Sharks Thrill Home Crowd Again in 5-4 Shootout Win

Published on October 22, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


WORCESTER-Coming off a thrilling home opener, the Worcester Sharks offered an encore performance in a 5-4 shootout victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack at the DCU Center on Wednesday evening. Rookie Jamie McGinn continued his torrid pace, notching his third and fourth goals of the year for Worcester.

Both teams began the game cautiously, but fireworks began in earnest after eight minutes of play. Steven Zalewski corralled a diagonal pass from Mike Morris and fed linemate Jamie McGinn across the crease. McGinn touched the puck past Hartford netminder Miika Wiikman for his third goal of the season. A mere 22 seconds later, Worcester took advantage of a goal-mouth collision and jumped out to a two goal lead. Tom Cavanagh found Patrick Traverse forty feet from net, and the veteran roofed the puck past a screened Wiikman at 8:24.

Tempers flared following the second goal, as Worcester's Frazer McLaren and Hartford's Justin Soryal took part in a spirited altercation in the Wolf Pack zone at 9:01. Both parties landed heavy hits before tumbling to the ice.

Three straight penalty calls led to plenty of shorthanded time for the Sharks, including 1:21 of a 5-on-3 disadvantage. Hartford peppered Worcester backstop Thomas Greiss before Wolf Pack forward Dane Byers struck twine to bring Hartford within one goal heading into the intermission.

Worcester had a 5-on-3 chance of its own, this one for a full two minutes, following a scrum at the beginning of the middle frame. A tripping penalty to Brandon Sugden and roughing minor to Devid DiDiomete at the ensuing stoppage produced the advantage, but the Sharks were unable to capitalize. Worcester defenseman Brett Westgarth dropped the gloves with Sugden upon his return to the ice, setting the tone for a physical but scoreless period.

McGinn started the third period in style, joining Morris up the left wing on a 2-on-1 and flicking a wrist shot to the short side of Wiikman to give the Sharks a 3-1 advantage. Hartford surged back, however, undoing it all in a matter of seconds.

Wolf Pack winger Dale Weise beat Greiss from close range at 2:30 of the third period, and Pierre Parenteau touched home a perfect feed from Byers at 2:47 to knot the game at three goals apiece. The Sharks struggled to produce shots over the next few minutes, and an unfortunate carom as Greiss dove for a loose puck produced a go-ahead goal for Hartford, which was credited to Jordan Owens.

A minor penalty to Hartford redliner Hugh Jessiman gave the Sharks a late power play, and Cory Larose lit the lamp at 16:03 to force overtime. After a scoreless extra period, Larose and Zelewski came through for Worcester in the shootout as Greiss denied all four Hartford skaters to seal the victory.

The Sharks are back in action on Friday evening for a matchup with the Providence Bruins at the DCU Center, and will wrap up their four game homestand the following night against the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Both games begin at 7:05, with free poster schedules available for all fans as they exit the arena following the game. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit sharksahl.com or call the Sharks offices at 508-929-0500.

NOTES: Three stars: 3. Larose (1g), 2. Byers (1g, 1a), 1. McGinn (2g)... McGinn has at least one point in every Sharks game this season... Morris was credited with an assist on both McGinn tallies... Greiss made 21 saves on 25 shots for Worcester; Wiikman stopped 31 of 35 shots for Hartford... Worcester was 1 for 6 on the power play; Hartford was 1 for 8.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 22, 2008


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