Worcester beats St. John's in shootout for second-straight night

Published on November 16, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
St. John's IceCaps News Release


ST. JOHN'S, NL - Harri Sateri made 24 saves and Travis Oleksuk scored in regulation and added another in the shootout, as the Worcester Sharks edged the St. John's IceCaps 2-1 Saturday night at Mile One Centre.

Brodie Reid had the other tally in the shootout for the Sharks, who took five out of a possible six points from the IceCaps over the three-game series with the win. Sateri also stopped four-of-five IceCaps' attempts in the shootout.

Jerome Samson had the regulation goal for St. John's, while Eric O'Dell had the single tally for St. John's in the shootout. Jussi Olkinuora had his home debut spoiled by the Sharks, but turned aside 32 shots in regulation and two-of-four in the shootout in an outstanding effort.

In the opening frame, the IceCaps wasted little time jumping out to the early 1-0 lead. With St. John's on the power play - their first of five in the period - Jason Jaffray dished it to Samson at the high point, who wristed his fourth tally of the series over the blocker of Sateri just over three minutes in.

Shortly after Samson's goal, Bracken Kearns's boarding and unsportsmanlike minor penalties set the stage for a slew of man-advantage scenarios for both clubs before the first intermission, though neither side was able to capitalize on their chances.

While the second period remained scoreless, Olkinuora made an outstanding toe save midway through the frame during a Sharks power play to preserve the IceCaps' lead into the third period.

The Sharks struck back in the third, however, evening the score 1-1 at 7:49. Charging into the IceCaps zone on an odd-man rush, Sebastian Stalberg managed to sneak the cross-ice feed over a diving St. John's defenceman before Oleksuk made a nifty move to lift the puck over Olkinuora's shoulder.

After a scoreless overtime period - the third-consecutive game in the series that went to an extra frame - the IceCaps and Sharks needed a shootout for the second-straight night to decide a winner. O'Dell's single shootout marker wasn't enough to lift St. John's to victory, however, as goals from Oleksuk and Reid sent Worcester home with back-to-back wins to close out their series in St. John's.

The IceCaps will look to rebound when they travel to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to play the Penguins next Friday (8:35 NT) to kick off their six-game road trip. Catch all the action with broadcaster Brian Rogers at www.stjohnsicecaps.com and on 930 AM This is Newfoundland Labrador, or watch online at www.ahllive.com. Pregame show begins a half hour before puck drop.

Notes: IceCaps defenseman Julian Melchiori was recalled by the parent Winnipeg Jets Saturday afternoon, filling the void after Jets rearguard Zach Bogosian left the game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday with a lower-body injury... St. John's went 1-for-5 on the power play, while killing off all six penalties... Not dressed for St. John's: Cody

Lampl, Ryan Schnell, Josh Lunden, Julian Melchiori, Austen Brassard... Molson Canadian Three Stars: 1. Harri Sateri 2. Jussi Olkinuora 3. Travis Oleksuk... Mary Brown's Hardest Working Player: JC Lipon.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 16, 2013


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