By Abby Hensel
Sharksahl.com Staff

WORCESTER – In the Sharks second home game in franchise history, the Lowell Devils edged Worcester by a score of 3-2 on Saturday night at the DCU Center in front of a crowd of 5,070. Defenseman Doug Murray and forward Mike Iggulden tallied the goals for the Sharks as their record dropped to 3-2-0-1 on the season. Netminder Thomas Greiss made 24 saves in his second loss of the season.

Lowell jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead while on the power play at 4:48 of the first period. Devils forward Nicklas Bergfors swatted home a loose puck in front of Sharks netminder Thomas Greiss for his third goal of the season.

The Devils lead didn’t last long though. Worcester rookie forward Joe Pavelski won a clean draw back to defenseman Doug Murray on the point. Murray ripped a slapper that beat Lowell goalie Frank Doyle on the high stick side at 12:48 of the first to tie the game up at one apiece.

Both teams had opportunities early in the second to take the lead. Just a minute into the session, Lowell’s Tuomas Pihlman missed a wide open net. Then the Sharks were granted a two-man advantage for 1:15 and peppered Doyle with shots, but he stood tall to keep the game tied.

With Worcester’s Scott Ferguson off for tripping, it took the Devils just eight seconds into their power play to take the lead, 2-1. Devils defenseman Dan McGillis’ slap shot from the point beat Greiss at 8:29 of the second. Andy Greene won the face off and sent the puck back to McGillis for the shot.

Skating four aside, the Sharks showed off great passing when forward Grant Stevenson lobbed the puck over to Mike Iggulden in the slot who made a nifty move around the defense and slammed it home at 12:34 of the middle stanza to tie the game 2-2. It was Iggulden’s fifth goal on the young season.

After both teams spent time in their own end exchanging shots early in the third, McGillis fired shot from the point and found the back of the net at 7:39 of the third period. It was his second goal on the night and third of the season that put the Devils on top 3-2. Greene and Peter Vrana assisted on the play.

With the Sharks Griess pulled out of his net in favor of an extra attacker, the Sharks put a flurry of shots on the Lowell netminder. Even though the Sharks had a number of “Grade-A” opportunities, Doyle held on for the win with 30 saves on the night for Lowell.

The Devils went 3 for 9 on the powerplay, while the Sharks went 0 for 5.

The Worcester Sharks are home for their next two games, facing the Portland Pirates on Friday, October 27 and the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday, October 28. The puck drops at 7:00 p.m. on both nights. To purchase tickets to either of these two games, please call the Sharks offices at 508.929.0500 or click here.