Sharks Have 20/20 Vision as Six Game Road Trip Continues
Last Week: (1-2-0-0) 2pts 3gp
Fri. 2/1 WORCESTER SHARKS 2 @ Philadelphia Phantoms 3
Sat. 2/2 WORCESTER SHARKS 3 vs. Manchester Monarchs 1
Sun. 2/3 WORCESTER SHARKS 3 @ Providence Bruins 6
This Week:
Wed. 2/6 WORCESTER SHARKS @ Lowell Devils 7:05 p.m.
Sun. 2/10 WORCESTER SHARKS @ Hershey Bears 5:00 p.m.
Rewind the Tape:
2.1.08 – Worcester 2 – Philadelphia 3 - Wachovia Spectrum
The Worcester Sharks couldn’t overcome three consecutive Philadelphia goals and a late power play tally proved to be too little too late as the Sharks fell, 3-2, on Friday evening at the Wachovia Spectrum in Philadelphia, PA. NHL veteran and Philadelphia netminder Brian Boucher did not allow any goals over a 55:14 span and finished with 26 saves on 28 shots. Sharks goaltender Dimitri Patzold made 19 saves on 22 shots. Nate Raduns and Graham Mink scored for the Sharks.
2.2.08 – Worcester 3 –Manchester 1 – DCU Center
Playing at home for the first time since the AHL All-Star break, the Worcester Sharks pulled two points closer to the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division as they knocked off the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday night by the score of 3-1. Graham Mink led the way for Worcester, notching his seventh multi-point game of the season by way of two goals and an assist. Sharks goaltender Dimitri Patzold stopped 27 of 28 shots for his third win of the season while the Monarchs’ Daniel Taylor finished with 35 saves.
2.3.08 – Worcester 3 –Providence 6 – Dunkin Donuts Center
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 a 2-1 lead after two periods, receiving two goals from Josh Prudden, but the Bruins scored four goals on their first four shots in the third period to down the Sharks. Providence forward Wacey Rabbit finished with a hat trick, all coming in the third period. Sharks netminder Taylor Dakers stopped 21 of 26 shots while Jordan Sigalet made 23 saves on 26 shots.
Sharks in the Atlantic…
The Sharks (20-20-3-3) swim in sixth place with 46 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 46 games, which is two less than Manchester and three less than Springfield. The Sharks trail the Providence Bruins by 29 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 represented the Sharks in the 2008 AHL-All Star Classic in Binghamton, NY on Monday.
*After owning a streak of seven games and 32 attempts without allowing a power play goal, the roles reversed as the Sharks went five games (21 opportunities) without scoring on the man advantage. The streak ended when Graham Mink scored with 25 seconds remaining in the third period at Philadelphia.
*Worcester has continued to be in the “fighting mood.” The Sharks had three fights on Saturday vs. Manchester, including Brad Staubitz dropping the gloves against Drew Bagnell twice. The team has now picked up 10 fighting majors over the last seven games and 38 this season.
*Nate Raduns was back in the lineup at Philadelphia for the first time since Jan. 18 vs. Portland and scored his 9th goal of the season in the first period. He had been battling an injury since a hit on Jan. 5 vs. Providence.
*Raduns’ first period tally was the first goal in franchise history against Philadelphia. The teams did not face each other last season and the Phantoms shut out the Sharks, 3-0, on Nov. 3 this season.
*Josh Prudden’s two goals in the first period vs. the Bruins 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 Jan. 18.
*Prudden’s two goals was also his first multi-goal game of the season.
*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 Dec. 30 to Jan. 5
Roster Moves:
On Monday, Jan. 28 the Worcester Sharks recalled right wing Devin Setoguchi, center Tomas Plihal, goaltender Thomas Greiss, and defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic from Worcester.
* Top Sharks:
o Goals Iggulden (17)
o Assists Iggulden (22)
o Points Iggulden (39)
o PIM Evans (146)
o Fighting Pen. Staubitz (12)
o Plus/Minus Raduns (+6)
o Wins Greiss (13)
o G.A.A. Dakers (3.05)
o Save % Patzold (.901)
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:
Worcester continues their six-game road swing Wednesday in a showdown with the Lowell Devils. They then travel to Hershey on Sunday to round out the week.
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 24th.
For more information on ticket packages and 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.
