Today in Worcester hockey history: March 14

1997 vs Albany 2-1 win
The Worcester IceCats took a two goal lead deep into the third period but needed some big saves from goaltender Jon Casey in the final minutes to escape with a 2-1 victory over the River Rats. Chris Kenady opened the scoring at 14:24 of the first period when he deflected Chad Dameworth’s point blast past Albany netminder Peter Sidorkiewicz. Neither team scored in the middle period, and Marquis Mathieu made it 2-0 when he took a pass from Casey and skated 150-feet down the ice and beat Sidorkiewicz high to the stick side. Patrik Elias spoiled Casey’s shutout bid with an extra attacker goal at 19:02, and then Casey needed to make several big saves as Albany swarmed the net as time wound down. Casey finished the game with 36 saves.

1999 vs Saint John 6-2 win
The Worcester IceCats scored two goals in each period to defeat the Saint John Flames 6-2. Jamie Thompson got the ‘Cats on the board with an unassisted goal at 7:00 of the opening period, and Andrej Podkonicky made it 2-0 with a goal at 8:49. Jochen Hecht and Derek Diener had the assists on that goal. The Flames would get the next two to tie it, with Travis Brigley (4:55) and Greg Pankewicz (12:36) both scoring in the middle stanza. Derek Bekar got Worcester’s lead back at 17:21 on the power play, with help from Bryan Helmer and Shayne Toporowski. Helmer would make it 4-2 at 18:00 with assists going to Stephane Roy and Kevin Sawyer. In the third period Tyson Nash added a power play goal, with assists going to Jamie Thompson and Toporowski. Thompson made it 6-2 at 17:50, with Toporowski and Nash earning points on the goal. Brent Johnson made 20 saves in the game.

2003 vs Norfolk 3-2 win
(ICECATS) Greg Day scored with 41.4 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Worcester IceCats to a 3-2 victory over the Norfolk Admirals Friday at Worcester’s Centrum Centre. The win extends Worcester’s win streak to four games and unbeaten streak to six games (4-0-2). Both clubs scored power play goals in the first period. Matt Henderson opened the scoring at 3:17 for Norfolk, but Sergei Varlamov tied the game a little more than three minutes later at 6:30. Varlamov netted his 22nd goal after collecting a behind-the-back pass from Chris Corrinet. After a scoreless second period, Worcester’s Terry Virtue gave the ‘Cats a 2-1 lead at 10:24, only to see Norfolk’s Casey Hankinson tie the game 1:06 later. Day provided the heroics for the ‘Cats, redirecting a Tom Koivisto centering feed in the final minute. The goal was Day’s third this season, and second game-winner. Curtis Sanford stopped 34 shots, including 13 in the third period. The Admirals outshot the ‘Cats 14-3 in the final period, and 36-24 overall.

2004 at Providence 5-1 win
The Worcester IceCats took on the Providence Bruins in a Sunday afternoon contest at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, and a three goal second period was all the ‘Cats would need in a 5-1 win over the Baby-Bs. Ryan Ready, from Jon Coleman and Jeff Panzer, opened the scoring at 13:54 of the first period. Peter Sejna’s unassisted shorthanded goal at 8:00 of the middle period made it 2-0. Later, Jon Coleman connected on a five-on-three power play at 18:41, with Johnny Pohl and Trevor Byrne getting the assists. Eighteen seconds later Mike Glumac would grab another power play goal, with Coleman and Byrne assisting. Glumac would score again at 1:16 of the third to make it 5-0, with Pohl and Scott Pellerin grabbing the helpers. Pat Leahy would ruin Curtis Sanford’s shutout bid at 15:31 for the 5-1 final. Sanford finished the game with 20 saves.

2007 at Providence 2-1 loss
(BRUINS) The Providence Bruins scored a pair of second period goals Wednesday night at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center to defeat the Worcester Sharks 2-1, the P-Bruins’ fourth straight win over the Sharks and 20th victory on home ice of the year. Providence got its goals from forwards Ben Walter and Dennis Packard. After a scoreless first period, the P-Bruins opened the scoring 3:55 into the second frame as Walter flung the puck toward netminder Thomas Greiss after being set up from behind the net by Nate DiCasmirro. Sean Bentivoglio earned the second assist for his first professional point in his first career game on Walter’s 22nd goal of the season. Exactly nine minutes later, it was Packard’s turn as the third-year pro took a shovel pass from Nate Thompson in front of the crease and put it past Greiss for his fifth goal of the year. Marco Rosa also picked up a helper. In the third period, the Sharks cut the deficit in half 11:58 in when Mathieu Darche one-timed the puck past P-Bruins netminder Hannu Toivonen for his team-leading 28th goal, helped along by Mike Iggulden and Tom Cavanagh. The P-Bruins held on for the win, out-shooting the Sharks 29-19, including 17-5 in the second period, as Toivonen blocked 18 shots to Greiss’ 27 saves. Penalty minutes proved to be non-costly as each team was perfect on the penalty kill, Providence in six chances and Worcester in three. The Sharks took the minutes edge, 24-23.

2008 at Lowell 6-1 win
(WORSHARKS) Behind a strong goaltending performance by Dimitri Patzold and a balanced offensive attack, the Worcester Sharks trounced the Lowell Devils, 6-1 on Friday evening at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell. Just like the last time the Sharks (26-28-4-6) played in Lowell on Feb. 6, Worcester led 2-1 after one period, 5-1 after two, and 6-1 at the final horn. With Springfield idle, the Sharks move to within six points of the Springfield Falcons for the fourth and final Atlantic Division playoff spot. Depending on the result of the Providence at Manchester game, the Sharks will either remain four points behind the Monarchs or creep to within two points of fifth place. The Sharks struck quickly with a goal only 1:06 into the game. Riley Armstrong made a touch pass at center ice which sprung Lukas Kaspar into the attacking zone. Kaspar took a quick shot from just inside the blue line that snuck its way through the pads of Lowell goaltender Dave Caruso for his 15th of the season. Armstrong was credited with the only assist on the play. Worcester extended its lead at 7:08 when Marc Busenburg scored his first goal of the season. The defenseman took a shot from the top of the right wing circle. It found its way through traffic and beat Caruso low for the 2-0 advantage. Brad Staubitz and T.J. Fox tallied the assists on the play. Sharks goaltender Dimitri Patzold started the first period with numerous impressive saves, but couldn’t stop a Ryan Murphy shot at 15:37. Stephen Gionta swung the puck in front from behind the net. It trickled to Murphy in the left wing circle who fired a laser that beat Patzold top shelf blocker side to make it 2-1. In the second period, Armstrong drew a boarding penalty which got everything rolling in the right direction. On the ensuing power play, Mike Iggulden took a shot from the left wing circle. Caruso made the save and Mink swiped at the rebound to no avail. Cavanagh came in on the third chance and backhanded the puck into the open net for his 15th of the season to give Worcester some insurance at 9:10. The Sharks converted on their second-consecutive man advantage with a nifty sequence of tic-tac-toe passing at 12:22 for the 4-1 advantage. Iggulden made a pass from the left wing circle to Mink in front of the net. Mink made the touch past Caruso for his 21st of the season. Derek Joslin was credited with the other assist on the play. Staubitz scored his third goal of the season only 1:35 later to extend the Sharks’ lead to 5-1. He took a backhand shot from a tough angle along the goal line that bounced off a Lowell defender and in. Busenburg and Armstrong picked up the assists on the play. Worcester added a goal for good measure at 16:19 of the third period for the 6-1 final. On the play, Staubitz made the pass which set Armstrong up for his 14th of the season. Staubitz finished with a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (a goal, two assists, and a fight).

2009 at Manchester 4-2 win
(WORSHARKS) Ryan Vesce scored his 22nd of the season and Thomas Greiss was spectacular in net as the Sharks doubled up the Monarchs 4-2 on “rock the mullet” night at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester on Saturday night to break a three game slide. Tom Cavanagh would give the Sharks a 1-0 lead on a 5on3 power play goal at 18:44 of the first period after a great feed from Ryan Vesce. Cavanagh roofed the puck in tight past Jonathan Bernier for his 14th marker of the season to extend his point streak to six games (3-4-7). The Sharks led 1-0 after twenty minutes of play outshooting the Monarchs 11-9. The Monarchs would tie the score on the power play as Brian Boyle fired the puck into an empty net past Greiss after a nice goal mouth feed from Marty Murray at 6:11 of the second period. A little more than ten minutes later, Derek Joslin would fire a bullet off the crossbar and in finishing off a nice 3on3 rush in the Monarchs zone as Trent Campbell fired cross ice onto the tape of an on rushing Joslin at 16:19. The Sharks led 2-1 after forty minutes outshooting the Monarchs 20-18. Sharks captain Ryan Vesce would add some insurance with a great move in front of the Monarchs netminder after a pass from the right corner from Jason Demers at 6:06 of the third period. The goal was Vesce’s team leading 22nd of the season to give the Sharks their first two goal lead. Six minutes later, the Monarchs captain Marty Murray fired the puck past Greiss after Greiss lost the puck behind his net at 12:13. The Monarchs would have a late 5on3 power play and Greiss stood on his head making several five-star saves. T.J. Fox would ice the game late with an empty net goal for his 6th strike of the season. The win brings Worcester’s record to 33-30-1-2 with 69 points through 66 games.

2010 vs Hershey 6-2 win
(WORSHARKS) The Worcester Sharks defeated the league leading Hershey Bears 6-2 at the DCU Center Sunday afternoon behind four points from Andrew Desjardins and 31 saves from Alex Stalock to notch their fourth straight victory. Andrew Desjardins assisted on the first two goals of the night and scored the last two for the Sharks to power the team to a victory over the Bears. Dan DaSilva had three assists and Derek Joslin chipped in with a goal and an assist. Mike Moore netted the game winner on a penalty shot. The Sharks struck first in the game at the 8:40 mark of the first period when Derek Joslin (3) took a one timer in the slot that beat Michal Neuvirth over his right shoulder. Andrew Desjardins and John McCarthy picked up the assists. The Sharks doubled their lead at 10:55 of the period when McCarthy (10) beat a Bears defender and went around Neuvirth to slip the puck in the net. Dan DaSilva and Desjardins assisted on the goal. The evenly matched first period ended with the Sharks up on the Bears 2-0. Both teams had 12 shots in the opening frame. Worcester upped their advantage to 3-0 when Mike Moore (2) converted on a penalty shot at 2:47 of the second period when he beat Neuvirth through the five-hole. The Sharks added another tally at 9:53 when Brandon Mashinter (18) put a shot in off the post. Mashinter took a Benn Ferriero pass and beat Neuvirth over the blocker side. Ferriero got the lone assist on the goal. Worcester continued to pour it on when Desjardins (15) beat Neuvirth through the five hole at 15:58 of the second to put the Sharks up 5-0. DaSilva got the only assist on the tally. After the goal, Neuvirth was replaced in goal by Braden Holtby for Hershey. The Sharks ended the period with a 5-0 lead over the Bears. Worcester outshot Hershey 11-9 in the second frame. Worcester added their sixth goal when Desjardins (16) scored his second of the night at 11:34 of the third period. A Joslin shot got through the arm of the goaltender Holtby and Desjardins poked the puck into the back of the net. DaSilva picked up his third assist of the game on the goal as well. The Bears got to late goals when Michael Dubuc (4) scored at 16:25 of the period on a wrist shot from the middle of the right circle that beat Andrew Stalock high to the glove side. Chris Bourque (20) beat Stalock with a one time in the slot at 18:03. A wild scrum broke out after the final whistle as each team had 18 skaters on the ice. Worcester’s record improves to 41-20-2-3 (87 points) and are currently in first place in the Atlantic Division by eight points over the Portland Pirates.

2014 at Providence 4-3 win OT
(WORSHARKS) Daniil Tarasov scored twice including the game winner in overtime as the Worcester Sharks (28-27-3-1, 60ts) won their 4th straight game with a 4-3 come from behind overtime win over the Providence Bruins (32-21-2-7, 73pts) in front of 8,038 fans at the Dunkin Donuts Center on Friday evening. The Sharks lead 1-0, 2-1, but trailed 3-2 headed into the third period as Brodie Reid (1-1-2), Daniil Tarasov (2-0-2), and Dan DaSilva (0-2-2) all recorded multi point games for Worcester and Troy Grosenick stopped 24 in net for his 14th win of the season. Rob Davison scored a 1st period goal as the Sharks won their fourth straight 1-goal game overall. Rob Davison (3rd) gave Worcester a 1-0 lead at 7:46 after he hopped on a loose puck along the left wall and fired a quick low shot just past the blocker of goaltender Niklas Svedberg. Brodie Reid and Brock Higgs – playing in his 1st professional game, picked up assists on the score. The Bruins tied the game less than two minutes later on the power play after Worcester had a chance to clear the puck. David Warsofsky (6th) snapped a shot from the center point through a heavy screen and past netminder Troy Grosenick at 9:41. Bobby Robbins scored at 20:01 Worcester outshot Providence 13 12 through 20 minutes of play. Worcester grabbed a 2-1 as Daniil Tarasov (14th) finished off a nice cross the circle pass by Dan DaSilva on the power play at 2:48 of the 2nd period. Jimmy Bonneau (14th FM) and Bobby Robins (22nd FM) had a great fight at center ice at 3:57 with both combatants landing several shots. Ryan Spooner (7th) snapped a shot from the right circle on the rush past the blocker of Grosenick at 5:43 to tie the score at 2-2. After the Sharks didn’t convert on a four minute power play, Anthony Camara (9th) converted a 3-on-2 rush at 10:48 to put the Bruins ahead 3-2. Shots were 10-9 in favor of Worcester in the second period. With Troy Grosenick off for the extra attacker, Rylan Schwartz centered a puck from behind the Bruins net and found Brodie Reid (10th) down low in the right circle at 19:14 of the third period. Reid roofed a killer shot just inside the crossbar to tie the score at 3-3 to force overtime for the Sharks. In overtime, Dylan Demelo fired a shot from the right point that hit Daniil Tarasov (15th) in the back as he was stationed in front of the Bruins net. As Tarasov swung around looking for the puck, it dropped at the side of the net and Tarasov ripped it home for the Sharks first overtime win of the season. The Sharks overall record improves to 28-27-3-1, 60pts and 14-15-3-0, 31pts on the road.

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