Saturday Night Hockey: Adirondack Edged Worcester 2-1
By Ryan Bayer
#38 Jason Akeson of the Phantoms during the Adirondack Phantoms vs. Worcester game at the Glens Fall Civic Center on April 14, 2012. Mandatory credit: Adirondack Phantoms media department.
Worcester hosted the Adirondack Phantoms for the first time this season as this was the first of two scheduled meeting between these two clubs. The Sharks entered the contest ridding a four game loosing streak that had started back in Albany when were defeated by 4-1 final.
The Worcester Sharks welcomed forwards John McCarthy, Bracken Kearns, and defenseman Matt Pelech into their lineup after they took part in training camp activities for the San Jose Sharks. Former San Jose backup goaltender Brain Boucher made his first start of the 2012-2013 AHL season for the Adirondack Phantoms.
Injury front: Taylor Doherty (achilles), Sena Acolatse (jaw), Danny Groulx (concussion), Tim Kennedy (lower body), Mike Brennan (unknown injury) and Curt Gogol (neck).
Worcester was again without the services of James Sheppard, Matt Irwin, and Nick Petrecki as those three players made the 23 man roster for San Jose Sharks during training camp. San Jose opens their season on the road in Calgary.
Adirondack drew first blood on their first shot of the night when Cullen Eddy scored on a screen at the 2:40 mark of the opener. Eddy’s tally was his first of the year with assists coming from Zolnierczyk and Bordson.
At 8:23 of the first, Matt Pelech and Ian Slater both dropped the gloves that got the crowd going. Matt Pelech would eventually get the decisive victory against Ian Slater. Furthermore, both received matching major as a result of the fight.
Less the two minutes after the first fight of the night, another fight ensued between Kearns and Eddy who dropped the gloves and much like the first fight Sharks Kearns scored the take down blow to give Worcester the 2-0 victory in fight department. These combatants got awarded for their efforts by getting five for fighting.
Following the second scrap of the night, the Sharks went of their first power play of the game as FitzGerald of Adirondack was called with holding minor. Worcester however would make nothing of it on their first man advantage as the score remained tied at 1.
Brodie Reid got the equalizer at 13:09 of the first when he knotted his ninth goal of the season. His goal was assisted by Tarasov and Michael Pelech.
With one minute remaining of the first period, Bordson from the Phantoms took an undisciplined high sticking minor, thus putting Worcester on their second power play of the night. Worcester would score on the power play as the time expired. Worcester would take into the first intermission with 61 seconds of carry over power play to the next period.
Thru 20 minutes of play Worcester edged the Phantoms on the shot clock 8-7.
The Sharks entered the second frame with just over a minute remaining power play time all thanks to Bordson who administered a high sticking infraction back in the first period. Unfortunatley like their first opportunity, Worcester failed to convert to as the Phantoms kept the contest at 1-1.
Shortly after Worcester’s second power play opportunity, the Phantoms got a gift from the Sharks when Pleasanton, CA native Matt Tennyson went to sin bin for holding at 1:54 of the second stanza. The good news for Worcester was that Adirondack did not score on the power play.
At 5:12 of the second stanza the third fight ensue when Matt Pelech dropped the gloves for the second time of the night against FitzGerald. Matt Pelech would get the best of FitzGerald making the Sharks 3-0 in fighting bouts of the contest.
Not long after the third fight, Bracken Kearns of Worcester got an interference minor at 5:43. The Sharks would take another penalty as Tommy Grant took a slashing minor. On the 5 on 3 Worcester put up a stellar effort as they denied the Phantoms from going ahead.
The penalty woes continued for the Sharks when Matsumoto took a slashing minor at 6:47 of the second. On the power play for the Phantoms, they finally converted on the man advantage when Ty McGinn stuffed in the loose puck to put Adirondack ahead 2-1. McGinn’s goal, was his 11th of the season and was assisted by Ford and Syvert at 11:23.
For the first time of the contest, both teams skated four aside when Worcester’s Matt Tennyson got called for roughing and Phantoms Zolniercyk got caught with a tripping minor. Both teams made it interesting on the four on four situation but Worcester nearly tied it up when Sharks Urban skate connected with puck to put in the Phantoms net. However the officials waved it off and the score remained 2-1 Adirondack.
With 40 minutes into the books, the Phantoms took the lead on the shot clock over Worcester 18-15.
The penalty parade continued for the Sharks as Michael Pelech took a holding minor that was followed by Livingston in the first three minutes of the final period, putting Worcester shorthanded by two men for the second time of the contest. Worcester managed to escape the five on three situation as the score remained 2-1 Phantoms.
For the third time of the contest Tennyson went back to box this time for an interference minor at 9:33 of the final period. Adirondack did not score on the power play as Worcester killed it off and was 1-7 on the pk.
In later stages of the final period, Worcester would put some pressure on the Phantoms but Boucher would close the door on the Sharks as they walked away with this one by a final score of 2-1. Tonight’s lose for the Worcester Sharks added to their current loosing skid to bring it at five games lost. In addition, Worcester loosing skid against Adirondack continued to three in a row.
3 Stars of the Game:
1. ADK – 16 Tye McGinn
2. WOR – 51 Brodie Reid
3. ADK – 20 Cullen Eddy
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