The Best Of 2007-08: Dominant Team Efforts
May 20, 2008
The Best Of 2007-08: Dominant Team Efforts
As part of a season review, sharksahl.com is taking a look back at some of the top moments from the Worcester Sharks’ second season. In this, our fifth and final week, we go out with the best: a look back at the Sharks’ top 60-minute team efforts.
We want your opinion too! Any and all comments, suggestions, or feedback are welcome by emailing Public Relations Intern Justin "Guy" Lafleur at jlafleur@sharksahl.com. Remember to check back in the days and weeks ahead for more superlatives from 2008! At that time, we will look back at fans' comments as well!
Weekly Archives:
This Week: Top 5 Dominant Team Efforts
Top 5 Dominant Team Efforts
1. Sharks stun Providence with convincing 3-0 road victory (Jan. 11):
Coming off a hard-fought shootout win over the Bruins (on Jan. 5), the Sharks traveled to Providence on the11th looking to make it two in a row. Worcester set the tone early and carried it the whole game, silencing the Dunkin Donuts Center crowd while easily cruising to the 3-0 win, the first shutout in franchise history. Riley Armstrong got everything started with a first-period tip past All-Star netminder Tuukka Rask. Later in the period, Devin Setoguchi took a Dan Spang homerun pass and converted on the breakaway to make it 2-0. Dennis Packard capped off the scoring with a goal against his former team to make it 3-0, the final score in what proved to be the Sharks’ best overall effort of the season, if not the most impress game by any AHL squad all year.
Dennis Packard scored in the second period vs. Providence.
Please click here for the complete game story.
2. Worcester travels to Manchester, tops Monarchs, 5-1 (Dec. 16):
When the Sharks and Monarchs play, it is normally a nail-biter. Playing in a hostile environment at the Verizon Wireless Arena, Worcester made sure that wouldn’t happen, scoring the game’s first five goals through 25:32 for the easy victory. Fox started with his third and fourth tallies of the year at the 5:00 and 8:01 marks. Manchester salvaged a goal with less than five minutes remaining in the third when Trevor Lewis scored to pull within four at the final horn. Taylor Dakers was tremendous in net, stopping 28 of 29 shots sent his way.
T.J. Fox scored the game's first two goals.
Please click here for the complete game story.
3. Sharks top Lowell by (the first) 6-1 final on Feb. 6:
In what would prove to be an eerily similar set of circumstances, the Sharks started their Tsongas Arena dominance with their largest margin of victory (5 goals) all season. Mike Iggulden got things started only 2:30 into the game, but Stephen Gionta tied it up at the 4:46 mark. T.J. Fox gave Worcester the 2-1 lead at 15:49, a sign of things to come. The Sharks dominated the second period with three goals (two by Riley Armstrong) to make it 5-1. Devin Setoguchi added a highlight-reel tally less than one minute into the third period, capping off a tremendous all-around team effort which improved Worcester’s record to one game over the .500 mark (21-20-3-3). Also of note, the Sharks were not whistled for any penalties marking the first time that has happened in franchise history.
Dimitri Patzold was strong in net for the Sharks.
Please click here for the complete game story.
4. Sharks continue dominance at Lowell, once again top Devils, 6-1 (Mar. 14):
In its return to the Tsongas Arena, Worcester duplicated its Feb. 6 effort almost to a T with another controlling 6-1 win. This time, the Sharks scored the game’s first two goals, but the Devils responded to make it 2-1 after one. Just like the last time they were at the Tsongas Arena, Dimitri Patzold was strong in net while Worcester scored three in the second and one in the third for the eerily similar win. Brad Staubitz also KO’ed Lowell’s Pierre-Luc Leblond in the third period, giving the Sharks the victory in more ways than one.
Brad Staubitz finished the memorable March evening with a Gordie Howe Hat Trick.
Please click here for the complete game story.
5. Worcester ends Albany’s win-streak, topping Rats, 5-3 (Mar. 7):
The River Rats came into the DCU Center red-hot, riding an eight-game winning streak. Graham Mink did his best to make sure it wouldn’t extend to nine as he scored only 11 seconds after the opening draw. After Albany scored two straight to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission, Worcester responded in a second period to remember. Derek Joslin scored once and assisted on two goals to turn the one-goal deficit into a 4-2 lead, with a number of team (and individual) highs being tied/broken in the process. Mink scored his second goal late in the third to cap off four-consecutive tallies, but Albany added a 5-on-3 goal to make the final score more respectable. In the end, a solid all-around performance led to the impressive win at a crucial time in the season, keeping the Sharks very much in the playoff race.
Derek Joslin finished with three points (1g, 2a), in the second period alone!!!
Please click here for the complete game story.
Honorable Mention
*Sharks prey on Bears early and often, top Hershey 3-1 (Jan. 2):
Despite only winning by a pair, Worcester was impressive in beating one of the league’s better teams on Jan. 2 at the DCU Center. T.J. Fox scored only 2:24 into the game while Derek Joslin added a tally 10 minutes later as the Sharks cruised the rest of the way. Perhaps most impressive, Worcester finished with a dominating 34-19 shot advantage, not allowing Hershey to get anything going in its attacking zone. Thomas Greiss was more than adequate in between the pipes with 18 stops.
Please click here for the complete game story.
*Sharks Stop Springfield, 4-1 (Feb. 27):
After a tough loss to the Falcons three days earlier, Worcester needed to make a statement to prove that they’d have a shot at the playoffs. That they would do, and more. Devin Setoguchi, J.D. Forrest, and Graham Mink all scored before the Falcons got on the scoreboard, leading to the easy three-goal win. Most impressive, Worcester responded with a Tom Cavanagh goal only 38 seconds after Liam Reddox lit the lamp, ending any hope the Falcons had of staging a comeback. The Sharks finished on top in shots, 27-20, while also fairing well in three fights (Brad Staubitz vs. Theo Peckham, Ashton Rome vs. Rick Berry, and Brennan Evans vs. Troy Bodie).
Please click here for the complete game story.
*Sharks double up Falcons in shots and on scoreboard (Apr. 6):
In another impressive showing against their Western Massachusetts rivals, Worcester avenged a 4-2 defeat at Springfield four days earlier and turned the tables with another 4-2 final, this time in its favor. The Apr. 2 loss eliminated the Sharks from any playoff hopes while Worcester’s win on the sixth eliminated Springfield. The Falcons scored first before T.J. Fox and Brad Staubitz tied it up and gave the Sharks the 2-1 lead, respectfully. After the Falcons tied the score, Worcester finished with two unanswered, knocking Springfield out of postseason hopes in the process. Along with on the scoreboard, the Sharks finished with the impressive 44-22 shot advantage, highlighted by a 15-3 second period margin.
Please click here for the complete game story.
Agree? Disagree? What do you think? Remember, if you have any questions or comments, or would like to put in your two cents, please email your list to Public Relations Intern Justin “Guy” Lafleur at jlafleur@sharksahl.com. At the beginning of the next edition, we will take a look back at some fans’ thoughts. Please include your full name and hometown for a chance to be included!
|
