Sharks Enter All-Star Break on Positive Note
January 28, 2008
Sharks Enter All-Star Break on Positive Note
Last Week: (2-2-0-0) 4 pts 4gp
Mon 1/21 WORCESTER SHARKS 3 @ Springfield Falcons 2 (OT)
Wed 1/23 WORCESTER SHARKS 0 @ Manchester Monarchs 2
Fri 1/25 WORCESTER SHARKS 1 @ Hartford Wolf Pack 3
Sat 1/26 WORCESTER SHARKS 5 @ Springfield Falcons 4 (SO)
This Week:
Fri 2/1 WORCESTER SHARKS @ Philadelphia Phantoms 7:05 p.m.
Sat 2/2 WORCESTER SHARKS vs. Manchester Monarchs 7:05 p.m.
Sun 2/3 WORCESTER SHARKS @ Providence Bruins 2:05 p.m.
Rewind the Tape:
1.21.08 – Worcester 3 – Springfield 2 – Overtime - Mass Mutual Center
In one of their most spirited efforts of the season, the Worcester Sharks battled back from a 2-0 first period deficit, and won a thrilling 3-2 overtime game on Monday evening at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield.
The Sharks tied the score via a Derek Joslin goal at 19:12 of the third period and won it at 1:13 of overtime on Tom Cavanagh’s second overtime game-winner of the season. Goaltender Taylor Dakers had a tremendous game in relief, making 19 saves on 19 shots over 50:48 for his fourth win of the season.
1.23.08 – Worcester 0 –Manchester 2– Verizon Wireless Arena
Unable to ride the momentum from Monday’s comeback victory, the Worcester Sharks fell to the Manchester Monarchs, 2-0, on Wednesday evening at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, NH. Taylor Dakers had a great game in net, making a career-high 34 saves on 36 shots, but it wasn’t enough. Peter Kanko and Kevin Westgarth were able to beat Dakers with tallies in the first and third periods. Manchester’s netminder Daniel Taylor was even better, stopping all 35 shots, marking the third time the Sharks have been shut out this season.
1.25.08 – Worcester 1 –Hartford 3– XL Center
The Sharks fell for the sixth straight time to the Wolf Pack, dropping a 3-2 decision at the XL Center in Hartford on Friday night. Despite reinforcements from San Jose, the team could never get anything going. Patrick Traverse scored for the Sharks while goaltender Taylor Dakers stopped 24 of 27 shots in the loss. After Traverse tied the score in the second period, the Wolf Pack reeled off two unanswered goals to take the lead, an advantage they wouldn’t give up.
1.26.08 – Worcester 5 –Springfield 4– Shootout-- Mass Mutual Center
In a game that had a little bit of everything, the Worcester Sharks defeated the Springfield Falcons, 5-4, in a shootout, on Saturday evening, in front of 6,504 at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, MA. For the second time in five days, the Sharks erased a two-goal deficit and scored an extra attacker goal to tie the score with less than one minute remaining in the third period. In the shootout, the fifth Sharks shooter, Graham Mink, won it after neither team scored. The teams combined for 66 penalty minutes, as Worcester tied its season high with 40. Sharks netminder Thomas Greiss improved to 4-1 in shootouts, stopping 21 of 23 shots in the shootout this season, including five-for-five on Saturday.
Sharks in the Atlantic…
The Sharks (19-18-3-3) swim in sixth place with 44 points in the Atlantic Division, four points behind Manchester for fifth and five points behind the Falcons for the fourth and final playoff spot. The Sharks have played an AHL low 43 games, which is three less than Manchester and four less than Springfield. The Sharks trail the Providence Bruins by 27 points for the top spot in the Atlantic.
Sharks Bites:
* F Mike Iggulden is tops on the team with 17 goals, 22 assists, 39 points, and 109 shots, and will represent the Sharks in the 2008 AHL-All Star Classic in Binghamton, NY.
* The 40 penalty minutes on Saturday tied a season high for the Sharks (11/24 vs. Providence)
*After killing every Monarchs power play on Wednesday, the Sharks extended their streak to seven games and 32 attempts without allowing a power play goal. The streak ended on Friday when Hartford scored on their first man advantage of the game.
*Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic picked up a pair of assists in his AHL debut on Saturday. Vlasic has played the past two seasons with San Jose, earning a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team last season.
*After stopping all five shootout attempts on Saturday, Thomas Greiss has now only allowed two goals on 23 shootout attempts (91% save percentage).
Roster Moves:
On Wednesday, the Worcester Sharks signed center Mathieu Curadeau to a PTO. After playing against Manchester, he was released on Saturday. Also, the San Jose Sharks reassigned right wing Devin Setoguchi, center Tomas Plihal, goaltender Thomas Greiss, and defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic to Worcester on Friday.
* Top Sharks:
o Goals Iggulden (17)
o Assists Iggulden (22)
o Points Iggulden (39)
o PIM Evans (130)
o Fighting Pen. Evans/Staubitz (10)
o Plus/Minus Raduns (+8)
o Wins Greiss (13)
o G.A.A. Dakers (2.90)
o Save % Dakers (.899)
Worcester to host the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic!
American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced that the Worcester Sharks and the city of Worcester have been awarded the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic. The event will take place at the DCU Center in January, 2009. The 2009 event in Worcester will mark the fourth time since it was revived in 1995 that the AHL All-Star Classic will take place in New England. The AHL All-Star Game was last held in Massachusetts in 1959 at the Eastern States Coliseum in West Springfield.
Coming Up:
The Sharks now enjoy five days off for the All-Star Break. Center Mike Iggulden will suit up for Team Canada in Binghamton, NY, in a 7 p.m. face-off on Monday.
Worcester returns to action on Friday as they travel to Philadelphia to face the Phantoms. The Sharks will return to the DCU Center to face the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday, February 2 at 7:05 p.m. with the first 3,000 fans in attendance receiving a hand-signed Graham Mink Collector’s Card. Fans are encouraged to come to the arena early, as Saint John’s and Saint Peter-Marian will square off in the First Annual High School Hockey Classic with a 4:00 p.m. contest prior to the Sharks vs. the Monarchs.
The Sharks then travel to Providence on Super Bowl Sunday in a special 2:05 p.m. start time.
For more information on these and other promotions, or to purchase tickets, call the Sharks offices at 508-929-0500 or check out the new www.sharksahl.com.
All games can be heard live on 580 WTAG, as well as online through B2 Networks, by following the link on the Sharks website at www.sharksahl.com.
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