Worcester Sharks Win In Overtime!!!!!
By Ryan Bayer
2/19/12 Springfield – Mandatory credit: Michael Beswick – The Worcester Sharks visited the Springfield Falcons Sunday afternoon at the MassMutual Center. The Sharks’ (26) James Livingston congratulates teamate (44) Andrew Murray as they light the lamp first in the first period of play against Falcon Manny Legace.
Tonight marked the first of eight meeting between the Springfield Falcons and the Worcester Sharks. The last time these two state rivals meet during regular season action dates back to the 2011-2012 AHL season in which the Falcons defeated the Sharks 3-2 in Worcester. It’s fitting that the first game of the new season series began at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.
This is an updated injury report for the Worcester Sharks: defensemen’s Taylor Doherty, Sena Acolatse, Danny Groulx, and forward Tim Kennedy.
Newly signed Mike Wilson made is 2012-2013 debut for the Sharks. Tonight’s game started Wilson’s second tour of duty with Worcester. The last time Mike played for the Worcester Sharks, dates back to the 2009-2010 AHL season where he played 54 games, scored five goals and ten assists.
On the eve of the ratification window for the NHLPA that is scheduled to conclude at 8:00a EST Saturday, Coach Roy Sommer elected not to dress forward James Sheppard as he is projected to make the trip to San Jose for the NHL Sharks training camp. He also did not dress defensemen’s Matt Irwin, Matt Tennyson, and Mikael Tam just in case they were called to the west coast for camp.
Worcester Sharks defenseman #29 Nick Petrecki skates during the January 11, 2013 game vs. Springfield at the DCU Center. Mandatory credit: Worcester Sharks media department.
4:45 into the game the Falcons were issued the contests first penalty of the night, thus putting the Sharks on the man advantage when Springfields Kubalik was called for holding. Shortly into the power play for Worcester, Bracken Kearns of the Sharks was caught for high sticking minor putting both teams a four skaters aside.
On the four on four situation Freddie Hamilton made a great move and sniped the puck top shelf to put Worcester up to a 1-0 Sharks lead. The goal by Hamilton was his fifth goal of the season with the assists from both Pelech and Livingston at the 6:05 mark of the first frame.
With 6:14 left in the first, Sharks Curt Gogol administered a hard hit to Springfield Falcons player as he was called for a boarding penalty. With Gogol in the penalty box, the Falcons would get their second power play of the contest. While being shorthanded, the Sharks would close the door on the Falcons to protect their one goal lead.
With the only goal in the period to Worcester, they entered the first intermission trailing on the shot clock 11-5 to the visiting Falcons.
As the middle frame began, both teams skated five aside.
At the 6:00 mark of the second stanza the Springfield Falcons scored their first tally of the game with a nice redirection on a 3-on-2 to the tie the contest up one. Goal was scored Kubalik and made it his seventh goal of the season with assists from Chaput and Savard.
As the period went on, Pelech and Smith drop the gloves as the two combatants would make nothing of it. After there fight concluded both players went off to the box for five minutes each.
Off the face off win for the Worcester Sharks, defenseman Denny Urban blasted the puck from the point as rubber went thru a screen to put the Sharks ahead 2-1. The goal by Urban was his second of the season with assists from both Reid and Matsumoto at the 15:48 marker of the second.
Right after the go ahead goal the Sharks, Worcester’s Livingston was called for elbowing, making it the period’s first special teams situation. Springfield would make nothing out of their man advantage as the score remained 2-1 Worcester.
With less than a minute remaining is the middle period, Springfield’s Kubalik was caught with interference to put Worcester on the power play for the second time of the contest. However they would not score as the period came to a close.
After 40 minutes of play the Falcons maintained their six shot cushion on the shot clock with a 21-15 advantage.
The Sharks entered the final period with 1:07 of carry over power play time that was courtesy of the Springfield Falcons. Worcester would come short to add to their 2-1 as the Falcon’s remained a perfect 3-3 of the penalty kill.
Later in the period, Springfield would tie the game up a two goals apiece when Collins scored his seventh goal of the year with the assists from Andy-Marchessault and Goloubef at 6:28 mark of the contest’s final frame.
With 10:45 remaining in regulation, Worcester went of the power play when Falcons Johansen was called for a hold. While the power play for Worcester Denny Urban put the Sharks back on top 3-2 as he scored his second of the night and third of the year and his goal was assisted by both Matsumoto and McCarthy at the 9:55 marker of the final frame.
As the period went on, Hamilton headed to the box with 2:11 left. On the power play for Springfield pulled their goaltender to put the sixth attacker on the ice. During the six on four advantage for the Falcons they finally scored on the man advantage to tie the game up for a third time to make it 3-3 with Kubalik scoring his eighth of the season with the assists from Chaput and Erixon at 19:02 of the third.
After regulation time Springfield held their lead on the shot clock over Worcester with a 28-24 margin.
The second shot of overtime came at 4:18 and sent Sharks fans home happy. After newly signed Mike Wilson made a nice backhand feed, Nick Petrecki (1st) collected the puck at the point and wristed the puck through traffic, finding the back of the cage and giving the Sharks a 4-3 win.
San Francisco Bulls defenseman #44 Sacha Guimond. Mandatory credit: San Francisco Bulls media department.
In other news the San Francisco Bulls sent defenseman Sacha Guimond to the Worcester Sharks. Guimond, 21, heads to Worcester after leading all Bulls defenseman in goals (7), assists (18) and points (25). Guimond currently ranks third in the ECHL in points among defensemen. Guimond will join other former Bulls, Mikael Tam and Daniil Tarasov, in Worcester.
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