Sharks Stun Bears 4-3 in Shootout

Published on December 15, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


HERSHEY, PA- The Worcester Sharks (13-9-1-2, 29pts) won for an AHL leading 6th time (6-6-0-1) when trailing after 40 minutes of play in an exciting 4-3 shootout victory over the Hersey Bears (13-12-1-1, 27pts) on Saturday night in front of 10,075 fans at the Giant Center.

James Sheppard scored two power play goals for Worcester and Alex Stalock made went 5-for-5 in the shootout for the win for the Sharks. Matt Tennyson added three assists while Jon Matsumoto scored a power play goal and scored the only goal in the shootout as the Sharks came back from an early 3-1 deficit for the victory. The Sharks return home to host the Portland Pirates on Sunday at 3pm with Boston Garden Legend Rene Rancourt singing the national anthem and Sam James from The Voice to perform during the first intermission.

Hershey broke out to a 3-1 first period lead in a feisty 20 minutes of play. Rookie defenseman Cameron Schilling (3rd) gave Hershey a 1-0 lead on their first shot on goal with a blast from the blue line after a Bears' faceoff win at 36 seconds. Jon Matsumoto (4th) tied the score at 1-1 with a nice deflection on the power play past netminder Braden Holtby at 6:17 with assists to Matt Tennyson and Travis Oleksuk. Hershey would get the next two scores with Mike Carman (3rd) deflecting home a Garrett Stafford point shot past Alex Stalock at 10:33 and former Bruin Zach Hamill (9th) with a nice rush and score at 13:26. Brandon Mashinter (4th FM) and Alex Berry (6th FM) scrapped at 13:33 and Yanni Gourde and Matt Pope dropped the mitts and received minors at 14:28. The Bears led 3-1 after 20 minutes and with both teams firing nine shots in the opening frame.

Mikael Tam (1st FM) and Garrett Mitchell (6th FM) had a marathon battle to kick start a physical second period. The Sharks scored the only goal in the middle period as James Sheppard (4th) rocked one off the post from on top of the circles on the power play after a nice feed by Jon Matsumoto at 4:05. John McCarthy hit in the post in the final seconds of the period as Worcester fired 13 shots on goal. The Sharks trailed 3-2 after 40 minutes of play.

James Sheppard struck again on the power play at 9:49 of the third period with a nice deflection of a Matt Tennyson point shot from the right side to tie the score at 3-3. Brandon Mashinter was denied by Holtby on a penalty shot with 2:01 remaining in the third period as we headed to overtime. The Bears fired the only three shots in a scoreless overtime frame as the game went to a shootout.

Jon Matsumoto (SO GWG) scored in the only goal in the five round shootout and Alex Stalock was perfect making five saves in goal as Worcester grabbed a 4-3 shootout win in Hershey.

The Sharks overall record improves to 13-9-1-2 (29pts in 25gp) and 8-5-0-1 (17pts in 14gp) on the road this season.

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American Hockey League Stories from December 15, 2012


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