LOWELL, MA – Matt Jones scored his first professional goal for the Worcester Sharks, and Tom Cavanagh would score his 17^th late in the 3^rd period but the Lowell Devils held on to defeat the Sharks 4-3 in Lowell on Saturday night.

 

With the loss, the Sharks (27-33-5-6) remain 12 points behind the Manchester Monarchs for the fourth and final Atlantic Division playoff spot.

 

The Devils got on the board mid way through the first period after the Sharks were unable to clear the puck out of their own zone. Devil’s defenseman Mark Fraser fired a shot from the left wing point which was deflected by Pierre-Luc Leblonde in front and past Dmitri Patzold at 8:56.  The Devils took a 1-0 lead into the locker room after twenty minutes of play.  Shots were 8-7 in favor of Worcester after one period.

 

The Sharks would tie the game at 1-1 behind Graham Mink’s 22^nd goal of the season.  After nice work along the boards, Tom Cavanagh fed Dennis Packard in the high slot who then found Graham Mink all alone in front of the Devils’ netminder David Caruso.  Mink went top shelf to knot the score at 1-1.  The Devils would strike right back, with Mike Iggulden in the penalty box for holding; Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre found the back of the net from 50 feet after a nice dish from Petr Vrana.  The Devils led 2-1 after 40 minutes of play.

 

Each team would score two goals in the final period.  Worcester Shark forward Matt Jones scored his first professional goal in his second professional game after he stuffed in a rebound chance after the initial shot by Jamie McGinn at 7:06 of the 3^rd period.  With the Sharks trailing by two late in the contest, Tom Cavanagh would record his 17^th goal of the season after Dimitri Patzold was pulled for the extra attacker.  Nick Palmieri scored his first professional goal for the Devils and Petr Vrana scored his 18^th of the season to lead the Devils to the 4-3 victory.

 

 

The Sharks continue a three-in-three road weekend on Saturday with a trip to Providence on Sunday afternoon.  Worcester also plays in Springfield the following Wednesday before returning to the DCU Center on Friday, April 4 for a 7:05 p.m. affair with the Portland Pirates. For more information or to purchase tickets, log on to sharksahl.com or call the Sharks offices at 508-929-0500.

 

NOTES:  David MacDonald played in his first professional game after four stellar years at Harvard…. The Sharks now have four members from Harvard (Cavanagh,Walsh, Packard, and MacDonald).  The Sharks hit two posts, Joslin in the 1^st, and Mink in the 2^nd…. Jamie McGinn, just re-assigned from San Jose from Erie in the OHL recorded an assist on Matt Jones’ goal in the 3^rd period. The final attendance figure was 2,628… Power plays: Worcester: 0 for 2,  Lowell: 2 for 6 …  Niche Hospitality Group Three Stars: Mezcal 3^rd Star: Palmieri, Bocado 2^nd Star: Malmivaara, Block 5 1^st Star: Vrana