Potulny Nets Four, Falcons Fly Past Sharks 7-4

February 24, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


WORCESTER - Despite scoring four goals for the first time in five games, the Worcester Sharks fell to the Springfield Falcons, 7-4, on Sunday night at the DCU Center.

The Sharks had won the first four meetings before Sunday's defeat. Worcester falls to 13 points behind the Falcons for the fourth and final playoff spot. Manchester, who was idle, remains nine points ahead of the Sharks.

Grant Potulny finished the game with four goals, while Liam Reddox had four points (1g, 3a), and Marc Pouliot had three (1g, 2a). Worcester received goals from Devin Setoguchi, Mike Iggulden, Graham Mink, and Dan Spang in defeat. Falcons goaltender Jeff Deslauriers stopped 28 of 32 shots while Taylor Dakers had 19 saves on 26 shots for the Sharks.

Springfield controlled the game early and converted on a fluke bounce at 4:58 of the first period. A puck was thrown in from center ice and bounced in the direction of Dakers. The Worcester netminder made the save, but the rebound bounced right to Pouliot on the doorstep. He made a move around Dakers and stuffed it inside the right post for his 19th goal of the season. Rob Schremp and Bryan Young picked up the assists on the play.

Worcester tied the score on a rare power play goal against Springfield. Heading into the game, the Sharks were 1-21 in the season series, but quickly changed that. Setoguchi held the puck in the left faceoff circle before firing a shot that beat Deslauriers over his glove hand for the much-needed power play tally at 9:11. Tom Walsh and Lukas Kaspar picked up the assists on the play.

The Falcons quickly retook the lead 10 seconds later at 9:21. Off a flurry of opportunities, Potulny took control of the puck right in front of Dakers, made a move to his right and sent a backhand flip into the open net. Ryan O'Marra and Reddox had the assists on the play.

After one, Springfield held the slim 10-9 shot advantage.

While the Sharks scored on their first power play of the game in the first period, Springfield matched it in the second. Pouliot carried the puck along the back boards on the right wing side. Before he entered the goalie restraining area behind the net, he made a pass in front to Potulny. He subsequently beat Dakers for the 3-1 advantage at 6:54 of the second period. Schremp picked up his second assist of the game on the play.

Potulny picked up the hat trick at 15:31 to give Springfield the 4-1 lead. A dump went into the right wing boards. O'Marra took a Sharks player out of the play, allowing the Falcons to play the puck. After the pass came in front, Potulny's initial shot was stopped, but he batted the puck out of midair and inside the right post for the three-goal lead. Reddox and Stephen Werner had the assists on the play.

Worcester cut into the lead 28 seconds later at 15:59. Marc Busenburg threw the puck toward the net from inside the right point. Iggulden was stationed in front and tipped the puck over Deslauriers' blocker to cut the lead to 4-2. Riley Armstrong tallied the other assist on the play.

Springfield once again retook the three-goal cushion with a shorthanded tally at 19:19 of the period. Pouliot took possession of the puck in front of the Sharks' bench. After skating along the right wing boards, he passed in front to Reddox. Reddox made a move to force Dakers to the left, instead opting for the backhanded flip into the right side of the net.

After Worcester held the 10-9 second period shot advantage, shots were tied at 19 heading into the locker room.

The Sharks made it interesting at 4:23 of the third period. Kaspar took a hard shot that was saved by Deslauriers. The rebound bounced to Graham Mink on the doorstep and he slipped the puck inside the left post for his 14th of the season. Along with Kaspar, Cavanagh picked up the other assist.

Springfield retook a three-goal lead for the third time at 9:04 of the third period. Reddox and Potulny were sprung on a two-on-one. Reddox made the pass to Potulny to the left of Dakers. Even with Sharks' defenseman Brennan Evans back checking, Potulny was still able to muscle the puck into the right side of the net for the 6-3 lead.

Things turned from bad to worse when the Falcons got their seventh goal of the game at 9:44. Colin McDonald carried the puck down the right wing side. He put a puck toward net, which deflected off the skate of Mink and in. Tim Sestito and Stephane Goulet picked up the assists.

Dan Spang scored his sixth goal of the season at 15:46 to cut the lead to 7-4, but it proved to be too little too late. Off a scramble, Spang shot the puck from behind the net on the left wing side. It bounced off Deslauriers and in. Mink and Busenburg had the assists.

The Sharks continue their homestand Wednesday evening when they rematch against the Springfield Falcons at 7:05 p.m. It is Fill Me Up Wednesdays as there will be an eating contest during one of the intermissions. For more information on these and other promotions or to purchase tickets, call the Sharks offices at 508-929-0500 or visit sharksahl.com.

NOTES: With their first goal of the game, Springfield has now scored the first goal in four of the five games in the season series ... A rare occurrence happened at 18:07 of the first period when both teams were called for too many men on the ice ... Brennan Evans and Stephen Werner dropped the gloves at 16:47 of the second period. Evans pinned Werner along the glass and ripped off his helmet before easily winning the bout ... The Sharks scored four goals for the first time since Feb. 10 vs. Hershey, a five-game stretch ... Lukas Kaspar's two assists were a season-high. He now has seven points (2g, 5a) in the season series against the Falcons ... With Tom Cavanagh's assist, his point streak is not up to two games ... Brad Staubitz dropped the gloves with Rick Berry at 12:24 of the third. They tackled each other to the ice before Berry let go a number of punches... There have now been two fights in four of the five games in the season series ... Dan Spang's goal was his first point since Jan. 19 (spanning 14 games) and first goal since Jan. 5 (19 games) ... Marc Busenburg's two assists tied a season-high ... Grant Potulny's four goal performance was only the third in Springfield Falcons' history ... The final attendance figure was 2,241 ... Dakers had 19 saves on 26 shots for the Sharks while Deslauriers made 28 stops on 32 shots for Springfield ... Power plays: Worcester: 1 for 7, Springfield 1 for 1 ... Niche Hospitality Group Three Stars: Mezcal 3rd Star: Pouliot (1g, 2a), Bocado 2nd Star: Reddox (1g, 3a), Block 5 1st Star: Potulny (4g).



American Hockey League Stories from February 24, 2008


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