SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks take two in 3-2 shootout win over Manchester

The Worcester Sharks have had issues putting the puck in the net this season, so after falling behind 2-0 to the stingy Manchester Monarchs on a great goal and a “not so great” goal things didn’t look so good for the WorSharks, but two quick third period strikes by Matt Tennyson and Rylan Schwartz got Team Teal back to even and into a shootout where once again rookie goaltender Troy Grosenick took charge and led the team to a 3-2 victory Sunday afternoon at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts in front of 2,711 fans.

Worcester Sharks forward Bracken Kearns broke out of a scoring slump with
two assists Sunday to lead the WorSharks to a 3-2 win over Manchester.
File photo courtesy of TEAMSHRED

For video highlights we once again point at AHLlive.com

Scratches for the WorSharks were Konrad Abeltshauser, Sena Acolatse (lower body), Brodie Reid, Lane Scheidl (knee), Daniil Tarasov (groin), and Marek Viedensky (unknown injury). Harri Sateri was the backup goaltender.

Not shown on the highlight video was an incredible defensive play by Nick Petrecki in the waning seconds of overtime when Manchester had a three on one rush against him. Petrecki could not have played it more perfectly, forcing the puck carrier toward the left side while still preventing a cross ice pass and allowing Grosenick a great view of any shot from the outside. When the puck carrier made the move to pass Petrecki blocked the ice between the Monarchs players and forced a saucer pass that was behind the onrushing Manchester player. Petrecki then cleared out the player and that was it for the scoring chance.

Early in the first period Taylor Doherty, all 6’7″ of him, was called for checking the head of a Manchester player. No one this writer spoke to could identify the player, which includes people sitting right on the glass where the penalty allegedly occurred. Doherty did throw a check just previously to the penalty being called, but it was clean and the head wasn’t primary point of contact. Despite there being no evidence that anyone can uncover Doherty is still subject to supplementary discipline, which many fans say will be suspension simply because Doherty plays for Worcester. We’ll all find out soon enough.

Anecdotally, the Maxim Kitsyn score from 90′ feet out was the farthest away an opponent was from the Worcester goal and scored while the goaltender was still in the net. It is not, however, the longest goal scored against a goaltender at the DCU Center. That honor belongs to Aris Brimanis of the Worcester IceCats when he beat, ironically enough, the Monarchs Travis Scott just after Scott had come into the game in relief of Jeff Sanger. While Scott was still stretching the officials dropped the puck and after Greg Day’s clean faceoff win Brimanis fired the puck past a startled Scott from 115′ away. That March 30, 2003 game is also the biggest comeback in Worcester pro hockey history as the IceCats trailed Manchester 6-1 entering the third period and won it 7-6 in overtime.

Bill Ballou has dubbed the Riley Brace, Matt Pelech and Jimmy Bonneau combination as the “Mayhem Line”. It’s not as catchy as “Crazed Rats” was, but if the three play as well together as they did Saturday and Sunday “Mayhem Line” may start rolling off the tongue a little better.

When George Brown, the PA announcer at the DCU Center, called out Riley Brace’s name as the third shootout shooter for the WorSharks more than a few people were scratching their heads. Someday this writer might be able to tell an amusing story that came out afterward concerning one fan’s reaction. Perhaps at “award time” it will get a mention.

Something else head scratching: Worcester has only scored nine goals in their last six games but have gone 4-1-1-0, all four wins in shootout. And not to put the cart before the horse, but as the first playoff tiebreaker is non-shootout wins the WorSharks really need to start getting some wins outside the skills competition.

The three stars of the game were
1. WOR – 27 Rylan Schwartz (g)
2. WOR – 16 Bracken Kearns (2a)
3. WOR – 8 Sebastian Stalberg (SO game winner)

The Sharkspage player of the game is Matt Tennyson.

Even strength lines
Schwartz-Kearns-DaSilva
Hayes-Hamilton-Stalberg
Gogol-Oleksuk-Livingston
Bonneau-Brace-Pelech

Davison-Tennyson
Comrie-Doherty
Petrecki-Demelo

BOXSCORE

Manchester 1 1 0 0 – 2
Worcester 0 0 2 0 – 3

1st Period-1, Manchester, Sabourin 6 (Andreoff, Schultz), 19:33. Penalties-Doherty Wor (checking to the head), 3:01; Burt Mch (holding), 7:10; Backman Mch (holding the stick), 9:31; Weal Mch (hooking), 13:38; Demelo Wor (tripping), 16:13.

2nd Period-2, Manchester, Kitsyn 1 (Bishop, Bodnarchuk), 12:41. Penalties-Campbell Mch (tripping), 8:15; Kearns Wor (interference), 9:05.

3rd Period-3, Worcester, Tennyson 1 (Kearns, Comrie), 4:11 (PP). 4, Worcester, Schwartz 2 (Kearns, Demelo), 6:54. Penalties-Weal Mch (double minor – high-sticking), 0:47.

OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shootout – Manchester 1 (Andreoff NG, Kozun G, Weal NG, Deslauriers NG, Sabourin NG), Worcester 2 (DaSilva G, Livingston NG, Brace NG, Stalberg G).
Shots on Goal-Manchester 5-10-5-0-0-20. Worcester 8-14-8-1-1-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Manchester 0 / 3; Worcester 1 / 6.
Goalies-Manchester, Berube 4-2-1 (31 shots-29 saves). Worcester, Grosenick 4-2-0 (20 shots-18 saves).
A-2,711
Referees-Jarrod Ragusin (54), Pierre Lambert (39).
Linesmen-Robert St. Lawrence (10), Scott Whittemore (96).