Petrecki's late game heroics lifts Worcester over Providence

"Heading to the rink for a 1pm game vs. Providence. We need a big win today" was the message Worcester Sharks forward Dan DaSilva {@wsharksdasilva} tweeted out to his followers Saturday morning. Worcester Defenseman Nick Petrecki must have read it before arriving at the DCU Center as it was his goal at 3:17 of overtime that lifted Worcester {3-3-1-1; 8points} past the Providence Bruins {2-4-1-0; 6points} Saturday afternoon, 2-1.

Petrecki, who has scored in consecutive games to equal his total goals from last season, two, took a pass from Worcester's Jonathan Cheechoo, who was behind the Providence net, and fired a wicked shot that beat Providence goalie Michael Hutchinson stick side. It was Worcester's 43rd shot on goal.

The game marked the second consecutive time both clubs needed the extra frame to decide a winner as Providence defeated Worcester one-week ago on Oct. 23 in overtime to spoil Worcester's opening night at home.

Despite a scoreless first period, there was plenty of action as Worcester's Brandon Mashinter and Providence's Lane MacDermid renewed their rivalry just 2:10 into the game. Mashinter was cut by his own visor as his helmet was frailling around on his head and despite MacDermid managing to pull Mashinter's jersey over his head, Mashinter kept throwing right hands and connected with several that dropped MacDermid. Worcester has now received at least one fighting major penalty in each game this season.

At 5:02 of the second period, Worcester's Benn Ferriero scored his team leading sixth goal of the season, and fourth goal in five games, on a backhand shot that he lifted by a sprawled-out Hutchinson off a rebound shot by teammate Nick Schaus. The goal marked only the second time this season that Worcester has scored the game's first goal. Cheechoo picked up an assist on the play and extended his point streak to four games.

Late in the third period, Providence's Wyatt Smith was called for cross-checking on Petrecki, which gave Worcester a late power-play that could have ended the game. Instead, Providence's Jeff LoVecchio made a pass out of his own zone that sent teammate Steven Kampfer on his own and beat Worcester goalie Alex Stalock top shelf, over the shoulder, to tie the game at the 16:59 mark.

Stalock {3-4-1} made his eighth consecutive start for Worcester and stopped 15 shots while Hutchinson {1-2-0} was much busier, stopping 41 shots.

Worcester and Providence will conclude their home and home set on Halloween afternoon at the Dunkin' Donuts Center in Providence. The puck will drop at 1:05 p.m./et.

NOTE: In Friday night's game vs. Rochester, the goal scored by Andrew Desjardins has been officially credited to defenseman Matt Irwin, marking his first career AHL goal and is now only one of three Worcester blue-liner's to score a goal this season.........Scratches for Worcester were Garet Hunt, Tony Lucia and Cameron MacIntyre.....Worcester failed to score a power-play goal for only the second time this season.