The Worcester Sharks overcame several early miscues by goaltender Frank Doyle and used two third period goals by T.J. Trevelyan to defeat the Hartford Wolf Pack 6-4 Wednesday night at the DCU center in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Hartford came into the DCU Center on a four game winning streak against the WorSharks having won all of their previous meetings this season, and it looked like Worcester's bad luck against the Wolf Pack would continue when defenseman Corey Potter intercepted a clearing attempt at the blue line and flipped an easy arcing shot on Doyle that somehow found its way into the back of the net for a 1-0 Hartford lead at 5:54.
The WorSharks would answer at 9:08 with their first of three power play goals on the night. Derek Joslin began the play by breaking in down the right wing side, and firing a shot on Hartford goaltender Matt Zaba that was easily saved. Steven Zalewski was able to grab the rebound and jammed at it twice before the puck got past Zaba to knot the game.
The Wolf Pack would regain the lead as referee Mark Lemelin was waiting to call a delayed minor on Worcester. Just before Zaba could make it to the bench Potter would again light the lamp from the blue line, this time beating an unscreened Doyle with a slapshot over the netminder's glove at 14:16. Doyle would again have an issues with the puck, being called for playing the puck in the restricted area just 13 seconds after Potter's second goal.
Hartford would make it 3-1 halfway through the second period after a turnover deep in the WorSharks zone. Brodie Dupont was able to deflect a pass from Corey Locke under Doyle and just over the goal line at 10:21.
Worcester would get back within one at 14:32 with their second power play goal of the contest. The play began with Worcester skating five on three and not having much luck getting a scoring chance, but as Wolf Pack defense Ilkka Heikkinen jumped out of the box and into the play Worcester was able to get a lucky bounce. After several attempts in close that were turned away captain Ryan Vesce's shot deflected off defenseman Anders Eriksson leg and into the net to make it 3-2. Benn Ferriero and Danny Groulx had the helpers on the play.
Andrew Desjardins would tie the game for Worcester at 7:26 of the third period as the WorSharks third line swarmed around the net. John McCarthy's original shot went wide of Zaba, but Dan DaSilva grabbed the loose puck and found Desjardins in the slot. Desjardins' blast to the stick side just glanced off Zaba's blocker and into the net.
Trevelyan would give Worcester its first lead of the evening after converting on a two on one break. After a rebound of a Doyle kick save that Kevin Henderson grabbed, he and Trevelyan would skate into the Wolf Pack zone against Eriksson. Henderson threw the perfect pass to Trevelyan as Locke dove in from behind to try and block the play, and Trevelyan's blast hit off Zaba and in at 9:30 for the 4-3 Worcester lead.
The Wolf Pack would get back to even at 13:03 of the third when Potter's fluttering blast from the point was deflected by Dale Weise and past Doyle to make it a 4-4 game.
Trevelyan's second of the game at 18:15 would give Worcester the lead for good when he deflected Logan Couture's hard centering pass past a surprised Zaba. Brett Westgarth, in his first home game in Worcester since being traded back to the WorSharks last week, had the other assist on the goal.
With a minute to go in the contest Hartford tried to get Zaba off the ice for an extra attacker, and were called for a too many men on the ice minor. Despite being shorthanded Hartford pulled Zaba as their first opportunity to get the skaters back to even, but they were unable to get a single shot on goal. Groulx iced the game by stick handling out of the Worcester zone as time ticked down, and threw a lazy shot in the empty net that made it over the goal line as time expired. Even though the green light was on Referee Lemelin ruled the goal good for the 6-4 final.
GAME NOTES
Worcester's scratches were Joe Callahan, Matt Jones, Joe Loprieno, Tyson Sexsmith, Dennis McCauley, Cory Quirk, and Michael Wilson. Alex Stalock was the back-up goaltender. Nick Petrecki did not play in the third period, but did not appear injured.
The Worcester Sharks Booster Club announced their players of the month for December and January, with Benn Ferriero winning the award for December and Danny Groulx being the winner for January. Groulx's empty net goal at 19:59.9 kept alive a streak of winners scoring goals in games where the awards were given out that extends back into last season.
Wednesday was the deadline for teams to submit their Clear Day Rosters to the AHL. The AHL rules say that only players on the list, along with college and junior players signed after their seasons are over, are eligible to play from now until the end of the Calder Cup playoffs. In reality, it is very simple for teams to literally play anyone they want. Worcester's list was fairly predictable with the notable exception of Jamie McGinn. McGinn can still play for the WorSharks should he be reassigned to the AHL at any point as long as he is replacing an injured or recalled player on the WorSharks list. Headaches and the sniffles are considered "injures" by the AHL.
Worcester's list contains forwards John McCarthy, Logan Couture, Dwight Helminen, Cory Quirk, Frazer McLaren, Steven Zalewski, Ryan Vesce, Benn Ferriero, Andrew Desjardins, Dan DaSilva, T.J. Trevelyan, and Brandon Mashinter; defensemen Danny Groulx, Jason Demers, Mike Moore, Michael Wilson, Derek Joslin, Joe Callahan, Nick Petrecki, and Brett Westgarth; and goaltenders Frank Doyle and Alex Stalock.
The three stars of the game were
1. Trevelyan (2g)
2. Potter (2g,a,+3)
3. Vesce (g,a)
Trevelyan was also the AHL's second star of the night
The Sharkspage player of the game was Danny Groulx.
Even strength lines
Trevelyan/Couture/Vesce
Mashinter/Helminen/Ferriero
Zalewski/Desjardins/DaSilva
McLaren/Henderson/McCarthy
Demers/Moore
Groulx/Joslin
Petrecki/Westgarth
Power play lines
Couture/Vesce/Trevelyan
Mashinter/Zalewski/Ferriero
Demers/Groulx
Moore/Joslin
Penalty kill lines
Desjardins/McCarthy
Helminen/Ferriero
Henderson/McLaren
Moore/Demers
Groulx/Joslin(Westgarth)
BOXSCORE
Hartford 2 1 1 - 4
Worcester 1 1 4 - 6
1st Period-1, Hartford, Potter 3 5:54. 2, Worcester, Zalewski 21 (Joslin), 9:08 (pp). 3, Hartford, Potter 4 (Dupont, Locke), 14:16. Penalties-Brashear Hfd (hooking), 7:46; Doyle Wor (delay of game - restricted area), 14:29; served by Brashear Hfd (bench minor - too many men), 17:05.
2nd Period-4, Hartford, Dupont 13 (Locke, Parenteau), 10:21. 5, Worcester, Vesce 12 (Ferriero, Groulx), 14:32 (pp). Penalties-Soryal Hfd (fighting), 4:31; Petrecki Wor (fighting), 4:31; Nightingale Hfd (fighting), 6:21; Henderson Wor (kneeing, fighting), 6:21; Westgarth Wor (interference), 10:45; Heikkinen Hfd (hooking), 12:26; Potter Hfd (cross-checking), 13:56.
3rd Period-6, Worcester, Desjardins 14 (McCarthy, DaSilva), 7:26. 7, Worcester, Trevelyan 20 (Doyle, Henderson), 9:30. 8, Hartford, Weise 21 (Potter, Newbury), 13:03. 9, Worcester, Trevelyan 21 (Westgarth, Couture), 18:15. 10, Worcester, Groulx 9 (Demers, Vesce), 19:59 (pp en). Penalties-Joslin Wor (boarding), 0:19; Garlock Hfd (hooking), 3:56; served by Soryal Hfd (bench minor - too many men), 19:00.
Shots on Goal
Hartford 10-18-10-38
Worcester 11-8-7-26.
Power Play Opportunities
Hartford 0 of 4
Worcester 3 of 6.
Goalies
Hartford, Zaba 6-11-2 (25 shots-20 saves)
Worcester, Doyle 2-1-0 (38 shots-34 saves).
A-2,306. Referee-Mark Lemelin (84). Linesmen-Mark Messier (12), Bob Paquette (18).
