SHARKSPAGE

WorSharks blanked by Falcons as great effort by Anderson wasted

The Worcester Sharks surrendered a penalty shot goal for the first time since last February, and while WorSharks rookie goaltender J.P. Anderson did everything he could to keep that the only goal against the Worcester skaters were unable to solve Springfield Falcons goaltender Anton Forsberg as the WorSharks lost 1-0 to the Falcons at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts Saturday night. It was the first time in 20 years of AHL hockey in the city the only goal of the game was on a penalty shot, and just the third time in WorSharks franchise history the team has lost 1-0.

Worcester Sharks rookie goaltender J.P. Anderson, pictured from Tuesday's 4-2
win over Springfield, had several nice saves on Saturday night against those
same Falcons but was a hard luck 1-0 loser. Photo courtesy of TEAMSHRED

For video highlights we’ll use the WorSharks YouTube channel. There is one highlight missing, which we’ll discuss below.

Scratches for Worcester were Jimmy Bonneau, Petter Emanuelsson (shoulder), and Gus Young. Aaron Dell was the backup goaltender. Bonneau was listed as a healthy scratch, but perhaps “banged up” may have been a better term as Bonneau cut his hand pretty badly in his bout Friday night against Manchester tough guy Josh Gratton. Considering what Gratton looked like after the fight perhaps he’s lucky that Bonneau did hurt his hand or it could have been much worse for him.

The penalty shot against for Worcester was the first since February 8, 2014 when John Albert of St. John’s beat Harri Sateri. Worcester has allowed three penalty shot goals in the last three attempts against them, but is still a very respectable seven for 12 in saves over the last nine plus seasons.

The WorSharks do a great job of putting together their highlight package, so when they miss one it really does stick out like a sore thumb. That’s the case for Saturday’s game as the video doesn’t include a two-on-none breakaway save by Anderson when T.J. Tynan and former Worcester defenseman Denny Urban broke in all alone on the rookie netminder as time was winding down in the first period. Anderson never committed to either player, and as the puck got closer he went low to the ice hoping a crossing pass or shot would hit him. Tynan’s attempt to tap the puck home was stuffed by Anderson’s right pad.

It wasn’t a great first half of the game for WorSharks defenseman Matt Tennyson. He was the player that hooked Springfield’s Sean Collins for the penalty shot against, and earlier in the game Tennyson got caught breaking one of the easiest rules not to: playing with a broken stick. Just before Anderson’s two-on-none save Worcester was on the power play with a faceoff down in the Falcons end. It was a clean win back to Tennyson, who wound up to blast a slapshot on Springfield goaltender Anton Forsberg. The blade of the stick went streaking toward the net, the puck barely moved. In a total brain cramp Tennyson held on to the broken shaft and tried to kick the puck away not once but twice. Referee Jamie Koharski quickly put his arm up to correctly call Tennyson for playing with a broken stick.

One of the things that annoys hockey fans took place at the DCU Center Saturday night. Referee Chris Brown, who is known for “letting the boys play”, was teamed with Koharski, who is known for calling everything in the book. The two issued ten power plays in the first 40 minutes of the game and none in the last 20. What are the odds there was no penalties in the third period? If it’s a penalty in the early part of the game it needs to be a penalty in the late part of the game. And you can trust this writer, there were many borderline calls in the first two periods that weren’t as clear as the ones let go in the third.

The three stars of the game were
1. SPR – 35 Anton Forsberg (33 save shutout)
2. SPR – 17 Sean Collins (penalty shot game winner)
3. WOR – 34 J.P. Anderson (15 saves)

The Sharkspage player of the game was J.P. Anderson.

Even strength lines
Tarasov/Hamilton/Langlois
Haley/Karlsson/Hayes
Lerg/Tierney/Carpenter
Schwartz/Oleksuk/Trupp

Taormina/Tennyson
Abeltshauser/Fedun
DeMelo/Doherty

BOX SCORE

Springfield 0 1 0 – 1
Worcester 0 0 0 – 0

1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Ponich Spr (cross-checking, fighting), 5:58; Doherty Wor (fighting), 5:58; Tarasov Wor (slashing), 7:22; Carpenter Wor (hooking), 12:59; Sifers Spr (interference), 18:47; Tennyson Wor (broken stick), 19:06; Rychel Spr (hooking), 20:00.

2nd Period-1, Springfield, Collins 5 8:08 (PS). Penalties-McCarthy Spr (interference), 3:23; Ponich Spr (fighting, game misconduct – third major/second fight), 12:51; Rychel Spr (roughing, roughing), 12:51; Haley Wor (fighting), 12:51; Hayes Wor (roughing), 12:51; Fedun Wor (tripping), 13:47; Craig Spr (slashing), 19:50.

3rd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties

Shots on Goal-Springfield 8-4-4-16. Worcester 8-9-16-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Springfield 0 / 4; Worcester 0 / 6.
Goalies-Springfield, Forsberg 1-0-0 (33 shots-33 saves). Worcester, Anderson 1-3-0 (16 shots-15 saves).
A-3,385
Referees-Chris Brown (86), Jamie Koharski (84).
Linesmen-Ed Boyle (81), Todd Whittemore (70).