Alexandre Giroux Breaks Record, Sharks Drop 3-2 Shootout to Hershey
Published on January 18, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release
HERSHEY - Some teams are good. Other teams are very good.
The Hershey Bears are as good as they get. Even when you think you have them beat, they find a way to win.
The Sharks fell victim to the best team in the AHL, dropping a heartbreaking 3-2 shootout decision on Sunday night at the Giant Center.
The Bears lead the AHL with 62 points, two more than the Manitoba Moose. With 48 points, the Sharks jump into sole possession of second place in the Atlantic Division.
Worcester failed to stand in the way of Alexandre Giroux's run at AHL history. The Hershey center tied Brett Hull's 14-game goal-scoring streak on Saturday and broke the league record at 13:33 of the third period.
The crucial goal capped off a Bears third period onslaught which erased a 2-0 deficit to make it 2-2 heading into the extra session, the Sharks' third overtime game in as many nights.
Kyle Wilson was the first and only goal scorer in the shootout.
It was Ryan Vesce who stole the show early, dishing two assists to extend his point streak to 11 games. It hasn't been a cheap 11 games either - almost half the games (five) have been multi-point efforts.
The Sharks captain set up two first period power play goals within 44 seconds of the first period. Jamie McGinn scored the first, a 5-on-3 tally at the 9:14 mark while Zalewski made it 2-0 at 9:58.
It was Zalewski's first goal since Dec. 13 at Lowell.
Thomas Greiss was strong in net, stopping the first 18 shots through the first two periods.
The league's top offense beat him for the first time at 3:48 of the third period when Sami Lepisto netted his fourth of the season, a power play goal to make it 2-1.
Minor penalties were aplenty as Worcester was 2-for-5 on the power play and Hershey was 2-for-7.
The Bears outshot the Sharks, 42-24, snapping Worcester's 16-game streak of outshooting its opponent.
One bit of bad news came on the injury front where a rehabbing Torrey Mitchell appeared to injure his leg midway through the first period. He did not return.
The Sharks head to Springfield on Friday and Lowell on Saturday to conclude the unofficial first half of the season.
Sunday marked Worcester's final game against Hershey, but Sharks fans will see the Bears - four of them, at least - in next week's All-Star Classic at the DCU Center.
NOTES: Three Stars: (3) Lepisto (goal) (2) Greiss (39 saves, 2 GA) (1) Giroux (goal) ... Attendance for the contest was 8,112 ... Greiss stopped 39 of 41 shots for Worcester; Neuvirth saved 22 of 24 for Hershey.
American Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2009
- Wolf Pack Jersey Auction Raises More than $11,000 for March of Dimes - Connecticut Whale
- Third-Period Comeback Gives Phantoms Fourth Consecutive Win, 3-1 Over Albany - Adirondack Phantoms
- Tordjman Stops 47 as Rampage Beat Rivermen 2-0 - Peoria Rivermen
- Wolf Pack Summon Matthew Ford and Mike Taylor from Charlotte - Connecticut Whale
- Tordjman Brilliant, Rampage Shut Out Peoria 2-0 - San Antonio Rampage
- Houston Aeros Earn 2-1 Victory Over Lake Erie with Late Goal - Houston Aeros
- Admirals Scorched by Flames 5-2 - Milwaukee Admirals
- Wagner Recalled to Replace Injured Polak - Peoria Rivermen
- Sprukts Powers Amerks to 4-3 Win Over Baby Bruins - Rochester Americans
- Alexandre Giroux Breaks Record, Sharks Drop 3-2 Shootout to Hershey - Worcester Sharks
- Alexandre Giroux Sets AHL Record with Goal in 15th Straight Game - AHL
- Flames Make History in Win Over Admiral - Abbotsford Heat
- P-Bruins Fall To Americans 4-3 - Providence Bruins
- Kings Recall Bernier, Assign Purcell To Manchester - Manchester Monarchs
- Admirals Reassign F Mathieu Curadeau to IHL Fort Wayne - Norfolk Admirals
- Curry Stops All 35 Sound Tiger Shots to Hand Team Their First Shutout Loss Since 2006 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Montreal Reassigns Marc Denis to Hamilton - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Columbus Assigns Center Craig MacDonald - Syracuse Crunch
- Pirates Host Special Guests for Monday Matinee - Portland Pirates
- Aeros Celebrate Chillypalooza, Host Lake Erie Tonight at 5:05 PM - Houston Aeros
- Predators Reassign Jones, Santorelli to Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
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