Moore Sends Near Record Crowd at DCU Center Home Happy

Published on January 21, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


WORCESTER, MA - Worcester Sharks captain Mike Moore scored the overtime game winning goal at 2:45 on the power play in front of the 2nd largest crowd in Sharks history (8,840) in a thrilling 3-2 win over the Providence Bruins at the DCU Center in Worcester on Saturday night.

Antero Niittymaki made 26 saves in net for Worcester and Marek Viedensky scored in his second straight game and added an overtime assist in the victory. The Sharks close out the 3-in-3 weekend with a 1pm start at the DCU Center on Sunday vs. the first place St. John's IceCaps.

A fast and furious pace was the name of the game in the first period with each team buzzing up and down the ice. After Jimmy Bonneau (15th FM) landed several rights and lefts on Lane MacDermid (11th FM) in a long fight at 18:04, the Sharks offense came to life. Jack Combs (7th) deflected a centering pass from Sean Sullivan past Michael Hutchinson at 19:18 to give Worcester a 1-0 lead. Chad Costello, making his Sharks debut, grabbed the secondary assist, leading the Sharks rush into to Bruins zone after great work by Brandon Mashinter deep in his own end. Worcester led 1-0 after 20 minutes despite being outshot 11-10.

The Bruins charged out to a 2-1 lead in the second period before Sharks rookie Marek Viedensky tied the score back for the Sharks. Bobby Robbins (2nd) clanged the puck off the post from the right circle and then off the back of Antero Niittymaki to tie the score at 1-1 at 4:27. Providence went ahead with a power play strike at 11:38 after Josh Hennessy's (13th) wrap around attempt was roofed past Niittymaki to put Worcester down by one. The Sharks would tie the game after a great individual effort by Marek Viedensky (4th) at 15:50 past Michael Hutchinson which was assisted by Brandon Mashinter. Worcester held a 20-17 shot advantage through 40 minutes of play.

Neither team scored in the third period with Worcester holding a 14-9 shot advantage as the two teams headed to overtime.

Both teams were whistled for early penalties in the overtime period which led to several chances with 3-on-3 play. The Sharks would win it with a great entry into the Bruins zone by Marek Viedensky and a feed to the left side to Sean Sullivan. Sean then sent the puck towards the net which was jammed in by Mike Moore (2nd) past a fallen Michael Hutchinson at 2:45 for the game winner.

Worcester's record improves to 20-12-3-4 (47pts in 39gp) and 11-7-0-1 at the DCU Center.

Notes: FIVE GUYS BURGERS Three Stars: 3rd Star Josh Hennessy (1-0-1) 2nd star: Marek Viedensky (1-1-2) 1st star: Mike Moore (OTG)... Final shots were 39-28 in favor of Worcester... Michael Hutchinson made 36 saves on 39 shots for Providence; Antero Niittymaki made 26 saves on 28 shots for Worcester....Worcester went 1-for-4 on the power play while Providence went 1-for-3...Cam MacIntyre (inj), Ben Guite (inj),Tony Lucia (inj), and Alex Bourret (scr), did not dress for Worcester... with the one fight; Worcester now has 67 through 39 games this season, the most in the AHL... Worcester now has 12 fighting majors vs. Providence this season through seven games... the Sharks are now 26-30-5 vs. the Bruins all-time... rookie Curt Gogol returned to the lineup after missing nine games due to injury...before the game, Worcester signed forward Chad Costello to a PTO, he wore #36 in his debut and added an assist...head coach Roy Sommer is now two wins away from 500 in his AHL career (4th all-time in AHL)... before the game, the Marlborough Panthers defeated the Hudson Hawks 4-2 in boy's high school varsity hockey... three time World Champion Boxer and Worcester native Jose Antonio Rivera signed his bobble glove dolls before the game.

Coming up...

On Sunday, the Sharks close out the weekend with a 1pm start at the DCU Center vs. the St. John's IceCaps! (Please note the change of the start time. The team poster giveaway and the post game autograph session have been moved to March 18 because of the New England Patriots game).

With every Sunday home game this season, Kid's tickets are just $5 presented by Southwick's Zoo. Receive a free child's admission to Southwick's Zoo with the purchase of a full priced adult and kid's ticket!

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!

Enjoy a Worcester Sharks Experience Pack! The Sharks are offering groups to partake in a Sharks hockey experience with many interactive activities; including friends and family skates on the DCU Center ice before or after a game, the high FIN tunnel (high-fiving players as they take the ice), singing the National Anthem, intermission performances, and more.

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American Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2012


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