Record breaking crowd at DCU Center cheer Sharks into playoffs
April 13, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release
Rewind the Tape:
4.8.09 - Worcester 2 - Portland 1 - DCU Center
The Sharks won their 5th straight game and clinched a playoff spot with a 2-1 win over the Portland Pirates on Wednesday at the DCU Center. Ryan Vesce and Dan DaSilva scored for the Sharks while Thomas Greiss made 24 saves in net. Worcester outshot the Pirates 43-25 to finish the season series 5-5-0-0 vs the Pirates in the battle for the Unum Cup.
4.10.09 - Worcester 1 - Manchester 3 - DCU Center
Lukas Kaspar scored a power play in the second period but that was all the Sharks could muster offensively as Worcester fell 3-1 to Manchester. Jonathan Bernier made 28 saves in net for the monarchs while Matt Moulson and Trevor Lewis each added a goal and an assist. Thomas Greiss made 18 saves for the Sharks
4.11.09 - Worcester 3 - Providence 0 - DCU Center
Thomas Greiss made 23 saves for his first career shutout as the Sharks set a franchise record with their 42nd win with a 3-0 victory over the Bruins to close out the regular season in front of the largest crowd in Sharks history (7,406). Derek Joslin scored two goals and Frazer McLaren had the game winner for Worcester. The Sharks went 2-5 on the power play and outshot the Bruins 32-23.
Sharks in the Atlantic...
The Sharks finished (42-35-1-2) swimming in a 4th place in the Atlantic Division with 87 points, 12 points behind the first place Hartford Wolf Pack. Worcester finished one point behind the Pirates for the 3rd spot and 7 points behind the Bruins for the 2nd spot. The 5th place Monarchs finished five points behind the Sharks and the Devils were eight points out in a very choppy Atlantic Division. The Bruins will face the Pirates while the Sharks will battle the Wolf Pack in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
Push to the Playoffs!
Atlantic Division Semifinal - Series "A" (best-of-7)
A1-Hartford Wolf Pack vs. A4-Worcester Sharks
Game 1 - Thu., Apr. 16 - Worcester at Hartford, 7:00
Game 2 - Sat., Apr. 18 - Worcester at Hartford, 7:00
Game 3 - Mon., Apr. 20 - Hartford at Worcester, 6:35
Game 4 - Wed., Apr. 22 - Hartford at Worcester, 6:35
*Game 5 - Thu., Apr. 23 - Worcester at Hartford, 7:00
*Game 6 - Sat., Apr. 25 - Hartford at Worcester, 7:05
*Game 7 - Mon., Apr. 27 - Worcester at Hartford, 7:00
Atlantic Division Semifinal - Series "B" (best-of-7)
A2-Providence Bruins vs. A3-Portland Pirates
Game 1 - Wed., Apr. 15 - Portland at Providence, 7:05
Game 2 - Fri., Apr. 17 - Portland at Providence, 7:05
Game 3 - Sun., Apr. 19 - Providence at Portland, 4:00
Game 4 - Thu., Apr. 23 - Providence at Portland, 7:00
*Game 5 - Fri., Apr. 24 - Portland at Providence, 7:05
*Game 6 - Sun., Apr. 26 - Providence at Portland, 4:00
*Game 7 - Tue., Apr. 28 - Portland at Providence, 7:05
Shark Bites:
*The Sharks finished with a franchise record 42 wins, surpassing their total of 41 wins in 2006-07.
*The Sharks broke a franchise record with 7,406 fans at the DCU Center on Saturday vs. the Bruins. Thomas Greiss made 23 saves in the first shutout at the DCU Center by a Sharks goaltender in 120 games and it was Griess' first ever shutout in 140 starts.
*With five straight wins on the road to close out the road schedule, the Sharks have set a franchise record. The Sharks defeated Bridgeport, Providence, Springfield, Albany and Manchester to close out the season on the road for an 18-20-1-1 record away from the DCU Center.
*Thomas Greiss made 16 straight starts in net for the Sharks (franchise record) to close out the season. Greiss was 10-6-0 in those starts with a 1.90 gaa and a .930 save %. *Greiss set a franchise record with 30 wins and the lowest gaa in team history (2.47). He also played the most minutes ever in a season (3,346) and most appearances (57).
*Defenseman Derek Joslin scored two goals on Saturday to give him 11 total goals this season to set a franchise record for goals by defenseman.
*Sharks Captain Ryan Vesce finished 13th in the AHL in points with 71 (24-47-71) and tops in overtime goals (4) and 2nd in game winning goals (9).
*Rookie Frazer McLaren ranked 4th among AHL rookies with 21 fighting major penalties and 4th in pims (181). His 21 fighting majors are a franchise record Brad Staubitz had 19 tilts last season.
*The Sharks have set a franchise record with 78 fighting major penalties this season through 80 games. 17 different players have dropped the gloves already this season (Frazer McLaren (21), Brett Westgarth (15), Mike Moore (10), Brad Staubitz (10), Jason Demers (2), Andrew Desjardins (5), Jamie McGinn (2), James McEwan (2), Tom Cavanagh, Dan DaSilva, Kyle McLaren, Brendan Buckley (2), TJ Fox, Cory Larose (2), Matt Jones, Riley Armstrong, and Logan Couture. The Sharks had 68 fighting majors last season and 54 in 2007-08.
*Patrick Traverse finished 11th in the AHL defenseman scoring race with 43 points (9-34-43). Traverse had the best offensive season in his 15th professional season.
*The Sharks had the best winning percentage (.750) in the AHL in games that are decided after regulation. Worcester is 7-1 in overtime and 2-2 in the shootout.
*The Sharks scored the first goal of the game in 37 of their 80 games and are 29-7-0-1 when scoring the first tally of the game. (.797)
*Worcester was outscored 60-79 in the first period but outscored their opponents in the second period (76-71) and the third period (78-70).
*Worcester led the AHL with shots per game (35.25) and was 2nd in shots against per game (26.81). The Sharks had 14 players with at least 100 shots on goal.
*The Sharks were 21-3-0-1 when leading after twenty minutes and 28-2-0-1 when leading after forty.
* The Sharks had five players with 100+ penalty minutes this season (Frazer McLaren, Brett Westgarth, Mike Moore, Brad Staubitz, and Riley Armstrong)
Coming and goings from the shark tank:
The San Jose Sharks signed goaltender Alex Stalock, who was named to the 2008-09 American Hockey Coaches Association/Reebok All-America West Team on April 10, spent the past three seasons playing for the University of Minnesota-Duluth. This season, the 21-year-old netminder played in 42 games with a 2.13 goals-against-average and a .924 save percentage, setting UMD single-season records in both categories while tying the school record for shutouts (five). Stalock was ranked first in the WCHA in goals-against average and 13th overall among NCAA goaltenders. He was also ranked first in the WCHA in conference save percentage (.914) and seventh in win percentage (.595).
He leaves ranking first on the Bulldogs' all-time charts for goals-against average (2.48), save percentage (.910) and shutouts (nine).
Stalock helped lead his team to a 2009 WCHA Championship in March with a 4-0 win over Denver, stopping all 20 shots he faced. The Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Tournament where they defeated Princeton 5-4 in overtime in their first round match-up, but fell to Miami University 2-1 in the West Regional Final, falling one game shy of advancing to the Frozen Four.
In 2007, as a freshman, he was selected to the WCHA All-Rookie Team.
In 2006, Stalock was invited to attend the development camp for the US World Jr. Team at Lake Placid. He was also selected as one of the goaltenders to represent the US in the Viking Cup where he posted a 2-0-0-1 record and earned an assist, leading Team USA to a third place finish.
Top Sharks:
o Goals Armstrong (25)
o Game Winners Vesce (9)* franchise record
o Assists Vesce (47)* franchise record
o Points Vesce (71)
o Power play Points Vesce (5-18-23)
o Shots Armstrong (217)
o PIM F. McLaren (181)
o Fighting Pen. F. McLaren (21)* franchise record
o Plus/Minus Demers (+15)
o Wins Greiss (30)* franchise record
o G.A.A. Greiss (2.47)* Franchise record
o Save % Greiss (.907)
o Shutouts Dakers and Greiss (1)
Coming Up:
The Sharks open up their seven game playoff series on the road on Thursday and Saturday at the XL Center in Hartford.
The Sharks reduced their 2009-10 season ticket prices and playoff tickets are on sale now! Purchases can be made by visiting the box office, contacting the Worcester Sharks office at 508.929.0500, or by crashing the net at www.SharksAHL.com.
All games can be heard live on 580AM and 94.9FM WTAG, as well as online through AHL Live, by following the link on the Sharks website at www.SharksAHL.com.
American Hockey League Stories from April 13, 2009
- Lehtonen Assigned to P-Bruins - Providence Bruins
- Columbus Recalls Five Players from Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Coyotes Sign Justin Bernhardt To Entry Level Contract - San Antonio Rampage
- Houston Aeros Weekly - Houston Aeros
- Three Reassigned to Milwaukee - Milwaukee Admirals
- Lowell Wraps Up 2008-09 Season - Albany Devils
- Helm Recalled By Red Wings - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Things to Know for the Week - Portland Pirates
- Hamilton Battles Grand Rapids In North Division Semifinals This Week - Hamilton Bulldogs
- 16 Teams Remain On The Road To The Calder Cup - AHL
- Bulldogs Announce 2008-2009 Individual Award Winners - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Marlies Release Rob LaLonde From PTO - Toronto Marlies
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Connecticut Whale
- Record breaking crowd at DCU Center cheer Sharks into playoffs - Worcester Sharks
- Admirals Finish Season with Three Straight Wins - Norfolk Admirals
- Stars re-assign Fistric to Moose - Manitoba Moose
- Calder Cup Playoff schedule announced for division semifinals - Houston Aeros
- Houston's Krys Kolanos named Reebok/AHL Player of the Week - Houston Aeros
- Aeros' Kolanos named Reebok/AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- IceHogs West Division Semifinal Schedule Announced - Rockford IceHogs
- Regular Season Comes To An End, Hogs Ready For Milwaukee - Rockford IceHogs
- Penguins Playoff Dates Announced - AHL
- Moose Finish Regular Season In First - Manitoba Moose
- Phantoms Announce Schedule For East Division Semifinals - Adirondack Phantoms
- AHL announces opening Calder Cup Playoff schedules - AHL
- Bears announce 2009 East Division Semi-Finals schedule - Hershey Bears
- Rivermen Announce Home Playoff Dates - Peoria Rivermen
- Monarchs Weekly Report - Manchester Monarchs
- Columbus Recalls Alexandre Picard - Syracuse Crunch
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