Iggulden Nets Three as Sharks Win Third Straight at Home

Published on March 2, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


WORCESTER - Following an intense, physical two game series in Virginia just two weeks ago, the Worcester Sharks expected that Sunday afternoon's contest against the Norfolk Admirals would be one to remember. Sharks forward Mike Iggulden certainly won't forget it anytime soon. Iggulden scored three goals and assisted on another while leading the Sharks to a 5-4 victory over Norfolk at the DCU Center.

Worcester looked to set the tone early, as Craig Valette squared off with Norfolk's Radek Smolenak just 19 seconds into the game. Valette connected on a pair of blows before dragging Smolenak down to the ice. The Admirals would take advantage of a concurrent hooking call on Sharks defenseman Derek Joslin, however, using the ensuing power play to take an early 1-0 lead. Adam Henrich led the Norfolk rush into the zone and left the puck for defenseman Mario Scalzo above the right circle. Scalzo's drive hit the body of Marek Kvapil and redirected past Sharks backstop Thomas Greiss. The goal was Kvapil's first in 11 AHL appearances this year.

Iggulden's hot night began when he pulled the Sharks even midway through the period with an unassisted tally. After intercepting a pass in the Admirals defensive zone, Worcester's leading scorer found himself unabated to Norfolk goaltender Jonathan Boutin. Iggulden hooked the puck around Boutin, and his shot caromed off the right post and then the leg of Boutin before inching slowly across the goal line.

Two minor penalties on the Admirals over the final five minutes of the period led to two Sharks power play goals, as Worcester continued their power play hot streak of six goals in their last 19 chances heading into tonight. With Zybnek Hrdel in the box for hooking, Iggulden played a diagonal feed to Tom Cavanagh in the right circle, and Mink one-timed Cavanagh's centering feed past Boutin from just beyond the crease. Mink's 17th goal of the year extended Cavanagh's point streak to six games and put Worcester in front, 2-1.

A subsequent holding call to Scalzo gave Worcester another power play chance, and this time it was Nate Raduns who converted with the man advantage. Raduns wrapped tightly around the goal behind Boutin and banked the puck off the right skate of Boutin and into the net before the netminder could close down the near post.

After 16 shots in the opening period, the Sharks managed just one very unusual shot on goal over the first ten minutes of the middle frame. Just over two minutes into the period, Mike Iggulden charged into the Norfolk zone and fired a shot off the mask of Boutin. The puck fluttered fifteen feet into the air before bouncing in the crease behind Boutin and rolling into the net, just beyond the reach of a diving Admirals defenseman.

Iggulden finished off his hat trick at 12:26 of the second period to give Worcester a bulging 5-1 lead, beating Boutin on a crisp shot from 35 feet with the lone assist coming from Brennan Evans. Along with the three goals, the four points from Iggulden are also a game high for a Sharks player this season.

Norfolk came charging back, however, scoring three goals on 13 third period shots to trim Worcester's edge to a single goal. Five minutes into the period and with his team shorthanded, Admrials forward Bracken Kearns was denied by Greiss during an odd man rush, but Kearns controlled the rebound, wrapped around the net, and fired a shot off the body of Greiss and into the net from a tight angle. A few moments later, Henrich tapped home a loose puck just outside the crease at the 11:51 mark, and the score was 5-3.

A holding call on Joslin combined with Norfolk pulling Boutin gave the Admirals two extra attackers in the closing moments. After Cavanagh just missed the empty net on one end, Blair Jones beat Greiss with a blue line rocket and pull Norfolk within one at 5-4. Worcester's defense held strong for the final 33 seconds to give the Sharks their third win in the past four games.

Worcester again entertains the Admirals in a 7:05pm rematch at the DCU Center on Wednesday evening, with free Sharks keychains available to the first 1,500 fans courtesy of Fidelity Investments. The Sharks then continue their homestand with Friday and Saturday night games against Albany and Lowell, also at 7:05pm. For more information or to purchase tickets, log on to sharksahl.com or call the Sharks offices at 508-929-0500.

NOTES: Craig Valette and Radek Smolenak had a fight just 19 seconds into the game, a bout won by Valette ... Iggulden's hat trick was the team's first of the year. The last time it happened was last season when Iggulden scored three goals at Houston on March 31, 2007 at Houston ... Iggulden also set a season-high in goals (3) and points (4), extending his point streak to five and assist streak to a season-high four games. The four points were also the most by a Sharks player this season ... Graham Mink now has goals in four of the last five games (three being on the power play) ... The Sharks scored two power play goals on Sunday, meaning they have amassed eight goals on the man advantage over the last four games, a season-high in a four-game stretch... In the first period, the Sharks tied a season-high for goals (3) and power play goals (2) in a period (3) ... Tom Cavanagh extended his point streak to a season-high six games ... Brennan Evans set a season-high in points (2) and assists (2) ... In the second, the Sharks tied a season-low with three shots, but two found the back of the net ... The final attendance figure was 4,549 ... Greiss had 18 saves on 22 shots for the Sharks while Boutin made 27 stops on 32 shots for Norfolk ... Power plays: Worcester: 2 for 5, Norfolk 2 for 2 ... Niche Hospitality Group Three Stars: Mezcal 3rd Star: Henrich (1g, 1a), Bocado 2nd Star: Evans (2a), Block 5 1st Star: Iggulden (3g, 1a).

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American Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2008


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