Sharks end February with a bang
Published on March 3, 2009 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release
Rewind the Tape:
2.25.09 - Worcester 4 - Lowell 3 OT - DCU Center
After falling to the Devils a few days before in overtime, the Sharks returned the favor as defenseman Mike Moore scored at 2:15 in the extra session as the Sharks defeated the Devils 4-3. Ryan Vesce (0-3-3), Lukas Kaspar (1-2-3), and Cory Larose (1-2-3) all scored three points for the Sharks in the victory. Thomas Greiss made 21 saves in net.
2.27.09 - Worcester 1 - Portland 2 - DCU Center
Rookie netminder Kellon Briggs made 28 saves in net for Portland for his first AHL victory as the Sharks dropped a 2-1 decision to the Pirates on Saturday. Ryan Vesce tied the score at 1-1 early in the third period, but Nathan Gerbe responded for the Pirates. Thomas Greiss made 25 saves in net for the Sharks while Worcester went 0-5 on the power play.
2.28.09 - Worcester 7 - Springfield 3 - DCU Center
Two brawls, a hat trick by rookie P.J. Fenton, and seven goals for the Sharks, was the recipe for success against the Falcons on Saturday. Brad Staubitz recorded a team record 42 minutes of penalties in a game that featured 141 penalty minutes. T.J. Fox recorded three points (1-2-3) and the Sharks scored two shorthanded goals. Ryan Vesce, Matt Fornataro, and Lukas Kaspar scored the other goals for Worcester while Thomas Greiss made 31 saves in net.
Sharks in the Atlantic...
The Sharks (30-26-1-2) swim in 6th place in the Atlantic Division with 63 points, ten points behind the first place Providence Bruins. Worcester is just one point behind the Devils and the Monarchs for 4th place. The Sharks stand seven points behind the Hartford Wolf Pack for 2nd place and are five points behind the 3rd place Pirates. The Sharks have two games in hand over Manchester and one game over Lowell in a very choppy Atlantic Division.
Shark Bites:
*The Sharks play five of their next seven games at the DCU Center while boasting an 18-10-0-1 record at home this season.
*The Sharks finished February with a 4-7-0-1 record with 9 points in 12 games.
*Worcester was whistled for a season high 87 minutes in penalties on Saturday against the Falcons including a team record against Brad Staubitz for 42 minutes (all in the 1st period). It was the 2nd most penalties against the Sharks in a game in the franchise's history. The Sharks had 93 minutes of penalties in a 4-2 loss at Norfolk on 2/15/08.
*The penalty kill has been lights out the last six games killing off all 22 chances against.
*The Sharks scored two shorthanded goals in a game for the first time this season as T.J. Fox and Ryan Vesce each scored with the man down against the Falcons on Saturday.
*The Sharks have scored the 2nd most shorthanded goals in the AHL with 11, but have allowed the 2nd most against with 11.
*Rookie defenseman Mike Moore is riding a three game point streak (2-1-3), including the game winner in overtime vs. Lowell on Wednesday.
*Sharks Captain Ryan Vesce is currently 7th in the AHL in points with 61 (20-41-61) and tops in overtime goals (4) and game winning goals (7). Vesce has 49 points (19-30-49) in his last 38gp.
*Rookie P.J. Fenton recorded the 2nd hat trick of the season for the Sharks on Saturday. Fenton scored three goals and added an assist for his first professional hat trick.
*Lukas Kaspar has shined offensively in Worcester, as he has 25 points in his last 24 games (9-15-24).
*The Sharks have 66 fighting major penalties this season through 59 games. 16 different players have dropped the gloves already this season (Frazer McLaren (17), Brett Westgarth (12), Mike Moore (9), Brad Staubitz (10), Jason Demers (2), Andrew Desjardins (3), Jamie McGinn (2), James McEwan (2), Tom Cavanagh, Dan DaSilva, Kyle McLaren, Brendan Buckley (2), TJ Fox, Cory Larose, Matt Jones and Riley Armstrong.
*Worcester has been outscored 46-67 in the first period but have outscored their opponents in the second period (55-52) and the third period (62-55).
*Patrick Traverse is 9th in the AHL defenseman scoring race with 32 points (7-25-32). Traverse is currently having the best offensive season in his 15th professional season.
*Worcester leads the AHL with shots per game (35.61) and 1st in shots against per game (26.34)
*Frazer McLaren is 3rd among AHL rookies with 17 fighting major penalties and 4th in pims (137).
*Steven Zalewski ranks 6th among AHL rookies with 147 shots on goal and 21st in rookie scoring with 32 points (11-21-32).
*Jamie McGinn has points in 12 of his last 16 games (11-3-4). McGinn leads the Sharks with five first goals.
*The Sharks have the 4th 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 26 of their 59 games and are 20-5-0-1 when scoring the first tally of the game.
Roster Moves:
The Sharks made no roster moves this past week.
Top Sharks:
o Goals Armstrong (20)
o Game Winners Vesce (7)
o Assists Vesce (41)
o Points Vesce (61)
o Power play Points Vesce (4-14-18)
o Shots Vesce (167)
o PIM F. McLaren (137)
o Fighting Pen. F. McLaren (17)
o Plus/Minus Moore (+12)
o Wins Greiss (18)
o G.A.A. Greiss (2.710)
o Save % Greiss (.898)
o Shutouts Dakers (1)
Coming Up:
The Worcester Sharks play six of their next eight games at the DCU Center in Worcester including three games this weekend!
On Wednesday, the Sharks travel to Hartford to battle the Wolf Pack in an Atlantic division battle.
On Friday, the Sharks host the Philadelphia Phantoms at 7:05 p.m. on College Night. All student tickets are just $9 and the game will also be shown live on Charter TV-3!
On Saturday, the Shark host the Albany River Rats at 7:05 p.m. on "College Alumni Night" and the first 3,000 fans will receive a Riley Armstrong Bobble Head Doll! Pick up your Family Fun Pack with a ticket, hot dog, and soda for just $15.25 each when buying a minimum of four tickets!
On Sunday, the Sharks host the Manchester Monarchs at 4:05 p.m. in a key Atlantic Division battle! Grab your Papa Gino's Family Value ticket package today.... Four gold level tickets and a rustic Papa Gino's cheese pizza for only $12 per person!
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 3, 2009
- Crunch Downed by Dogs in OT - Syracuse Crunch
- Sound Tigers get dropped by Admirals, 3-1 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Bulldogs edge Crunch in OT, 3-2 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Admirals Simmer Down Sound Tigers - Norfolk Admirals
- Admirals Sign Two Players to Tryout Contracts - Norfolk Admirals
- Rampage Celebrate Record Breaking Night - San Antonio Rampage
- Chicago Sends Duo To Gwinnett - Chicago Wolves
- Crunch Players to Sign Autographs at Dunkin' Donuts March 9 - Syracuse Crunch
- Former Admiral Rinne Named NHL Rookie of the Month - Norfolk Admirals
- Griffins Host Rockford Before Texas Trip - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Rampage Release Kinnunen from PTO - San Antonio Rampage
- Brandon Roach Added To Flames Blueline - Abbotsford Heat
- Aeros Update - Houston Aeros
- San Jose Sharks Recall Forwards Brad Staubitz And Lukas Kaspar From Worcester - Worcester Sharks
- Sharks end February with a bang - Worcester Sharks
- Lightning Recall RW Brandon Segal and C Paul Szczechura from Admirals - Norfolk Admirals
- River Rats Release Ryan Cruthers From PTO - Albany River Rats
- Wolf Pack's Zaba Earns AHL Goaltender of the Month Honors - Connecticut Whale
- Calgary Flames Acquire Defenceman Lawrence Nycholat - Abbotsford Heat
- Rangers Claim Sean Avery Off Waivers - Connecticut Whale
- Marlies Forward Jiri Tlusty Named AHL Player of the Month - Toronto Marlies
- Stamoulis Released From PTO - Providence Bruins
- Montreal Assigns Kyle Chipchura To Hamilton - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Marlies' Tlusty named CCM/AHL Player of the Month - AHL
- Wolf Pack's Zaba named Reebok X-Pulse/AHL Goaltender of the Month - AHL
- Pirates' Kennedy named Reebok Edge/AHL Rookie of the Month - AHL
- Marlies Host Providence For First Time In Team History - Toronto Marlies
- Albany's Dwight Helminen Recalled To Carolina - Albany River Rats
- Wolves Captain to Speak With Local French Students - Chicago Wolves
- Florida Panthers Recall Defenseman Keaton Ellerby - Rochester Americans
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