Sharks Comeback for 5-4 Shootout Thriller
October 2, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release
Hamden, CT - The Worcester Sharks (1-0-0-0) scored three times in the third period to force overtime and Bryan Lerg scored the only goal in the shootout as the Sharks defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack (1-0-0-1) in the exhibition schedule opener at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT on Thursday night.
Quinnipiac alumni Jeremy Langlois scored twice in his return to the TD Bank Arena as the Sharks scored three times in the third period to force overtime. Konrad Abeltshauser and Melker Karlsson also scored for Worcester in the 5-4 shootout winner. Harford got goals from Sean Escobedo, Ryan Potulny, Danny Kristo, and Chris McCarthy but coughed up a 4-1 advantage through 40 minutes. The Sharks close out their exhibition schedule at Trinity College vs. the Wolf Pack on Saturday at 7pm.
The Sharks came out strong in the first period but fell behind 2-0 through 17 minutes after a pair of goals by the Wolf Pack. Sean Escobedo (1st) got Hartford on the board with an unassisted tally at 15:20 followed by a Ryan Potulny (1st) power play strike on a beautiful one timer at 16:51 past starter JP Anderson. Worcester cut the deficit at 18:39 after Quinnipiac alumni Jeremy Langlois (1st) disrupted the Hartford defense on the fore-check and Jimmy Bonneau ended up with the puck in front of the Wolf Pack net. Bonneau slid a pass across the top of the crease to Langlois who buried it behind netminder Mackenzie Skapski to finish the scoring in the opening frame. Worcester outshot Hartford 11-5 in first period but trailed 2-1.
Hartford scored twice more in the second period to take a 4-1 advantage into the second intermission. Danny Kristo (1st) fired a quick shot off an offensive faceoff win past JP Anderson at 3:47 to put the Wolf Pack ahead 3-1. Aaron Dell replaced JP Anderson with 8:01 left in the period and surrendered a shorthanded breakaway goal at 18:36 by Chris McCarthy (1st) to put Hartford ahead by three goals through 40 minutes. Shots were 17-12 Worcester after two periods.
In the third period, Konrad Abeltshauser (1st) trimmed the deficit to 4-2 with a wrister from the left circle that clanged off the post and past the Hartford netminder at 3:53 with Kyle Bigos and Vlad Gavrik picking up the assists. Less than two minutes later, Melker Karlsson (1st) was set up all alone in front by Micheal Haley and slid a back hander into the net at 5:39 on the power play as the Sharks creeped to within a goal. Jeremy Langlois (2nd) tied the score at 4-4 with a quick one timer snap shot from the left circle after a nice feed by Konrad Abeltshauser at 11:26. Worcester outshot Hartford 29-20 through regulation.
Neither team scored in a seven minute overtime period as Worcester outshot Hartford 5-1. The Sharks had a power play in overtime and the two teams debuted the 3-on-3 action with 2:28 remaining in the overtime period. Bryan Lerg scored the only goal in the shootout and goaltender Aaron Dell stopped all three shooters for the victory.
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American Hockey League Stories from October 2, 2014
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