By: Chris Del Vecchio

 

WORCESTER – For the second time in as many nights the Worcester Sharks squandered an early lead, falling to the Lowell Devils by a 4-3 count at the DCU Center on Sunday afternoon.  Two power play goals less than a minute apart spelled doom for the Sharks and spoiled a two goal night from Tom Cavanagh.

 

Worcester held the Devils shotless through the first nine minutes but were unable to find much of an offensive stride themselves until their second power play of the game.  With Lowell defenseman Sean Zimmerman serving two minutes for interference, Tom Walsh fed Cavanagh between the circles, and Cavanagh flicked a quick shot over the right shoulder of Devils goaltender Frank Doyle for his sixth goal of the year.  The Sharks came up empty on two power play chances over the period’s closing minutes, but took a 1-0 lead into the middle frame.

 

With Lukas Kaspar already in the penalty box for cross-checking, Lowell was granted a 5-on-3 advantage when Nate Raduns was whistled for hooking at 4:10 of the second period.  Just 21 seconds later, Barry Tallackson tipped the rebound of a Petr Vrana shot behind Sharks netminder Taylor Dakers, tying the game at 1-1.  Midway through the period, Lowell’s Grant Marshall won a faceoff back to Mark Fraser, whose slap shot was redirected through the legs of Dakers by Pierre-Luc LeBlond, who scored his first goal of the season.

 

Worcester answered back quickly, however, with a goal that looked fairly similar to the first Sharks tally.  Raduns slipped a pass to Mike Iggulden, who blasted a rocket past Doyle from between the circles to tie the score at 11:46.  In contrast to a primarily defensive opening period, the second frame featured 28 combined shots, including 17 by the Devils.

 

Play favored the Sharks through the opening minutes of the final period, but successive minor penalties to Devin Setoguchi and Lukas Kaspar gave Lowell another 5-on-3 power play.  Worcester managed to kill off the two-man advantage but did not survive the remaining penalty kill, as Petr Vrana scored the go-ahead goal at 10:53 of the third period.  Eight seconds after a hooking call to Raduns at 11:34, Vrana fed Tallackson for a blue line slapper that again beat Dakers to complete a two goal burst over just 49 seconds.

 

A wild bounce brought the Sharks back within a goal at 12:24, as Cavanagh’s try from the high slot deflected off a Lowell stick, then caromed hard off the end boards, deflected off the skate of Doyle and backward into the net.  The goal, credited to Cavanagh, was his second of the game and put Worcester in a position to push for a tying goal late in the game.  That goal nearly came courtesy of Derek Joslin, but the defenseman’s effort in the closing minutes struck iron and bounced safely wide of the cage.

 

The Sharks head to Manchester tomorrow for their third game in as many days, looking to avenge Saturday’s overtime loss to the Monarchs in a 6:05 pm contest at the Verizon Wireless Arena.  Worcester then returns to the DCU Center on Wednesday to face off against the Hershey Bears at 7:05 pm.  Call the Sharks offices at 508-929-0500 or crash the net at sharksahl.com for more information.

 

NOTES: Zimmerman and Graham Mink  fought at 1:30 of the second period, with Mink laying one solid punch and then quickly dropping Zimmerman… Dakers made 27 saves in 58:44… Doyle stopped 33 shots over a full 60:00… The goals from Cavanagh were his first since a two goal performance on November 9^th at San Antonio… Iggulden now has 31 points through 30 games… Three stars: 3. Cavanagh (2 goals), 2. Tallackson (2 goals), 1. Vrana (1 goal, 2 assists)… Power plays: Lowell 3 for 8, Worcester 1 for 6