Sharks Frozen by Bruins, 4-3

January 19, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


WORCESTER - Despite a quick start and an early lead, the Worcester Sharks were unable to snap a three game skid and dropped their fourth straight game, falling to the Providence Bruins at the DCU Center by a 4-3 count on Saturday night.

A fast paced first period produced 25 combined shots, setting the stage for a high-scoring evening. The Sharks nearly broke through in the opening minutes after Tom Cavanagh split the Bruins defense with a sharp pass, but a quick pad save from Bruins netminder Jordan Sigalet denied winger Graham Mink on the weak side. Worcester remained offensive, and at the 8:27 mark of the period, the Sharks did indeed take an early lead. Riley Armstrong's wrist shot from between the circles was knocked down by Sigalet, but Cavanagh, who had been knocked to his knees in front of the Providence net, poked home the rebound for his ninth goal of the year.

Providence answered back three minutes later, as Bruins center Matt Hendricks served a lazy centering feed from behind the Sharks net that slid all the way to the blue line. Matt Lashoff stepped up and fired a slap shot back through traffic that found its way past the lunge of goaltender Dmitri Patzold.

Just three more minutes passed before the visitors struck again. Aaron Slattengren flicked a puck from the right wing boards toward the net, and the puck deflected off both Patzold and Bruin Nate Thompson, who was credited with the goal despite protests that the redliner had a skate in the crease when the goal was scored.

The next controversial decision from referee Jeff Smith favored the Sharks, however, and it gave the Sharks an equalizing goal at the last possible instant before the intermission. Tomas Plihal tucked a rebound behind Sigalet as time expired in the period, but despite all zeros on the scoreboard clock, Smith immediately signaled that the puck crossed the goal line in time. Plihal's fifth goal of the year, officially at 19:59 of the first period, tied the game at two goals apiece.

With the game still tied, Wacey Rabbit carried the puck behind the Worcester net before centering to T.J. Trevelyan. His shot bounced off Patzold and slid along the mouth of the goal until Jeff Hoggan touched it across the line, reclaiming the lead for Providence midway through the second period.

The Bruins struck again at the 17:49 mark, with Martins Karsums extending the Providence lead to 4-2. Matt Hendricks led a three on two rush and used a crafty drop pass to set up Slattengren, whose one-timer was kicked by Patzold right onto the stick of Karsums.

Worcester started slowly in the final period, but came to life after a great hustle play by T.J. Fox created a turnover in the Bruins defensive zone. Fox found Dan Spang, who set up Ashton Rome for a turnaround snipe from the left faceoff circle that cleared the left shoulder of Sigalet at 11:32. The Sharks were able to manage five shots down the stretch, but Sigalet held strong to send Worcester home on the short end of the 4-3 score.

Worcester begins a stretch of five straight games away from home with a 7:05 pm contest in Springfield on Monday. The Sharks return to the DCU Center to face the Manchester Monarchs at 7:05 pm on Saturday, February 2nd, with the first 3,000 fans in attendance receiving a hand-signed Graham Mink Collector's Card. Fans are encouraged to come to the arena early, as Saint John's and Saint Peter-Marian will square off in a high school varsity hockey contest prior to the Sharks versus the Monarchs. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the Sharks offices at 508-929-0500 or crash the net at sharksahl.com.



American Hockey League Stories from January 19, 2008


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