WORCESTER – Thomas Greiss made 45 saves and the Worcester Sharks used regulation and shootout goals from both Mike Iggulden and Mathieu Darche on their way to a 3-2 shootout victory.  An energetic crowd of over 6000 fans who packed the DCU Center for the game and post-game indoor fireworks display were sent home happy as the Sharks rebounded strong from last night’s road setback.

 

Worcester came out of the gate firing, generating four quality chances in the first three minutes of the contest and amassing nine shots on net in the opening 11 minutes.  The game was penalty-free for over 14 minutes until Pirates forward Ryan Carter got booked for holding, but the Sharks were unable to generate any shots on their only full-length man advantage of the period.  Solid defense from Worcester’s Scott Ferguson prevented a Pirates breakaway and preserved a scoreless tie into the first intermission.

 

After Portland held Worcester shotless on another power play, the Pirates opened the scoring on a power play of their own.  With Worcester’s Justin Kurtz serving two minutes for slashing, Pirates defenseman Clay Wilson buried home a rebound from short range, beating Sharks goaltender Thomas Greiss and giving Portland a 1-0 advantage 4:07 into the middle frame.  The Sharks were successful in killing off three more penalties in the period, but failed to solve Portland netminder Dov Grumet-Morris and carried the goal deficit into the third period.

 

Coincidental minors plus a hooking call against Portland blueliner Ian Moran gave the Sharks a minute-long 4-on-3 advantage early in the third, and Worcester’s power play unit – the league’s 4^th best – was finally able to capitalize.  Points leader Mathieu Darche netted his 23^rd goal of the year, tying the game at 1-1 just over a minute into the final frame.  Sixty-five seconds later, a defensive breakdown by Portland allowed Tom Cavanagh to find linemate Mike Iggulden alone in front of a vacant net, and Iggulden gave the Sharks their first lead of the game with 17:13 left to play.

 

The lead did not last long, however, as Portland used the power play to pull even with 11:19 remaining.  Matt Keith, acquired in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday, went top shelf on Greiss to score his first goal as a Pirate and tie the score at 2-2.  Greiss remained perfect the rest of the period, however, stopping 16 shots in the frame to propel the Sharks into overtime.

 

The teams traded power play chances during the overtime, but Greiss made a pair of saves and Grumet-Morris made three, forcing the game into a shootout.

 

Regulation goal-scorers Iggulden and Darche each struck twine for Worcester in the shootout, providing more than enough offense to produce a Sharks victory.  Greiss remained suberb, holding the Pirates scoreless through the shootout and earning himself the game’s first star.  Iggulden took second star honors, with Portland’s Clay Wilson being named the third star.

 

The Sharks return to the ice in the New Year on Wednesday, January 3^rd with a 7:00 pm contest at the DCU Center against division rival Springfield.  Receive $2 off any ticket to Wednesday’s game with your First Night Worcester button.  For more information on Sharks ticketing and promotions, visit the Sharks’ website at www.sharksahl.com or call the team office at (508) 929-0500.