Sharks take a bite out of Atlantic Division deficit with two victories

Published on November 3, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


Rewind the Tape:

10.31.08 - Worcester 4 - Hartford Wolf Pack 2 - XL Center

Physicality was the name of the game in the Sharks' 4-2 win at Hartford's XL Center. Tom Cavanagh scored two goals, while Riley Armstrong and Derek Joslin also found the back of the net. The story of the game, though, was physical play. After Mike Moore's open ice check injured Hartford's Brian Fahey, the Wolf Pack had a bad taste in its mouth. Cory Larose landed a heavy open-ice hit on Bobby Sanguinetti, and was immediately tracked down by Vladimir Denisov. Denisov was sanctioned with 27 minutes of penalties, which allowed Cavanagh to score his second goal on a two-man advantage. With nearly three minutes left, the benches began to erupt as head coach Roy Sommer and Hartford assistant Pat Boller exchanged words. At the final buzzer, Frazer McLaren and Brodie Dupont found themselves throwing fists, while Brett Westgarth and Justin Soryal were tangled up as well.

11.1.08 - Worcester 4 - Manchester 1 - DCU Center

Despite the physical toll Friday's game must have taken on the Sharks, they were able to cast off Manchester in a 4-1 victory. Worcester got off to an early lead just four and a half minutes into the game when Larose scored on a rebound off Cavanagh's shot on goal. Cavanagh added another goal ten minutes later, and Manchester responded shortly thereafter when Denny Johnston scored is first professional goal past Thomas Greiss. After a scoreless second period, the Sharks countered with another power play goal six minutes into the third. After fighting through a scrum in front of net, Larose was able to secure the puck and, from his knees, deftly send a backhand pass across the ice to an open Lukas Kaspar, who wristed the puck into the open net. Mike Morris added a final insurance goal to seal the win. With just seven minutes left in the contest, Monarch forward Kevin Westgarth targeted Frazer McLaren, wanting retribution for a hit McLaren landed on Manchester's Josh Kidd just seconds earlier. Westgarth came from behind and started a fight against a defenseless McLaren. Westgarth received 19 minutes in penalties, including a game misconduct. Thomas Greiss was superb in net making 23 saves in net for his second straight victory.

Sharks in the Atlantic...

The Sharks (4-4-0-0) swim in sixth place in the Atlantic Division with eight points, five points behind the Providence Bruins and Portland Pirates, who are tied for first place.

Shark Bites:

*Tom Cavanagh has recorded back to back multi point games this past weekend, three points (2-1-3) in Hartford on Friday and two points (1-1-2) vs. Manchester on Saturday.

*The Sharks have 12 fighting major penalties this season through eight games. Six different players have dropped the gloves already this season (Frazer McLaren (5), Westgarth (3), Moore, Demers, Cavanagh, and McGinn).

*The Sharks have allowed four shorthanded goals in the first eight games this season (allowed just 7 in 80 games last season).

*The Sharks have scored the first goal in 5 of 8 games this season (McGinn (twice), Larose (twice), Fenton).

*Worcester has outshot its opponents in all eight games, and has only been outshot in 4 of 24 total periods this season.

*Ryan Vesce leads the team with three power play assists.

*Derek Joslin leads all Sharks' defenseman with 28 shots on goal.

*Thomas Greiss has played every second in net for the Sharks this season.

Roster Moves:

*The Sharks recalled center Andrew Desjardins from the Phoenix Road Runners, the Sharks ECHL affiliate. The 23-year-old Desjardins skated in five games with Phoenix this season recording two goals and six penalty minutes. The 6-foot, 197-pound Lively, Ontario native played in the Central Hockey League last season, his first professional season, recording 22 goals, 37 assists, 59 points, along with 112 penalty minutes in 64 games with the Laredo Bucks. Prior to Laredo, Desjardins spent four seasons in the OHL with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds where he skated in 254 games and recorded 113 points (48+65=113).

*The Worcester Sharks loaned rookie defenseman Michael Wilson to the Phoenix Road Runners of the ECHL on Tuesday. Wilson skated in five games this season with the Worcester Sharks recording a goal and an assist along with two penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 165 pound rookie defenseman from North Vancouver, British Columbia played in 169 games over the last three seasons for the Swift Current Broncos (WHL) recording 19 goals along with78 assists.

Top Sharks:

o Goals Larose, McGinn (4)

o Assists Vesce, Cavanagh, Zalewski (5)

o Points Cavanagh (8)

o Shots McGinn (29)

o PIM F. McLaren (29)

o Fighting Pen. F. McLaren (5)

o Plus/Minus Fenton (+4)

o Wins Greiss (4)

o G.A.A. Greiss (3.11)

o Save % Greiss (.863)

Worcester to host the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications!

The Sharks and the city of Worcester will host the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Charter Communications on January 25th and 26th at the DCU Center. Tickets are on sale to the general public now. The 2009 event in Worcester will mark the fourth time since it was revived in 1995 that the AHL All-Star Classic will take place in New England. The AHL All-Star Classic was last held in Massachusetts in 1959 at the Eastern States Coliseum in West Springfield.

Coming Up:

The Sharks will host the Portland Pirates on Wednesday, November 5th, and then travel to Hartford (Friday, November 7th) and Binghamton (Saturday, November 8th).

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.

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

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American Hockey League Stories from November 3, 2008


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