Sharks Fight Back but Tuukka Steals Show

Published on December 26, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


WORCESTER - Lukas Kaspar tied the score at two with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, but it wasn't enough as the Providence Bruins outscored the Sharks in the shootout to come away with a 3-2 victory in an extremely physical game on Friday evening.

Worcester did salvage a point and now improves to 33 points on the season (16-14-0-1). It marked the first overtime or shootout game the team has dropped. It had previously been 3-0 with two overtime victories and a shootout win.

The Bruins quickly took advantage of their first power play, scoring only 16 seconds into the man advantage. Peter Schaefer carried the puck down the left wing side and found Martins Karsums between the faceoff circles, who adjusted to his shooting hand and beat Worcester goaltender Thomas Greiss with a wrist shot for the 1-0 lead at 6:42 of the first. Johnny Boychuck was credited with his 23rd assist of the season to tie him for the league lead among defensemen.

The Sharks capitalized on a power play of their own, knotting the score at one at 12:07 of the second period. Having 1:01 of a two-man advantage to work with, Worcester put relentless pressure on Providence goaltender Tuukka Rask, who made a number of great saves until Derek Joslin was able to beat him with a laser inside the right post. Joslin's seventh goal of the season came from nearly the identical spot as Karsums' first-period tally. Patrick Traverse and Cory Larose tallied the assists on the play.

A great individual effort by Wacey Rabbit gave the Bruins a 2-1 advantage at 8:15 of the third. After streaking down the right wing side, his lefty slap shot beat Greiss over his right shoulder, finding iron before crossing the goal line. The goal was assisted by Karsums and Jeff Penner.

Steven Zalewski set up Kaspar for a highlight-reel goal at 15:44 of the third period which tied the score at two. Kaspar took the nifty backhand pass in the right wing circle and found the open net for his sixth goal of the year. Mike Moore was credited with the other assist.

Less than one minute later, it appeared as Larose had given the Sharks a 3-2 advantage, but Referee Terry Koharski had blown his whistle, nullifying the go-ahead goal.

Mikko Lehtonen and Karsums scored in the shootout for Providence while Ryan Vesce lit the lamp for the Sharks. Rask made a number of key stops to preserve the win.

NOTES: Three Stars: (3) Zalewski (assisted game-tying goal) (2) Karsums (goal and GWG in shootout) (1) Rask (46 saves) ...Attendance for the contest was 4,755...Greiss saved 18 of 20 shots for the Sharks, while Rask stopped 46 of 48 for Providence ...Worcester went 1/6 on the power play; Providence went 1/3 ... Old friend Jonathan Tremblay played against the Sharks for the first time after being loaned to Providence from Quad City in November. He took a slashing penalty at 6:42 of the second period ... With the assist on Joslin's goal, Larose extended his point streak to five and assist streak to three games ... Final shots were 48-21 Worcester ... The Sharks drop to 2-6 in games that they outshoot their opponent by 20 or more.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 26, 2008


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