Sharks Chomp Down On River Rats 5-3

Published on March 7, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany River Rats News Release


WORCESTER, MA - Worcester Sharks erased a 2-1 deficit with four-straight goals to beat the Albany River Rats 5-3 Friday night at the DCU Center.

The scoring started early in the game as the Sharks cashed in just eleven seconds after the opening face off. Sharks captain Graham Mink tipped a Tom Walsh shot from the point past goaltender Justin Peters, the fastest goal to open a game ever allowed by the River Rats in their fifteen year history. But Albany struck back with a Jeff Hamilton goal at 3:48 as he snapped a wrist shot from the left circle between Worcester goaltender Thomas Greiss and the near post, assisted by Chris Murray and Noah Babin. The River Rats took the lead late in the period when Jamie Johnson pulled a loose puck away from Greiss off a Hamilton shot and tucked in a sharp-angle shot at 17:18 for his 17th goal of the season and a 2-1 lead.

But Albany got into penalty trouble in the second period and the Sharks made them pay. Derek Joslin scored a power play goal on a shot from the blue at 4:23 to tie the game 2-2. The River Rats were hit with another blow when Steve Ward was called for a five-minute high sticking major. Albany killed off the first four minutes of the penalty, but could not keep T.J. Fox from giving Worcester a 3-2 lead with a power play goal at 8:40. The Sharks added an insurance goal to make it 4-2 at 14:36 when Graham Mink threaded a perfect pass across to Dave Packard racing for the far post for a two-goal lead.

Mink was involved in Worcester's fifth goal of the game at 13:59 of the third period, poking home a rebound after teammate Mike Iggulden's shot rang off the cross bar; Mink's second goal of the game and the Shark's third power play goal of the night. Albany got one back at 16:26 on a five-on-three power play as Jamie Johnson rifled a pass to Joe Jensen for a back door one-timer, to pull the score to 5-3, but it would not be enough as the Sharks held on for the win.

Thomas Greiss made 19 saves on 22 shots to record the victory as Worcester improved to 25-27-4-4 on the season. Justin Peters stopped 30-of-35 shots in goal for Albany, who dropped a regulation game for the first time in their last ten and fell to 36-25-1-4 in the standings.

Next up for the River Rats is a home game in Glens Falls on Saturday, March 8th as they host the Binghamton Senators at the Glens Falls Civic Center at 7:00 pm.

Partial season tickets packages and flex tickets for the 2007-08 River Rats season are on sale now. For more information please contact the Albany River Rats at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyriverrats.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 7, 2008


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