Devils stun Sharks late
February 18, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release
ALBANY, NY - The Sharks led 4-1 midway through the third period but Albany came roaring back aided by three late power plays as Worcester fell 5-4 to the Devils on Friday evening at the Times Union Center. Former Shark Steve Zalewski scored with just five seconds remaining in the game to complete the comeback for Albany on home ice.
Jonathan Cheechoo scored twice and Jeff Jakaitis made 40 saves in net in his Sharks debut in just his 2nd AHL game. It was only the 5th time in 26 games that the Sharks lost in regulation after scoring the first goal of the game (20-5-0-1). Jamie McGinn (1-1-2), Justin Braun (1-1-2), and Mike Swift (0-2-2) all recorded two points in the Sharks 2nd straight loss on the road.
Neither team could find the back of the net in the opening frame with Sharks goaltender Jeff Jakaitis making ten saves and Dave Caruso turning away eight Worcester shots for the Devils. Each team had several odd man rushes but was unable to convert in the first period.
Jonathan Cheechoo (16th) scored in his 2nd straight game for the Sharks as he roofed a rebound chance past Dave Caruso at 1:37 of the 2nd period to give Worcester a 1-0 lead. Mike Swift picked up his first point as a Shark with an assist on the score. Jamie McGinn (3rd) deflected in a Sean Sullivan wrist shot from the left circle on the power play that snuck over Caruso's shoulder and just found room inside the top far corner to give Worcester a 2-0 lead. Devils captain Stephen Gionta (9th) sent a wrister by Jeff Jakaitis from the left circle after a nice feed by former Shark Steve Zalewski at 12:46 to get Albany on the board. The Sharks lit the lamp again on the power play as Justin Braun (5th) kept in a clearing attempt and sent a laser snap shot from on top of the left circle to give the Sharks a 3-1 lead at 17:31. Mike Moore and John McCarthy each dropped the mitts for Worcester in a feisty middle frame as the Sharks led by two goals after forty minutes of play.
In the third period, Jonathan Cheechoo (17th) banged home another loose rebound at 8:27 after Mike Swift was denied by Caruso to put Worcester ahead 4-1. After Frazer McLaren and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblonde fought at 10:39 things went quickly downhill for the Sharks as the Devils scored four goals unanswered. Brad Mills (8th) started the comeback at 10:56 with an unassisted goal after a turnover in the Sharks zone. Matt Anderson (17th) struck on the power play at 12:40 to pull the Devils within a goal. With Caruso on the bench for an extra attacker, Adam Henrique (17th) tied the score with 53 seconds remaining after he jammed the puck past Jakaitis. After a brief scrum in the Albany end, the Devils were awarded another power play and former Shark Steve Zalewski buried a loose puck into the net with five seconds remaining to win the game for the Devils 5-4.
The 4th place Sharks record falls to 25-20-2-6 with 58 points and to 11-12-1-3 on the road.
American Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2011
- Checkmate: O'Brien's Hat Trick Lifts B-Sens Past Charlotte - Binghamton Senators
- Admirals Earn 2-1 Shoot-out Win - Milwaukee Admirals
- Phantoms Shootout Loss Extends Point Streak - Adirondack Phantoms
- Aeros Fall In Shootout, Still In First Place - Houston Aeros
- Stars Don't Align for Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Emery's Debut Spoiled by San Antonio, 4-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Falcons Beat Monarchs 5-4 - Springfield Falcons
- Wild Finish Results In Devils' Win - Albany Devils
- Only One Point Tonight - Manchester Monarchs
- Amerks Outlast Bears To Extend Winning Streak To Season-high Four Games - Rochester Americans
- MacLean Nets Hat Trick In 4-2 Rampage Win Over Crunch - San Antonio Rampage
- Moose bitten by Monsters - Manitoba Moose
- Penguins Shut Down Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Whale beat Phantoms in SO - Connecticut Whale
- Wolves Slide By IceHogs, 4-3 - Chicago Wolves
- O`Brien`s Hat Trick Lifts Sens Over Checkers - Charlotte Checkers
- Moose announce winning entry of Home Depot Backyard Rink Contest - Manitoba Moose
- Devils stun Sharks late - Worcester Sharks
- Stars clip Griffins in OT - Texas Stars
- P-Bruins Rob Pirates in Shootout - Providence Bruins
- Bulldogs edge Marlies - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Bruins Bounce Pirates in a Shootout - Portland Pirates
- Bryan Helmer Plays 1,000th American Hockey League Game - AHL
- Helmer Skates in 1000th AHL Game - Oklahoma City Barons
- Wolves Sign Dorich - Chicago Wolves
- Legein Loaned to Greenville - Adirondack Phantoms
- Marlies Sign Pair of Goaltenders to PTO Contracts - Toronto Marlies
- Dekanich Recalled by Nashville - Milwaukee Admirals
- Whale Primed and Ready for Harvest-Properties.Com Whale Bowl - Connecticut Whale
- Schlemko Assigned to San Antonio for Conditioning - San Antonio Rampage
- Griffins Host Lake Erie for '90s Night and Dollar Beers, Dollar Dogs - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Postma Returns to Chicago - Chicago Wolves
- Bruins Acquire Tomas Kaberle from Toronto - Providence Bruins
- Bruins Acquire Peverley, Valabik from Atlanta for Stuart, Wheeler - Providence Bruins
- Thrashers Trade Valabik to Boston - Chicago Wolves
- Rangers Return Kris Newbury to Whale - Connecticut Whale
- AHL Announces Suspension - AHL
- Preview: Aeros at Milwaukee - Houston Aeros
- Devils Recall Zajac From Trenton - Albany Devils
- Lightning Reassign Mike Vernace to Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- AHL Quick Hits - AHL
- Playoff Push Continues - Falcons Host Monarchs Tonight - Springfield Falcons
- B-Sens Sign Forward Andrew Sweetland - Binghamton Senators
- Game Day: AHL's Two Oldest Teams Meet Tonight at Blue Cross Arena - Rochester Americans
- Senators Recall Forward Francis Lessard from Binghamton - Binghamton Senators
- Gameday Preview - Texas at Grand Rapids - Texas Stars
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
