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Sharks score five unanswered goals to stun the Admirals in overtime

January 17, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


NORFOLK, VA - Ryan Vesce scored at 3:04 of the overtime period as the Sharks scored five unanswered goals and shocked the 4th largest crowd in Admirals history with a come from behind 6-5 victory over the Admirals on Saturday night at the Scope Arena.

The Sharks would start off on the right foot scoring on the opening shift as Patrick Traverse intercepted a clearing attempt and fired a wrist shot through traffic at: 34 seconds of the first period to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead. The good fortunes for the Sharks would end there, as the Admirals would rattle off five straight goals on Sharks net minder Taylor Dakers in the opening period to tie a franchise record for most goals in a period. It was the most goals the Sharks have allowed in a period this season. Blair Jones scored twice, Chris Gratton, Bracken Kearns and Chris Lawrence all added tallies in an offensive barrage in the Sharks zone. The first period featured two fights, Sharks rookie James McEwan and Jay Rosehill tangled at 1:56, just one second after Norfolk took a 2-1 lead. Frazer McLaren and Zenon Konopka dropped the mitts at 13:13 after McLaren laid a body check on Brendon Bochenski. The Sharks trailed 5-1 after twenty minutes and were out shot 18-14 heading into the first intermission.

Worcester would come storming back in the second period, with Riley Armstrong scoring his 16th goal of the season just: 14 seconds into the middle frame. Ryan Vesce would extend his team high ten game point streak after finishing off a 3on2 shorthanded rush at 17:37 after a centering feed by Lukas Kaspar. With less than two minutes remaining in the period Worcester, the Sharks would connect on their 4th power play of the period, as Jamie McGinn scored his 9th of the year firing a shot from the right circle at 18:53. Worcester outshot the Admirals 17-6 in the second period, outscoring Norfolk 3-0, to trim the deficit to just one goal heading into the second intermission.

Taylor Dakers stoned Brandon Segal on a penalty shot at 8:06 of the third period to keep the Sharks within a goal. Just thirty seconds later, Jason Demers would score his 2nd of the season, a power play strike at 8:36 of the third period to tie the score at 5-5. The game would then go into overtime for the second straight evening with shots after 60 minutes, 42-34 in favor of Worcester.

Each team had several great chances in a wide open overtime period, but Sharks defenseman Mike Moore got in deep and fired a puck off the post which landed in the crease behind Karri Ramo and was slammed in by Sharks captain Ryan Vesce at 3:04 in overtime. The overtime goal was Vesce's third overtime strike of the season.

The win improves Worcester's record to 23-18-0-1, while the loss drops the Admirals to a 16-19-1-5 record. The Sharks finished with a 4-0-0-0 record vs. the Admirals this season with a total of ten fights in the season series.

NOTES: Three Stars: (3) Jones (2-0-2) (2) Kearns (1-2-3) (1) Traverse (1-2-3) ... Attendance for the contest was 7,595 ... the game was played on a pink sheet of ice for breast cancer awareness... Dakers saved 32 of 37 shots for the Sharks, while Ramo stopped 38 of 44 for Norfolk ... Worcester went 2/6 on the power play; Norfolk went 0/5 ... Jason Demers recorded his first point in 17 games after recording an assist on McGinn's power play goal at the end of the 2nd period and scored his 2nd goal in the third to tie the game. Final shots were 44-37, Worcester, the 16th straight game that the Sharks have outshot their opponent ... Ryan Vesce's two goals ups his already team-high point streak to ten games... it was the second time this season the Sharks won when trailing after two periods 2-14-0-0.

The Sharks head to Hersey on Sunday for a 5 p.m. start before closing out the pre All-Star break schedule at Springfield and Lowell. Worcester returns home on Friday, Jan. 30 vs. Springfield.

All games can be heard live on 580 & 94.9 WTAG as well as online through AHL Live by following the link on the Sharks website, www.sharksahl.com.

Be sure not to miss any of the action of the 2008-09 Worcester Sharks season and buy your tickets today! Fans can also purchase tickets to the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications. 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.

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