Sharks Battle Back But Fall in the End 6-5 in Albany

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


ALBANY, NY - Matt Irwin, Tim Kennedy, John McCarthy and Tony Lucia all had multi point games for Worcester; the Sharks battled back from a 5-1 deficit to tie the score in the third period; but the Devils' Zladimir Zharkov scored the game winner with 5:36 left in the final frame as the Sharks fell 6-5 in a wild affair to the Albany Devils at the Times Union Center on Wednesday evening.

Matt Irwin, Brian O'Hanley, Time Kennedy, Jack Combs, and John McCarthy scored for Worcester and Harri Sateri allowed six goals on 46 shots in the loss. It was a feisty game as the two teams combined for 68 penalty minutes and three sets of fighting majors. The Sharks continue their three game road swing with a 3pm start vs. the Monarchs in Manchester on Sunday.

The Devils charged out to a 4-1 lead in a feisty first period that saw three separate fights and 40 total penalty minutes. Brad Mills (5th) struck on the power play at 3:09 followed by Stephen Gionta (4th) finishing off a rush down the right wing past Harri Sateri at 7:03 to give the Devils a 2-0 lead. Myles Stoesz (1st) shot the puck off a Sharks defenseman and into the net at 8:58 as the Sharks were down 3-0 early. Soon after, Frazer McLaren (5th) tangled with Myles Stoesz (9th FM) at 9:06 followed by Brandon Mashinter (7th FM) and Eric Gelinas at 9:44. After the pair of scraps, defenseman Matt Irwin (9th) found a bouncing puck rebound on top of the crease and buried the puck past goaltender Keith Kinkaid at 10:11 to get the Sharks on the board and cut the Albany lead to 3-1. The Devils would regain their three goal lead on the power play after a centering feed by Tim Sestito (8th) was deflected off Nick Petrecki and past Sateri at 13:42. Matt Pelech (15th FM) and Harry Young (3rd FM) fought at center ice in a long heavy weight battle at 17:40 to close out a physical opening frame. The Sharks trialed 4-1 through 20 minutes with the Devils holding a 16-7 shot advantage.

In the second period, Albany struck again on the power play at: 27 seconds as Brad Mills (6th) scored his 2nd of the game to put the Devils up 5-1. But the Sharks would come charging back with three unanswered goals to close out the middle frame. Brian O'Hanley (3rd) sent a blast through the pads of Keith Kinkaid at 3:36 and Tim Kennedy (11th) struck on the power play, skating from the right corner and in front of the crease before zapping the puck off the post and in to cut the Devils lead to 5-3. Jack Combs (15th) scored from short range at 19:12 after great work behind the net by Ryan Del Monte to get the Sharks within single score through 40 minutes. Albany outshot Worcester 17-11 in the second period.

John McCarthy (17th) scored his team leading 17th goal on a power play at 5:01 to tie the score at 5-5 after his blast snuck through the pads of Jeff Frazee, who replaced Keith Kinkaid at the start of the period. Vladimir Zharkov (14th) netted the eventual game winner after the Sharks were unable to clear the zone and his one timer got through Sateri at 14:24 to put the Devils ahead again for good at 6-5.

Worcester's record falls to 28-25-4-7, with 67pts and currently in 8th place in the Eastern Conference with 12 games remaining.

Notes: FIVE GUYS BURGERS Three Stars: 3rd Star Tim Kennedy (1-2-3) 2nd star: Joe Whitney (0-3-3) 1st star: Brad Mills (2-1-3)... Final shots were 46-28 in favor of Worcester... Keith Kinkaid made14 saves on 18 shots and Jeff Frazee made 9 saves on 10 shots for the Devils; Harri Sateri made 40 saves on 46 shots for Worcester.... Worcester went 2-for-3 on the power play while Albany went 3-for-5... Sebastian Stalberg, Jimmy Bonneau, Mike Moore, Brodie Reid, Cam MacIntyre, and Andrew Murray did not dress for Worcester... with the three fights; the Sharks continue to lead the AHL with 111 fighting major penalties... with his fighting major in the first period vs. Myles Stoesz, Frazer McLaren passed Brad Staubitz (462 pims) for the franchise lead in penalty minutes with 466 through 185 games... Tim Kennedy (2-5-7) and John McCarthy (2-3-5) each extended their point streak to four games.... Goaltender Thomas Heemskerk made a brief appearance in the third period and did not see any shots for Worcester.

Coming up...

After a rare Friday and Saturday night off, the Sharks will renew their heated rivalry with a 3pm start with the Monarchs in Manchester on Sunday.

The Sharks still have plenty of exciting promotions upcoming including a John McCarthy autograph card giveaway, the MSCHA High School All-Star Game, Faith and Family Night with a special visit from the Power Team, the Boston Bruins Alumni Doubleheader, Fan Appreciation Night and MORE!

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 March 21, 2012


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