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Wolf Pack Defeated By Sharks 5-3

March 31, 2010 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Connecticut Whale News Release


Hartford, CT, March 31, 2010 - The Hartford Wolf Pack were defeated by the Atlantic Division-leading Worcester Sharks Wednesday night, 5-3, in front of 1,671 at the XL Center.

John McCarthy led the Sharks in their victory, posting two goals and an assist, and defenseman Danny Groulx added three assists. Dan DaSilva also scored and had an assist for Worcester.

Dane Byers had two points, with a goal and an assist, for the Wolf Pack, who were missing two of their top scorers, Corey Locke and P.A. Parenteau, due to recall by the parent New York Rangers.

"That's the nature of the game. Those [Parenteau and Locke] are guys that are successful at our level, in our locker room, and are rewarded with call-ups," said Wolf Pack Head Coach Ken Gernander. "Guys have to look at it as such, those guys did a job, they were successful, they got rewarded, and now it's our turn."

Hartford had taken the first lead of the game at 8:30 of the first period, as Donald Brashear fired his second goal as a member of the Wolf Pack past Worcester goaltender Frank Doyle (27 saves) on the glove side.

The Sharks' Michael Wilson turned the puck over in the corner to Brashear, who then passed to Andres Ambühl behind the Worcester net. Ambühl then fed Brashear, who one-timed the puck as he hurried to the net.

Worcester answered right back, tying the game on McCarthy's first goal of the night at 11:36. The Sharks used the whole width of the ice, as DaSilva passed cross-ice to Andrew Desjardins, who fed McCarthy as he crashed the Wolf Pack crease and beat Hartford netminder Chad Johnson (24 saves).

McCarthy netted his second goal of the evening, his 15th, just three minutes later at 14:20 to give Worcester a 2-1 lead.

Groulx worked the puck free along the boards, and quickly hit Steven Zalewski with a pass. Zalewski then passed to a wide-open McCarthy, who again beat Johnson to his left side.

Worcester later increased their lead with just 44 seconds left in the frame. DaSilva converted a Groulx pass on the backhand, fooling Johnson and making it a 3-1 contest. McCarthy received the secondary assist on the play, his third point of the game.

Bobby Sanguinetti's goal cut the Worcester lead to 3-2 at 18:28 of the second period, bringing some offense to an otherwise more subdued period than the first. Dale Weise passed to a streaking Sanguinetti, who recorded his ninth goal of the season as he cruised through the slot.

The Sharks extended their lead to 4-2 just 5:24 into the third period, however, as Corey Quirk ripped a shot past Johnson while shorthanded. With Desjardins off the ice on a hooking call, Benn Ferriero worked the puck free and set up Quirk with a cross-ice pass for the score.

The Wolf Pack again clawed within just a goal at 8:44, as Corey Potter launched a shot from the point that was tipped in past Doyle by Dane Byers for his 22nd goal of the season, making it a 4-3 contest.

But Worcester regained their two goal advantage less than two minutes later, when Kevin Henderson tipped a Brett Westgarth pass behind Johnson at 10:01. Groulx earned the secondary assist, his third helper of the night.

The Wolf Pack offense was unable to close the gap any further after Byers' goal.

"We have to be aware of the fact that offense isn't going to be easy, or a cake walk, so we have to be airtight defensively," said Gernander.

The loss dropped the Wolf Pack's record under the .500-mark to 31(w)-32(l)-6(otl)-5(sol) and 73 points, sixth place in the Atlantic Division. Hartford's elimination number for missing the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time in their thirteen year history became four points in the defeat.

The Wolf Pack will return to action Friday night at the XL Center, as they battle the Lowell Devils to try and keep their playoff hopes alive (7:00).

Worcester Sharks 5 At Hartford Wolf Pack 3 Mar 31, 2010 - XL Center Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Worcester 3 0 2 - 5 Hartford 1 1 1 - 3

1st Period-1, Hartford, Brashear 2 (Ambuhl), 8:30. 2, Worcester, McCarthy 14 (Desjardins, DaSilva), 11:36. 3, Worcester, McCarthy 15 (Zalewski, Groulx), 14:20. 4, Worcester, DaSilva 19 (Groulx, McCarthy), 19:15. Penalties-Williams Hfd (hooking), 6:03.

2nd Period-5, Hartford, Sanguinetti 9 (Weise, Byers), 18:28. Penalties-Baldwin Hfd (high-sticking), 7:33; Wilson Wor (hooking), 10:58; Petrecki Wor (roughing, fighting), 14:34; Couture Hfd (fighting), 14:34.

3rd Period-6, Worcester, Quirk 7 (Ferriero), 5:24 (sh). 7, Hartford, Byers 22 (Potter, Newbury), 8:44. 8, Worcester, Henderson 2 (Westgarth, Groulx), 10:01. Penalties-Desjardins Wor (hooking), 4:49; Vesce Wor (delay of game), 6:44; Brashear Hfd (hooking), 10:54; Joslin Wor (delay of game), 18:56.

Shots on Goal-Worcester 12-9-8-29. Hartford 11-13-6-30. Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 of 3; Hartford 0 of 5. Goalies-Worcester, Doyle 6-2-0 (30 shots-27 saves). Hartford, Johnson 19-18-2 (29 shots-24 saves). A-1,671 Referees-Jamie Koharski (84). Linesmen-Glen Cooke (6), Luke Galvin (2).

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