Sharks win four straight to trump Wolf Pack
April 25, 2009
Worcester Sharks vs. Hartford Wolf Pack
DCU Center - Worcester, MA
April 25, 2009
Sharks win four straight to trump Wolf Pack
Worcester wins 5-3 and will face Providence in Round 2
By Ricky Carchedi
Worcester, MA –The Sharks made history Saturday night at the DCU Center when they beat the Hartford Wolf Pack 5-3 to advance to the 2nd round of the playoffs for the 1st time in team history and became the first Worcester team to ever win four consecutive AHL postseason contests. Dan DaSilva’s 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist), continued solid play from Thomas Greiss, and an overall outstanding team performance launched the Sharks over the Pack and into the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Andrew Desjardins began Game 6 with a big hit on Hartford center Greg Moore in the opening minute before he netted a goal at 3:53 to give the Sharks an early 1-0 lead. Desjardins beat Hartford goaltender Matt Zaba on the Sharks 2nd shot of the game. However, the Worcester lead would be short-lived as Dane Byers cashed in on a Hartford power play opportunity and snuck a goal past Sharks net minder Thomas Greiss at 6:31 to knot the game 1-1.
The Sharks would regain the lead before the end of the period with goals from Lukas Kaspar and Dan DaSilva. Kaspar made the score 2-1 with his 2nd goal of the playoffs when he banged home a feed from Matt Fornataro from the corner at 12:17. Moments later, after standing in anticipation of a one-timer feed next to the Hartford goal, DaSilva pocketed his 1st score of the playoffs on a beautiful pass from Frazer McLaren at 14:29 to go up 3-1.
Greiss made a clutch diving stab on a breakaway by Greg Moore during a Worcester power play to maintain the Worcester lead as the shots on goal were tied 9-9 in the 1st period.
Hartford cut the lead to 3-2 with a goal from Dale Weise at 5:52 in the 2nd frame. Weise skated in on Greiss and found the back of the net with a low wrister from the right faceoff circle.
The Sharks would get the goal back on a power play when DaSilva scored his 2nd of the game on a pass from Jason Demers that found its way through the front of the crease and onto DaSilva’s stick to make the score 4-2 at 16:52. Worcester outshot the Wolf Pack 11-9 in the 2nd.
Logan Couture got his 2nd professional goal at 13:18 in the 3rd period in an unorthodox fashion and with some assistance from the Wolf Pack. Couture stuffed a shot on Zaba’s pads and the puck was forced in by a Wolf Pack player who was sliding through the crease on pursuit of Couture. The goal put the Sharks up 5-2 at 13:18.
Weise would tally his 2nd score of the night for the Wolf Pack to make the score 5-3 at 18:53 in the 3rd .
Worcester was relentless in the 3rd stanza as they continued to pressure Hartford until the buzzer that finalized the 5-3 victory and capped a four game swing to move on to the 2nd round of the playoffs against division rivals the Providence Bruins.
NOTES: Three Stars: (3)Frazer McLaren-2 assists (2) Thomas Greiss-25 saves (1)Dan DaSilva- 2 goals, 1 assist…Attendance was announced 2,413… Thomas Greiss made 25 saves in net for Worcester… Matt Zaba made 30 saves in net for Hartford … The Sharks went 1/4 on the power play while the Wolf Pack went 1/3… Thomas Greiss made his 22nd straight start in net… Frazer McLaren had 2 assists while having just one assist in 75 regular season games…Dan DaSilva had 2 goals and an assist and is riding a 3 game point streak (2, 4)… Riley Armstrong extended his point streak to five games (0-8-8)… Jason Demers added his first two playoff points with two assists…. The Sharks became just the 20th team in AHL history to win a series after trailing two games to nothing.
The Sharks travel to Providence to face the Bruins in Game 1 of the 2nd Round of the Calder Cup Playoffs on Tuesday, April 28th for a 7:05 p.m. start at the Dunkin Donuts Center. The Sharks will host the Providence Bruins in Game 2 on Wednesday, May 6th for a 7:05 p.m. start. CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS. The seven game series is scheduled as follows.
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PROVIDENCE vs. WORCESTER
Round 2 of Calder Cup Playoffs (1-1-1-1-1-1-1 Format)
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Game 1
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Tue., April 28
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SHARKS at Bruins
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7:05 p.m.
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Game 2
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Wed., May 6
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Bruins at SHARKS
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7:05 p.m. (Game D)
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Game 3
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Fri., May 8
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SHARKS at Bruins
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7:05 p.m.
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Game 4
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Sat., May 9
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Bruins at SHARKS
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7:05 p.m. (Game E)
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*Game 5
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Mon., May 11
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SHARKS at Bruins
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7:05 p.m.
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*Game 6
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Wed., May 13
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Bruins at SHARKS
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7:05 p.m. (Game F)
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*Game 7
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Thur., May 14
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SHARKS at Bruins
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7:05 p.m.
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Tickets for home playoff games D and F are currently on sale to the general public. Single-game playoff ticket prices are $18.25, $15.25, and 11.75, reflecting a league-wide increase of $1 over regular season prices.
In addition, fans may purchase a variety of Playoff ticket packages:
-Family Fun Pack – 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 sodas for just $65 ($16.25 per extra person).
- Playoff Fun Pack – 4 flex vouchers and either 1 signed Sharks stick or 4 Sharks camouflage hats for $66 (16.50 per extra person).
The Sharks reduced their 2009-10 season ticket prices and they are on sale now! Playoff tickets are also on sale. Purchases can be made by visiting the box office, contacting the Worcester Sharks office at 508.929.0500, or by crashing the net at www.SharksAHL.com.
All games can be heard live on 580AM and 94.9FM WTAG, as well as online through AHL Live, by following the link on the Sharks website at www.SharksAHL.com.
SharksAHL.com
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