Sharks Win Fight-Filled Affair in St. John's

Published on February 4, 2012 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


St. John's, NFLD - Ryan Del Monte and Mike Connolly scored within 18 seconds early in the third period as the Sharks came back from behind and shocked the first place IceCaps 4-2 in front of a sold out crowd at the Mile One Centre on Saturday night.

Harri Sateri was excellent in goal in the second straight night for Worcester making 27 saves and James Livingston extended his point streak to three games (2-1-3) with his 5th goal of the season. Brandon Mashinter recorded the Gordie Howe Hattrick for the Sharks and Tim Kennedy added two assists in the win. The two teams duked it out for six separate sets of fighting majors (AHL high) and a combined 112 penalty minutes in a wild game from north of the border.

Three spirited scraps highlighted a scoreless first period as the Sharks were outshot 10-3 through 20 minutes of play aided by three IceCaps power plays. Sena Acolatse (7th FM) dropped Garth Murray (8th FM) with a series of lefts and rights at :03 seconds to kick off the fireworks. Curt Gogol (12th FM) caught Patrice Cormier (3rd FM) with a wicked left hand after Cormier challenged Gogol after he crushed an IceCaps defender with a clean check at 17:11. After Garth Murray (9th FM) caught Mike Connolly with an undetected high stick at 18:36, Brandon Mashinter (5th FM)dropped the gloves and fell Murray with a series of right hands at 18:36. Harri Sateri was terrific making 10 saves in the opening frame.

Paul Postma (9th) gave the IceCaps a 1-0 lead just 55 seconds into the 2nd period with a blast from the point that missed the net, came off the end wall, and then off the back of Sateri's leg and into the net for a lucky bounce score. At 9:59, a series of fights broke out as Curt Gogol (13th FM) fought Kenndal McArdle (2nd FM) and Nathan Moon (8th FM) took on Garth Murray (10th FM). Murray and Moon were ejected for the secondary altercation and then Murray had words with Coach Roy Sommer after the brawl. The Sharks tied the score at 16:26 as James Livingston (6th) extended his point streak to three games (2-1-3) as he deflected a Frazer McLaren pass into the net past David Aebischer. The two teams skated into the 2nd intermission tied at 1-1 with the IceCaps leading the way with a 18-14 shot edge.

The IceCaps scored another quick strike to begin the third period as a loose puck pin balled in front of the Worcester net and ended up on the stick of rookie Carl Klingberg (12th) who then fired the puck past Sateri at 1:04 to put the IceCaps ahead 2-1. Ryan Del Monte (4th) tied the score for the Sharks with a wicked back hand shot from in between the faceoff circles at 5:57 assisted by Curt Gogol. Just 18 seconds later, Mike Connolly (10th) stuffed home a centering pass by Tim Kennedy from the side of the net to put the Sharks ahead 3-2 at 6:15. Another wild brawl broke out moments later at 6:47 after Ryan Del Monte (2nd FM) and Arturs Kulda (2nd FM) engaged in fisticuffs and Frazer McLaren joined the scrap as a third man in. Another 10 player scrum ensued after Nick Petrecki sent a mask-less David Aebischer down with a body check in the IceCaps crease as the IceCaps netminder raced back into his net after he slid out to stop a Sharks rush . Worcester killed off two late power plays to hold onto a 3-2 lead before Brandon Mashinter scored an empty net power play goal to complete the Gordie Howe Hattrick at 19:54 for a Sharks 4-2 victory.

Worcester's record improves to 21-14-4-5 (51pts in 44gp) and 10-6-4-3 on the road.

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American Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2012


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