Worcester Sharks vs. Philadelphia Phantoms

DCU Center – Worcester, MA

November 3, 2007

 

 

By: Chris Del Vecchio

 

WORCESTER – The Worcester Sharks were unable to find their rhythm again on Saturday night and were held scoreless for the first time this year, dropping a 3-0 decision to the AHL’s top team, the Philadelphia Phantoms.

 

Philadelphia came out firing and took a 1-0 lead just over a minute into the game.  Pete Zingoni one-timed a centering feed from rookie Steve Downie that beat rookie goaltender Taylor Dakers to the back post, deflected off the upright and into the net.  Zingoni struck again at the midpoint of the first period, this time while Nate Raduns was in the Worcester penalty box.  From the low slot, Zingoni attacked Dakers and beat the Worcester goaltender to his glove side, tallying his sixth goal of the season and doubling the Phantoms advantage. 

 

The Sharks, held shotless for the first nine minutes plus, began to generate offense toward the end of the period.  Dennis Packard nearly poked home a slap shot from Josh Prudden, and the loose puck led to a scramble that produced two more shots on net and coincidental minor penalties to Philadelphia’s Jussi Timonen and Worcester’s Graham Mink.  A subsequent holding minor on Denis Gauthier gave the Sharks a 4-on-3 advantage that overlapped the first intermission.

 

Worcester was unable to capitalize on the man advantage or on the rocket from Craig Valette that hit the upright shortly after the power play expired.  The teams traded even-strength chances over much of the period before a minor penalty against Josh Prudden gave Philadelphia’s top-ranked power play its next chance.  Dakers made four saves on the penalty kill while holding the Phantoms scoreless.  Philadelphia would strike again before the end of the period, however.  Dakers pushed aside a breakaway try by Downie but the rookie tracked down the puck and fed teammate Stefan Ruzicka, who cut around Dakers and finished top shelf to expand the Phantoms lead to 3-0.

 

Tom Cavanagh had the best chance of the final stanza, but his short-range rebound try was poked just wide by Scott Munroe, who replaced Philadelphia starting netminder Brian Boucher early in the second period.  The pair combined for 32 saves in the shutout.

 

Worcester starts a three game road swing on Wednesday with an 11:00 am puck drop at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, followed by Friday and Saturday night games in Texas against San Antonio and Houston.  The Sharks return home on Monday, November 12^th for a 1:05 pm Veteran’s Day matinee presented by Price Chopper.  Bring your blades and join the Sharks for a post-game skate.  For more information on Sharks ticketing and promotions, visit the new sharksahl.com.

 

NOTES… Saturday’s contest was the first ever meeting between the two clubs… Philadelphia entered the game with the league’s top power play (25%) and was 1-for-4… Worcester’s power play was ranked third (22.2%) and was 0-for-3… Worcester’s Nate Raduns and Philadelphia’s Jonathan Matsumoto are tied for the league lead among rookies with five goals each… Phantoms goaltender Brian Boucher left the game briefly three minutes into the second period, returned :36 later, and was pulled again in favor of Scott Munroe… Munroe is one of two Phantoms who attended The University of Alabama at Huntsville… Brennan Evans and Steve Downie dropped gloves in the first period, while Craig Valette and Pete Zingoni tangled alongside… the fight was Evans’ fourth of the year and the seventh overall for Worcester… Downie’s debut came after being declared eligible by the AHL, though he is still serving a 20-game suspension for a preseason hit on Dean MacAmmond… Worcester native Marc Busenberg made his Sharks debut tonight.