Daniil Tarasov had a two goal night, including what held up as the game-winning-goal at 18:29 of the third period, and Harri Sateri made 30 saves as the Worcester Sharks rallied late in the third period to shock the St. John’s IceCaps 3-2 Tuesday night at the Mile One Centre. Tim Kennedy registered three assists while Bracken Kearns had a goal and two assists for the Sharks, who moved into seventh place of the Eastern Conference standings but still trail the Portland Pirates by eight points for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Tarasov put the Sharks up 1-0 just 92-seconds into the game when he beat IceCaps goaltender Eddie Pasquale with a quick snap shot from on top of the left face-off circle for his fourth goal of the season. Kennedy and Kearns were credited with the assists on the goal.
IceCaps captain Jason Jaffray answered back for the IceCaps at 10:05 of the first period when he beat Sateri blocker side on a shorthanded breakaway for his seventh goal of the season after Sharks rookie defenseman Mikael Tam turned the puck over at the right point of the IceCaps zone. Jaffray’s goal was the fifth shorthanded goal surrendered by the Sharks this season.
After a scoreless second period that was highlighted by Sateri and Pasquale matching each other save-for-save, Jaffray put the IceCaps up 2-1 with a power play goal, his second goal of the game, at 6:31 of the third period when he deflected home a Ryan Sawada slap pass from the left wing. The power play goal came as the result of Sharks captain John McCarthy being assessed a two-minute minor for “closing hand on puck” at 5:22 even though McCarthy was in the offensive zone.
Sharks rookie Sebastian Stalberg drew a tripping penalty on IceCaps forward Maxime Macenauer at 15:34 and Kearns tied the game with a power play goal, his 11th goal of the season, at 16:42 when he banked the puck off of IceCaps defender Travis Ramsey down low at the side of the net. Kennedy and Sharks defenseman Denny Urban were credited with the assists.
Shortly after Kearns’ goal, Kennedy fired a shot on net from the right face-off circle that Tarasov was able to tip past Pasquale for what held up as the game-winning-goal with 91-seconds remaining in the third period. Kearns was credited with the secondary assist on the goal, which was Tarasov’s second of the game and fifth of the season.
With Pasquale pulled for an extra attacker, the IceCaps fired several shots at Sateri, who turned them all aside. Jaffray had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the closing seconds but Sateri made a sliding glove save to secure a 3-2 Sharks victory.
NOTES: Shots were even at 32-32… The Sharks went 1-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill… Sateri is now 9-9-2-2 with a 2.63 goals-against-average and .911 save percentage… Tarasov has nine points (5-4-9) in his last eight games… Kearns tied Jaffray with a game high seven shots on goal… Sharks forward James Livingston scrapped with IceCaps forward Patrice Cormier at 17:55 of the second period to give the Sharks 55 fighting majors through 45 games… The Sharks are tied with an AHL high 15 one-goal wins… In five games at the Mile One Centre, the Sharks have four wins… This was the first of a six game road trip for the Sharks… Taylor Doherty (inj), Sena Acolatse (inj), Curt Gogol (inj), Jon Matsumoto (sick) and Danny Groulx (sick) did not dress for the Sharks… Matsumoto and Groulx were late scratches… This was the second of four meetings between the teams this season… The Sharks are 1-1-0-0 against the IceCaps this season, 9-8-1-4 against the Atlantic Division, 13-9-0-2 on the road and 21-18-1-5 with 48 points overall.
Three Stars
1. Tim Kennedy – Sharks (0-3-3)
2. Jason Jaffray – IceCaps (2-0-2)
3. Bracken Kearns – Sharks (1-2-3)
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