SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks thump Wolf Pack 5-2 in record setting night

The Worcester Sharks started off Friday night’s game against the Hartford Wolf Pack at the DCU Center looking unfocused and uninterested, and as a result found themselves down 2-0 after twenty minutes of play. Whatever the WorSharks did in the first intermission they may wish to do every night as Worcester came storming out of the gate in the second period and scored five unanswered goals, with the last two coming a franchise record six seconds apart, to defeat Hartford 5-2. Micheal Haley had two goals, while Willie Coetzee and Bryan Lerg each added two assists on the night. Troy Grosenick picked up the win in a 33 save performance.

Worcester Sharks forwards Daniil Tarasov (left) and Micheal Haley scored goals
just six seconds apart in the second period, a franchise record for the two
quickest goals, to help led the WorSharks to a 5-2 victory over Hartford.
SHARKSPAGE graphic from file photos courtesy of TEAMSHRED

For video highlights we once again get to use the WorSharks YouTube channel. Missing from the video is Worcester’s second goal, and absolute laser by Taylor Fedun from the blue line on the power play a minute or so after Haley’s first goal.

Scratches for the WorSharks were Konrad Abeltshauser, Jimmy Bonneau (suspended, game one of three), Taylor Doherty, Petter Emanuelsson (shoulder), Jeremy Langlois (foot), and Rylan Schwartz. Aaron Dell was the back-up goaltender. The NHL trade deadline had an impact on Worcester’s roster as San Jose sent Freddie Hamilton to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Karl Stollery, who was immediately assigned to the WorSharks. San Jose also assigned and recalled Chris Tierney and Barclay Goodrow to make them both eligible for the AHL playoffs. With Bonneau being suspended the WorSharks dipped into the ECHL and signed forward Derek DeBlois to a PTO. DeBlois started the season with Worcester but because of a glut of forwards was released without playing a game. He went on to the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL), where he won the ECHL’s rookie of the month for February.

This is the time of the year when teams get a little more closed mouth about injuries, and being in the playoff hunt Worcester is joining the ranks of teams saying little about potential injures. That being the case, there hasn’t been a significant update on the conditions of Emanuelsson and/or Langlois. This writer hasn’t seen either of them in the building lately so guessing what’s going on is impossible. It should be noted that not seeing injured players prior/during games isn’t all that uncommon, so nothing should be read into the fact they aren’t around. One player that has been a scratch for many recent game and the WorSharks are adamant about not being inured is defenseman Konrad Abeltshauser. No matter how I worded the question to WorSharks Public Relations Director Eric Lindquist the answer was the same: he’s a healthy scratch.

The second period goals by Tarasov (16:47) and Haley (16:53) have been announced as the quickest two goals in franchise history. It breaks a record of 12 seconds set way back in the inaugural season on February 2, 2007 when Garrett Stafford and Tomas Plihal scored 12 seconds apart against Bridgeport at the DCU Center. Those goals were just like the Tarasov/Haley goals, with a quick even strength strike following a power play tally.

Friday night’s game saw another oddity on Gus Young’s goal as it was the first time in franchise history three defenseman got points on the same goal. After Matt Tennyson left the penalty box after serving a tripping minor he joined an odd man rush up ice, and his pass to Dylan DeMelo was the secondary assist on Young’s deflection of DeMelo’s blast. It is, as near as I can tell, just the third time in franchise history the WorSharks have scored a goal with three defensemen on the ice. The second time may not even count as Brad Staubitz was listed as a defenseman but was likely playing forward that game.

The WorSharks five goal second period outburst was the first time since April 7, 2010 that Worcester had as many goals in a single period. Ironically, that night was a 9-2 win at Hartford.

Every WorSharks skater had a shot on goal except for Travis Oleksuk, and even without a shot Oleksuk had a pretty decent game. After the lackluster opening period most of Worcester’s lines looked real good in the final 40 minutes.

The three stars of the game were
1. WOR – 18 Micheal Haley (2g)
2. WOR – 14 Taylor Fedun (g)
3. WOR – 26 Willie Coetzee (2a)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Bryan Lerg.

Even strength lines
McCarthy/Carpenter/Hayes
Lerg/Trupp/Tarasov
Haley/Oleksuk/Coetzee
DeBlois/Crane/Parkes

Taormina/Tennyson
Stollery/DeMelo
Young/Fedun

BOX SCORE

Hartford 2 0 0 – 2
Worcester 0 5 0 – 5

1st Period-1, Hartford, Lindberg 17 (Klingberg, Bourque), 8:33 (PP). 2, Hartford, Hrivik 9 (Bodie, R. Bourque), 16:35. Penalties-Lindberg Hfd (high-sticking), 4:15; Hayes Wor (tripping), 7:47.

2nd Period-3, Worcester, Haley 16 (Coetzee), 1:34. 4, Worcester, Fedun 5 (Taormina, Lerg), 2:47 (PP). 5, Worcester, Young 3 (DeMelo, Tennyson), 13:04. 6, Worcester, Tarasov 11 (Lerg, Trupp), 16:47 (PP). 7, Worcester, Haley 17 (Coetzee), 16:53. Penalties-Vaive Hfd (holding the stick), 2:41; Haley Wor (interference), 3:49; Tennyson Wor (tripping), 10:51; Klingberg Hfd (goaltender interference), 16:14.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Nehring Hfd (fighting), 6:44; Crane Wor (fighting), 6:44; Bourque Hfd (hooking), 8:41; DeMelo Wor (cross-checking), 16:00.

Shots on Goal-Hartford 14-12-9-35. Worcester 8-22-8-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Hartford 1 / 4; Worcester 2 / 4.
Goalies-Hartford, Malcolm 5-2-0 (30 shots-25 saves); Danis 9-11-1 (8 shots-8 saves). Worcester, Grosenick 17-7-1 (35 shots-33 saves).
A-2,692
Referees-Jon McIsaac (45).
Linesmen-Chris Low (88), Todd Whittemore (70).