Worcester Sharks vs. Providence Bruins

Dunkin Donuts Center – Providence, RI

February 3, 2008

 

 

By: Justin Lafleur

 

PROVIDENCE, RI – Despite owning leads on three occasions, the Worcester Sharks fell victim to a furious Providence comeback, falling to the Bruins, 6-3, on Sunday at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, RI.

 

The Sharks held the 2-1 lead after two periods, but the Bruins scored four goals on their first four shots in the third period to down the Sharks. Wacey Rabbit finished with a hat trick, all coming in the third period.

 

For the third consecutive day, the Sharks picked up the first goal of the game, this time taking a 1-0 lead at 8:03 of the first period. Using his speed on a breakout up ice, T.J. Fox created a two-on-one with Josh Prudden. Fox made a flip pass from the right faceoff circle to Prudden, who took a wrist shot in stride and beat Providence goaltender Jordan Sigalet to the top left corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season. Patrick Traverse picked up the other assist on the play.

 

Just as Lukas Kaspar’s minor penalty for interference expired, Providence tied the score at one. Nate Thompson put a shot on goal from the left faceoff circle. Worcester goaltender Taylor Dakers made the initial save, but the rebound bounced right to Jeff Hoggan, who found the open net at 11:16. Sean Curry also assisted on the goal.

 

The Sharks answered at 14:26 when Prudden picked up his fifth of the season and second in the period.  Brad Staubitz had a strong fore check down low and passed to Derek Joslin just inside the blue line. Joslin put a wrist shot towards the net. Prudden was camped in front of Sigalet and his redirection trickled past the goal line to give the Sharks their second lead of the period, 2-1.

 

After one, Providence held the 10-8 shot advantage.

 

In the second, neither team was able to find the back of the net, but the Bruins controlled the majority of the period with many glittering opportunities, including two in four seconds. At 6:52 of the second period, defenseman Jonathan Sigalet put a hard slap shot towards the net, but it hit the crossbar and went high into the protective netting. Off the ensuing draw, Pascal Pelletier was sprung all alone on Dakers, but Dakers came out strong to cut off the angle and make the crucial stop.

 

The Bruins had 11 second period shots to the Sharks’ seven, and led 21-15 after two.

 

Providence tied the score for the second time at 5:13 of the second period. The Bruins’ Chris Collins made a heavy hit between the benches, causing a turnover. The play sprung Alexandre Imbeault on a rush down the right wing. Imbeault made a feed to Rabbit cross ice, who subsequently found the left side of the net to make it 2-2.

 

The Sharks quickly retook the lead 43 seconds later at 5:56 on one of the strangest goals ever seen. As the Bruins attempted to clear the puck, it squirted in front of the net and deflected off the skate of Riley Armstong and behind Sigalet. There was question as to whether or not the puck fully crossed the goal line, but referee Brian Pochmara decisively called it a goal, despite being camped at the blue line 45 feet away and the goal light never going on.

 

At 7:04, Providence captain Nate Thompson took a holding penalty and got an additional two for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Sharks had some glittering opportunities on the double minor, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Imbeault, serving the penalty since Thompson got an additional ten minute misconduct, skated out of the box, creating an odd-man rush. He held the puck and shot it himself, picking the top right corner of the net to tie the score at three at 11:14.

 

Only 41 seconds later, Providence took its first lead of the game. Off a draw, Sean Curry made a backhand pass from the left faceoff circle to Matt Hendricks right in front of Dakers. Hendricks found the back of the net for the 4-3 advantage.

 

The Bruins poured it on, scoring their fourth goal of the period on their fourth shot at 15:23. Jeff Hoggan made a pass from the right boards to Rabbit to Dakers’ left. Rabbit easily put it in for his second of the period, giving Providence a 5-3 lead.

 

Rabbit also added an empty net goal at 19:38 for the 6-3 final.

 

The Sharks continue their six-game road swing Wednesday in a showdown with the Lowell Devils. The Sharks return to the DCU Center on Friday, Feb. 22, for a 3-in-3 weekend, with all three games on home ice.  Friday’s matchup features Lowell, with Portland skating into town on Saturday and the Springfield Falcons wrapping up the weekend with an 8:05pm start on Sunday the 24^th.  To learn more about ticket packages and other promotions, crash the net at sharksahl.com or call the Sharks offices at 508-929-0500.

 

NOTES: Sunday marked goaltender Dimitri Patzold’s 25^th birthday … With defenseman Marc Busenburg back from injury, Brad Staubitz played forward for the third time this season, and second in as many games … Josh Prudden’s two goals in the first period marked only the second time a Sharks player has scored a pair in a period this season. The other time was when Mike Iggulden scored two in the third period at home against Portland on 1/18 … Prudden’s two goals was his first multi-goal game of the season … With his first period goal, Providence forward Jeff Hogan has now scored six of his 20 goals against the Sharks … With his assist on Prudden’s second goal, Derek Joslin extended his assist streak to four games, tying the highest for a Sharks player this season. Tom Walsh had the other streak from 12/30-1/5 … Nate Thompson was shown the gate for the remainder of the third period when he received a two minute minor for holding and an extra minor for unsportsmanlike conduct. After jawing with referee Brian Pochmara, he went in the penalty box and swung his stick across the glass, leading to the extra 10 minutes … Graham Mink’s two game goal streak was snapped ... The final attendance figure was 3,621 … Dakers had 21 saves on 26 shots for the Sharks while Sigalet stopped 23 of 26 for Providence …  Power plays: Worcester: 0 for 3, Providence 0 for 3 … Niche Group 3 Stars: Mezcal 3^rd star – Hoggan (1g, 1a), Bocado 2^nd star – Imbeault (1g, 1a), Block 5 1^st star – Rabbit (3 goals).