Sharks Win 4th Straight in 5-1 Win in Albany

Published on December 16, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


ALBANY, NY - Jack Combs scored on his first shift as a member of the Sharks and added another late in the first period as Worcester scored five unanswered goals in a 5-1 victory over the Albany Devils at the Times Union Center on Friday night. The Sharks improved to 4-0-0-1 on their season long seven game road trip which continues Saturday night in Binghamton at 7:05pm.

Antero Niittymaki, on a conditioning assignment from the San Jose Sharks, made 26 saves for Worcester in his first start in the AHL since winning the Calder Cup with the Philadelphia Phantoms in 2005 for the victory. Tommy Wingels extended his goal scoring streak to four games with two more goals and now leads the Sharks with 10 goals this season.

Former Worcester Shark Steve Zalewski (8th) gave the Devils an early 1-0 lead after a centering pass from behind the Worcester net by Joe Whitney found Zalewski all alone on top of the crease. Zalewski fired the puck past a spun-around Antero Niittymaki at 1:16. Just 13 seconds later, Jack Combs (1st) scored on his first shift with the Sharks after he slammed home a centering feed from Brodie Reid past netminder Keith Kinkaid at 1:29. Combs (2nd) struck again after Nathan Moon found the winger streaking down the middle and Jack fired the puck past the blocker and inside the post at 15:10 to give Worcester a 2-1 lead. The Sharks controlled the majority of the opening frame and outshot the Devils 16-6.

After Stepane Veilleux took a run at Tommy Wingels in the opening shift of the middle period, Sena Acolatse (4th FM) challenged the veteran for a scrap at 20 seconds. Sena had the right hand free and dropped Veilleux in front of the Devils bench. Albany had great pressure in the first 10 minutes of the second period but Antero Niittymaki shut the door with several nice stops. Tommy Wingels (9th) found the back of the net with a quick snap shot at 11:22 from the left slot to give the Sharks a 3-1 lead. Wingels was set up by John McCarthy from the end wall for the two goal cushion. Mike Moore went end to end with a great rush that was eventually stopped by the Albany goaltender, but Marek Viedensky (2nd) jammed home the loose rebound at 14:45 for a 4-1 Worcester lead. The Sharks led 4-1 after 40 minutes and outshot the Devils 26-19 after two periods... Worcester has outscored Albany 11-2 in the two victories this season.

In the third period, Tommy Wingels (10th) added an insurance goal at 3:39 after he deflected a Sena Acolatse shot from the point for his second score of the night to give Worcester a 5-1 win. Antero Niittymaki made eight more saves in the third period for the victory for Worcester.

The Sharks record improves to 12-6-3-3 with 30 points through 24 games and now 5-1-3-2 on the road.

Notes: FIVE GUYS BURGERS Three Stars: 3rd Star: Antero Niittymaki (26 saves, W) 2nd star: Tommy Wingels (2-0-2) 1st star: Jack Combs (2-0-2)... Final shots were 38-27 in favor of Worcester... Keith Kinkaid made 33 saves on 38 shots for Albany; Antero Nittymaki made 26 saves on 27 shots for Worcester...Worcester went 0-for-3 on the power play while Albany went 0-for-1... Cam MacIntyre (inj), Mike Connolly (inj), Brandon Mashinter (inj), Ben Guite (inj), Brian O'Hanley (scr), and Harri Sateri (scr) did not dress for Worcester... Sharks captain Mike Moore returned the lineup after missing 12 games due to injury and had an assist... Tony Lucia's six game point streak came to an end for Worcester (2-4-6)... John McCarthy grabbed one more assist and now has 14 helpers this season to lead all Sharks players... with the one fight; Worcester now has 40 through 24 games this season, the most in the AHL... Benn Ferriero (3-3-6), John McCarthy (1-6-7), and Tommy Wingels (6-1-7) each have a four game point streak.... Jack Combs dressed in his first game for Worcester and wore #11, Jack was signed to a PTO on Dec 14 and led the ECHL with 37 points (17-20-37) with Colorado and scored two goals for the Sharks... Jimmy Bonneau picked up an assist for his 2nd point of the season.

The Sharks seven game road trip continues Saturday in Binghamton at 7:05pm.

Score a family fun pack today for only $74! Four tickets, four hot dogs, and four sodas for a portion of the price! Available only through the Sharks front office for every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday games this season!

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American Hockey League Stories from December 16, 2011


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