WORCESTER, MA – With a playoff berth already having been assured, the Worcester Sharks gave a sellout crowd an entertaining show on Fan Appreciation Day at the DCU Center before Graham Mink sent them home happy 1:46 into overtime.

 

The teams traded unsuccessful power plays during a wide-open, competitive first twenty minutes that included 19 combined shots on net but no scoring.  Dimitri Patzold was strong in the home net with ten saves in the opening frame.

 

Worcester was handed a golden opportunity to pull ahead in the second period, when consecutive minor penalties against the Devils gave the Sharks a 5-on-3 advantage for 1:26.  It took just over half that span for Mike Iggulden to slip a one-timer to the short side of Lowell goaltender Frank Doyle, netting Iggulden his 30^th goal of the season and giving the Sharks a 1-0 lead. 

 

Before the second penalty had expired, Team Teal had shredded the Devil defense yet again, as veteran defenseman Patrick Traverse split an infinitesimal passing lane to set up Lukas Kaspar for another power play tally and a two goal lead at the 15:44 mark of the middle frame.  The goal was Kaspar’s 12^th of the year, and gave Traverse his 21^st helper of the campaign.

 

Lowell struck back quickly, keeping things close thanks to a finish from David Clarkson, who beat Patzold from close range to cut the Worcester lead in half at 2-1 heading into the second intermission.

 

Patzold came up huge in the third, stuffing a 1 on 1 breakaway and making seven key saves.  Worcester couldn’t hold the lead, however, after a boarding call against Ashton Rome gave Lowell a power play.  A string of passes opened up space for centerman Rod Pelley, who buried the game-tier from the right face-off dot with just 1:38 remaining in regulation.

 

The Devils managed to kill off a penalty that carried over into the overtime period, but couldn’t sweep aside the game-winner 1:46 into the extra frame.  Mike Iggulden broke free into the Lowell zone and played a low drive off the far post.  The rebound sat to Doyle’s left until Graham Mink managed to poke the puck across the goal line and seal the win.

 

Providence’s 1-0 victory over Manchester prevented the Sharks from moving into third place in the Atlantic Division, meaning that Worcester will do battle with Manchester in a best-of-seven series set to begin at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Wednesday.  The Monarchs will host game two on Friday before the series heads south for Games 3 & 4 on Saturday, April 21^st and Wednesday, April 25^th at the DCU Center.  Individual playoff tickets are on sale and can be purchased at the DCU Center box office or by Crashing the Net at www.sharksahl.com.  Discounted playoff ticket packages are also available, exclusively via the Sharks website.  Feel free to call the Sharks offices at (508) 929-0500 for more information.

 

GAME NOTES

 

The Sharks hosted the Parade of Champions prior to today’s game, honoring championship hockey teams in local youth and high school leagues.

 

Patrick Traverse played in his 500^th career regular season AHL game yesterday at Manchester and was honored by the Sharks with a highlight video and an etched crystal puck to commemorate the accomplishment.

 

Worcester’s partnership with Unum, through which the United Way of Central Massachusetts receives a $50 donation for every power play goal on home ice, produced a grand total of $1,950 thanks to 39 man-advantage tallies at home this year.

 

Fans holding Sharks season tickets were honored with a pregame reception and offered a tour of the Sharks locker room and a postgame skate with the team.

 

Today’s announced attendance of 7,230 was the fifth sellout at the DCU Center this season.  The packed house plus the liberal use of thundersticks given away to the first 3,000 fans produced an electric atmosphere on Fan Appreciation Night.