Worcester Sharks vs. Providence Bruins

Dunkin Donuts Center – Providence, RI

March 30, 2008

 

 

 

PROVIDENCE, RI – Byron Bitz scored two goals and added an assist to lead Providence to their league high 50^th win of the season as the Bruins extended the Sharks winless skid to five games with a 5-3 Loss in Providence on Sunday afternoon.

 

With the loss, the Sharks (27-34-5-6) fall 14 points behind the Manchester Monarchs for the fourth and final Atlantic Division playoff spot.

 

The Sharks trailed early as Byron Bitz scored his first of two goals of the afternoon after he connected on the first power play of the game to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.   Tom Walsh would tie the score at 1-1 after a 60-foot bomb from the blue line beat Bruins netminder Jordan Sigalet top shelf at 11:37 of the first period.  The Bruins would come right back after T.J Trevelyan was set up in front of the Sharks net by Matt Hendricks on the power play to give the Bruins a 2-1 edge after twenty minutes of play.

 

Each team would score a goal in the second period as Pascal Pelletier would record his league leading 35^th goal of the season after Byron Bitz stole the puck deep in the Sharks zone and fed a pass in front to Pelletier. Derek Joslin connected from the offensive blue line for his 10^th goal of the season, a power play strike at 3:58 to get the Sharks back within a goal.

 

In the third, Bitz would connect again at 11:18 to give the Bruins a two goal lead.  Sharks’ rookie Matt Jones would score his 2^nd in as many games after he fired a slap shot on the rush from the right wing circle to edge the Sharks back within a goal.  With Thomas Greiss pulled for the extra attacker, Aaron Slattengren would ice the game with his 10^th of the season, an empty net goal at 19:15. 

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The Sharks continue their four game road swing with a Wednesday evening affair with the Springfield Falcons at 7:00pm before returning home to the DCU Center on Friday, April 4 for a 7:05 p.m. battle 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:  Brad Staubitz recorded his 19^th fighting major of the season with a third period scrum with Byron Bitz… The Sharks now have four members from Harvard (Cavanagh,Walsh, Packard, and MacDonald).  Graham Mink added two assists for the Sharks while Tom Walsh recorded a goal and an assist….The final attendance figure was 7,477… Power plays: Worcester: 1 for 4,  Providence: 2 for 4 …  Niche Hospitality Group Three Stars: Mezcal 3^rd Star: Walsh, Bocado 2^nd Star: Pelletier, Block 5 1^st Star: Bitz