SHARKSPAGE

Anderson makes 26 saves as WorSharks blank Pirates 1-0

The Worcester Sharks are still having problems putting the puck into the net, so rookie goaltender J.P. Anderson took matters into his own hands and made the WorSharks lone goal by Micheal Haley stand up as the Worcester Sharks snapped their three game losing streak with a 1-0 victory over the Portland Pirates Sunday afternoon at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts in front of 3,028 fans.

Worcester Sharks rookie goaltender J.P. Anderson had 26 saves Sunday afternoon against
the Portland Pirates for his first professional shutout. He also became the first right
catching goaltender in Worcester hockey history to register a shutout.
File photo courtesy of TEAMSHRED

For the video highlights we once again use the Worcester Sharks YouTube channel.

Worcester Sharks head coach Roy Sommer made just one change in the line-up from Saturday, inserting Anderson in goal to replace Troy Grosenick. Andrew Blazek, Taylor Doherty (hand) and Petter Emanuelsson (shoulder) were the scratches.

The goal by Micheal Haley was originally credited to WorSharks captain Bryan Lerg. From this writer’s perch it was obviously Haley’s, and the players on the ice knew it too as Haley led the team for the congratulatory skate by the bench. It took until the early parts of the third period for the goal change to be announced.

Every Worcester forward except Jimmy Bonneau had a shot on goal in the game but somehow two of the WorSharks better offensive defensemen, Dylan DeMelo and Taylor Fedun, didn’t have a shot. Eriah Hayes led all players with six shots on goal.

There was a scary moment in the second period when while diving for a loose puck along the near sideboards Adam Burish was accidentally kicked in the head/neck area by a falling Portland defender. Burish got up slowly as the play headed back into the Worcester end and immediately went down the tunnel after reaching the bench. Based on the actions of WorSharks trainer Matt White it didn’t appear that Burish was cut, and when Burish reappeared on the bench a few moments later it was obvious all was well.

Despite the power play goal Worcester’s play with the extra man has been nothing less than terrible lately. After having five power play opportunities without a shot Saturday night against Manchester–total elapsed time was 7:56–Worcester went another full two minute power play and then 1:14 of an abbreviated man advantage before registering a power play shot on goal against Portland. Oddly, their next shot with the man advantage came 1:02 into their third power play chance and went in for the only goal of the game.

Conversely, the WorSharks penalty kill has been decent recently in giving up just a single goal in the last 11 chances against. That includes a real nice kill of a five on three situation Sunday where Portland didn’t have a good scoring chance and then the Pirates were forced to hook down Fedun when he grabbed a loose puck in the neutral zone after leaving the box when his minor was over. Perhaps their best kill over that span was midway through the third period Sunday when Matt Taormina was sent off for hooking. Most of the first half of that penalty kill was spent in Portland’s zone, and while Worcester didn’t have a good shorthanded chance it did wind a lot of time off the clock.

The three stars of the game were
1. WOR – 34 J.P. Anderson (26 save shutout)
2. WOR – 18 Micheal Haley (gwg)
3. POR – 56 Mike McKenna (33 saves)

The Sharkspage player of the game is Evan Trupp.

BOX SCORE

Portland 0 0 0 – 0
Worcester 0 1 0 – 1

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Oberg Por (high-sticking), 8:07; Fedun Wor (slashing), 14:09; Taormina Wor (hooking), 14:56; Oberg Por (hooking), 16:22.

2nd Period-1, Worcester, Haley 9 (Lerg, Taormina), 4:22 (PP). Penalties-P. Samuelsson Por (boarding), 3:20; Hodgman Por (tripping), 5:46; Hayes Wor (goaltender interference), 15:46.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Taormina Wor (tripping), 10:57.

Shots on Goal-Portland 11-7-8-26. Worcester 11-15-8-34.
Power Play Opportunities-Portland 0 / 4; Worcester 1 / 4.
Goalies-Portland, McKenna 9-10-0 (34 shots-33 saves). Worcester, Anderson 3-6-0 (26 shots-26 saves).
A-3,028
Referees-Ryan Hersey (8), Olivier Gouin (66).
Linesmen-Bob Bernard (42), Brian MacDonald (72).

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