Sharks Prevail in Wild Third Period

Published on December 11, 2010 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Albany Devils News Release


ALBANY, NY - Six goals in the third period made for a dramatic finish as the Worcester Sharks answered three straight goals by the Albany Devils with three of their own, staking a 6-3 win Saturday night at the Times Union Center. Tommy Wingels netted the game-winner with 4:32 remaining to improve Worcester to 14-8-1-4 on the season. Albany drops to 11-16-0-0.

"I don't know what it was," said Devils' captain Stephen Gionta. "[Matt Anderson] got a big goal for us. It kind of gave us energy. But we didn't win the battles tonight. I was talking to the guys and we only really showed up for eight minutes in a 60 minute game."

Anderson gave the Devils a spark 2:24 into the third period with his team-leading 10th goal of the season. Tyler Eckford sprung Anderson, who fired a wrist shot across his body and past the blocker of Sharks' netminder Carter Hutton. Vladimir Zharkov earned the second assist.

Gionta then made it 3-2 with nifty stick work in front at 13:02 and Tim Sestito's rebound try tied things up, 3-3, a minute later.

"We got a goal and bit of momentum," said head coach Rick Kowalsky. "We've been a good four-on-four team all year and we started skating and getting pucks on the net and things happen."

Albany's momentum was short lived as Wingels found the back of the net at 15:28 less than a minute after Sestito's goal.

Worcester capped the five-goal burst in the last seven minutes of play with goals from Jason Pitton (17:04) and Brandon Mashinter (18:15).

To begin, The Sharks developed a two-goal lead in the first period with Andrew Desjardins and Sean Sullivan both scoring. Desjardins chipped in a rebound try at 12:43. Sullivan followed with a one-timer tally while on the power play at 19:16.

Jonathan Cheechoo established a three-goal lead with a quick stick in the slot 2:55 into the second. T. J. Trevelyan worked the puck behind the Devils' net before slipping the former NHL goal-scoring champ.

Hutton earned his second win of the season by making 17 stops on 20 tries. He hasn't lost a regular season game this season, despite being 2-0-2 on the year.

Mike McKenna appeared in his first AHL game since Nov. 13. He was recalled to New Jersey on Nov. 19 and returned to Albany on Dec. 6. He made a season-high 36 saves on 41 shots

Also returning to the Devils lineup was Chad Wiseman, who hadn't played due to injury since Nov. 5. He entered the contests with two points in three games. He played the rightwing with Gionta on the left side and Sestito in the middle. Wiseman had an assist on Sestito's goal.

During the second intermission, Devils' fans let loose stuffed animals for the "Teddy Bear Toss" hosted by the team. All the donated stuffed animals went to the Albany Boys and Girls' Club, Albany Police Athletic League, the American Red Cross and the Ronald McDonald House.

The Devils complete their three-in-three with a 4 p.m. contest against first-place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall on Sunday, Dec. 12. The Times Union Center reopens its doors on Tuesday, Dec. 28 against Bridgeport. Tickets for that game can be purchased for just $10. Tickets for the 7 p.m. contest can be purchased at the Times Union Center box office or at any Ticketmaster outlet. Fans can also buy tickets via charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting Ticketmaster.com.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 11, 2010


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