Hartford, CT – The Worcester Sharks fell 3-2 in pre-season action on Wednesday night against the Hartford Wolf Pack at Trinity College.

 

The game was scoreless after a fast moving twenty minutes of play, in large part of the play of Sharks netminder Derek MacIntyre who made eight saves in the first period.

 

The Wolf Pack would take a 2-0 lead after two quick goals just 73 seconds apart in the second period at no fault of goaltender Derek MacIntyre.  Sergei Demagin deflected a right point shot from Chris Murray past the Sharks netminder at 8:17.  Moments later, Tommy Pyatt was credited with a goal after firing the puck in front of the net of Sharks defenseman Brian O’Hanley. 

 

MacIntyre allowed two goals on 15 shots before giving way to Ryan Daniels at 9:30 of the second period.

 

Former Wolf Pack defenseman Rory Rawlyk got the Sharks within a goal, after a goal mouth scramble in front of Hartford goalie Matt Zaba. Gino Guyer and Rick Cleaver had assists on the goal. The Sharks trailed 2-1 after forty minutes.

 

Daniels was sharp in net as well, but the Wolf Pack added insurance at 12:07 of the third as Jordan Owens found the back of the net to give Hartford a 3-1 lead.  The Sharks had several great chances in the third period, the best on a 5 on 3 power play, as Matt Zaba robbed Sharks forward Dan Travis with a brilliant glove save midway through the period.  Many of the Wolf Pack fans gave Zaba a standing ovation while Travis shook his head.

 

After a great rush by Sharks forward Andrew Desjardins, Ashton Rome would get the Sharks within one after wristing home a rebound with 2:30 left in the period.  Jamie VanderVeeken and Desjardins were credited with the assists.

 

Sharks center Gino Guyer was stoned by Zaba with just 9.8 seconds left after a goal mouth scramble. The Sharks would pull their goaltender, but the Wolf Pack held on for the victory.

 

The game featured two fights.  The first, at 5:22 of the first period with Worcester’s James McEwan (6-0, 187lbs) battling Hartford’s Will Bodine (6-4, 225lbs).  McEwan gave up plent of size to the much larger Bodine, but held his own. In the second, the Sharks Frazer McLaren (6-5, 235lbs) exchanged blows with Bodine in a lengthy battle at 4:23.  McLaren rocked Bodine with several lefts before Bodine wrestled him to the ice.

 

The Wolf Pack outshot the Sharks 32-26.