SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks loss to Bridgeport spoils pro debut of Matt Nieto

The Worcester Sharks once again found a way to lose two valuable points in the standings to a team they absolutely had to beat to keep their longshot playoff chances alive after surrendering another multi goal lead and then never getting back on track Tuesday night in dropping a 4-2 contest to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the DCU Center in front of the smallest crowd ever to catch a WorSharks game.

WorSharks fall to the Sound Tigers 4-2
Bridgeport at Worcester

The scratches for Worcester Curt Gogol (ankle), Mike Brennan, Yanni Gourde, Marek Viedensky (upper body), Dane Walters, Lane Scheidl, and Brodie Reid (shoulder–out for season). Harri Sateri was the back-up goaltender.

The loss not only dropped the WorSharks playoff chances to around 5%–math is not this writer’s strong suit so someone smarter than he had to figure it out–it also spoiled the pro debut of one of the San Jose Sharks highest rated prospects Matt Nieto. The Boston University product left school with one year of eligibility remaining after BU was not one of the 16 teams selected to play for the NCAA championship. Nieto reportedly practiced with the line of Sebastian Stalberg and Freddie Hamilton, but Tuesday night played left wing on a line with John McCarthy and James Livingston. Ironically, Nieto’s first pro point came when he replaced Jon Matsumoto on a line change and had the secondary assist on Hamilton’s goal. Nieto got time on Worcester’s second power play unit and was part of the penalty killers in the third period.

Matt Nieto in his pro debut with the Worcester Sharks on April 2, 2013.
Photo courtesy of TEAMSHRED

The WorSharks even strength lines, courtesy of Michael Fornabaio of the CT Post:
Tarasov/Kearns/Sivak
Matsumoto/Hamilton/Stalberg
Nieto/McCarthy/Livingston
Bonneau/Oleksuk/Pelech

Joslin/Acolatse
Comrie/Doherty
Petrecki/Urban

The three stars of the game were
1. BRI – 18 Ryan Strome (g,a)
2. BRI – 32 Joe Diamond (g,a)
3. WOR – 40 Matt Nieto (a)

The Sharkspage player of the game was Daniil Tarasov.

BOXSCORE

Bridgeport 1 2 1 – 4
Worcester 2 0 0 – 2

1st Period-1, Worcester, Tarasov 10 (Sivak, Kearns), 1:26. 2, Worcester, Hamilton 10 (Stalberg, Nieto), 6:54. 3, Bridgeport, Strome 1 (Nelson), 17:59. Penalties-Riley Bri (roughing), 1:26; Bonneau Wor (roughing), 1:26; Riley Bri (fighting), 3:29; Bonneau Wor (fighting), 3:29; Persson Bri (goaltender interference), 11:08.

2nd Period-4, Bridgeport, Wishart 6 (Backman, Sundstrom), 2:16. 5, Bridgeport, Diamond 1 (Strome), 19:07. Penalties-Strome Bri (high-sticking), 4:26.

3rd Period-6, Bridgeport, DeFazio 11 (Campbell, Ness), 5:10. Penalties-Diamond Bri (boarding, fighting), 0:35; Doherty Wor (fighting), 0:35; Acolatse Wor (boarding), 5:47; McIver Bri (fighting), 8:10; Doherty Wor (fighting), 8:10; Livingston Wor (boarding), 8:52; Persson Bri (elbowing), 10:59; Matsumoto Wor (holding the stick), 12:21; served by Nieto Wor (bench minor – too many men), 18:51.

Shots on Goal-Bridgeport 14-9-12-35. Worcester 11-8-6-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Bridgeport 0 / 4; Worcester 0 / 4.
Goalies-Bridgeport, DiPietro 6-5-0 (25 shots-23 saves). Worcester, Stalock 15-13-3 (35 shots-31 saves).
A-1,777
Referees-Terry Koharski (10), Geoff Miller (28).
Linesmen-Joe Ross (92), Brian MacDonald (72).