Sharks chomp their way to fourth place tie with Portland
March 16, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release
Rewind the Tape:
3.11.09 - Worcester 2 - Binghamton 5 - DCU Center
The Sharks dropped their 2nd straight game on home ice in a 5-2 decision to the Senators on Wednesday. Ryan Vesce and Andrew Desjardins scored goals for the Sharks and Taylor Dakers made 22 saves in net. The Senators scored four goals in the second period to sweep the two game season series against the Sharks. Worcester outshot Binghamton 39-27.
3.13.09 - Worcester 2 - Hartford 4 - DCU Center
Down 2-0 early in the third period, the Sharks scored two goals in a six minute span from Patrick Traverse and T.J. Fox to tie the score at 2-2. But the Wolf Pack would strike back a few minutes later as P.A. Parenteau finished off a 2on1 break to life the Wolf Pack to victory. Thomas Greiss made 23 saves in net as the Sharks allowed two power play goals against.
3.14.09 - Worcester 4 - Manchester 2 - Verizon Wireless Arena
The Sharks broke a three game slide with a 4-2 win over the Monarchs in Manchester on Saturday night. Ryan Vesce recorded his league leading 9th game winning goal of the season and Thomas Greiss was brilliant in net making 29 saves. T.J. Fox found the back of the net for the 2nd straight game and Tom Cavanagh and Derek Joslin also lit the lamp. Patrick Traverse added two assists on his 35th birthday from the Sharks blue line.
3.15.09 - Worcester 4 - Hartford 1 - DCU Center
T.J. Fox scored in his third straight game and Tom Cavanagh extended his point streak to seven games scoring the game winning goal midway through the 2nd period as the Sharks defeated Hartford 4-1 at the DCU Center. Thomas Greiss was excellent in net making 21 saves. Riley Armstrong netted his 22nd goal of the season and drew five minor penalties. With the win, the Shark evened the season series with Hartford 4-4-0-0 and catapulted into a tie for the 4th and final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division with the Pirates.
Sharks in the Atlantic...
The Sharks (34-30-1-2) swim in a 4th place tie with the Portland Pirates in the Atlantic Division with 71 points, eleven points behind the first place Providence Bruins. Worcester is just one point behind the Pirates for 3rd place and nine points behind the Wolf Pack for 2nd. The 6th place Devils are five points behind the Sharks in a very choppy Atlantic Division.
Shark Bites:
*Worcester has just 13 games remaining in the regular season (5 at home, 8 on the road)
*The Sharks hit the road for four straight games boasting a 13-17-1-1 record away from the DCU Center.
*Thomas Greiss played in all three games this weekend during the 3in3 after San Jose loaned him back to Worcester on Friday. Greiss made 73 saves on 79 shots and now has 22 wins this season.
*Tom Cavanagh is riding a seven game point streak (4-5-9) highlighted by the game winning goal over the Wolf Pack on Sunday.
*Riley Armstrong is riding a three game point streak (1-3-4) and is currently having his best offensive season of his career.
*Sharks Captain Ryan Vesce is currently 6th in the AHL in points with 68 (22-46-68) and tops in overtime goals (4) and game winning goals (9). Vesce ranks 3rd with 46 assists.
*T.J. Fox is riding a three game goal scoring streak (3 goals)
*Rookie Frazer McLaren is 3rd among AHL rookies with 18 fighting major penalties and 4th in pims (142).
*The Sharks have set a franchise record with 69 fighting major penalties this season through 67games. 16 different players have dropped the gloves already this season (Frazer McLaren (18), Brett Westgarth (13), Mike Moore (9), Brad Staubitz (10), Jason Demers (2), Andrew Desjardins (4), Jamie McGinn (2), James McEwan (2), Tom Cavanagh, Dan DaSilva, Kyle McLaren, Brendan Buckley (2), TJ Fox, Cory Larose, Matt Jones and Riley Armstrong. The Sharks had 68 fighting majors last season and 54 in 2007-08.
*Worcester has been outscored 51-71 in the first period but have outscored their opponents in the second period (66-63) and the third period (70-61).
*Patrick Traverse turned 35 years old on Saturday and has points in four straight games (1-4-5). Patrick is 9th in the AHL defenseman scoring race with 37 points (8-29-37). Traverse is currently having the best offensive season in his 15th professional season.
*Worcester leads the AHL with shots per game (35.27) and 3rd in shots against per game (26.75).
*The Sharks have the 3rd best winning percentage (.727) in the AHL in games that are decided after regulation. Worcester is 6-1 in overtime and 2-2 in the shootout.
*The Sharks have scored the first goal of the game in 30 of their 67 games and are 22-7-0-1 when scoring the first tally of the game. (.750)
Coming and goings from the shark tank:
3/8 The Worcester Sharks loaned defenseman Michael Wilson to Phoenix (ECHL).
3/9 The Worcester Sharks recalled defenseman Michael Wilson from Phoenix (ECHL).
3/9 The San Jose Sharks reassigned forward Ashton Rome to Toronto (AHL) from Phoenix (ECHL).
3/9 The Worcester Sharks loaned Kyle Jones to Phoenix (ECHL).
3/10 The San Jose Sharks recalled defenseman Derek Joslin from Worcester.
3/11 The Worcester Sharks signed defenseman Tim Branham to a PTO from Reading (ECHL).
3/11 The Worcester Sharks signed goaltender Derek MacIntyre to a PTO from Danbury (EPHL).
3/11 The San Jose Sharks loaned defenseman Derek Joslin to the Worcester Sharks.
3/11 The San Jose Sharks recalled defenseman Derek Joslin from the Worcester Sharks.
3/13 The Worcester Sharks released defenseman Tim Branham from his PTO.
3/13 The Worcester Sharks released goaltender Derek MacIntyre from his PTO.
3/13 The San Jose Sharks loaned goaltender Thomas Greiss to Worcester.
3/13 The San Jose Sharks loaned defenseman Derek Joslin to Worcester.
Top Sharks:
o Goals Armstrong, Vesce (22)
o Game Winners Vesce (9)
o Assists Vesce (46)
o Points Vesce (68)
o Power play Points Vesce (5-17-22)
o Shots Vesce (187)
o PIM F. McLaren (144)
o Fighting Pen. F. McLaren (18)
o Plus/Minus Moore (+12)
o Wins Greiss (22)
o G.A.A. Greiss (2.66)
o Save % Greiss (.899)
o Shutouts Dakers (1)
Coming Up:
The Worcester Sharks hit the road for four straight games beginning with a 7pm tilt in Bridgeport on Friday night, travel to Lowell on Saturday for a 7pm matchup, and finish the 3in3 road weekend in Springfield on Sunday at 4pm.
The Sharks reduced their 2009-10 season ticket prices and they 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 March 16, 2009
- Pesonen Sets Team Mark, Satan Makes Penguins Debut In Win - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Penguins Unload Seven In Albany - Albany River Rats
- P-Bruins Release Miller from PTO - Providence Bruins
- Houston Aeros Weekly - Houston Aeros
- Rivermen Weekly - Peoria Rivermen
- Phantoms Weekly - Adirondack Phantoms
- Amerks Look To Snap Skid; Home Twice This Week - Rochester Americans
- Playoff Races Heating Up As Final Weeks Approach - AHL
- Hamilton Travels To Iowa, Quad City, Chicago And Milwaukee This Week - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Things to Know for the Week - Portland Pirates
- Rampage Weekly Update - San Antonio Rampage
- Wolves Weekly Notes - Chicago Wolves
- Crunch Goaltender Kevin Lalande Named Rbk/AHL Player of the Week - Syracuse Crunch
- River Rats See Playoff Hopes Fade With Two Home Losses - Albany River Rats
- Crunch Players to Sign Autographs at Tully's Good Times March 17 - Syracuse Crunch
- Flames Host Hamilton And Visit Iowa This Week - Abbotsford Heat
- Falcons Assign Huddy And Constant To Stockton - Springfield Falcons
- Lalande Lights Out - Syracuse Crunch
- Hogs Fall To Fourth In West After Week 23 - Rockford IceHogs
- 11th Annual New England Sled Hockey Tournament Coming Soon - Springfield Falcons
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Connecticut Whale
- Crunch's Lalande named Reebok/AHL Player of the Week - AHL
- Moose Sacrifice Four Points In Week 23 - Manitoba Moose
- Sharks chomp their way to fourth place tie with Portland - Worcester Sharks
- Lightning Assign D Josef Melichar to Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- Crunch Players to Sign Autographs at Supercuts March 18 - Syracuse Crunch
- River Rats Post-Game Jersey Auction Returns - Albany River Rats
- Brandon Sutter Reassigned To Albany - Albany River Rats
- Admirals Return To The Bradley Center Friday - Milwaukee Admirals
- Monarchs Weekly Report - Manchester Monarchs
- Bulldogs Release Mark Van Guilder - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Rookie Machacek Gets The Call From Atlanta - Chicago Wolves
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