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Sharks Weekly

April 7, 2008 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


Last Week: (2-2-0-0) 4pts 4gp

Wed. 4/2 WORCESTER SHARKS 2 @ Springfield Falcons 4

Fri. 4/4 WORCESTER SHARKS 2 vs. Portland Pirates 1 (OT)

Sat. 4/5 WORCESTER SHARKS 1 @ Manchester Monarchs 4

Sun. 4/6 WORCESTER SHARKS 4 vs. Springfield Falcons 2

This Week:

Wed. 4/9 Providence Bruins @ WORCESTER SHARKS 7:05 p.m.

Fri. 4/11 WORCESTER SHARKS @ Portland Pirates 7:05 p.m.

Sat. 4/12 Lowell Devils @ WORCESTER SHARKS 7:05 p.m.

Sun. 4/13 Springfield Falcons @ WORCESTER SHARKS 4:05 p.m.

Rewind the Tape:

4.02.08 - Worcester 2 - Springfield 4 - Mass Mutual Center

Despite taking a quick lead, the Worcester Sharks saw the Springfield Falcons score three consecutive goals in a 4-2 defeat on Wednesday evening at the Mass Mutual Center. The Sharks, who dressed seven rookies, came out strong and capitalized at 1:55 of the first period behind Craig Valette's third goal of the season. After the Falcons scored three in a row, Mike Iggulden lit the lamp with less than two minutes remaining in regulation before Troy Bodie iced the game with an empty-net tally.

4.04.08 - Worcester 2 - Portland 1 (OT) - DCU Center

With a slew of young teammates playing their first game on DCU Center ice, Graham Mink and Mike Iggulden treated the newcomers to a thrilling home victory as the Sharks came from behind to knock off the Portland Pirates, 2-1, in overtime on Friday night. Thomas Greiss was tremendous in between the pipes, stopping 24 of 25 shots while earning the game's second star.

4.05.08 - Worcester 1 - Manchester 4 - Verizon Wireless Arena

Manchester scored the first three goals of the game and wouldn't look back as they defeated the Worcester Sharks by a 4-1 final on Saturday evening at the Verizon Wireless Arena. Teddy Purcell led the Monarchs' attack with two goals and Jonathan Bernier made 27 saves in his first AHL start. After Manchester's third goal, Frazer McLaren tangled with Kevin Westgarth in his first professional fight, beating the fellow tough guy. Lukas Kaspar harnessed the added energy with the Sharks' lone goal, a second period shorthanded tally to make it 3-1.

4.06.08 - Worcester 4 - Springfield 2 - DCU Center

Behind a balanced team effort, the Worcester Sharks served as spoilers in an impressive 4-2 victory over the Springfield Falcons on Bald is Beautiful Day at the DCU Center. With the loss, the Falcons were officially knocked out of playoff contention, allowing Manchester to clinch the fourth and final Atlantic Division playoff spot. The Sharks picked up goals from T.J. Fox, Brad Staubitz, Mike Iggulden, and Graham Mink, while Thomas Greiss earned his second win in as many games in net.

Sharks in the Atlantic...

The Sharks (29-36-5-6) swim in sixth place with 69 points in the Atlantic Division, nine points ahead of seventh-place Lowell Devils and nine behind the fifth-place Springfield Falcons. The Sharks have played 76 games, which is one fewer than Springfield. Worcester trails the Providence Bruins by 44 points for the top spot in the Atlantic.

Sharks Bites:

*F Mike Iggulden is tops on the team with 27 goals, 35 assists, and 62 points, and was the lone Sharks representative in the 2008 AHL-All Star Classic in Binghamton, NY.

*Iggulden's 62 points are a new career-high. The old mark was set last season (57 pts: 30g, 27a).

*Following Sunday's game, forward Riley Armstrong shaved his head as part of the Locks of Love campaign. After much persuading, radio broadcaster Eric Lindquist also decided to shave his head.

*Four Sharks made their professional debuts last week: P.J. Fenton and Frazer McLaren (Wednesday), Steven Zalewski and Ty Wishart (Friday).

*Fenton's professional debut was at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, only minutes from where he grew up (Longmeadow) and attended school (UMass-Amherst).

*Matt Jones was credited with an assist on Wednesday to extend his point streak to three games.

*Worcester's eight power play chances on Wednesday tied a season-high.

*In the following game against Portland, the Sharks only had one chance to set a season-low.

*Craig Valette's first period goal on Wednesday was his first since Dec. 8 vs. Hartford. It also marked the first time (out of five games), that the Sharks scored first at the Mass Mutual Center.

*Lukas Kaspar's goal on Saturday was Worcester's first at the Verizon Wireless Arena in 96:12 of action. The last goal was also Kaspar's (with three seconds remaining in the third period on Dec. 31 which gave the Sharks a 3-2 victory).

*Lukas Kaspar and T.J. Fox are now tied with Devin Setoguchi for the most shorthanded goals on the team (2).

*Out of Worcester's eight shorthanded tallies, three have come against the Falcons.

*Kaspar recorded points in all three games he played last week.

*Iggulden scored goals in three of the four games (Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday) last week.

*Brennan Evans reached the 200 penalty minute plateau for the first time in his career.

*With his first-period assist, Tom Cavanagh extended his assist (and point) streak to seven games. The seven-game assist streak is the most by a Sharks player this season while seven straight games with a point ties a season-high (Mike Iggulden from Oct. 6 through Nov. 2). Counting his game with San Jose, Cavanagh has assists in the last eight games he's played.

*Worcester only allowed three shots in the second period on Sunday which tied a season-low.

Roster Moves:

*The Worcester Sharks signed forward P.J. Fenton to an ATO on Tuesday, April 1 as well as releasing forward Oren Eizenman and defenseman Brian White from their PTO's. On Wednesday, the San Jose Sharks reassigned defenseman Ty Wishart from Moose Jaw (WHL) to Worcester. The same day, forward Frazer McLaren was signed to an ATO. On Thursday, forward Tom Cavanagh was recalled to the San Jose Sharks while forward Steven Zalewski was signed to an ATO on Friday. Cavanagh was then returned to Worcester on Sunday.

Top Sharks:

o Goals Iggulden (27)

o Assists Iggulden (35)

o Points Iggulden (62)

o PIM Evans (198)

o Fighting Pen. Staubitz (19)

o Plus/Minus Armstrong (+6)

o Wins Greiss (18)

o G.A.A. Patzold (2.84)

o Save % Patzold (.898)

Worcester to host the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic!

American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced that the Worcester Sharks and the city of Worcester have been awarded the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic. The event will take place at the DCU Center in January, 2009. 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 Game was last held in Massachusetts in 1959 at the Eastern States Coliseum in West Springfield.

Coming Up:

The Sharks remain home on Wednesday to host the Providence Bruins at 7:05 p.m. on Fill Me Up Wednesdays. After a road game at Portland, Worcester is home for the final two games of the season on Saturday vs. Lowell and Sunday vs. the Springfield Falcons. It is fan appreciation weekend which means a number of promotions, including a Tim Murray bobble head doll giveaway on Sunday!

For more information on the action-packed weekend or to purchase tickets, call the Sharks offices at 508-929-0500 or crash the net at sharksahl.com.

All games can be heard live on 580 WTAG, as well as online through B2 Networks, by following the link on the Sharks website at www.sharksahl.com.

Worcester Sharks Media Contact: Eric Lindquist (508) 929.0525 elindquist@sharksahl.com

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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