Sharks Skid Hits Five Games After 4-2 Loss to Sound Tigers

April 2, 2013 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


Worcester, MA - The Worcester Sharks (29-29-2-6, 66pts) were defeated by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (28-28-6-5, 67pts)by the count of 4-2 on Tuesday evening in front of 1,777 fans at the DCU Center. With the loss, the Sharks remain seven points behind the 8th place Hershey Bears in the Eastern Conference playoff picture with one game in hand and 10 games remaining.

Alex Stalock made his first start with Worcester in over a month after he was loaned back from San Jose yesterday and made 31 saves in the loss. Boston University alum Matt Nieto made his professional debut for the Sharks and recorded an assist as Worcester matched a season high 5th straight loss (0-4-1-0). The Sharks led 2-0 early in the first period after goals by Daniil Tarasov and Freddie Hamilton but the Sound Tigers scored four unanswered goals. The two teams will battle again on Thursday morning at 11am in Bridgeport.

The Sharks came out flying in the opening period grabbing a 2-0 lead in the first seven minutes on just three shots. Daniil Tarasov (10th) broke in on Rick DiPietro and slid a backhander into the net at 1:26 to give Worcester a 1-0 lead. After Jimmy Bonneau (10th FM) and Blair Riley (17th FM) scrapped at 3:29, rookie Freddie Hamilton (10th) sniped a wicked shot top shelf from 10 feet to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead. Sebastian Stalberg and Matt Nieto picked up assists on the score. The 5th overall pick in the 2011 NHL draft, Ryan Strome (1st) scored his first goal in his first professional game with a quick shot after a faceoff win in the Worcester zone past Alex Stalock to get Bridgeport on the board at 17:59. The Sharks led 2-1 after 20 minutes despite getting outshot 14-11.

The Sound Tigers scored the only two goals in the middle frame to grab a 3-2 lead. Former Worcester Sharks defenseman Ty Wishart (6th) sent a cross ice feed from Matt Donovan past a diving Alex Stalock to tie the score at 2-2. Joe Diamond (1st) scored his first pro goal deflecting a cross ice feed by Ryan Strome with :53 seconds remaining in the period to put Bridgeport up 3-2 through 40 minutes of play.

Brandon DeFazio (11th) added insurance at 5:10 of the third period with a wrap-around-score to put Bridgeport ahead 4-2. Worcester was outshot 12-6 in the final frame as Taylor Doherty (2nd and 3rd FM) fought Joe Diamond and Nathan McIver in the third period in the 4-2 loss.

The Sharks are now 13-14-2-4 at the DCU Center this season.

Notes: FIVE GUYS BURGERS Three Stars: 3rd star: Matt Nieto (0-1-1) 2nd star: Joe Diamond (GWG, FM) 1st star: Ryan Strome (1-1-2)... Final shots were 35-25 in favor of Worcester... Rick DiPietro made 23 saves on 25 shots for Bridgeport... Alex Stalock made 31 saves on 35 shots for Worcester in the loss.... Worcester went 0-for-4 on the power play, while Bridgeport went 0-for-4... the Sharks are now 1-for-32 in their last eight games on the power play.... Curt Gogol (inj), Mike Brennan (scr), Yanni Gourde (scr), Marek Viedensky (inj), Dane Walters (scr), Lane Scheidl (scr), and Brodie Reid (inj) did not dress for Worcester... with the three fights; the Sharks now have 71 through 66 games.

Coming up...

On Thursday, the Sharks travel to Bridgeport to battle the Sound Tigers with a special 11am School Day Game start.



American Hockey League Stories from April 2, 2013


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