SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks complete sweep of Senators with 5-2 victory in Binghamton

The Worcester Sharks played their second game in New York in 24 hours and in a contest that was a lot like Friday’s win in Albany the WorSharks fell behind early only to charge back to take control to eventually defeat the defending Calder Cup champion Binghamton Senators 5-2 Saturday night at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, New York in front of 3,430 fans.

In a road trip full of “firsts” Worcester found themselves in need of doing something they hadn’t done all season–win when trailing after the first period. Despite dominating most of the opening stanza and outshooting Bingo it was the Sens that would escape the first 20 minutes with the lead when Mike Bartlett tipped Mark Borowiecki’s intentionally wide blast at the near post past WorSharks goaltender Tyson Sexsmith at 15:28. Worcester outshot Bingo 16-10 in the stanza but thanks to some nice saves by netminder Mike McKenna were held scoreless.

The second period began with Worcester playing on its heels as the Sens took it to the visitors, but a Bingo turnover in the neutral zone turned the tide quickly as Nathan Moon sent Jack Combs and Brodie Reid into the Sens zone two on one. Combs held the puck until defenseman Craig Schira started to go to the ice to block the cross slot pass and then fired a hard pass before Schira could get the lane completely blocked. Reid’s blast went high stick side on the lefty McKenna to light the lamp at 5:05.

The WorSharks red hot first line gave the WorSharks a 2-1 lead after a Tony Lucia bid was stopped by McKenna to force a face-off in the Sens zone. Benn Ferriero won the ensuing draw cleanly to Sena Acolatse at the point. Acolatse skated deeper into the zone with the puck and then fed it back to Tommy Wingels covering at the blue line. Wingels ripped a shot on goal that hit Ferriero in front and dropped right on the stick of John McCarthy, who fired it back on net and beat McKenna at 6:25.

The first line would again light the lamp just a handful of seconds after a WorSharks power play ended. After the Sens sent the puck down the length of the ice Sean Sullivan collected the puck behind his own net to start a break in. His long pass toward the left wing boards to Wingels sent him into the zone, but the Sens defense blocked his path to the net. Wingels wheeled the left face-off dot and with no better option available fired a laser of a wrist shot that beat McKenna just as the Sens were back to full strength at 10:08.

Bingo would continue to make a game of it, and with Tony Lucia in the penalty box came within inches of lighting the lamp when Sexsmith was beaten but got just enough of the puck to stop it before it reached the goal line. Somehow as a huge pile of players converged on the loose puck it didn’t go into the net, but the WorSharks wouldn’t be so lucky on the Sens next bid as some nice tic-tac-toe passing set up Mark Parrish all alone and his blast beat Sexsmith at 12:16 to cut the Worcester lead to 3-2.

Sullivan had a great bid on the power play to get the WorSharks their two goal lead back, but his blast rang off the iron and bounced away harmlessly. He would get another chance just minutes later while he killing a too many men minor on Worcester when he was hauled down by Stephane Da Costa on a shorthanded breakaway. Referee Matt Kirk awarded the defenseman a penalty shot, and Sullivan beat McKenna glove side at 16:50 to cap a four goal period for Worcester.

The third period would see several good bids by each squad, with McKenna and Sexsmith making big saves on breakaway chances and each getting a little help from the goalposts behind them. The Sens threw everything they had at the WorSharks but Worcester held firm, and Moon put the icing on the cake with a late goal in the final minute, assisted by Combs and Mike Moore, for the 5-2 final.

Worcester’s hardest task of their season long seven game trip happened after the game as the WorSharks face a five hour bus ride back home to grab a short nap before hitting the road again for a 3pm EST start in Manchester, New Hampshire against the Monarchs. Not only does the WorShark travel schedule work against them Sunday they will face a team that didn’t play Saturday evening.

GAME NOTES
Just after the late game in San Jose defenseman Matt Irwin was assigned to the WorSharks. It’s unknown if he’ll make it back to the East Coast in time for Sunday’s early game. Scratches for Worcester were Mike Connolly (lower body), Taylor Doherty (healthy), Ben Guite (concussion), Cam MacIntyre (unknown), Brandon Mashinter (concussion), and Antero Niittymaki (healthy). Harri Sateri was the back-up netminder. Niittymaki is the expected starter in Manchester Sunday.

The win gives the WorSharks a season series sweep against the Senators.

Prior to the start of Saturday’s game former WorSharks fan favorite Riley Armstrong was released by the Sens from his PTO. He had a goal and two assists in five games for Bingo.

Benn Ferriero (3g,4a), John McCarthy (2g,6a), and Tommy Wingels (7g,2a) all have five game point streaks. Jack Combs (2g,2a), Nathan Moon (g,2a), Mike Moore (2a), and Brodie Reid (g,2a) each have two game streaks.

The three stars of the game were
1. WOR – Wingels (g,a)
2. WOR – Sullivan (g,a)
3. BNG – Bartlett (g)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Tyson Sexsmith.

Even strength lines
McCarthy/Ferriero/Wingels
Combs/Moon/Reid
Lucia/Del Monte/Livingston
Gogol/Viedensky/Bonneau

Moore/Acolatse
Sullivan/O’Hanley
Petrecki/Pelech

BOXSCORE

Worcester 0 4 1 – 5
Binghamton 1 1 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Binghamton, Bartlett 2 (Borowiecki, Dziurzynski), 15:28. Penalties-Borowiecki Bng (holding), 7:48.

2nd Period-2, Worcester, Reid 3 (Combs, Moon), 5:05. 3, Worcester, McCarthy 5 (Wingels, Ferriero), 6:25. 4, Worcester, Wingels 11 (Sullivan), 10:08. 5, Binghamton, Parrish 9 (Klinkhammer, Locke), 12:16 (PP). 6, Worcester, Sullivan 3 16:50 (SH TXT_PS). Penalties-Hoffman Bng (interference), 8:06; Lucia Wor (hooking), 11:05; Hamilton Bng (slashing), 13:09; served by Combs Wor (bench minor – too many men), 15:46.

3rd Period-7, Worcester, Moon 4 (Combs, Moore), 19:03 (PP). Penalties-Gogol Wor (fighting), 4:03; Conboy Bng (fighting), 4:03; Pelech Wor (delay of game), 12:41; Petrecki Wor (interference), 14:28; Svendsen Bng (holding), 17:37.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 16-15-8-39. Binghamton 10-14-9-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 / 4; Binghamton 1 / 4.
Goalies-Worcester, Sexsmith 7-5-3 (33 shots-31 saves). Binghamton, McKenna 4-8-0 (39 shots-34 saves).
A-3,430
Referees-Francis Charron (46), Matt Kirk (66).
Linesmen-Peter Feola (33), Fraser McIntyre (94).

WorSharks look Niitty in 5-1 win in Albany

The Worcester Sharks season long seven game road trip meandered its way into the Empire State where the WorSharks found themselves down early, but as quick as you could say “never give up” they were back to even and eventually scored five unanswered goals to defeat the Albany Devils 5-1 Friday night at the Times Union Center in Albany, New York in front of a crowd generously announced at 2,570.

With Antero Niittymaki down from San Jose on a conditioning loan the last thing WorSharks fans were expecting was for the team to fall behind early, but that’s what happened when old friend Steven Zalewski connected on Albany’s first shot on goal. The play began with a blast from the point that struck Devils center Stephen Gionta. Winger Joe Whitney collected the loose puck and pushed it on net as Niittymaki dove across to make the save, but the bid was wide and hit off the side of the net. Whitney chased the puck down behind the goal line and found Zalewski in the slot with a pass. Worcester’s third line was caught standing around and Zalewski was able to hit the yawning net before Niittymaki could get back into position at 1:16 of the opening period.

It would take just 13 seconds for the WorSharks to get back to even, and the goal came from an unlikely source when Nick Petrecki threw a nice pass diagonally through the neutral zone to Brodie Reid rushing down the right wing side. Reid entered the zone and threw a centering feed that neither Nathan Moon nor Devils defenseman Brandon Burlon could get to. The puck ended up on newcomer Jack Combs’ stick, and the leading scorer in the ECHL playing in his first game for Worcester under a PTO deked Albany goaltender Keith Kinkaid twice before beating him to the far post just before he crashed into the net ripping off its pegs.

Reid had a golden chance to get the WorSharks the lead about seven minutes into the period when he was all alone in the slot, but his bid was turned aside by Kinkaid. Reid would be involved in the goal that would give the WorSharks the lead for good when he left a drop pass for Moon in the slot. Moon found Combs rushing toward the net to his left and threw the perfect pass right on his stick. Combs beat Kinkaid to the blocker side at 15:10. Worcester outshot the Devils 16-6 in the period.

Early in the middle stanza Stephane Veilleux tried to light a fire under the Devils by taking a run at Tommy Wingels and then taking on Sena Acolatse in a fight, and that did add some spirit to Albany’s game. Worcester was unable to score on Veilleux’s additional minor penalty, and then killed off a Moon minor for interference. The best bid of the four minutes was when the WorSharks hit Moon coming out of the penalty box, but his double deke of Kinkaid wasn’t good enough as the netminder made a stellar pad save on the bid. Later in the period Gionta threw a shot that handcuffed Niittymaki and broke toward the goal line, but Petrecki was there to sweep it away.

The WorSharks weathered that early storm by the Devils the best way a team can–they increased their lead. After being quiet for the early part of the game Worcester’s top line finally came to life after a turnover deep in the Albany zone. John McCarthy picked off a clearing attempt by Eric Gelinas and fired a pass to Wingels from the left wing corner to the slot. Wingels blast through traffic beat Kinkaid high to light the lamp at 11:22.

Worcester would make it 4-1 on a great individual effort by Mike Moore. The defenseman, returning to action after missing 12 games with a concussion, raced down the left wing side coast to coast but couldn’t jam the puck past Kinkaid. Marek Viedensky was trailing the play and was there to put the rebound in at 14:45. WorSharks enforcer Jimmy Bonneau had the second assist on the play. Taylor Doherty had a key defensive play in his own zone that helped send the puck out of the zone.

Wingels would grab his second marker of the game at 3:39 of the third period on sort of an “accidental” goal when Sena Acolatse batted at a puck at the Albany blue line to keep the it in the zone and Wingels deflected it past Kinkaid to make it 5-1. Benn Ferriero had the second assist on the goal. Both Wingels and Combs would have chances for the hat trick but neither could light the lamp again.

GAME NOTES
Earlier this week the WorSharks signed Jack Combs to a PTO as they only had 11 healthy forwards. Scratches for Worcester were Mike Connolly (lower body), Ben Guite (concussion), Cam MacIntyre (unknown), Brandon Mashinter (concussion), Brian O’Hanley (healthy), and Harri Sateri (healthy). Tyson Sexsmith was the back-up netminder.

Antero Niittymaki, who hasn’t played in a game since April 23, looked very good in goal for the WorSharks. His biggest issue wasn’t rust, it was he was reacting far faster than the shots are coming in. He’s literally too good for AHL, and early on when he wasn’t seeing many shots had a hard time slowing his reactions to match the less talented forwards he was facing. As was expected he returned to Worcester after the game and will rejoin the team Sunday in Manchester. The team bus left for Binghamton right after the game.

Jack Combs goal 13 seconds into his first shift is the fastest a WorSharks player has ever scored in his first game with the team. He also became just the second player to score two goals in his team debut, joining Cory Larose. In an oddity, Larose also did it against the Devils, but the team was based in Lowell at the time.

Every skater for the WorSharks had a shot on goal. Combs led the team with 5 attempts.

Benn Ferriero (3g,3a), John McCarthy (g,6a), and Tommy Wingels (6g,a) all have a four game point streak. Tony Lucia’s six game scoring streak came to an end.

The three stars of the game were
1. WOR – Combs (2g)
2. WOR – Wingels (2g)
3. WOR – Niittymaki (26 saves)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Brodie Reid.

Even strength lines
McCarthy/Ferriero/Wingels
Combs/Moon/Reid
Lucia/Del Monte/Livingston
Gogol/Viedensky/Bonneau

Moore/Doherty
Sullivan/Acolatse
Petrecki/Pelech

BOXSCORE

Worcester 2 2 1 – 5
Albany 1 0 0 – 1

1st Period-1, Albany, Zalewski 8 (Whitney, Sova), 1:16. 2, Worcester, Combs 1 (Reid, Petrecki), 1:29. 3, Worcester, Combs 2 (Moon, Reid), 15:10. Penalties-No Penalties

2nd Period-4, Worcester, Wingels 9 (McCarthy), 11:22. 5, Worcester, Viedensky 2 (Moore, Bonneau), 14:45. Penalties-Acolatse Wor (fighting), 0:20; Veilleux Alb (interference, fighting), 0:20; Moon Wor (interference), 2:34.

3rd Period-6, Worcester, Wingels 10 (Acolatse, Ferriero), 3:39. Penalties-Anderson Alb (double minor – high-sticking), 12:37.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 16-10-12-38. Albany 6-13-8-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 / 3; Albany 0 / 1.
Goalies-Worcester, Niittymaki 1-0-0 (27 shots-26 saves). Albany, Kinkaid 7-6-0 (38 shots-33 saves).
A-2,570
Referees-Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Marty Demers (79), Jim Harper (59).

WorSharks are turning into road warriors with 2-1 win over Springfield

The Worcester Sharks continued their season long seven game road trip with a quick trip an hour west down the Mass Pike and grabbed another two points after defeating the Springfield Falcons 2-1 at the MassMutual Center Tuesday night in Springfield, Massachusetts in front of an intimate crowd of 2165.

The WorSharks picked up where they left off in St John’s and came flying out of the gate and really took the play to the Falcons. Early in the period Worcester had no problem getting the puck past Springfield netminder Manny Legace, but they couldn’t light the lamp as Curt Gogol, Brodie Reid, and Tommy Wingels all found the iron instead of the twine. Wingels also had a great chance when he jammed a loose puck through the pads of Legacy, but the Falcons defense was there to sweep the puck away. Reid also got one through Legace’s five-hole, but the puck rolled along the goal line instead of over it and snuck by the far post without going in.

Benn Ferriero would finally beat Legace and light the lamp with a power play tally at 17:35 of the period when he gathered the rebound of John McCarthy’s shot and flipped the puck through traffic to beat the screened netminder. Sean Sullivan had the second assist.

After three consecutive penalty calls against the Falcons–including a double minor–it was obvious that the next call would be against the WorSharks, and when a chance popped up for matching minors referee Gino Binda decided to just send James Livingston. The Falcons would have probably liked it better if Binda had called the matching penalties as despite being a man down Worcester out-hustled Springfield in their own zone, and the WorSharks beat Legace again when Tony Lucia led Wingels to a nice tip in for a shorthanded goal with 39 seconds left in the period.

After a late minor on Springfield the WorSharks started the second period on the power play, and after not being able to connect on several good chances the Falcons hit Cam Atkinson coming out of the box. The WorSharks defense looked to play it very well, but referee Mark Lemelin called for a penalty shot and Atkinson beat Worcester netminder Tyson Sexsmith at 1:40 of the middle stanza.

That would be the end of the scoring, but not for a lack of chances as both the Falcons and WorSharks would exchange multiple quality scoring attempts with Legace and Sexsmith both coming up big when they needed to. Worcester’s best chance in the the period came off the stick of Reid, who cannot buy a goal lately. Atkinson has Springfield’s best bid with a wide open net in front of him, but a timely back check by Wingels prevented Atkinson from getting good wood on his shot.

The Falcons would eventually pull Legace for an extra attacker, but Sexsmith and the WorSharks held firm to improve to 3-0-0-1 on their current road trip.

GAME NOTES
On Monday the Worcester Shuttle stopped in The Bay State to drop off Antero Niittymaki for a two week conditioning stint. The scratches for Worcester were Mike Connolly, Ben Guite, Cam MacIntyre, Brandon Mashinter, Mike Moore, and Antero Niittymaki. Harri Sateri was the back-up netminder. For the second time this season the WorSharks went with just 17 skaters.

The game winner for Tommy Wingels was his third in a row in consecutive games, which sets a team record. Mike Iggulden also had three game winners in a row in 2007-08, but the WorSharks lost games between those game winning goals.

The three stars of the game were:
1. WOR – Wingels (gwg)
2. SPR – Legace (29 saves)
3. WOR – Sexsmith (27 saves)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Benn Ferriero.

BOXSCORE

Worcester 2 0 0 – 2
Springfield 0 1 0 – 1

1st Period-1, Worcester, Ferriero 9 (McCarthy, Sullivan), 17:35 (PP). 2, Worcester, Wingels 8 (Lucia), 19:21 (SH). Penalties-Bonneau Wor (fighting), 2:06; Spencer Spr (fighting), 2:06; Russell Spr (hooking), 8:50; Savard Spr (hooking), 10:18; Savard Spr (double minor – high-sticking), 14:30; Livingston Wor (roughing), 17:51; Gogol Wor (fighting), 19:31; Bass Spr (instigating, fighting, misconduct – instigating), 19:31.

2nd Period-3, Springfield, Atkinson 13 1:40 (PS). Penalties-Del Monte Wor (hooking), 5:42; Pelech Wor (cross-checking), 7:47; Pelech Wor (fighting), 17:15; Bass Spr (fighting), 17:15.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-served by Thomas Spr (bench minor – too many men), 10:44; Acolatse Wor (tripping), 11:34.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 16-8-7-31. Springfield 4-12-12-28.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 / 5; Springfield 0 / 4.
Goalies-Worcester, Sexsmith 6-5-3 (28 shots-27 saves). Springfield, Legace 5-8-0 (31 shots-29 saves).
A-2,165
Referees-Mark Lemelin (41), Geno Binda (22).
Linesmen-Robert St. Lawrence (10), Rich Patry (52).

WorSharks bounce back in third period to stun IceCaps 5-3

The Worcester Sharks found themselves down by two goals in the second period again at St. John’s, but used a couple of lucky bounces along the way to score four unanswered third period goals to defeat the St. John’s IceCaps 5-3 Sunday afternoon at the Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.

Just like Friday night’s contest the WorSharks came out of the gate flying, and the IceCaps tried to match the physicality of Worcester but that’s not what their game is really about. St John’s defenseman Travis Ramsey showed a little bit of frustration behind his own net with some after the whistle jamming with Ryan Del Monte. Despite giving up four inches and thirty pounds Del Monte would have no part of being pushed around and dropped the gloves with his much larger opponent. Seventy-three seconds later Jimmy Bonneau and Tommy Maxwell reacquainted themselves with each other, with the same result as Friday as Bonneau handled his opponent easily.

It looked like the WorSharks would grab the first goal of the game while on the power play midway through the opening period when Taylor Doherty blasted the puck through traffic that IceCaps netminder Peter Mannino kicked aside. The rebound went right to Sean Sullivan low in the left wing circle and he fired a backhander right back at the yawning net but Mannino robbed the defenseman with a highlight level save. At the other end of the ice WorSharks goaltender Harri Sateri was just as sharp keeping the IceCaps at bay.

The period looked like it was going to end scoreless despite Worcester having a decent power play at the end of the stanza, especially when Benn Ferriero had the puck up at the blueline and not in a position to get a shot off as time was winding down. But his quick pass to Ben Guite, who in turn found John McCarthy, allowed the WorSharks one final scoring chance. McCarthy’s shot went just under the crossbar to beat the green light by .1 seconds as the WorSharks went into the locker room up 1-0.

In the opening minute of the second period Tommy Wingels had an absolutely golden chance to put his team up by two goals when he took a Ferriero feed to the IceCaps zone and skated hard to the net, but Mannino was there again to make the save. Wingels would get his revenge later, but not before the WorSharks gave up three second period goals.

The IceCaps would get their first goal of the period after Sateri had made two great saves, the first on Marco Rosa and the second on Ben Maxwell. As the rebound of the second shot bounced through traffic in front Sateri he couldn’t scramble back into his crease and the WorSharks defense couldn’t control the puck and St John’s winger Spencer Machacek was able to bang the puck home at 4:18.

Defenseman Paul Postma would give the IceCaps a 2-1 lead at 6:55 with an absolute laser that beat Sateri over the shoulder, and the WorSharks fourth line didn’t take falling behind sitting down as all three would get involved in fisticuffs within 45 seconds of the goal. The first was Nathan Moon taking on Eric O’Dell at the center ice dot right after the puck drop in a pretty even bout. Two seconds later Matt Pelech made Ramsey pay for picking on Del Monte with several hard hits to the body and head. After almost a full shift of play Curt Gogol went after Garth Murray, but the linesmen jumped into the battle before any real punches could be thrown.

St John’s would get their third goal of the period while on the power play after a borderline hooking minor called on McCarthy when Aaron Gagnon banged home Kevin Clark’s cross slot pass at 17:57. The WorSharks had three great chances to grab a goal back, but some great saves by Mannino on bids by McCarthy, Ferriero, and Guite kept the two goal lead for the IceCaps. The WorSharks would get a power play chance late in the period, and then when Brett Festerling accidentally high sticked Wingels the WorSharks would begin the third period with a two skater advantage.

With a clean sheet of ice the WorSharks were able to move the puck with ease around the IceCaps zone, so McCarthy’s pass to Guite all alone at the near post was perfect and the veteran center buried it into the wide open net 37 seconds into the period to draw Worcester back to 3-2. Sena Acolatse had the second assist on the goal.

On occasion it takes a lucky bounce to score a goal and Wingels got three of them in the span of a couple of seconds to get some revenge on Mannino. After taking a Sullivan feed and going in on a breakaway Wingels attempted to go to the top glove side corner on Mannino, but Wingels shot the puck high and missed the net completely. The puck bounded off the glass and back toward the net, bounced off the top of the net and rolled over the crossbar. As the puck dropped down it hit Mannino in the back and rolled into the net at 3:51 of the third to get the WorSharks back to even.

Both teams would have good chances to get the lead, but Mannino’s great glove save on Brodie Reid’s bid and Ferriero’s play to sweep the puck off the WorSharks goal line after Worcester was called for a too many men minor kept the two squads even. And it looked like it would stay tied through regulation until Tony Lucia stole a clearing attempt in the IceCaps zone and headed to the net. Lucia spotted Wingels all alone at the bottom of the right wing circle and hit him with a great pass. As there was no one even near him Wingels didn’t one time the puck, he instead chose to hold it until Mannino dove across the mouth of the goal. Wingels then fired the puck high just under the crossbar at 18:35. The red light didn’t go on but referee Terry Koharski immediately signaled the puck had entered the net.

Because of the WorSharks tenacious forechecking it took some time before the IceCaps could pull Mannino, and when they finally did get him off the ice St John’s couldn’t get much offense going. Eventually Guite’s soft clear was picked up by Marek Viedensky, who deposited the puck into the empty net for his first pro goal with 8 seconds left on the contest.

GAME NOTES
Prior to the start of the game the Worcester Shuttle made as top in the Maritimes to pick up Matt Irwin. Scratches for the WorSharks were Mike Moore (concussion), Cam MacIntyre (unknown), Mike Connolly (lower body), and Brandon Mashinter (unknown). Tyson Sexsmith was the back up goaltender. Sean Sullivan returned to the line-up after missing eight games.

Through three games of their season long seven game road trip the WorSharks are 2-0-0-1. In ten road games so far this season Worcester has gotten at least a point in nine of them. The current trip continues Tuesday night in Springfield.

Streaking WorSharks: Tony Lucia has points in five straight games (2g,3a). John McCarthy (g,4a) and Benn Ferriero (2g,2a) have points in two straight. Taylor Doherty and James Livingston have been even or better in seven straight contests.

Sena Acolatse easily had a half dozen blocked shots in the game, including a penalty kill where it seemed like he blocked every attempt on goal.

Add Ben Guite (g,2a) to Friday’s list of WorSharks with a three point games this season.

What a difference a year makes. Last season the WorSharks were (-33) in goal differential in the third period; this season through 22 games Worcester is +10.

The three stars of the game were
1. WOR – Wingels (2g, including gwg)
2. STJ – Maxwell (2a)
3. WOR – McCarthy (g,a)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Ben Guite.

Even strength lines
McCarthy/Ferriero/Wingels
Reid/Guite/Viedensky
Lucia/Del Monte/Livingston
Gogol/Moon/Bonneau

Sullivan/Acolatse
Petrecki/Doherty
Pelech/O’Hanley

BOXSCORE

Worcester 1 0 4 – 5
St. John’s 0 3 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Worcester, McCarthy 4 (Guite, Ferriero), 19:59. Penalties-Del Monte Wor (fighting), 10:35; Ramsey Stj (fighting), 10:35; Bonneau Wor (fighting), 11:48; Maxwell Stj (fighting), 11:48; DeSantis Stj (cross-checking), 12:06; McCarthy Wor (slashing), 16:00; Redmond Stj (slashing), 17:59.

2nd Period-2, St. John’s, Machacek 8 (Maxwell, Rosa), 4:18. 3, St. John’s, Postma 5 (Maxwell, Rosa), 6:55. 4, St. John’s, Gagnon 6 (Clark, DeSantis), 17:57 (PP). Penalties-Moon Wor (fighting), 6:57; O’Dell Stj (fighting), 6:57; Pelech Wor (fighting), 6:59; Ramsey Stj (fighting), 6:59; Gogol Wor (fighting), 7:40; Murray Stj (fighting), 7:40; McCarthy Wor (hooking), 16:49; McArdle Stj (roughing), 18:59; Festerling Stj (high-sticking), 19:44.

3rd Period-5, Worcester, Guite 2 (McCarthy, Acolatse), 0:37 (PP). 6, Worcester, Wingels 6 (Sullivan), 3:51. 7, Worcester, Wingels 7 (Lucia), 18:35. 8, Worcester, Viedensky 1 (Guite), 19:52 (EN). Penalties-Lucia Wor (delay of game), 5:42; Ferriero Wor (roughing), 6:11; Clark Stj (roughing), 6:11; served by Wor (bench minor – too many men), 13:34.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 9-15-17-41. St. John’s 11-13-3-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 / 4; St. John’s 1 / 4.
Goalies-Worcester, Sateri 5-4-0 (27 shots-24 saves). St. John’s, Mannino 4-5-0 (40 shots-36 saves).
A-6,287
Referees-Darcy Burchell (42), Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Justin Day (79), Sheldon Keough (63).

WorSharks melt IceCaps with late game winning goal

Despite scoring first the Worcester Sharks found themselves trailing by two goals before half the game was over, but WorSharks offense finally showed signs of life and scored three goals in a row to shock the St. John’s IceCaps 4-3 Friday night at the Mile One Centre in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.

After landing in St. John’s on Thursday the WorSharks hit the ice flying, taking it to the Eastern Conference leaders from the opening puck drop. All four of the Worcester lines dominated during their opening shift, and it was the top line that connected early to give the WorSharks a 1-0 lead. The WorSharks first line broke into the IceCaps zone on a three on two with Tommy Wingels carrying the puck up the right wing side. Wingels tried to stickhandle around defenseman Jake Marto and lost control of the puck, but John McCarthy was there to pick it up and continue the rush. McCarthy threw a nice backhand pass to Benn Ferriero deep in the left wing circle for a one-timer that beat St John’s goaltender Peter Mannino and snuck just under the crossbar at 3:15.

IceCaps defenseman Zach Redmond gave his team a 2-1 lead with two consecutive power play goals off a couple of fairly impressive one-timers. The first came at 16:46 of the first period when Worcester was not only shorthanded but penalty killer Tony Lucia was also without a stick. Redmond drifted to the left wing circle where Tom Maxwell was able to get him a pass, and Redmond’s one-timer beat WorSharks netminder Tyson Sexsmith. His second goal was 49 seconds into the middle stanza when he took a feed from Paul Postma and beat Sexsmith from the high slot. Postma had originally blasted the puck on net but it was blocked by Ferriero. The bounding puck ended up back on the tape of his stick for the cross ice pass to Redmond.

Just after Sexsmith made a great pad save on Kenndal McArdle’s shorthanded breakaway St. John’s would give themselves a two goal cushion when they made a great play to isolate WorSharks defenseman Matt Pelech during a break in. Ben Maxwell skated directly at Pelech forcing the defenseman to play him, which allowed Patrice Cormier to race to the net unchecked. Maxwell hit his charging line mate with a pass in stride, and Cormier’s shot beat Sexsmith to the blocker side at 5:52. Pelech would have his revenge a few minutes later.

Despite not scoring a lot of goals the WorSharks are still considered one of the hardest working teams in the AHL, and that hard work paid off with a goal to break the IceCaps momentum on the scoreboard. McCarthy broke into the IceCaps zone and after a short while hit Pelech with a pass at the blueline. The defenseman’s blast looked to be going wide to the left of Mannino but Ferriero was able to get a stick on it from a bad angle and deflected the puck into the net at 14:50.

Sixty-three seconds later Pelech would assist on the game tying goal, this time by throwing a cross ice pass along the blueline to Nick Petrecki. Despite not being a goal scorer no one needs to tell Petrecki to shoot the puck, and while Mannino made the save the rebound went right to Lucia standing just above the high post. Lucia didn’t miss the yawning net and the WorSharks found themselves back to even at 3-3.

The WorSharks came out firing on all cylinders to start the third period, and Brodie Reid had two great chances in the opening minute but couldn’t convert either of them. The first can when he skated across the goal mouth with the puck but Mannino was able to stay with the forward and keep Reid from getting a good shot off. The second was a breakaway chance, but his bid went just wide on the blocker side.

Worcester would complete their comeback at 15:53 of the third when Ferriero found McCarthy all alone in the slot. McCarthy’s first bid was blocked by Mannino, but the rebound came right back to him and he fired again. The puck his Mannino’s stick and bounded into the air toward the far post where Wingels was standing, and while avoiding referee Terry Koharski who had skated toward the net to get a view of the goal line, batted the puck into the net.

The WorSharks had a golden opportunity to take a two goal lead late in the period when Ryan Del Monte and Lucia broke in on a two on zero chance, but Lucia’s shot went over the crossbar and out of play. St John’s then picked up the pace going for the game tying goal but Worcester held firm, and after a great glove save by Sexsmith on Jason DeSantis’ bid the WorSharks sent the sellout crowd home disappointed.

After an off day the two squads will play again Sunday at Noon EST (9am PST).

GAME NOTES
During the week the Worcester Shuttle stopped by to pick up Justin Braun, but both Taylor Doherty and Ben Guite returned from injuries to keep the WorSharks from needing to sign any players to fill out their game roster. Mike Connolly (unknown), Brandon Mashinter (unknown), Mike Moore (concussion), Sean Sullivan (lower body), and Marek Viedensky (healthy) did not dress for Worcester. Harri Sateri was the back-up goaltender. Sullivan did go on the trip with the team.

It was the second time this season John McCarthy had three assists in a game. He first did it on October 15th against Albany. Mike Connolly also has two three point games this season. Benn Ferriero had his first three point game of the season in Friday’s.

There were two fights in the contest, with Jimmy Bonneau taking on and pummeling IceCaps enforcer Tom Maxwell, and seconds later Curt Gogol fighting Garth Murray in a bout where the rookie slipped and fell before any real blows could be thrown.

The three stars of the game were
1. WOR – Ferriero (2g,a,+3)
2. STJ – Redmond (2g)
3. WOR – Wingels (gwg,a,+3)

The Sharkspage player of the game was John McCarthy

Even Strength Lines
McCarthy/Ferriero/Wingels
MacIntyre/Guite/Reid
Lucia/Del Monte/Livingston
Gogol/Moon/Bonneau

Irwin/Acolatse
Petrecki/Doherty
Pelech/O’Hanley

BOXSCORE

Worcester 1 2 1 – 4
St. John’s 1 2 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Worcester, Ferriero 7 (McCarthy, Wingels), 3:15. 2, St. John’s, Redmond 3 (Maxwell, Postma), 16:47 (PP). Penalties-O’Dell Stj (kneeing), 6:41; Bonneau Wor (fighting), 12:58; Maxwell Stj (fighting), 12:58; Gogol Wor (fighting), 12:59; Murray Stj (fighting), 12:59; McCarthy Wor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 13:08; Clark Stj (unsportsmanlike conduct), 13:08; Irwin Wor (tripping), 14:53; Acolatse Wor (slashing), 19:17.

2nd Period-3, St. John’s, Redmond 4 (Postma), 0:49 (PP). 4, St. John’s, Cormier 5 (Maxwell, O’Dell), 5:52. 5, Worcester, Ferriero 8 (Pelech, McCarthy), 13:09. 6, Worcester, Lucia 2 (Pelech, Petrecki), 14:50. Penalties-Machacek Stj (roughing), 3:08; Ramsey Stj (boarding), 7:16; Ferriero Wor (cross-checking), 17:38.

3rd Period-7, Worcester, Wingels 5 (McCarthy, Ferriero), 15:53. Penalties-Ramsey Stj (cross-checking), 7:22; Guite Wor (hooking), 12:22.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 14-9-9-32. St. John’s 7-9-11-27.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 / 4; St. John’s 2 / 4.
Goalies-Worcester, Sexsmith 5-5-3 (27 shots-24 saves). St. John’s, Mannino 4-4-0 (32 shots-28 saves).
A-6,287
Referees-Darcy Burchell (42), Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Jim Vail (34), Todd Horwood (56).

WorSharks hit the quarter pole needing more offense

As the first quarter comes to an end–technically with the new 76 game regular season it passed after Saturday’s game–we take our usual look at what’s transpired so far with the Worcester Sharks through the opening part of their season. Taking a peek at the standings it appears like the WorSharks, who sit in third place in the AHL’s Atlantic Division, are having a decent campaign so far. But looks can be deceiving, and this is certainly one of those cases.

After 20 games the WorSharks record is 8-6-3-3 for 22 points. Because of several games in hand they sit pretty low in the conference standing, but by using winning percentage (.550) they rank ninth. The AHL is using a conference playoff system this season, so ninth wouldn’t good enough to make the post season. Their winning percentage is also misleading because of three point games due to overtime/shootout losses. The WorSharks have really won just 40% of their games, and in no league is that good enough for the post season.

OFFENSE
The WorSharks biggest issue is scoring. They’ve scored four or more goals in a game just four times so far this season, and rank 25th in the AHL in goals per game (2.55). They also own the AHL’s worst shooting percentage at just 7.2%. And, as shocking as it sounds, both those stats would be a lot worse were it not for Worcester’s hot offensive start to begin the season. In Worcester’s first 5 games they scored 20 goals and went 4-0-0-1. In their next 15 games the WorSharks scored just 31 times with a pedestrian record of 4-6-3-2.

Injures have played a small role in the low goal output with puck moving defenseman Sean Sullivan and point-per-game rookie Mike Connolly both missing at least a quarter of the season so far, but two other injured players were both below their average scoring pace before getting hurt. The WorSharks will need to step up their goal scoring to have any chance at the post season.

Grade: D

DEFENSE
One would think injuries to Sullivan and Mike Moore and with Justin Brian spending more time in the NHL than the AHL that the WorSharks defense would be suffering. Nothing could be further from the truth as rookies Sena Acolatse and Taylor Doherty have stepped right into the line-up and played like veterans. Nick Petrecki and Matt Irwin have both stepped up their play from last season. Irwin leads the WorSharks in goals and points, and leads all AHL defensemen in power play goals. Petrecki, who isn’t expected to add much in the way of offense, has finally begun to show why he was a first round draft pick as he has matured into a very good stay at home defenseman and should make a strong run at the San Jose roster next season.

The defense was supposed to be the strength of this team, and so far that’s been true. It’s also where the greatest depth is, so one has to wonder if San Jose pulls the trigger on a deal to bolster the big club will some of these defensive prospects get dealt.

Grade: A-

GOALTENDING
If someone was to have predicted at the beginning of the season Tyson Sexsmith having a goals against average under two and a save percentage well over 90% at the quarter pole they likely would have been laughed at. But finally healthy after two injury shortened seasons and having dropped 25 pounds over the summer Sexsmith is showing he’s still in the deep goaltending fold in the San Jose organization. Because of a lack of scoring in front of him his record isn’t that stellar, but his play has more often than not kept then in games they had no business being in.

Rookie Harri Sateri has looked decent in his transition from the Olympic sized ice surface to the North American game but still has a ways to go before he’s anywhere near NHL ready. Should either get injured or recalled waiting in the wings in Thomas Heemskerk, who is having a decent season so far in Stockton (ECHL)

Grade: A-

HOCKEY OPS
Worcester’s top three goal scorers from last season, Jonathan Cheechoo, Dan DaSilva, and TJ Trevelyan, were all not re-signed. Unfortunately for WorSharks fans those players were not replaced with anyone with offensive abilities even close to those three. Also missing, for the second year in a row, is a true play making center.

The lack of legitimate veteran forwards is now causing issues in SJ as their bottom two lines are under performing and there’s no one in Worcester to step in and potentially fill those roles. Lots of NHL teams are a top six injury away from not being competitive, but San Jose is actually a bottom six injury away from having significant issues.

The WorSharks have also played a game with less than the usual 18 skaters. There is simply no excuse for that to happen, especially in a home game.

Grade: F

WorSharks begin seven game road trip with 2-1 shootout loss in Manchester

The Worcester Sharks started their longest road trip of the season with a short journey north to Manchester to take on the Monarchs Sunday afternoon, and their offensive woes continued as the WorSharks dropped a 2-1 shootout decision in a fight filled contest at the Verizon Wireless Center.

Monarchs netminder Jeff Zatkoff is a pretty good goaltender, but the WorSharks made him look like an all-star in the opening period by firing 20 shots on goal and connecting on none of them. Worcester had multiple high quality scoring chances, but has been the issue for most of this season no one on the roster can seem to put the puck into the net. At the other end of the ice Tyson Sexsmith made ten saves, including a couple tough ones to keep the game scoreless after 20 minutes.

The opening period saw two fights, with Jimmy Bonneau and Justin Johnson renewing their rivalry at center ice just 2:49 in the game in a bout that looked pretty even. At 17:17 Tommy Wingels had enough of being slashed by Richard Clune and dropped the gloves against the much more experienced opponent. If given a second chance Wingels would probably choose to just slash him back and skate away.

Worcester’s inability to connect on their multiple chances came back to haunt them in the second period when Dwight King took a Brandon Kozun feed to the left wing circle and beat Sexsmith at 2:55. Despite outshooting the Monarchs 9-8 in the period the WorSharks couldn’t get any real offense going. Their one occasion of extended play in the Monarchs zone was ended when Andrew Campbell intentionally knocked the net off the pegs. Worcester didn’t have shot on goal on the resulting power play.

There were two more fights in the middle stanza, with Matt Pelech taking on Jordan Nolan behind the WorSharks net at 15:14. Pelech was the easy victor, but after both went to the ice Nolan continued to throw punches with the linesmen involved, drawing the ire of the WorSharks. His bump of Sexsmith as he skated away from the fight should have resulted in a misconduct but none was forthcoming. Nathan Moon and Justin Azevedo got together at 18:18 of the period in a bout that saw Moon land several good shots.

The one line that has been putting the puck into the net on occasion lately has been the third line, so it’s no surprise that they would be the ones to draw the WorSharks back to even when James Livingston threw a pass from behind the goal line to Tony Lucia in the slot. Lucia’s shot beat Zatkoff just under the crossbar at 8:46 of the third period for his first goal since March 27, 2010, which was his first AHL game while still an amateur.

Both teams had chances throughout the remainder of regulation and overtime but Sexsmith and Zatkoff were up to the task. The teams then headed to the shootout where Brodie Reid and Lucia scored for Worcester, but that wasn’t enough as Robert Czarnik connected in round seven to give the Monarchs the extra point.

GAME NOTES
The WorSharks went with the same line-up as Saturday night. Scratches were Mike Connolly (unknown), Taylor Doherty (unknown), Ben Guite (foot), Brandon Mashinter (unknown), Mike Moore (head), and Sean Sullivan (lower body). Harri Sateri was the back-up netminder.

Worcester entered the day as the second worst shooting team in the AHL and with the Providence Bruins idle will end the day as the worst, dropping from 7.5% to 7.2%. How bad is the WorSharks offense? Tyson Sexsmith has a 1.80 goals against average and a .931 save percentage and is just 4-5-2.

The three stars of the game were:
1. MCH – Zatkoff (38 saves)
2. MCH – Czarnik (so gwg)
3. WOR – Lucia (g)

The Sharkspage player of the game is Tyson Sexsmith.

Even Strength Lines
McCarthy/Ferriero/Wingels
MacIntyre/Moon/Reid
Lucia/Del Monte/Livingston
Gogol/Viedensky/Bonneau

Irwin/Braun
Petrecki/Acolatse
O’Hanley/Pelech

BOXSCORE

Worcester 0 0 1 0 – 1
Manchester 0 1 0 0 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Bonneau Wor (fighting), 2:49; Johnson Mch (fighting), 2:49; Kaunisto Mch (hooking), 6:45; Del Monte Wor (holding), 9:51; Wingels Wor (fighting), 17:17; Clune Mch (fighting), 17:17; Bonneau Wor (roughing), 18:28.

2nd Period-1, Manchester, King 2 (Kozun), 2:55. Penalties-Deslauriers Mch (charging), 3:27; Ferriero Wor (roughing), 4:42; Paddock Mch (roughing), 4:42; Campbell Mch (delay of game), 8:55; Lucia Wor (slashing), 11:51; Pelech Wor (fighting), 15:14; Nolan Mch (fighting), 15:14; Moon Wor (fighting), 18:18; Azevedo Mch (fighting), 18:18; Hill Mch (interference), 19:43.

3rd Period-2, Worcester, Lucia 1 (Livingston), 8:46. Penalties-Bonneau Wor (hooking), 4:34.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Worcester 2 (Ferriero NG, Wingels NG, Viedensky NG, Reid G, Braun NG, Lucia G, Del Monte NG), Manchester 3 (Vey NG, Kozun NG, Nolan NG, Azevedo G, Meckler NG, Cliche G, Czarnik G).
Shots on Goal-Worcester 20-9-7-3-0-39. Manchester 10-8-7-4-1-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 / 4; Manchester 0 / 4.
Goalies-Worcester, Sexsmith 4-5-3 (29 shots-28 saves). Manchester, Zatkoff 6-3-1 (39 shots-38 saves).
A-4,012
Referees-Keith Kaval (40), Graham Skilliter (48).
Linesmen-Landon Bathe (80), Brian MacDonald (72).

WorSharks bobble but they don’t fall down, defeat Binghamton 2-1

The Worcester Sharks spent the first 51 minutes of Saturday night’s contest being unable to score but also keeping the Binghamton Senators off the board before surrendering the first goal of the game, but the offensively challenged WorSharks squad continued plugging away and scored two late third period goals to defeat the defending Calder Cup Champions 2-1 at the DCU Center in front of 5,206 fans on Lyndon Byers bobble head night.

The opening 20 minutes was played almost entirely in the Bingo end with the WorSharks having two power play chances and earning a 17-5 shots on goal advantage but Sens goaltender Mike McKenna, playing against Worcester on his fifth different team, withstood the barrage to keep the game scoreless. At the other end of the ice Tyson Sexsmith wasn’t nearly as busy but had to make a couple nice saves to keep the game scoreless. The first period also saw the only fight in the contest with heavyweights Jimmy Bonneau and Francis Lessard taking each other on at center ice in what could best be described as a “hug-fest”, with Bonneau landing a little more often than Lessard but not enough to consider it anything other than a draw.

The middle stanza may have been one of the most boring periods of hockey played in the WorSharks era, with each team getting a power play chance but neither really mounting any offensive pressure on the other and scoring chances were rare. The third period started out just like the second period with neither team truly getting an advantage over the other, so it was a mild shock when Bingo connected on what looked like a well covered rush up ice. Bingo center Pat Cannone took a feed and skated to the left wing circle where he appeared to be well marked by WorSharks defenseman Sena Acolatse. Cannone flipped a shot on Sexsmith that may have tipped off Acolatse, but no matter what happened it fooled the netminder enough to find the back of the net at 9:01. Mark Borowiecki and David Dziurzynski had the assists on the goal.

The WorSharks would get a power play chance soon after, and about a minute into the man advantage Roy Sommer used his timeout to give his first line a quick break. The move initially looked to backfire as Bingo won the next draw, but the WorSharks continued to press and crash the net and finally got one past McKenna. After the netminder made a saves on John McCarthy’s bid from a bad angle and a Benn Ferriero return blast the second rebound went right to Tommy Wingels with McKenna unable to stop the third chance at 13:05.

Over the past few seasons the key to much of the WorSharks success rested on the team’s tenacious third line known as the “Crazed Rats”. The current group of third liners has a long way to go to match the exploits of that line, but after scoring the game tying goal on Friday night and the game winner on Saturday they’re certainly raising some eyes. Ryan Del Monte had both of those goals, and each of them was set up by a great play by Tony Lucia.

With the line forechecking Lucia showed he is totally over his concussion symptoms by absorbing a big hit at the left wing halfboards as he pushed the puck deeper into the Sens zone. Bingo recovered the puck and as the Sens headed behind their own net to set up a breakout Lucia chased the player down and forced the puck on net where McKenna made the save. The rebound of the wobbly shot went up and Del Monte was able to pick it out of the air and dunk it into the top corner at 15:47.

From that point it was the Tyson Sexsmith Show, with the netminder making one big save after another. The constant pressure by Bingo forced the WorSharks to ice the puck three times–although once it was clear it should have been waved off–and without their timeout had to keep the same players on the sheet for a significant amount of time. Sexsmith also got a little luck when Mike Hoffman hit the post to his right, and luck is what Worcester is going to need a lot of if they can’t score more goals.

GAME NOTES
Scratches for the WorSharks were Mike Connolly (unknown), Taylor Doherty (healthy), Ben Guite (foot), Brandon Mashinter (unknown), Mike Moore (head), and Sean Sullivan (lower body). Harri Sateri was the back-up netminder.

Prior to the start of the game the WorSharks held a moment of silence to recognize the 12th anniversary of the deaths of six firefighters in the Worcester Cold Storage Fire. There were several commemorative WorSharks and Worcester IceCats “W6” tribute jerseys in the crowd.

In an oddity, because of injuries the Senators had no players wearing captain’s or alternate captain’s letters. Rookie Mark Borowiecki was the player designated on the scoresheet as an “A” but was not wearing the letter. Former WorSharks Riley Armstrong is on the Senators rosters playing under a PTO, but the forward is injured and did not play. He did make the trip and was well received by the many well wishers that went to greet him. Ottawa defenseman Matt Carkner is with the club on a conditioning stint but did not play.

The three stars of the game were:
1. WOR – Del Monte (gwg)
2. WOR – Wingels (g)
3. WOR – Sexsmith (21 saves)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Tony Lucia.

Even Strength Lines
McCarthy/Ferriero/Wingels
MacIntyre/Moon/Reid
Lucia/Del Monte/Livingston
Gogol/Viedensky/Bonneau

Irwin/Braun
Petrecki/Acolatse
O’Hanley/Pelech

BOXSCORE

Binghamton 0 0 1 – 1
Worcester 0 0 2 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Gryba Bng (elbowing), 1:13; Wiercioch Bng (hooking), 4:21; Lessard Bng (fighting), 11:54; Bonneau Wor (fighting), 11:54.

2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Irwin Wor (hooking), 14:47; Borowiecki Bng (interference), 16:40.

3rd Period-1, Binghamton, Cannone 6 (Borowiecki, Dziurzynski), 9:01. 2, Worcester, Wingels 4 (McCarthy, Ferriero), 13:05 (PP). 3, Worcester, Del Monte 2 (Lucia), 15:47. Penalties-Da Costa Bng (boarding), 11:14.

Shots on Goal-Binghamton 5-6-11-22. Worcester 17-7-11-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Binghamton 0 / 1; Worcester 1 / 4.
Goalies-Binghamton, McKenna 3-6-0 (35 shots-33 saves). Worcester, Sexsmith 4-5-2 (22 shots-21 saves).
A-5,206
Referees-Chris Brown (86).
Linesmen-Brent Colby (7), Chris Millea (33).

WorSharks bounce back to defeat Falcons 4-3

The Worcester Sharks found themselves trailing by a goal on three separate occasions and all three times battled back to tie the game, and then used a lucky bounce in overtime to defeat the Springfield Falcons 4-3 Friday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

With goals being at a premium lately the WorSharks know that falling behind early is something that’s not easy for them to overcome. But sometimes when you do everything right the puck still ends up in your net, and that’s exactly what happened on the Falcons first goal when Springfield defensemen Brett Lebda made a good play to intercept Taylor Doherty’s backhand clearing attempt. Lebda gloved the puck out of the air and fired a pass along the blue line to Aaron Bogosian standing sixty feet in front of Worcester netminder Harri Sateri. Bogosian’s shot was streaking wide of the far post when Sateri noticed Wade MacLeod heading to the net from the right sideboards. The puck, Sateri, and MacLeod all arrived at the same point at almost the exact same time, but unfortunately for Worcester MacLeod and the puck connect first as the forward deflected it into the net just before MacLeod flew over the sprawling Sateri at 3:10 of the opening period.

Cam MacIntyre almost tied the game just a few moments later on a great individual rush up ice when his hard blast from the right wing side deflected off Falcons goaltender Manny Legace and tricked toward the goal line, but the WorSharks couldn’t jump on the loose puck and Springfield was able to clear it away. Worcester would end up with a power play soon after when Maksim Mayorov was sent off for hooking, but despite spending almost the entire two minutes in the Falcons zone Legacy held the WorSharks at bay. Worcester would have more success on Mayorov’s second hooking minor of the period a few minutes later.

The power play stared off a lot like the first, with Justin Braun captaining the man advantage and setting up several good scoring chances. After some sustained pressure Braun fired a pass over to Matt Irwin as the WorSharks forwards converged on the net. Irwin then unleashed a blast that Legace was able to get a good look at and he made the easy save. The rebound went back through the slot and almost out of harm’s way when John McCarthy pounced on the puck and flipped a backhander through traffic and past Legace at 11:02.

Both teams would have a chance in the second half of the period for the lead but some good luck for the WorSharks had Alexandre Giroux’s shot ringing off the iron to the right of Sateri and some bad luck had Benn Ferriero’s great outlet pass to Tommy Wingels coming out of the penalty box got lost in the snow along the sideboards to prevent a clean two on zero break-in.

The second period saw both squads with short tempers as nearly every whistle resulted in a scrum somewhere on the sheet, and the Falcons would take advantage of Jimmy Bonneau’s roughing minor with a power play goal at at 5:25 after Sateri made a great save but couldn’t control the rebound. Martin St. Pierre threw a pass across the slot to Cam Atkinson low in the left wing circle that was one-timed at at the sprawling Sateri, but the rebound went right back to the shooter who didn’t miss the second time.

Tempers would flare in the next shift when Ferriero took Ryan Russell to the ice as Russell turtled, and in the ensuing gathering Falcons captain and tough guy Dane Byers thought he could throw his weight around a little. WorSharks rookie Sena Acolatse took exception to the Byers’ actions as the two skated to center ice to do battle. Acolatse showed the poise of a grizzled veteran and out waited Byers until he found and opening and pummeled his opponent with several hard shots as Byers went to the ice. A short while later Doherty and Bogosian would exchange some gloved punches to earn themselves a two minute rest.

Despite not playing particularly well throughout most of the second period the WorSharks would eventually draw themselves back to even, and it came from their fourth line when Tony Lucia threw a nice pass between both Falcons defensemen and sprung Ryan Del Monte into the offensive zone all alone. Del Monte skated in and roofed a shot over the glove of Legace at 14:55. Bonneau had his first point as a WorShark with the second assist on the play.

Springfield would retake the lead at 18:13 of the period on a very controversial goal where it appears the puck did not completely cross the goal line. The play began with Lebda firing a blast on the net went well high and hit the glass behind Sateri. The puck bounced to the front of the net where Russell banged at the puck as Sateri was gathering the puck at the goal line. The Falcons celebrated but the red light did not go on, and Sateri jumped to his feet to argue the call. Referee Francis Charron, who was on the correct side of the ice to have seen the play clearly, consulted with the linesmen and eventually ruled it a good goal. Dan Hickling, who was covering the game for Springfield’s newspaper The Republican, was at ice level for the play and reported to press row that he believed the puck did not enter the net.

The AHL does not use instant replay to determine if goals are good or not, and that again would come into play on the goal that would tie the game for the third time for Worcester at 1:23 of the third period when MacIntyre’s shot was deflected high above the crossbar. Nathan Moon made a move to bat the puck out of the air but, as the replay shown to fans in the arena confirmed, missed the puck as it dropped to the ice and into the net. Charon called on his linesmen again but eventually correctly ruled the goal good. Nick Petrecki and Brodie Reid had the assists on the play.

Both teams would have chances to end the game in regulation but both Legace and Sateri withstood a couple of barrages to get the game to overtime, and after a missed opportunity for Springfield Braun picked up a loose puck at the WorSharks blueline and carried it into the Falcons zone. Instead of heading to the net he dropped the puck to Del Monte who wasn’t expecting it. With one of his defensemen in front of him and the Springfield ready to pounce on him he did the only thing he could and fired the puck on net. The shot went well wide and ended up in the corner to the left of Legacy, where Irwin swept in unmolested to grab the puck. With no one between him and the front of the net the defenseman went hard to the slot where players were now fighting for position. Irwin shot the puck toward the net and moved to go around the net to a potential rebound on the back side, but his shot hit Lebda and just tricked over the goal line to give Worcester the 4-3 victory.

GAME NOTES
With the Worcester shuttle dropping off Justin Braun the WorSharks were able to field a full complement of 18 skaters. Scratches were Mike Connolly (unknown), Ben Guite (foot), Matt Pelech (final game of his two game suspension) Brandon Mashinter (unknown), Mike Moore (head), Sean Sullivan (lower body). Tyson Sexsmith was the back-up netminder.

Two more panes of glass were broken at the DCU Center during the pre-game skate, making it five so far this season. At an estimated cost of $800 to $1,000 per pane it’s starting to get expensive for the building. It’s been the same two panes behind the nets that are breaking, so it’s a safe bet that some investigating will be done to see if some changes will need to be made in those areas.

How poor was the month of November for the WorSharks? Of the five suggestions on the Booster Club player of the month ballot none of the skaters were plus for the month and goaltender Tyson Sexsmith had a 1-5 record despite a 2.18 gaa and .923 S%. I chose to write in Nick Petrecki, who had an outstanding month on the blueline and was one of the only players to be “even” for the month.

Yesterday morning former San Jose Sharks draft pick Niko Dimitrakos (1999 5th round, #155 overall) was released from his PTO with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Dimitrakos is from the Boston area and would be a good addition to the team, although word is he asked for his release from the Penguins because he’s looking for an NHL contract and Pittsburgh wasn’t going to offer him one. He likely wouldn’t get one from the San Jose organization either, but with Worcester being close to home he may be more open to playing here under an AHL contract. As is the long running standard in the Sharks organization there was no comment from hockey operations here about the situation other than to say they were aware of the transaction.

Bruce Landon, who is the President and GM of the Springfield Falcons, is one of the most approachable guys in the AHL. Sharkspage had a great conversation with him about his “must read” blog post on Masslive.com about how hockey is a cruel business sometimes. In his post he mentions how tough it is to cut guys that compete hard and play well but because of a numbers game there’s no spot for them. The goalie mentioned, Danny Taylor, did land on his feet though as he was signed to an AHL contract by the Abbotsford Heat very soon after his release from the Falcons.

The three stars of the game were:
1. WOR – 20 Matt Irwin (gwg,a)
2. WOR – 16 Ryan Del Monte (g,a)
3. SPR – 21 Brett Lebda (2a)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Justin Braun

Even Strength Lines
McCarthy/Ferriero/Wingels
MacIntyre/Moon/Reid
Lucia/Del Monte/Livingston
Gogol/Viedensky/Bonneau

Irwin/Braun
Petrecki/Acolatse
O’Hanley/Doherty

BOXSCORE

Springfield 1 2 0 0 – 3
Worcester 1 1 1 1 – 4

1st Period-1, Springfield, MacLeod 2 (Bogosian, Lebda), 3:10. 2, Worcester, McCarthy 3 (Irwin, Braun), 11:02 (PP). Penalties-Mayorov Spr (hooking), 5:31; Mayorov Spr (hooking), 9:37; Wingels Wor (goaltender interference), 13:42; Atkinson Spr (interference), 18:58.

2nd Period-3, Springfield, Atkinson 10 (St. Pierre, Giroux), 5:25 (PP). 4, Worcester, Del Monte 1 (Lucia, Bonneau), 14:55. 5, Springfield, Russell 9 (Lebda), 18:13. Penalties-Bonneau Wor (roughing), 5:07; Byers Spr (fighting), 5:53; Russell Spr (roughing), 5:53; Acolatse Wor (fighting), 5:53; Ferriero Wor (roughing), 5:53; Bogosian Spr (roughing), 7:43; Doherty Wor (roughing), 7:43; Goloubef Spr (hooking), 10:58.

3rd Period-6, Worcester, MacIntyre 4 (Petrecki, Reid), 1:23. Penalties-No Penalties

OT Period-7, Worcester, Irwin 7 (Del Monte, Braun), 2:22. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Springfield 6-13-6-0-25. Worcester 18-12-8-2-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Springfield 1 / 2; Worcester 1 / 4.
Goalies-Springfield, Legace 3-6-0 (40 shots-36 saves). Worcester, Sateri 4-4-0 (25 shots-22 saves).
A-2,609
Referees-Francis Charron (46).
Linesmen-Matt MacPherson (83), Scott Whittemore (96).

WorSharks just can’t get the job done, lose again to Portland

The Worcester Sharks returned to the DCU Center for the back half of a home and home with the Portland Pirates Saturday night and their continued inability to put the puck in the net cost them another two points in a 3-1 loss in front of 3,579 fans.

It’s becoming the same old song and dance for the WorSharks, with the defense and goaltending being more than good enough to win and the forwards being totally unable to score. It’s not that they aren’t working hard, it’s that they just aren’t that good. In Worcester’s first five games they scored 20 goals and went 4-0-1. In their last 12 they’re 2-6-4 and have scored just 24 goals. The WorSharks are now tied for the lowest shooting percentage (7.4%) in the AHL.

Of the 12 forwards dressed for the game only three of them–John McCarthy, Tommy Wingels, and Benn Ferriero–are legitimate AHL top 6 players. Two more, Curt Gogol and Jimmy Bonneau, aren’t here for their scoring abilities, so that leaves seven players who so far have yet to show they have any business playing in the AHL.

Nathan Moon had the goal for Worcester, picking up a rebound in the slot and bashing it past Portland goaltender Curtis McElhinney. It came at 17:12 of the opening period and knotted the game 1-1. And because it was Teddy Bear Toss night as soon as he scored it began raining stuffed animals at the DCU Center. Too bad it didn’t rain more goals.

At the other end of the ice the WorSharks are doing quite well even while some of their more veteran blue liners out of the line-up. Worcester played short a defenseman Saturday night, allegedly because Matt Pelech’s suspension was unexpected and was announced too late to being in another player. The five man rotation did make a couple of mistakes, but the grouping that included two rookies and a try-out player certainly played well enough to put the WorSharks in a position to win.

WorSharks netminder Tyson Sexsmith, who has an impressive 1.98 goals against average and .925 save percentage, is the one who is hurt the most by Worcester’s lack of ability to score. His record on the season so far is 3-5-2, but it really should be closer to 7-2-1. That’s a big difference.

Of the three goals allowed in the game Sexsmith had no chance on any of them. The first was a Dean Arsene slapshot from the left point that was going well wide until it hit Sena Acolatse and banked in past Sexsmith at 8:17 of the opening period. The second was while shorthanded and the WorSharks penalty killers lost track of Brett MacLean. Super rookie Andy Miele knew where he was and his pass to MacLean all alone at the back post made for an easy goal at 15:14 of the middle stanza. The real back breaker was Portland’s third goal after Worcester had put some sustained pressure on McElhinney. His kick save sent the Pirates out on an odd man rush, where Matt Watkins finished the play with a laser just under the crossbar at 4:14 of the third.

Worcester penalty killers had a good night killing six of seven chances, but their anemic power play went 0-7 with a woeful 6 shots on goal. It’s frustrating when your shots don’t go in, but it’s even more frustrating when you don’t take them.

GAME NOTES
With the exception of the suspended Matt Pelech every healthy WorSharks player was in uniform last night, which left Worcester playing a man short. The injury list for Worcester is Mike Connolly (unknown), Ben Guite (foot), Brandon Mashinter (unknown), Mike Moore (head), Sean Sullivan (lower body). The WorSharks expect Moore to ready to play Friday against Springfield. Harri Sateri was the back-up netminder.

Pelech’s suspension is the first for a Worcester player since Brad Staubitz earned himself five games off on February 28, 2009 when he punched Springfield’s Tim Sestito in the back of the head in a wild ten player scrum after Sestito had punched Staubitz from behind.

For the third time this season there was a pane of glass broken in warm-ups. The first two times it happened at the visitor’s end, so this was a first for fans on the Worcester end of the ice. No word on whose shot caused the problem. If it caused a delay in the start of the game it was minimal as the puck drop wasn’t much after the scheduled 7pm start time.

There was one fight in the contest, with Sena Acolatse taking on and absolutely pounding Brett Hextall after Hextall took a run at Tommy Wingels along the penalty box side at 18:53 of the third period.

The three stars of the game were
1. POR – Miele (2a)
2. POR – Watkins (g,a)
3. POR – McElhinney (29 saves)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Nathan Moon

Even strength lines
McCarthy/Ferriero/Wingels
Lucia/Moon/Reid
Gogol/Viedensky/Livingston
Bonneau/Del Monte/MacIntyre

Defense was a rotation of Irwin, Petrecki, Acolatse, Doherty, and O’Hanley

BOXSCORE

Portland 1 1 1 – 3
Worcester 1 0 0 – 1

1st Period-1, Portland, Arsene 1 (Eckford, Long), 8:17. 2, Worcester, Moon 3 (MacIntyre, O’Hanley), 17:12. Penalties-Lucia Wor (hooking), 1:15; Arsene Por (cross-checking), 9:22; Viedensky Wor (interference), 12:16; Gongalsky Por (goaltender interference), 15:06; MacLean Por (hooking), 17:35; Irwin Wor (hooking), 18:37.

2nd Period-3, Portland, MacLean 2 (Miele, Watkins), 15:14 (PP). Penalties-Summers Por (roughing), 1:50; Hollweg Por (elbowing, unsportsmanlike conduct), 4:28; Viedensky Wor (hooking), 8:28; McCarthy Wor (roughing), 14:42.

3rd Period-4, Portland, Watkins 4 (Miele, McElhinney), 4:14. Penalties-Ferriero Wor (hooking), 7:10; MacLean Por (hooking), 10:38; Doherty Wor (hooking), 13:02; Hextall Por (boarding, fighting), 18:53; Acolatse Wor (roughing, fighting), 18:53.

Shots on Goal-Portland 9-12-10-31. Worcester 9-12-9-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Portland 1 / 7; Worcester 0 / 7.
Goalies-Portland, McElhinney 6-7-0 (30 shots-29 saves). Worcester, Sexsmith 3-5-2 (31 shots-28 saves).
A-3,597
Referees-Jean Hebert (43).
Linesmen-Brian MacDonald (72), Ed Boyle (81).

WorSharks drag Pirates into overtime but lose 4-3

The Worcester Sharks fell behind by allowing two late second period goals but got two third period goals of their own to force overtime, but couldn’t complete the comeback in extra time and dropped a 4-3 contest to the Portland Pirates Friday night at the Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, Maine.

When a team is having issues scoring like the WorSharks are falling behind early is something you didn’t want to do, and doing it on a 60 foot wrist shot is a way you certainly don’t want to do it. But that’s exactly what happened when Tyler Eckford fired a blast from the blueline through traffic and beat Worcester goaltender Harri Sateri to the blocker side at 5:08 of the opening period.

Exactly one minute later the WorSharks would get back to even while on the power play when John McCarthy threw a pass from the left wing side to Benn Ferriero in the slot. Ferriero redirected the pass on net past Pirates netminder Curtis McElhinney for his sixth goal of the season. Matt Irwin had the second assist on the play.

In the closing seconds of the period Cam MacIntyre and Igor Gongalsky battled it out in a bout most score even.

Just like the opening 20 minutes where the WorSharks held a 15-6 shots on goal advantage the second period was also tilted toward the Portland goal with Worcester again outshooting their opponents 14-9, but it would be the Pirates that would grab the only goals of the stanza with two from rookie standout Andy Miele.

Miele’s first goal was a lucky bounce–the type goal scorers always seem to get– when his original shot was deflected off a stick in front of Sateri and fluttered over the netminder and into the net at 14:45. His second goal was one of those ‘right place, right time’ tallies when he was in a perfect position to received a big bounce off the end boards from Nick Ross’ shot that went well wide of the goal at 17:38 when Portland was on the power play.

Before Miele’s tally MacIntyre was again involved in some fisticuffs, this time against rookie Jordan Szwarz. It was Szwarz’s first fight as a pro, and it showed as MacIntyre easily outclassed the rookie and won handily.

Worcester again owned the third period on the shot meter with an 18-6 advantage, and luckily for the WorSharks they also owned the scoreboard with two goals in 108 seconds in the middle of the period. Curt Gogol would have the first of those two goals at 8:34 when he completed was rush up ice with James Livingston and Marek Viedensky with a nifty wrist shot just under the crossbar just after Viedensky’s wrap around attempt was stuffed by McElhinney.

Tommy Wingels would knot the game 3-3 when he took a Ferriero feed and bolted down the right wing side. Wingels fought off a Pirates defender and roofed a wrist shot from the low circle over McElhinney at 10:22.

After outshooting the Pirates 41-21 in regulation Worcester didn’t register a single shot in overtime, and Eckford connected at 3:19 of the extra period with Taylor Doherty in the penalty box to send the WorSharks home with another extra time loss.

GAME NOTES
Worcester scratches were Jimmy Bonneau (healthy), Mike Connolly (unknown), Ben Guite (foot), Brandon Mashinter (unknown), Mike Moore (head), Sean Sullivan (lower body). Tyson Sexsmith was the back-up netminder. Bill Ballou of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette is reporting that Connolly was injured in practice Thursday after being cross checked by an unnamed defenseman in a one on one drill. Ryan Del Monte returned to the lineup after missing seven games with a charlie horse.

After the game the AHL announced defenseman Matt Pelech has been suspended two games for his check to the head of Jordan Nolan Wednesday night in Manchester. The suspension leaves the WorSharks with potentially five healthy defensemen, so if Moore and/or Sullivan are not ready to return Worcester may have to dip into the ECHL for a blue liner. There are no skaters under contract in Stockton, so anyone brought in will have to be signed to a PTO.

Call it a “communication breakdown”…last Wednesday the WorSharks indicated that the pre-Thanksgiving game in Manchester would be the last for Frazer McLaren’s conditioning assignment. Apparently there was some confusion about assignment dates which led to McLaren being eligible for Friday night’s contest. There is no confusion at this point; his conditioning loan is over and he’ll need to be returned to San Jose or clear waivers to play for the WorSharks. A quick check of the transaction wire just prior to posting shows neither has been reported yet.

The three stars of the game were
1. POR – Eckford (2g)
2. POR – Miele (2g)
3. POR – McElhinney (44 saves)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Benn Ferriero.

BOXSCORE

Worcester 1 0 2 0 – 3
Portland 1 2 0 1 – 4

1st Period-1, Portland, Eckford 2 (MacLean, Watkins), 5:08. 2, Worcester, Ferriero 6 (McCarthy, Irwin), 6:08 (PP). Penalties-Hextall Por (high-sticking), 5:15; Arsene Por (tripping), 8:14; Pouliot Por (hooking), 10:38; Gogol Wor (roughing), 17:04; Arsene Por (roughing), 17:04; MacIntyre Wor (fighting), 19:47; Gongalsky Por (fighting), 19:47.

2nd Period-3, Portland, Miele 6 (MacLean), 14:45. 4, Portland, Miele 7 (Ross, Watkins), 17:38 (PP). Penalties-Summers Por (holding), 9:21; MacIntyre Wor (fighting), 13:03; Szwarz Por (fighting), 13:03; Pelech Wor (cross-checking), 15:48; Arsene Por (holding), 19:41.

3rd Period-5, Worcester, Gogol 3 (Viedensky, Livingston), 8:34. 6, Worcester, Wingels 3 (Ferriero), 10:22. Penalties-Petrecki Wor (tripping), 4:36.

OT Period-7, Portland, Eckford 3 (Miele, Pouliot), 3:19 (PP). Penalties-Doherty Wor (holding), 2:40.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 15-14-18-0-47. Portland 6-9-6-4-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 / 5; Portland 2 / 3.
Goalies-Worcester, Sateri 3-4-0 (25 shots-21 saves). Portland, McElhinney 5-7-0 (47 shots-44 saves).
A-5,218
Referees-Jarrod Ragusin (42).
Linesmen-Landon Bathe (80), Joe Ross (92).

Antti Niemi shuts down former team with impressive 34-save performance, earns first shutout against Chicago Blackhawks

Although the casts have changed slightly, a 2010 Western Conference Final rematch with the Chicago Blackhawks could be looked at as a statement game, an opportunity to offer an unsolicited exculpation to a playoff rival. It could also be looked at as a measuring stick game, a chance to evaluate where the Sharks are at against a team tied for first place in the Western Conference, albeit a look at two clubs trending in opposite directions. The Blackhawks were coming off a pair of losses in Calgary and Edmonton, a 2-game stretch where they were outscored by 10 goals (14-4). San Jose had won 4 of it’s last 5 contests, including critical W’s against Los Angeles, Minnesota, and Detroit. Wednesday night’s San Jose vs Chicago contest turned out to be something completely different, a tight checking play in three acts. It began with a large momentum swing in the first period. The Blackhawks opened up the ice with speed and tried unsuccessfully to wrest control of the second, and in the finale the Sharks defense lead a solid 20-minute effort for the win.

The lead performer on both sides of the ice was one Antti Niemi. A sparkling 34-save performance was Niemi’s first shutout of the season, and the first of 14 career shutouts recorded against his former team. Among elite NHL goaltending, Niemi ranks at or near the top when it comes to speed getting down and covering the lower portion of the net. Again and again the Blackhawks tested him there. Again and again, Niemi came up big. The first came with defenseman Dan Boyle in the penalty box. Duncan Keith and Patrick Sharp moved the puck high to low to open up a shooting lane in front. Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews tried to bury a slick feed, but Niemi adjusted position on his knees and kicked saved the puck out of the zone. “He was the first star I’m sure. We really believe he’s starting to look and play like the ‘Nemo’ of years past,” San Jose Sharks head coach Todd McLellan said after the game. “He’s really starting to settle in. He made some tremendous saves, not a lot of rebounds. Just exuded confidence, and our guys were able to survive a night where we didn’t play very well.”

More than just settling in, Niemi settled down his teammates and covered for mistakes that could have broken the game open for Chicago early. He shut the door on 3 breakaway opportunities against inside of the first 30 minutes. The Sharks had their foot on the gas to start the first period. A pair of shots by Burns and Pavelski in front were directed wide, but as Chicago tried to move the puck up ice they stalled or turned the puck over repeatedly at their own blueline. On a subsequent San Jose breakout, Brent Burns lost an outlet target and turned the puck over to Marian Hossa in front of his own net. In tight, Hossa tried to hesitate on a forehand to backhand move. Niemi didn’t bite. Hossa sailed a shot over the net, a sign among NHL shooters that there was little room to shoot at. Later in the period Dan Boyle fell down on a Chicago rush opening up a breakaway for left wing Bryan Bickell. Bickell came in with a slower, shootout-type stroll. As he tried to snap a shot 5-hole, Niemi ate him for aamiainen (Finnish for breakfast). Hossa was stoned again in the second with a slick pad save. Niemi noted his familiarity with several of his former teammates. “You get out there and maybe recognize who’s coming and think who’s a shooter and who’s not,” he said. “I think some of those I was expecting a shot and it came.” In his last 5 starts, Niemi has registered 5 wins, a 1.20GAA, .962SV% and 1 shutout.

The Sharks successfully killed two Boyle penalties in the first period, but after a nice defensive play by Patrick Marleau they would have an opportunity to flex the NHL’s 4th best power play (22.2%) early in the second period. The power play was less than successful. Dave Bolland won a defensive zone faceoff against Joe Thornton. Then the Blackhawks recorded the lone shot on goal, while San Jose registered 3 turnovers. Jamie McGinn, who unleashed a spin-o-rama down the right wing trying to create space in the first period, pinged a wrist shot off the post from 30 feet out in the second. Skating with speed and a somewhat large mean streak, McGinn also leveled defenseman Nick Leddy with a shoulder check up high. At times McGinn could be seen with a burst of speed trying to jump up for a shot on goal. Occasionally that left him out of position, but as the 4th year forward’s career progresses he is going to zero in on the sweet spot. Keeping a heavy stick on the ice, and getting quick shots on goal are the keys to unlocking his offensive potential. It is much easier to back off an NHL defenseman with a shot than a shoulder check. Sometimes the harder you hit a defenseman, the harder they want to hit back.

Defenseman Dan Boyle took his third penalty midway through the second period. Todd McLellan utilized more of his lineup on the penalty kill to start the season, but started cycling in top forwards when that area of special teams struggled. San Jose utilized a diamond penalty kill formation for most of the game against Chicago. The two defenseman and low forward in the diamond remained tight around the net, while the point diamond forward challenged the shooter and/or entry into the zone. It has the potential to address penalty kill problems that has seen the unit fall to at or near bottom of the league. Currently San Jose is 28th at 73.6% (53-72), ahead of only Columbus (73.6%) and Chicago (73.5%). In past regular seasons and playoffs, the Sharks got a little out of sorts when the defenseman roamed too high on the PK to cover their man. Thornton kicked off the penalty kill with a solid play that nearly drew a penalty on Chicago. Instead of carrying the puck to center ice and dumping it in, he held on to possession and nearly drew a hooking call. A pair of Niemi saves shorthanded finished off the third straight successful PK of the night.

San Jose was battling bad bounces missed passes, while Chicago was starting to put it together. They spread out the ice, used crisp passes and speed to carry the action later in the second period. In between Blackhawk rushes, the Sharks generated their best offensive sequence of the game after Joe Pavelski kept the puck in at the left point. Vlasic dumped the puck down low off of the new end boards. Joe Thornton chopped a seeing-eye pass in front. Pavelski launched himself at the front of the net but was knocked to the ice. Keeping the pressure on, an offensively re-invigorated Marc-Edouard Vlasic unleashed a low point shot on goal, but this time Patrick Marleau was knocked to the ice driving for the puck.

Chicago afforded San Jose another power play opportunity when Dave Bolland was sent off for hooking at 17:04. Four seconds later, the puck was in the back of their own net for the only goal of the game. Logan Couture, who had a quiet night otherwise, drew the faceoff to a standstill against Toews. Ryane Clowe beat his man to the puck, directing it back to Demers. Demers unloaded a slapshot from 53-feet out that deflected off of a pair of Blackhawks and by Corey Crawford. It was his first goal of the season. “(Clowe) got it back to me and it was rolling, but you always want to shoot a rolling puck because you never know where it’s going and neither does the goalie. I got a good bounce off it,” Demers said.

Patrick Kane took another hooking call at 18:52, allowing the Sharks to start the third with the man advantage. Despite the 1-goal lead, Chicago carried the bulk of the play in the first two periods. San Jose’s defense looked to change that in the third. Brent Burns lead a rush up ice that was cut short when Joe Thornton made a pass to an empty point. Then defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic carried the puck up ice and got in front of the net before Chicago created a turnover. A diving keep-in by Douglas Murray lead to an extended cycle down low. A subtle change late in the game, San Jose was less aggressive on the deep forecheck, forcing Chicago to skate through 5 bodies in order to create offense. Antti Niemi and Ryane Clowe combined for key defensive stops late in the game. With Joe Pavelski in the box at 13:54 for goalie interference, Antti Niemi made a goalmouth stand on Jonathan Toews’ best power play scoring chance of the night. Ryane Clowe did his part with Corey Crawford pulled for the final minute of play. After Jonathan Toews won an offensive zone faceoff, Clowe beat Hossa to the open puck to dump it down and drain the remaining time off the clock.

“We had a good start. The first five minutes were strong and then the third was probably our smartest period,” Ryane Clowe said of the Sharks 6th win in 7 games. “We kept pucks going North-South and we didn’t turn a lot over. The second period was a bit sloppy obviously. But that’s why Niemi is paid the big bucks. He played great tonight. He was obviously our first star and the reason we won tonight.”

WorSharks ruin another great Sexsmith effort, lose 2-1 to Monarchs

The Worcester Sharks headed north to The White Mountain State for a Thanksgiving Eve contest against the Manchester Monarchs and came back home feeling like turkeys after giving up a late third period goal to drop a 2-1 contest Wednesday night at the Verizon Wireless Center in Manchester, New Hampshire in front of 2,950 fans.

With bad blood boiling between the two squads fans knew it wouldn’t take much to get the fists flying, and when Monarchs tough guy Justin Johnson bumped WorSharks netminder Tyson Sexsmith Frazer McLaren was there to answer the bell. Unlike their first encounter two weeks ago this time McLaren gave Johnson his full attention and earned an easy victory.

Later in the Matt Pelech caught WorSharks killer Jordan Nolan with his head down and threw a huge open ice hit on the winger, drawing the ire of Ray Kaunisto. Pelech is one of the true heavyweights of the AHL and Kaunisto is not much of a fighter, so the results were as one would expect as Pelech pounded his opponent until the linemen mercifully stepped in. Pelech earned an additional minor for checking Nolan in the head.

The first period ended scoreless, all due to some great goaltending by Sexsmith. The Monarchs had only six shots in the period, but most of the were high quality scoring chances that required some outstanding saves by Sexsmith. In one short stretch Sexsmith made an incredible stick save on Justin Azevedo and then stoned Dwight King on a follow up chance. The WorSharks couldn’t clear the puck and because of that Sexsmith was forced to make a total reaction save when a blast from the point deflected off defenseman Sena Acolatse and bounded toward the net.

The second period saw more fisticuffs, with Taylor Doherty taking on Nolan after being boarded behind the WorSharks net. Nolan didn’t get an additional penalty for boarding, but he did earn a 10-minute misconduct for bumping Curt Gogol on the way to the penalty box.

Manchester had the only goal in the middle period when King fed Kaunisto from the corner to the left of Sexsmith. Kaunisto skated across the mouth of the goal and fired a close in wrist shot that beat Sexsmith five-hole at 8:06. The Monarchs had another great chance in the period, but Robert Czarnik’s bid rang off the iron and bounced away harmlessly.

Some hard work by Tommy Wingels got the WorSharks back to even at 5:43 of the third period, but even then it took a lucky bounce to get one past Monarchs goaltender Martin Jones. Wingels first wheeled the net on the forehand to jam the puck home but Jones held firm and Tony Lucia fired the rebound wide. Wingels would again gain the puck behind the Manchester net, and this time wheeled toward the backhand. After a wild scramble at the far post the Wingels’ hard work was rewarded when he jammed the puck into the net for his second goal of the season. Lucia and Nathan Moon had the assists.

With 3:25 remaining in the third period Cam MacIntyre was called for a hook in the offensive zone, and with the help of a great Sexsmith glove save it looked like the WorSharks would escape the shorthanded situation, but a blueline shot by Marc-Andre Cliché took a bad bounce off Doherty’s stick and beat Sexsmith with just three seconds left on the penalty to give Manchester the 2-1 lead.

The WorSharks then spent the next 90 seconds trying to get the puck into the Monarchs to pull Sexsmith for an extra attacker but the offense was unable to get even that task accomplished as Worcester headed home looking like turkeys.

GAME NOTES
The scratches for Worcester were Jimmy Bonneau (healthy), Ryan Del Monte (thigh), Ben Guite (foot), Brandon Mashinter (unknown), Mike Moore (head), Sean Sullivan (lower body). The back-up netminder was Harri Sateri. Mashinter was injured in practice Tuesday and unofficially in the “day to day” category. Word is Del Monte could be ready to play this weekend.

Wednesday’s game was Frazer McLaren’s last under his two week conditioning loan. San Jose will now need to recall him or place him on waivers to assign him to the WorSharks roster full time. There are no forwards on San Jose’s roster that do not need to clear waivers to be assigned to the AHL. Justin Braun, a defenseman, is the only current roster player exempt from waivers.

What’s being overshadowed by Worcester’s anemic offense is some very good goaltending. Tyson Sexsmith is putting up some impressive numbers, with his 1.86 goals against average and .928 save percentage both being in the top ten in the AHL. In his first full North American season rookie Harri Sateri also has some decent numbers, with a 2.79 gaa and a.906 save percentage.

The three stars of the game were
1. MCH – Cliché (gwg)
2. WOR – Wingels (g)
3. MCH – Kaunisto (g)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Tyson Sexsmith.

BOXSCORE

Worcester 0 0 1 – 1
Manchester 0 1 1 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-McLaren Wor (fighting), 7:15; Johnson Mch (fighting), 7:15; Clune Mch (goaltender interference), 10:21; Petrecki Wor (kneeing), 11:29; Pelech Wor (checking to the head, fighting), 16:55; Kaunisto Mch (fighting), 16:55.

2nd Period-1, Manchester, Kaunisto 3 (King, Czarnik), 8:06. Penalties-Cliche Mch (hooking), 0:25; Doherty Wor (fighting), 4:15; Nolan Mch (fighting, misconduct – continuing altercation), 4:15; MacIntyre Wor (high-sticking), 8:28; Kaunisto Mch (high-sticking), 12:58; Lucia Wor (tripping), 19:46.

3rd Period-2, Worcester, Wingels 2 (Moon, Lucia), 5:43. 3, Manchester, Cliche 8 (Meckler, Mullen), 18:32 (PP). Penalties-Vey Mch (hooking), 0:58; Moon Wor (diving), 13:13; Nolan Mch (roughing), 13:13; MacIntyre Wor (hooking), 16:35.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 9-14-11-34. Manchester 6-8-11-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 / 4; Manchester 1 / 5.
Goalies-Worcester, Sexsmith 3-4-2 (25 shots-23 saves). Manchester, Jones 6-7-0 (34 shots-33 saves).
A-2,950
Referees-Terry Koharski (10).
Linesmen-Landon Bathe (80), Jeremy Lovett (78).

WorSharks chomp on Penguins, win 3-1

The Worcester Sharks took full advantage of a Saturday night off while their opponent was playing an overtime game and used their high energy play and two first period Benn Ferriero goals to defeat the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 3-1 Sunday afternoon at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts in front of 3,865 fans.

From the moment the puck dropped it was obvious the Penguins, who played in consecutive overtime contests in Portland and Manchester, were a step slower than one would have expected from the number two team in the conference. The WorSharks sensed blood in the water and immediately took it to Wilkes-Barre, with all four lines pressuring all over the ice. Their hard work would pay off early when Ferriero grabbed a lose puck in the left wing corner and wheeled to the halfboards to unleash a laser just inside the near post at 4:16. Penguins netminder Brad Thiessen was screened by Mike Connolly and couldn’t react in time to make a blocker save. Both Connolly and Brodie Reid had assists on the goal.

The WorSharks never took their foot off the accelerator and continued to carry the play against Wilkes-Barre and again Ferriero connected, only this time while on the power play. Standing in nearly the same spot as his first goal Ferriero fired the puck into a screen that rang one off the near post and past Thiessen at 7:10, with the assists going to Connolly and Tommy Wingels. Despite having no chance on either goal Penguins head coach pulled Thiessen in favor of Scott Munroe. The goalie switched stemmed Worcester’s momentum a touch, but it had little effect on the scoreboard.

At the other end of the ice WorSharks netminder Tyson Sexsmith was holding for fort down stopping all six Penguins shots in the period. Sexsmith’s job was made easier by the play of his defense in front of him, who blocked several shots and broke up many chances before they could develop.

The middle stanza saw the Penguins come out with more intensity, but it was Worcester that was able to grab a goal when Nathan Moon fired a low shot to the far post that Munroe made the pad save on. Brandon Mashinter was right there for the rebound, and after a couple of attempts was finally able to lift it over Munroe and into the net at 6:32. Wingels had the second assist on the play.

At the other end of the ice Sexsmith was significantly busier than the opening period and was called upon to make several nice saves to keep Wilkes-Barre off the board. None were bigger than when Colin McDonald broke in alone from the blue line, and after a deke toward the middle Sexsmith was forced to flash the glove out to catch McDonald’s bid. Soon after Sexsmith’s save Monroe had a highlight save of his own when Taylor Doherty sent Mashinter in all alone with a nice pass off the boards. Monroe made a great right pad save on Mashinter’s bid to keep it 3-0 WorSharks.

The third period saw Worcester trying to defend its lead and Wilkes-Barre forcing the issue with a relentless attack. The Penguins best bid came early when Geoff Walker found an opening and broke into the WorSharks zone, but Sexsmith forced him wide to erase the scoring chance. As time was winding down in the game Connolly took an hooking minor and the Pens pulled Monroe for a six skater on four advantage. Sexsmith and the WorSharks played it very well, but after back to back saves Sexsmith thought he had the puck covered under his pad but the puck was still visible. Eric Tangradi was able to bang it home to ruin the shutout bid with 24.8 seconds to go.

GAME NOTES
Worcester’s scratches were Ryan Del Monte (thigh), Curt Gogol (healthy), Ben Guite (foot), Mike Moore (head), Sean Sullivan (lower body) and Marek Viedensky (healthy). Harri Sateri was the back-up goaltender. With Sullivan going down on Friday night the WorSharks signed defenseman Brian O’Hanley signed to a PTO. O’Hanley plays for Cincinnati (ECHL) and has now played for three different AHL teams this season under try-out contracts. Just based on one game I’d be shocked if he can’t hook on full time in the AHL somewhere.

The schedule gave Worcester a huge benefit in this game as they had Saturday night off while Wilkes-Barre was in the middle of a three game in three days road trip through New England. The Penguins will get to return the favor when the WorSharks visit Wilkes-Barre on Saturday, March 17 after playing at home against Providence the night before while the Penguins will be off that Friday night. Wilkes-Barre entered the weekend undefeated on the road but left New England dropping two shootouts and Sunday’s regulation loss.

The three stars of the game were:
1. WOR – Sexsmith (34 saves)
2. WOR – Ferriero (2g)
3. WOR – Mashinter (g)

Ferriero was the AHL’s second star of the night.

The Sharkspage player of the game was Nick Petrecki, who didn’t make it on the scoresheet but might have played his best game ever defensively.

Even strength lines
Connolly/Ferriero/Reid
Mashinter/Moon/Wingels
McLaren/McCarthy/Livingston
Bonneau/Lucia/MacIntyre

Irwin/Acolatse
Petrecki/Doherty
O’Hanley/Pelech

BOXSCORE

W-B/Scranton 0 0 1 – 1
Worcester 2 1 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Worcester, Ferriero 4 (Reid, Connolly), 4:16. 2, Worcester, Ferriero 5 (Connolly, Wingels), 7:10 (PP). Penalties-Craig Wbs (hooking), 6:04; Petrecki Wor (interference), 14:33; Craig Wbs (interference), 16:16; McLaren Wor (high-sticking), 19:00.

2nd Period-3, Worcester, Mashinter 3 (Moon, Wingels), 6:32. Penalties-MacIntyre Wor (hooking), 13:04; Lerg Wbs (double minor – high-sticking), 14:37.

3rd Period-4, W-B/Scranton, Tangradi 8 (Dimitrakos, McDonald), 19:35 (PP). Penalties-Petersen Wbs (tripping), 8:41; Livingston Wor (hooking), 14:58; Connolly Wor (hooking), 18:44.

Shots on Goal-W-B/Scranton 6-16-13-35. Worcester 8-13-7-28.
Power Play Opportunities-W-B/Scranton 1 / 5; Worcester 1 / 5.
Goalies-W-B/Scranton, Thiessen 9-4-1 (7 shots-5 saves); Munroe 1-1-2 (21 shots-20 saves). Worcester, Sexsmith 3-3-2 (35 shots-34 saves).
A-3,865
Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Jarrod Ragusin (42).
Linesmen-Chris Aughe (74), Todd Whittemore (70).

WorSharks still having problems scoring in 3-2 OT loss to Manchester

The Worcester Sharks threw away a pretty good effort by netminder Harri Sateri by giving up two shorthanded goals and failing to convert on another two man advantage in dropping a 3-2 overtime contest to the Manchester Monarchs Friday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, New Hampshire in front of an announced crowd of 6,192.

After Saturday’s nights fight filled contest fans were feeling it wouldn’t take long for tempers to flare again, and it certainly didn’t as the teams got together during warm-ups after Monarchs enforcer Justin Johnson bumped WorSharks tough guy Jimmy Bonneau at center ice. All 40 players on the sheet pushed and shoved at center ice, but within a minute or so cooler heads prevailed and the rest of warm-ups passed without incident. It took just 2:46 for Johnson and Bonneau to get together officially in a heavyweight bout that had no clear winner.

The teams would be scoreless in the opening 20 minutes but it certainly wasn’t due to a lack of chances. The WorSharks best bid came early in the first after a Nick Petrecki/Jordan Nolan scrum in the Worcester zone earned the Monarchs a power play. Mike Connolly had a multi-zone breakaway, but Manchester goaltender Martin Jones was just able to get his right pad on Connolly’s backhander and no Worcester player was following to poke the loose puck into the net. The Monarchs had two great chances in the period, but Justin Azevedo missed a yawning net from just in front and Sateri made a great blocker save on David Meckler’s bid in the closing seconds.

Early in the second period a string of alternating minors on the teams gave the WorSharks a rare four on three power play, and Worcester capitalized when Matt Irwin took a Sena Acolatse feed and blasted a shot from the high slot just under the crossbar to beat Jones at 5:05. Benn Ferriero had the second assist on the tally. The WorSharks would have two more great chances in the period to extend their lead, but another failed five on three chance where they passed around the puck far too much and a great save by Jones on a John McCarthy shorthanded bid kept the score 1-0.

Everyone knows the unwritten rule about not giving up goals in the last minute of a period, but the WorSharks one upped that by giving up a last minute goal while shorthanded when Nolan collected a Meckler drop pass at the circle to the left of Sateri and beating the netminder to the blocker side at 19:36. Manchester carried that momentum into the third period but couldn’t convert as their best chance, a Ray Kaunisto’s blast from the circle to the left of Sateri, rang off the far post about four and a half minutes into the period. The play looked offside, but the linesman was on the far side and screened by a pile of players.

The WorSharks grabbed the lead back at 5:56 on another blast by Irwin from the high slot. Brandon Mashinter had a chance down low but couldn’t jam the puck home, so the winger wheeled the net and threw a pass out to Irwin. Mashinter then headed to the front of the net where Irwin’s blast deflected off him and past Jones. Tony Lucia grabbed the second assist.

Nolan would again tie the game for Manchester, and again it was a shorthanded goal. As the WorSharks power play was struggling to set up in the Monarchs zone Nolan stole the puck from McCarthy and headed up ice, blasting a shot through the five hole from the left circle at 10:10. The Monarchs had all the great chances after that, with Azevedo ringing one off the post in a power play bid and Marc-Andre Cliche having a goal stolen from him on an incredible pad save by Sateri. Irwin also got into the act by saving a goal when he swept a loose puck off the goal line after Mecker’s shot rang off the near post and headed across the crease. Manchester would eventually get the game winner when some tic-tac-toe passing gave Andrew Campbell an open shooting lane into an open net at 3:44 of overtime.

GAME NOTES
Scratches for Worcester were Ryan Del Monte (thigh), Ben Guite (foot), Brodie Reid (healthy), Nathan Moon (healthy), Mike Moore (head), and Brodie Reid (healthy). Tyson Sexsmith was the back-up netminder. It looks like Sean Sullivan may be added to the injury list after not playing in the third period While no specific information was given about his injury word is he’s just “day to day”.

Worcester went 7-7 on the penalty kill but their power play was far less successful in allowing the first two shorthanded goals against this season, failing to get a good scoring chance with a two man advantage for the second time this season, and connecting on just one of eight power play chances.

The streaking WorSharks are Matt Irwin with a two game goal streak; Benn Ferriero with a three game point steak (g,3a); Sena Acolatse has a two game streak (g,2a).

The life of a blogger: After Matt Irwin’s 6th power play goal of the season–in just 13 games–I dug through some notes to see who had the most in a season for a defenseman in a season for Worcester. It’s nine by Garret Stafford in 2006-07, and I jotted that down in my game notes to add to this posting. Seconds later Worcester broadcaster Eric Lindquist mentions the information and indicates it came from T&G beat reporter Bill Ballou. So I go back through the notes and see Derek Joslin is the all time leader with 16 power play goals. Ballou, being the completest he is, mentions both records in his notes column this morning. Foiled again.

The three stars of the game were
1. MCH – Nolan (2shg,a+3)
2. MCH – Campbell (gwg)
3. WOR – Matt Irwin (g,a)

The Sharkspage player of the game is Matt Irwin.

BOXSCORE

Worcester 0 1 1 0 – 2
Manchester 0 1 1 1 – 3

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Bonneau Wor (fighting), 2:46; Johnson Mch (fighting), 2:46; Petrecki Wor (roughing), 6:40; Wingels Wor (roughing), 6:40; Nolan Mch (roughing), 6:40; Campbell Mch (cross-checking), 9:17; Petrecki Wor (slashing), 16:15; Ferriero Wor (slashing), 19:45.

2nd Period-1, Worcester, Irwin 6 (Acolatse, Ferriero), 5:03 (PP). 2, Manchester, Nolan 3 (Meckler, Kolomatis), 19:36 (SH). Penalties-Johnson Mch (high-sticking), 3:35; Connolly Wor (hooking), 3:45; Mullen Mch (tripping), 4:23; Doherty Wor (high-sticking), 6:29; Muzzin Mch (interference), 9:45; served by Kaunisto Mch (bench minor – unsportsmanlike conduct), 10:11; Wingels Wor (goaltender interference), 12:26; McLaren Wor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:07; served by Azevedo Mch (bench minor – too many men), 17:48.

3rd Period-3, Worcester, Mashinter 2 (Irwin, Lucia), 5:55. 4, Manchester, Nolan 4 10:10 (SH). Penalties-Deslauriers Mch (roughing), 9:06; Pelech Wor (elbowing), 14:32.

OT Period-5, Manchester, Campbell 1 (Muzzin, Nolan), 3:44. Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Worcester 11-13-9-3-36. Manchester 13-8-11-3-35.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 1 / 8; Manchester 0 / 7.
Goalies-Worcester, Sateri 3-3-0 (35 shots-32 saves). Manchester, Jones 5-7-0 (36 shots-34 saves).
A-6,192
Referees-Mark Lemelin (41).
Linesmen-Joe Andrews (32), Jeremy Lovett (78).

WorSharks can’t steal a victory for Sexsmith, lose 3-2 in OT

The Worcester Sharks hit the road for the first time in three weeks with an hour trip west down the Mass Pike and twice overcame one goal deficits before finally falling 3-2 in overtime to the Springfield Falcons Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts in front of an announced crowd of 2,029.

With Worcester going 1-4-1 in their six game home stand the last the the WorSharks wanted to do was come out flat against the Falcons, but unfortunately that’s exactly what they did. The one thing going for Worcester early on was goaltender Tyson Sexsmith, who made three big saves in the first half of the period to keep the game scoreless. After killing two Springfield power plays the WorSharks would get a chance with the man advantage, and Sena Acolatse would break Worcester’s 0 for 19 slump with a booming slapshot from the blueline that beat Falcons netminder Manny Legace at 14:20 on the WorSharks second shot of the period. Matt Irwin and Benn Ferriero had the assists on the goal.

The second period began on an odd note, with Ferriero’s blast from the top of the right wing circle ripping the right stick out of Legace’s hand. Worcester couldn’t capitalize on that brief advantage, and soon after they would run afoul of referee Ryan Hersey. While already shorthanded Tommy Wingels went on a breakaway after being sent away by a great outlet pass. Wingels was hauled down from behind by Falcons defenseman Cody Goloubef, but Hersey did not call a penalty on the play. Seconds later Hersey called Tony Lucia for high sticking; a penalty that does not appear on the video despite clearly showing Lucia for the entire play.

Skating with a two man advantage Springfield was able to knot the game at 11:29 when Tomas Kubalik was uncovered at the far post and banged the puck home after some nice tape to tape passing by the Falcons. Officially it was a five on four goal as Irwin’s holding minor has expired, but he was unable to get back into the play before the goal was scored.

Brandon Mashinter had two great chances to get Worcester back on top but each time couldn’t control the bouncing puck to put it into a yawning net. Marek Viedensky also had an opportunity very early in the period when Legace couldn’t control Brodie Reid’s rebound, but he too couldn’t get a stick on the puck to put it into an empty net. On the other end of the ice Sexsmith was stellar, making many great saves in the middle stanza.

The WorSharks started the third period by breaking one of the most important unwritten rules of hockey: never give up a goal in the opening minute of a period. After a bad pass from Wingels that missed everyone in the offensive zone Springfield broke out on a three on one against Irwin. Sexsmith and Irwin were both helpless as the tic-tac-toe passing resulted in Kubalik shooting the puck into an empty net for his second of the game just 50 seconds into the period.

After showing no consistent offense in the period Worcester would get their second power play chance of the game in the middle of the stanza, and the WorSharks would again connect on the man advantage when Acolatse threw a pass to the high slot from the left wing halfboards. Irwin one-timed the pass passed a screened Legace at 11:41 to knot the score at 2-2. Ferriero had the second assist on the marker. Worcester had a golden chance to take the lead when Falcons winger Nick Drazenovic was called for a double minor after high sticking Tony Lucia, but the veteran Legace drew a very borderline goaltender interference penalty on Wingels to break up Worcester’s momentum.

Sexsmith again rose to the challenge in the period making many key saves to keep Worcester in it and then after the tying goal to keep the Falcons from taking the lead again.

In the opening moments of overtime Mike Connolly was awarded a penalty shot after referee Hersey ruled Connolly was tripped from behind on a breakaway. The video clearly shows the defenseman was even with Connolly and it was likely not a penalty at all. legacy was able to glove Connolly’s backhand attempt. Hersey would later get the tripping call on Nathan Moon correct, and Alexandre Giroux buried a slapshot from the top of the right wing circle past Sexsmith at 2:22 of overtime for the game winner.

GAME NOTES
The scratches for Worcester were Jimmy Bonneau (healthy), Ryan Del Monte (charlie horse), Curt Gogol (healthy), Ben Guite (foot), Mike Moore (head). Harri Sateri was the back-up netminder.

Wednesday was the first game between Springfield and Worcester where they weren’t in the same division. The WorSharks were sorry to see them leave the Atlantic as they fared very well against the Falcons going 26-7-2-1 all time.

The three stars of the game were:
1. SPR – Kubalik (2g)
2. SPR – Giroux (gwg)
3. WOR – Irwin (g,a)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Tyson Sexsmith.

Even strength lines
Wingels/Ferriero/Connolly
Lucia/McCarthy/Livingston
Mashinter/Viedensky/Reid
McLaren/Moon/MacIntyre

The WorSharks seemed to rotate the defensive pairings all game.

BOXSCORE

Worcester 1 0 1 0 – 2
Springfield 0 1 1 1 – 3

1st Period-1, Worcester, Acolatse 2 (Irwin, Ferriero), 14:20 (PP). Penalties-Connolly Wor (boarding), 3:32; Pelech Wor (interference), 9:36; Goloubef Spr (unsportsmanlike conduct), 13:48.

2nd Period-2, Springfield, Kubalik 2 (St. Pierre, Atkinson), 11:29 (PP). Penalties-Irwin Wor (holding), 9:27; Lucia Wor (high-sticking), 11:18.

3rd Period-3, Springfield, Kubalik 3 (Drazenovic, Byers), 0:50. 4, Worcester, Irwin 5 (Acolatse, Ferriero), 11:41 (PP). Penalties-St. Pierre Spr (interference), 10:46; Drazenovic Spr (double minor – high-sticking), 12:29; Wingels Wor (goaltender interference), 13:26.

OT Period-5, Springfield, Giroux 4 (Savard, St. Pierre), 2:22 (PP). Penalties-Moon Wor (tripping), 1:50.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 7-9-8-2-26. Springfield 11-10-11-1-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 2 / 3; Springfield 2 / 6.
Goalies-Worcester, Sexsmith 2-3-2 (33 shots-30 saves). Springfield, Legace 1-3-0 (26 shots-24 saves).
A-2,029
Referees-Ryan Hersey (46).
Linesmen-Rich Patry (52), Brent Colby (7).

WorSharks quickly becoming the gang that can’t shoot straight

The Worcester Sharks twice battled back from one goal deficits but couldn’t do it a third time in dropping a 3-2 Sunday afternoon contest to the Providence Bruins at the DCU center in Worcester, Massachusetts in front of 5,402 fans.

A day after throwing 47 shots on goal against Manchester the WorSharks put 49 on the board against the P-Bruins with the same result; not enough of them going into the net. Another problem for Worcester is their power play, which after Sunday’s game has now gone 19 chances in a row without scoring, and on many of those chances the WorSharks haven’t come close to connecting.

After a scoreless first period Providence would jump into the lead when Zach Hamill received a nice pass through the slot from Zach McKelvie and banged it home just inside the post to the right of WorSharks goaltender Harri Sateri at 4:41.

Benn Ferriero tied the game for Worcester with a “right place, right time” goal at 10:08 of the period when he banged a rebound home past P-Bruins netminder Anton Khudobin. The play began with Tommy Wingels carrying the puck down the right wing side and firing a centering feed to Mike Connolly. With Ferriero streaking to the net Connolly fired a shot that Khudobin saved but kicked the puck right on the tape of Ferriero’s stick.

Providence would put the WorSharks down a goal again at 8:37 of the middle period after Calle Ridderwall forced a Ferriero turnover at the Worcester blue line and fed the puck into the left corner to Kevan Miller, who skated across the slot and backhanded a shot through the five hole of Sateri.

Worcester would once again pull even on the strength of another pass into the slot from the side boards. This time it was Sean Sullivan carrying the puck down the left side, and while everyone was focused on Tony Lucia crashing the net Sullivan threw a lazy pass into the slot to John McCarthy. The winger held the puck for a split second before firing a low blast on net that beat Khudobin to the stick side. Lucia did earn an assist on the goal for his original feed to Sullivan.

But just 17 seconds later and before McCarthy’s goal was even announced Providence surged back into the lead when Carter Camper deflected Andrew Bodnarchuk’s blue line shot past Sateri at 10:04. The WorSharks would have a power play late in the third when Colby Cohen cleared the puck over the glass that missed this writer by inches–the penalty being for delay of game and not for missing me with the clear–and Worcester did everything under the sun for those two minutes except one thing: score.

And that’s something they’re just not doing enough of lately.

GAME NOTES
Worcester had three healthy scratches: Jimmy Bonneau, James Livingston, and Matt Pelech. Tyson Sexsmith was the back-up netminder. It unfortunately looks like Mike Moore may be joining Ryan Del Monte and Ben Guite on the injury list with an “upper body injury” after taking a stick to the head during the first period. Sean Sullivan also needed some help getting back to the bench late in the game after a pile-up in front of the Providence net, but he was back out on the ice at the first opportunity he was able to do so.

There was one fight in the contest, with Curt Gogol and Jamie Tardif doing battle after all ten players got together just before a face-off in the P-bruins end. The teams combined for 78 penalty minutes, including four 10 minute misconducts.

The three stars of the game were:
1. PRO – Camper (g,a)
2. PRO – Khudobin (47 saves)
3. WOR – McCarthy (g)

The Sharkspage player of the game is John McCarthy.

Even strength lines
Connolly/Wingels/Ferriero
Mashinter/Viedensky/Reid
McCarthy/Lucia/MacIntyre
McLaren/Moon/Gogol

Irwin/Sullivan
Petrecki/Doherty
Moore/Acolatse

BOXSCORE

Providence 0 2 1 – 3
Worcester 0 1 1 – 2

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Camper Pro (hooking), 3:36; MacDonald Pro (tripping), 9:16; Sauve Pro (roughing), 13:02; Tardif Pro (fighting), 13:02; Gogol Wor (fighting), 13:02; McLaren Wor (roughing), 13:02; Connolly Wor (goaltender interference), 17:47; MacDermid Pro (roughing), 18:59; Ferriero Wor (roughing), 18:59; Miller Pro (roughing), 20:00; Connolly Wor (roughing), 20:00; Gogol Wor (roughing), 20:00.

2nd Period-1, Providence, Hamill 6 (McKelvie, Camper), 4:41. 2, Worcester, Ferriero 3 (Connolly, Wingels), 10:08. 3, Providence, Miller 1 (Ridderwall, MacDonald), 18:37. Penalties-McLaren Wor (goaltender interference), 5:46; Tardif Pro (tripping), 18:52.

3rd Period-4, Worcester, McCarthy 2 (Sullivan, Lucia), 9:47. 5, Providence, Camper 4 (MacDermid, Bodnarchuk), 10:04. Penalties-Bartkowski Pro (misconduct – continuing altercation), 3:18; Sauve Pro (misconduct – continuing altercation), 3:18; Gogol Wor (misconduct – continuing altercation), 3:18; Moon Wor (misconduct – continuing altercation), 3:18; Doherty Wor (roughing), 5:55; Cohen Pro (delay of game), 14:50.

Shots on Goal-Providence 6-10-10-26. Worcester 15-13-21-49.
Power Play Opportunities-Providence 0 / 4; Worcester 0 / 4.
Goalies-Providence, Khudobin 7-6-0 (49 shots-47 saves). Worcester, Sateri 3-2-0 (26 shots-23 saves).
A-5,402
Referees-Graham Skilliter (48).
Linesmen-Matt MacPherson (83), Scott Whittemore (96).

WorSharks rack up shots but not goals in 2-1 loss to Manchester

The Worcester Sharks fired a season high 47 shots on goal but could only connect once in a 2-1 loss to the Manchester Monarchs in a fight filled contest Saturday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts in front of 3,405 fans.

It didn’t take long for fans to know this game was going to be a physical contest as there were several big hits in the first few minutes of the opening period, with Mike Moore’s booming check on Brandon Kozun along the near side boards being the most noteworthy. Those near side boards would get quite the workout as the game moved along.

Worcester caught a few breaks in quick succession early in the period that lead to their only goal of the contest. After the WorSharks bounced the puck along the near boards to clear their zone Tommy Wingels stole the puck away from the Manchester defense and broke down the left wing side two on one with Mike Connolly. Monarchs defenseman Jake Muzzin got enough of the cross ice pass to make it so all Connolly could do was bat the puck toward the Manchester net. After a couple of bounces off the pile of players in front of the net the puck dropped right to the ice in front of Wingels, who swatted the puck through the five hole of Monarchs goaltender Jeff Zatkoff for the 1-0 lead at 6:47 of the first.

The physical play continued throughout the period, and several times Monarchs enforcer Justin Johnson tried to get Frazer McLaren, in Worcester on a conditioning loan, to drop the mitts. Each time another WorSharks would enter the scrum and the linesmen would keep the teams separated. Johnson finally got his chance on a face-off deep in the WorSharks zone late in the period with both taking the draw. It was clear McLaren wasn’t interested in fighting, but that didn’t stop Johnson. The fight was pretty one sides and Johnson got the extra minor, although not for the instigator should have been called for.

The second period would see the hard hits continue, and it didn’t take long for tempers to boil over again when Jordan Nolan threw a big hit on Benn Ferriero along the near side boards well after the play had passed by. Several WorSharks players went after Nolan but it was Brandon Mashinter that got to him first as eventually all ten skaters would pair up. Mashinter landed several blows before they pair fell to the ice, and only the two would be penalized, with Mashinter earning an extra two for roughing at 2:04 of the middle stanza. The WorSharks actually caught a break by jumping Nolan as Manchester was off on a breakaway that was blown dead by the fights.

The third fight of the game will be talked about at the DCU Center for a long time to come and it all started after–what else–a big hit along the near boards side when Richard Clune boarded Brodie Reid. Sena Acolatse skated over to challenge Clune, and the two dropped the mitts and skated to center ice where Acolatse laid a beat down on the veteran forward. A left by Acolatse early in the fight cut Clune’s right cheek wide open requiring a trip to the trainer’s room.

From that point on both teams seemed to realize they were in a 1-0 hockey game and the intensity on the ice picked up. Manchester had two great chances to pull back to even but a Connolly blocked shot when WorSharks netminder Tyson Sexsmith was down and out kept Worcester in the lead, and a Sexsmith great glove save on Clune’s bid a few moments later kept the score even.

Unfortunately Worcester couldn’t escape the period with the lead when Justin Azevedo collected a cross ice pass from Linden Vey and fired a blast from the circle to the left of Sexsmith at 19:00 of the period. Matt Irwin had a golden chance to get the WorSharks the lead back just before time expired but Zatkoff was able to get just enough of the defenseman’s bid to send the game into period number three even at 1-1.

The WorSharks totally owned the third period in every way imaginable except for the most important one–goals. Slava Voynov grabbed the game winner for the Monarchs at 3:16 of the last stanza on an absolute laser from the left point that beat Sexsmith and just squeezed under the cross bar. Worcester would carry the play in the third period outshooting Manchester 23-5, and had two consecutive chances bounce off the right side post late in the game, but they couldn’t light the lamp again.

GAME NOTES
Worcester had three healthy scratches: Jimmy Bonneau, Tony Lucia, and Matt Pelech. Ryan Del Monte and Ben Guite are both out with lower body injuries. Harri Sateri was the back-up netminder. Prior to the game Frazer McLaren was assigned to Worcester on a two week conditioning stint. He was the only skater for Worcester without a shot on goal in the game.

As Sharkspage predicted a scoring change for Friday’s game has added an assist to Matt Irwin on John McCarthy’s three on five shorthanded goal.

It was not a great night in the San Jose organization as not only did the WorSharks lose, but San Jose lost 3-0 to Phoenix and the Stockton Thunder dropped an overtime contest in Las Vegas 4-3. The Thunder’s game looks very entertaining by the box score with two fights taking place in the first four seconds of the contest. Sharks goaltending prospect Thomas Heemskerk was not in goal for Stockton.

The WorSharks were again a perfect 5-5 on the penalty kill, and their power play drought has hit 15 chances with Saturday’s oh-fer-six.

The three stars of the game were:
1. MCH – Zatkoff (46 saves)
2. MCH – Voynov (gwg)
3. WOR – Wingels (g)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Mike Connolly. It was real tough to not pick Sena Acolatse here, but Connolly’s overall play in the game gets him the edge.

Even strength lines
Connolly/Wingels/Ferriero
Mashinter/Moon/Reid
McCarthy/Livingston/MacIntyre
McLaren/Viedensky/Gogol

Irwin/Sullivan
Petrecki/Doherty
Moore/Acolatse

BOXSCORE

Manchester 0 1 1 – 2
Worcester 1 0 0 – 1

1st Period-1, Worcester, Wingels 1 (Connolly), 6:47. Penalties-Doherty Wor (tripping), 9:58; Moore Wor (delay of game), 11:42; Kozun Mch (tripping), 13:29; Johnson Mch (unsportsmanlike conduct, fighting), 17:14; McLaren Wor (fighting), 17:14.

2nd Period-2, Manchester, Azevedo 4 (Vey, King), 19:00. Penalties-Nolan Mch (fighting), 2:04; Mashinter Wor (roughing, fighting), 2:04; Clune Mch (boarding, fighting), 4:42; Acolatse Wor (fighting), 4:42; Ferriero Wor (holding), 11:12; Meckler Mch (tripping), 12:38.

3rd Period-3, Manchester, Voynov 2 (Cliche, Clune), 3:16. Penalties-Azevedo Mch (boarding), 7:06; Campbell Mch (unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:33; Wingels Wor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 8:33; Mullen Mch (interference), 10:06; McCarthy Wor (tripping), 19:38.

Shots on Goal-Manchester 6-14-5-25. Worcester 10-14-23-47.
Power Play Opportunities-Manchester 0 / 5; Worcester 0 / 6.
Goalies-Manchester, Zatkoff 3-2-1 (47 shots-46 saves). Worcester, Sexsmith 2-2-2 (25 shots-23 saves).
A-3,405
Referees-Geno Binda (22).
Linesmen-Chris Millea (33), Ed Boyle (81).

WorSharks are lights out in 3-2 win over Bridgeport

The Worcester Sharks used a rare three on five goal by John McCarthy and a great team defensive effort to defeat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3-2 in a Friday afternoon Veteran’s Day matinee at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts in front of 2,919 fans.

With the WorSharks having some issues lately on special teams things weren’t looking so bright early in the game when Taylor Doherty took a high sticking double minor five minutes into the contest. Despite killing off the first minor things looked even darker when Benn Ferriero was called for a slashing minor trying to break up a play in the neutral zone giving the Sound Tigers a five on three advantage for 1:09. But against the odds it would be Worcester that would come out ahead.

After a Bridgeport clear into the WorSharks zone the Sound Tigers attempted to return the puck back against the flow to the left point, but no one could control the bouncing puck. Matt Irwin was able to get enough of the puck to get it past former San Jose prospect Ty Wishart at the point where McCarthy picked it up and skated down the left wing side. With Irwin driving hard to the net McCarthy unleashed a blast that banked off Sound Tigers netminder Anders Nilsson’s glove and inside the far post at 8:32. The goal was announced as unassisted but Irwin should be credited with an assist on the play.

The WorSharks got their first power play chance of the day when David Ullstrom was sent to the sin bin for unsportsmanlike conduct for spraying snow at Worcester goaltender Harri Sateri as he covered the puck. The power play was slightly less than effective and resulted in no shots on goal, and when the WorSharks defense failed to cover Ullstrom as he came out of the box he was able to collect Casey Cizikas’ clear and fire a blast from the top of the circle to the right of Sateri. It looked like Sateri would make a glove save on the blast, but a slight misplay allowed the puck to hit off his glove and bounce into the net at 18:25.

Both teams were playing a very physical game, and after a huge hit by Mike Moore on Nino Niederreiter early in period number two Moore was challenged by Micheal Haley in the only fight in the contest. Before the puck could drop to start the next play Jimmy Bonneau and Tyler McNeeley got into a little scrum, but referee Chris Cozzan would have no part of that as he sent them both off for cross checking.

During the first promotional timeout of the second period there was a power surge at the DCU Center that knocked out some of the lights that delayed the game for several minutes. At one point Cozzan was ready to start play with some of them still off but Nilsson protested. He maybe should have protested a little harder a few moments later when play was resumed because just seconds after the puck was dropped it was in his net behind him. It was a clean face-off win by McCarthy that sent the puck back to the blueline to Irwin. The defenseman’s blast from the high slot into traffic hit Cam MacIntyre on the way by and deflected into the net at 7:48.

Brodie Reid would make it 3-1 WorSharks with a goal that looked a lot like McCarthy’s. After a Benn Ferriero blocked shot the puck bounced right to Reid who headed up the left wing side into the Sound Tigers zone. The rookie fired a shot from just above the face-off dot that beat Nilsson to the glove side at 4:43. It was his second goal in as many games.

The Sound Tigers would make it interesting when a Niederreiter shot through traffic beat Sateri at 17:01, but the netminder would come up big in the waning moments of the contest to give Worcester the one goal win and two points for the day.

GAME NOTES
Worcester had two healthy scratches, Tony Lucia and Matt Pelech. The injury list has two new names on it, with Ryan Del Monte and Ben Guite both suffering the dreaded “lower body injury” in last Saturday’s loss to St John’s. Del Monte is day to day with a charlie horse, while Guite broke his foot and is expected to be out until Christmas. Tyson Sexsmith was the back-up netminder.

During the week the Worcester Shuttle dropped of Benn Ferriero, and word arrived just prior to the end of the game that it will be returning soon with Frazer McLaren as the forward has been assigned to a conditioning stint with the WorSharks.

The WorSharks were a perfect 5-5–with a shorthanded goal–on the penalty kill, but their power play was less than spectacular going 0-3 and generating just a single shot on goal.

The power surge wasn’t the only odd thing that happened Friday at the DCU Center. At the beginning of the second period there was an issue with the pegs in the Bridgeport end that required the holes in the ice to be redrilled. Later in the period Mike Connolly, all 5’9” of him, checked a player hard enough to cause one of the player doors in the Worcester zone to open.

Both teams had a little extra help behind the benches in the contest, with Mike Ricci joining Roy Sommer and Dave Cunniff on the Worcester side and Trevor Gillies, who is still active for the Islanders/Sound Tigers, joining Bridgeport coaches Brent Thompson and Eric Boguniecki. The six must have set an unofficial record for most pro career penalty minutes behind the benches as the six combined for an incredible 10,407 minutes. Individually some of the totals are quite impressive too: Thompson 3033; Gilles 2880 (and counting); Sommer 1913; Boguniecki 1036; Ricci 979; and Cunniff 555. Perhaps when the two teams get together again San Jose will replace Ricci with frequent guest Bryan Marchment, who could add his 2625 into the mix.

The three stars of the game were:
1. WOR – McCarthy (shg,a)
2. WOR – Sateri (23 saves)
3. WOR – Reid (gwg)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Matt Irwin.

Even strength lines
Connolly/Wingels/Ferriero
Mashinter/Moon/Reid
McCarthy/Livingston/MacIntyre
Bonneau/Viedensky/Gogol

Irwin/Sullivan
Petrecki/Doherty
Moore/Acolatse

Power play lines
Connolly/Wingels/Ferriero
Mashinter/Moon/Reid

Irwin/Sullivan
Moore/Acolatse

Penalty kill lines
McCarthy/Livingston
Wingels/Gogol
Connolly/Ferriero

Petrecki/Moore
Sullivan/Irwin

BOXSCORE

Bridgeport 1 0 1 – 2
Worcester 1 1 1 – 3

1st Period-1, Worcester, McCarthy 1 8:32 (SH). 2, Bridgeport, Ullstrom 8 (Cizikas, Donovan), 18:25. Penalties-Doherty Wor (double minor – high-sticking), 5:01; Ferriero Wor (slashing), 7:52; Ullstrom Bri (unsportsmanlike conduct), 16:14.

2nd Period-3, Worcester, MacIntyre 3 (Irwin, McCarthy), 7:48. Penalties-Haley Bri (fighting), 4:36; McNeely Bri (cross-checking), 4:36; Bonneau Wor (cross-checking), 4:36; Moore Wor (fighting), 4:36; Donovan Bri (hooking), 5:29; Wingels Wor (tripping), 10:52; Bonneau Wor (tripping), 13:59.

3rd Period-4, Worcester, Reid 2 (Ferriero), 4:43. 5, Bridgeport, Niederreiter 1 (Frischmon, Klementyev), 17:01. Penalties-Niederreiter Bri (slashing), 6:25.

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 8-7-10-25. Worcester 6-14-9-29.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 5; Worcester 0 / 3.
Goalies-Bridgeport, Nilsson 4-2-0 (29 shots-26 saves). Worcester, Sateri 3-1-0 (25 shots-23 saves).
A-2,919
Referees-Chris Cozzan (18).
Linesmen-Ed Boyle (81), Brian MacDonald (72).

WorSharks not so special in 3-1 loss to IceCaps

The Worcester Sharks fired 31 shots on goal but could only connect once in a 3-1 loss to the St. John’s IceCaps Saturday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA in front of 3,534 very disappointed fans. The loss extends the WorSharks winless streak to three games.

Unlike Tuesday when the WorSharks came out flat Saturday night saw Worcester playing their normal aggressive style from the opening puck drop. But like Tuesday special teams were a big issue, and a turnover while on the penalty kill lead to the IceCaps first goal. With Mike Connolly in the box for tripping John McCarthy’s clearing attempt from behind the net up the right side boards was picked off at the blueline by Jason DeSantis. The defenseman’s blast from the point was going well wide but Shawn Weller was able to get a stick on the puck and tip it through his own legs and over WorSharks goaltender Tyson Sexsmith at 14:25.

In the second period Worcester returned the favor after Brandon Mashinter stole Zach Redmond clearing pass up the left side. With Mashinter standing at the top of the crease Redmond telegraphed his pass and Mashinter was able to get a stick on it, and after collecting the loose puck fired a backhander on net. IceCaps goaltender Edward Pasquale made the save, but Brodie Reid was there to bang home the rebound for his first professional goal at 9:20 of the middle stanza.

After failing to score on two early power play chances in the third period WorSharks fans knew that at some point Worcester would find itself shorthanded, and when Ben Guite was called for a very borderline trip their fears were soon realized. St. John’s would capitalize on their extra man advantage when Weller took a feed at the blueline and broke in on Sexsmith all alone. Weller’s backhander over Sexsmith’s glove at 11:32 was an NHL-quality goal that gave the IceCaps the lead for good.

Worcester did have a golden chance to tie the game last when they skated five on three for 1:21, but the WorSharks showed no signs of desperation and passed up several chances to blast the puck on net. The two shots they did take were nothing more than attempts to jam a bouncing puck home and both were squashed by Pasquale. Patrice Cormier would add an empty net goal with 11 seconds to go for the 3-1 final.

GAME NOTES
Worcester had three healthy scratches; Jimmy Bonneau, Nathan Moon, and Matt Pelech. Harri Sateri was the back-up netminder.

Just as Marek Viedensky comes off the injured list it looks like Ryan Del Monte will be added to it after Del Monte was kneed in the thigh by Patrice Cormier. The hit looked accidental, but both Sean Acolatse and captain Mike Moore took exception nonetheless, and it was Moore that got to Cormier first. Not many punches landed as Cormier slipped and fell to the ice before either could get anything really going.

In an earlier bout Curt Gogol (6′ 185#) took on Ben Chiarot (6’3” 224#) in a spirited fight where Chiarot landed a few good shots but Gogol really pounded his opponent, knocking him down twice.

Worcester’s tumble down the special teams ranks continues as their power play is down to 7th in the AHL (23.1) and their penalty kill has gone from tops in the league to 15th (81.6).

With both Worcester and San Jose losing Saturday night it was up to the Stockton Thunder to prevent an oh-fer night for the organization, and Sharks prospect netminder Thomas Heemskerk did just that as he lead the Thunder to a 3-2 win over Utah. Heemskerk had 27 saves and was the #2 star of the game.

The three stars of the game were:
1. STJ – Weller (2g)
2. WOR – Reid (g)
3. STJ – Pasquale (30 saves)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Brandon Mashinter.

Even strength lines
Connolly/Guite/Wingels
Mashinter/McCarthy/Reid
Lucia/Viedensky/Livingston
Gogol/Del Monte/MacIntyre

Irwin/Sullivan
Petrecki/Doherty
Moore/Acolatse

BOXSCORE

St. John’s 1 0 2 – 3
Worcester 0 1 0 – 1

1st Period-1, St. John’s, Weller 3 (DeSantis), 14:25 (PP). Penalties-Redmond Stj (hooking), 5:50; Petrecki Wor (roughing), 7:58; DeSantis Stj (slashing), 8:44; Chiarot Stj (fighting), 12:48; Gogol Wor (fighting), 12:48; Connolly Wor (tripping), 14:15.

2nd Period-2, Worcester, Reid 1 (Mashinter), 9:20. Penalties-Cormier Stj (fighting), 12:29; Moore Wor (fighting), 12:29; Ramsey Stj (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:37; Doherty Wor (unsportsmanlike conduct), 17:37; Mashinter Wor (roughing), 17:37.

3rd Period-3, St. John’s, Weller 4 (DeSantis, Gagnon), 11:32 (PP). 4, St. John’s, Cormier 2 (Redmond), 19:49 (EN). Penalties-DeSantis Stj (interference), 3:53; Kulda Stj (high-sticking), 6:30; Guite Wor (tripping), 10:46; Petrecki Wor (slashing), 12:16; Albert Stj (tripping), 15:19; Ramsey Stj (hooking), 15:58.

Shots on Goal-St. John’s 7-8-5-20. Worcester 7-12-12-31.
Power Play Opportunities-St. John’s 2 / 5; Worcester 0 / 6.
Goalies-St. John’s, Pasquale 4-0-0 (31 shots-30 saves). Worcester, Sexsmith 2-1-2 (19 shots-17 saves).
A-3,434
Referees-Chris Ciamaga (24), Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Joe Ross (92), Jeremy Lovett (78).