Sharks Walk Plank, Fall 6-1 to Pirates
February 23, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release
WORCESTER - The raising of the 2009 All-Star banner to the rafters wasn't enough to will the Sharks into victory as the Portland Pirates ruined the parade with a 6-1 win on Saturday night at the DCU Center.
With Springfield losing, the Sharks remain 11 points behind the Falcons for the fourth and final playoff spot. Worcester is now nine points behind Manchester for fifth, who defeated Norfolk on Saturday.
Sharks President & CEO Michael T. Lehr was joined in a pregame ceremony by American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews, Worcester City Manager Michael O'Brien, DCU Center General Manager Sandy Dunn, and Worcester Sharks Booster Club President Rich Lundin in raising the banner to commemorate Worcester's selection to hold the 2009 All-Star Classic.
After that, Portland scored early and often to pick up the convincing victory. Bobby Ryan and Jason King led the offensive barrage with three points each on a goal and two assists. Petteri Wirtanen (1g, 1a), Drew Miller (1g, 1a), and Brian Salcido (0g, 2a) each finished with two points. Pirates goaltender Mike McKenna finished with 30 saves on 31 shots while the Sharks' Dimitri Patzold had 9 saves in 23:10 of action and Dakers had 19 in the final 36:28.
It didn't take long for the Pirates to get on the board. On a three-on-two up ice, Wirtanen made a backhand flip in the direction of Patzold. Miller made a tip that Patzold saved, but the rebound bounced right to Ryan who found the open net at 1:24 of the first period. For Ryan, it was his 19th goal of the season, six of which have come at Worcester's expense.
Less than four minutes later at 4:54, a Graham Mink turnover led to Portland's second goal. After Mink's clearing attempt was picked off, Darryl Bootland was in the right faceoff circle and made a feed to Miller in front of the crease. Miller subsequently beat Patzold high to make it 2-0. Salcido had the other assist on the play.
On Worcester's first power play, Devin Setoguchi took a nifty pass from Derek Joslin. He skated down the right wing side and let go a shot that beat McKenna, but hit the post to keep it 2-0.
The Pirates added to their lead with just 10 seconds remaining in the first period. Portland had a power play, followed directly by a Worcester man advantage. A Nate Raduns hooking call made it three in a row, with the Pirates taking advantage. Jason King was stationed at the back boards when he found Wirtanen skating in all alone between the faceoff circles. Wirtanen let go a shot that beat Patzold over his left shoulder for the 3-0 lead. Along with King, Ryan picked up the other assist on the play.
After one, shots were 10-7 in favor of Portland.
Things continued to go downhill for the Sharks as 3:32 into the second period, Portland added to its lead. Patzold was shaken up when he came out to play a puck and was accidentally run into by a Pirates player. Off the ensuing faceoff, Eric Weinrich unleashed a slap shot just inside the blue line on the left wing side. It found its way through traffic and through Patzold's pads to make it 4-0. King and Ryan tallied the assists on the play. Patzold was pulled in favor of Dakers after the goal.
A Craig Valette penalty led to a 5-0 Portland advantage as it tallied its second power play goal of the game on another shot from the point. Bruno St. Jacques let go a shot from inside the blue line on the right wing side. It found its way through, hit the inside of the left post and went in at 4:35. Michal Birner and Joe Callahan had the assists.
The Pirates kept pouring it on at 17:42 when King scored his 23rd of the season. A pass got through Sharks' defender Dan Spang to King at the doorstep. His first shot was stopped, but the rebound bounced right back to him and he stuffed the puck around Dakers and inside the left post for the six-goal lead. Geoff Platt and Salcido had the helpers on the play.
Shots were 15-14 in favor of the Pirates in the second period, while they held the 25-21 lead after two.
Worcester finally got on the board at 5:37 of the third period when Tom Cavanagh scored his 12th goal of the season. Brennan Evans brought the puck down the left wing side when he passed to Cavanagh in between the faceoff circles. Cavanagh, facing the opposite direction of McKenna, put a blind backhand shot on goal which slipped just inside the right post. Setoguchi picked up the other assist on the play.
The Sharks continue their homestand Sunday evening when they lace up the skates for a rare 8:05 p.m. tilt against the Springfield Falcons. Sunday is a Papa Gino's Family Value Night, with a family four-pack of tickets plus an extra large pizza available for just $48. For more information on these and other promotions or to purchase tickets, call the Sharks offices at 508-929-0500 or visit sharksahl.com.
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American Hockey League Stories from February 23, 2008
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