Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Worcester Sharks

DCU Center

October 19, 2013

Meeting 1 of 2 vs. the Penguins

Sharks are 0-1-0-0 vs. the Penguins this season

By Darcy Hamilton

 

 

WORCESTER, MA – Freddie Hamilton and John McCarthy both scored for Worcester, but the Sharks (0-2-0-0, 0pts) couldn’t hold off the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (5-0-0-0, 10pts) explosive third period offense, falling 3-2 at the DCU Center in front of 5,476 in the home opener on Saturday night. The Sharks will play again Sunday, taking on division rival Portland Pirates at the DCU Center at 5pm.

 

Harri Sateri made 20 saves in goal in the loss while Sena Acolatse, Brodie Reid, Rylan Schwartz and Bracken Kearns each added an assist as Worcester dropped to 3-3-1-1 in eight career home openers. Tom Kuhnhackl scored twice for the Penguins while Andrew Ebbett added a goal and an assist for the Penguins in a game that featured five fights and 86 penalty minutes.

 

The game was extremely physical right from the start with the two teams combining for 42 minutes of penalties with the first two minutes. Curt Gogol (1^st FM) delivered a tough hit to Reid McNeill (1^st FM) against the boards, instigating a fight between the two. 11 seconds later, another brawl broke out against the boards behind the Sharks net after a trip by Tom Kuhnhackl. Bracken Kearns (2^nd FM) and Brian Gibbons (1^st FM) went toe-to-toe with Paul Thompson getting in the mix as well. The Sharks drew first blood at 9:27 when Freddie Hamilton (1^st) netted his first goal of the season with a beautiful snapshot from the right circle over the shoulder of Penguins goaltender Peter Mannino. The Sharks led after twenty minutes as Worcester outshot the Penguins 11-4.

 

Before the puck even dropped in the middle frame a fight broke out between bruisers Jimmy Bonneau (2^nd FM) and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (3^rd FM). Goaltender Harri Sateri and the Sharks penalty kill unit were impressive throughout the period, holding off the Penguins power play on three different occasions. Sateri had a number of notable saves and looked very sharp after being virtually untested in the first. Despite being outshot 10-6, the Sharks maintained their 1-0 lead heading into the final period.

 

The game picked up offensively in the third period as the Penguins outscored the Sharks 3-1 in the final frame. Tom Kuhnhackl (2^nd) evened up the score at 1:48 when he snuck one past Sateri. The Sharks regained the lead at 4:02 when Sena Acolatse put the puck right in front of the net for John McCarthy (1^st) who masterfully directed it past Mannino. Andrew Ebbett (1^st) retied the game at 2-2 on a wrist shot from the top of the left circle at 12:45. At 17:40 Matt Tennyson left the game for holding giving the Penguins another power play. The Penguins stole the victory from Worcester at 19:20 on a goal from Tom Kuhnhackl (3^rd), his second of the night after Kuhnackl found a loose puck at the side of the net and fired it past Sateri for the eventual game winner.

 

The Sharks overall record sinks to 0-2-0-0 and 0-1-0-0 at home.

 

Notes: Three Stars: 3^rd star: Andrew Ebbett (1-1-1) 2nd star: Freddie Hamilton (1-0-1) 1st star: Tom Kuhnhackl (2-0-2)… Final shots were 30-23 in favor of Worcester … Peter Mannino made 28 saves on 30 shots for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in his 1^st start of the season… Harri Sateri made 20 saves on 23 shots for Worcester… Worcester went 0-for-2 on the power play while Wilkes-Barre went 1-for-5…Dylan DeMelo, Lane Scheidl (inj), Daniil Tarasov (inj.), Collin Bowman (inj), Riley Brace, and Adam Comrie did not dress for Worcester…The game was delayed 22 minutes due to introductions and an ice delay… Within two minutes of the start of the game the teams combined for 42 penalty minutes….  The two teams combined for 86 penalty minutes total in a very physical showing…Bracken Kearns picked up a team high 17 penalty minutes…Freddie Hamilton led the way with six shots on goal.

 

On Sunday, the Sharks host the Portland Pirates at 5pm at the RENOVATED DCU CENTER! Every Sunday is $5 Kids Sunday! Kids Zone fun starting at 4pm including face painting, Shark Head Shoot out, games, prizes, FINZ and more!

 

2013-14 Flex ticket packages are on sale now! Score your 40 or 12 ticket flex package by contacting the Sharks front office at 508-929-0500. You decide how many tickets and how many games YOU want to attend while saving $$$ off box office pricing! It is that EASY!

 

Bring a group to sing the national anthem, book a fundraising event, host a birthday party, or have a blast in the high fin tunnel…. secure your personalized Sharks experience today!

 

Contact Worcester Sharks account executives Kristyn Galante, Erin Croce, Sean West, Amanda Perkins, Peter Kelly, and Andrew Nawn as they are taking deposits for the Sharks 8^th season in Worcester! Jump in today and save up to 40% off box office prices! Some of the exclusive benefits for full season ticket holders will include:

 

·          Guaranteed same seat for all 38 home dates and playoff home games at the DCU Center

·          Priority access to purchase tickets to other DCU Center events (subject to availability)

·          Seven FREE friends and family vouchers

·          Exclusive events with Sharks players

·          Merchandise discounts and much, much, more!

 

Season ticket packages and group tickets for the 2013-14 season are on sale now by contacting the Worcester Sharks Office at 508.929.0500 or by crashing the net at www.SharksAHL.com.

 

Socialize with the Worcester Sharks all year long! Join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WorcesterSharks, follow us on Twitter @WorcesterSharks, and download the Worcester Sharks App for free on your Droid or iPhone today!