MARLBOROUGH – If Saturday night’s preseason game between the Worcester Sharks and the Providence Bruins are any indication of how the season will go for these two opponents, Sharks and Bruins fans are in for some action-packed and physical hockey games.  The two teams skated hard and played well, but it was Worcester who came out on top following a shootout for a 4-3 win. 

 

From the start of the first puck drop it was physical and as a result, a fight broke out between two heavyweights just 1:11 into the first period.  Sharks forward Jonathan Tremblay squared off with forward Steve MacIntyre at center ice.  Both shared blows, but could easily be judged as a draw.

 

Following the brawl, each team settled down and traded chances.  Despite numerous scoring chances, both teams headed into the locker room deadlocked at 0-0.

 

The second period began much like the first as Sharks defenseman Brad Staubitz fought P-Bruins defenseman Nathan Saunders just 47 seconds in.  The fight seemed to jump start Providence as Vladimir Sobotka put his team up 1-0 on the power play just one minute later.

 

The Sharks would get it back though at 12:20 of the second when defenseman Patrick Traverse scored short side on a slap shot from the point on a power play. 

 

Just two minutes later, forward Riley Armstrong broke in all alone and beat Bruins netminder Tuukka Rask high to the stick side on a nifty deke.  The goal gave his Sharks a 2-1 lead. 

 

Five minutes into the third saw the Baby Bruins knot the game at 2-2.  Kenny Smith beat Sharks netminder Taylor Dakers with a wrist shot that just trickled past the goal line.

 

Traverse scored his second of the night two and half minutes later on the power play for Worcester.  From the deep left corner, Traverse made a centering pass to Armstrong in front.  Before the puck could get on Armstrong’s stick, a Providence defender inadvertently deflected the puck past Rask for the 3-2 Sharks lead. 

 

With what seemingly was a Sharks win as the time wound off the clock.  Martins Karsums had a different idea as he dove to knock home a loose puck through Dakers legs and force overtime.

 

The two teams skated even through overtime, before Riley Armstrong won it for his team of a beautiful deke very similar to his tally in regulation.  Rookie forward Nate Raduns, a St. Cloud State product, sealed it with a rocket wrister of the post in and into the twine screen. 

 

 

Mike Iggulden – No

Riley Armstrong – Yes

Craig Valette – No

Nate Raduns – Yes

 

Vladimir Sobotka – No

Martins Karsums – No

Wacey Rabbit – No

Chris Collins - No

 

The Sharks will open the season on October 6^th in Springfield before heading back to Worcester for the home opener on October 13^th.  The Sharks will host the Portland Pirates for a 7:05 p.m. game.  Tickets are available by calling the Sharks offices at 508.929.0500 or Crashing the Net at Sharksahl.com.

 

RILEY ARMSTRONG

BRAD STAUBITZ

ASHTON ROME

TOM WALSH

DENNIS PACKARD

TAYLOR DAKERS

 

NATE DICASSMIRRO

CHRIS COLLINS

DWAYNE ZINGER

MARTINS KARSUMS

NATHAN SAUNDERS

TUUKKA RASK