’s fourth line with Jimmy Bonneau and Rylan Schwartz it became obvious the last scratch was Shattock.

The end of the game was marred by two incidents, one involving the officials and one involving a check to the head of Melker Karlsson. The first was while Worcester was on a late game power play and Lehigh Valley pulled goaltender Anthony Stolarz for a fifth skater. The Phantoms had control of the puck in the WorSharks end and Worcester was forced to ice the puck with a 19 seconds remaining. Only neither linesman blew the whistle as each apparently thought it was Worcester that was shorthanded. It took five extra seconds off the clock until it was figured out and the ensuing faceoff by rule was at center ice instead of in the Worcester zone, costing Lehigh Valley a legitimate chance to tie the game. After the final horn Darroll Powe threw a late, high hit on Karlsson, connecting the head area with his stick. After a conference the referees gave Powe a match penalty, and he is automatically suspended until a review of the incident by the AHL. Karlsson skated off under his own power.

The three stars of the game were
1. WOR – 28 Jeremy Langlois (2g)
2. WOR – 12 Freddie Hamilton (2a)
3. LV – 24 Petr Straka (g,a)

The Sharkspage player of the game is Ryan Carpenter.

Even strength lines
Langlois/Hamilton/Tarasov
Haley/Karlsson/Carpenter
Lerg/Trupp/Hayes
Bonneau/Schwartz/(many)

Tennyson/Taormina
Fedun/DeMelo
Abeltshauser/Doherty
(Young mixed in throughout the pairings)

BOX SCORE

Lehigh Valley 1 1 1 – 3
Worcester 1 1 2 – 4

1st Period-1, Lehigh Valley, Leier 2 (Straka, Gostisbehere), 5:10 (PP). 2, Worcester, Langlois 1 (Hamilton, Taormina), 17:14. Penalties-Doherty Wor (slashing), 3:19; Powe Lv (holding), 9:24; Doherty Wor (roughing), 15:12; Hagg Lv (slashing), 18:03.

2nd Period-3, Worcester, Langlois 2 (Fedun, Taormina), 11:15 (PP). 4, Lehigh Valley, Straka 3 (Pettersson, Hagg), 18:39. Penalties-Doherty Wor (high-sticking), 6:39; Stortini Lv (interference), 8:25; Manning Lv (cross-checking), 11:05.

3rd Period-5, Lehigh Valley, Alderson 2 (Goumas, Lamarche), 8:02. 6, Worcester, Tarasov 3 (Tennyson, Hamilton), 8:51. 7, Worcester, Carpenter 3 (Schwartz), 9:52 (SH). Penalties-Trupp Wor (tripping), 9:08; Goumas Lv (slashing), 17:46; Powe Lv (match – check to the head), 20:00.

Shots on Goal-Lehigh Valley 12-9-14-35. Worcester 10-9-16-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Lehigh Valley 1 / 4; Worcester 1 / 5.
Goalies-Lehigh Valley, Stolarz 0-3-0 (35 shots-31 saves). Worcester, Grosenick 6-2-0 (35 shots-32 saves).
A-1,585
Referees-Geoff Miller (28), Jake Brenk (15).
Linesmen-Alex Stagnone (7), Scott Whittemore (96).