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Vesce Clips Falcons in OT, 4-3

January 23, 2009 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester Sharks News Release


SPRINGFIELD - Cory Larose tied the score with less than a minute remaining in regulation and Ryan Vesce scored his fourth overtime game-winner only 20 seconds into the extra session to give the Sharks a wild 4-3 win over the Springfield Falcons on Friday night at the Mass Mutual Center.

Vesce's goal was his fourth overtime game-winner of the season. On a rare overtime power play, the Sharks captain skated in on Falcons goalie Devan Dubnyk and beat him five-hole.

The Sharks jump to second place in the Atlantic Division with a 24-18-0-2 records and 50 points on the season.

At 4:31 of the first period, Mike Moore had a wicked open-ice hit on the Falcons' Taylor Chorney, which set the tone for a physical night. Less than two minutes later, Guillaume Lefebvre jumped Mike Moore twice, instigating a fight. Lefebvre was assessed a two minute instigator minor, five minutes for fighting, and a ten minute misconduct.

Worcester made the Falcons pay on the ensuing power play as Patrick Traverse took a feed from behind the net and fired a shot past Dubnyk for the 1-0 lead. Vesce was credited with the only assist on the play to extend his point streak to 12 games, a Sharks franchise record and second highest in the AHL this season.

The rough stuff continued as the teams combined for 42 penalty minutes in the first period. Springfield's goal came with only two seconds remaining in the period on a shot 200 feet from the goal. Having the draw deep in the Falcons zone, the Sharks pulled goalie Thomas Griess in favor of an extra attacker. The gamble backfired as Tyler Spurgeon won the draw back to Mathieu Roy who fired the puck the length of the ice to make it 1-1.

After more than a period of scoreless hockey, the Sharks took a 2-1 lead at 1:25 of the third period. It was Brett Westgarth, who fired a slap shot from just inside the blue line that trickled past Dubnyk. Lukas Kaspar and Vesce picked up the assists on the play.

The Falcons tied the score less than three minutes later when Ryan Potulny one-timed a rocket past Greiss for his 18th of the season. The power play goal was assisted by Theo Peckham and Roy.

Springfield took its first lead at 14:19 of the third, taking advantage of another power play opportunity. After the initial shot bounced off the back boards, Bryan Lerg found himself in the right place at the right time, roofing a shot into the top corner of the net. Shane Willis and Mike Gabinet were credited with the assists.

Cory Larose, playing his first game since Dec. 26 , picked up the crucial game-tying goal at 19:19. With an extra attacker, Traverse took a shot from the point that was tipped past Dubnyk to make it 3-3.

NOTES: Three Stars: (3) Traverse (2 assists) (2) Roy (1g, 1a) (1) Vesce (1g, 2a) ... Attendance for the contest was 4,996 ... Greiss saved 22 of 24 shots for the Sharks, while Dubnyk stopped 32 of 34 for Springfield ... Worcester went 2/3 on the power play; Springfield went 2/5... Final shots were 36-25 Worcester ... The game marked Worcester's fourth straight OT game ... Traverse has recorded seven points (2g, 5a) in his last three games.

The Sharks closes out the pre All-Star break schedule at Lowell on Saturday at 7 p.m. Worcester returns home on Friday, Jan. 30 vs. these same Springfield Falcons.

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

The All-Star Classic is less than 48 hours away and tickets are going fast! Tickets, which admit you to both the Skills Competition (Jan. 25) and the All-Star Game (Jan. 26), cost only $40 for lower bowl seating and $32 for the upper bowl.

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