Despite blowing a two goal lead by surrendering the tying goal with 26-seconds left in the third period, the Worcester Sharks were able to extend their winning streak to a season high tying four games by defeating the Norfolk Admirals (AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks) 3-2 in the shootout Friday night at the Norfolk Scope.
The Sharks, who snapped the Admirals three-game home winning streak, got regulation goals from rookie forward Lane Scheidl and defenseman Sena Acolatse while forward Dan DaSilva scored the winning goal in the shootout. Goaltender Harri Sateri made 17 saves (5-out-of-6 in the shootout) in his first start since Jan. 5 for his 10th win of the season.
Scheidl put the Sharks ahead 1-0 at 1:50 of the first period when he cut off linemate James Livingston’s snap shot from the left face-off circle and snuck a backhanded shot past Admirals rookie goaltender John Gibson from on top of the crease for his second goal of the season. Sharks forward Marek Viedensky was credited with the secondary assist.
On the ensuing face-off, Admirals defenseman Alex Grant ran over Sharks forward Curt Gogol along the left boards in the neutral zone, sparking two fights at 1:57 as Acolatse went after (and pounded) Grant while Gogol dropped the gloves with Admirals forward John Kurtz.
Acolatse extended the Sharks lead to 2-0 at 6:23 of the second period with a howitzer of a one-timer slap shot from the left point that got through traffic in front and beat Gibson. Sharks rookie defenseman Konrad Abeltshauser and forward Yanni Gourde were credited with the assists on the goal, which was Acolatse’s second of the season.
The Admirals cut the Sharks lead in half at 16:06 when rookie forward Steven Whitney, who was positioned on the right hash mark in the slot, redirected Grant’s one-timer blast from the center point near the blue line past Sateri for a power play goal, his ninth goal of the season.
At 14:46 of the third period, Admirals forward Max Friberg was assessed a five minute major penalty, as well as a game misconduct, for boarding Sharks forward Daniil Tarasov. However, the Sharks negated the power play when DaSilva was assessed a high-sticking penalty at 18:15.
Following DaSilva’s penalty, the Sharks had two opportunities to end the game with an empty net goal as the Admirals pulled Gibson for the extra attacker, but Livingston and Sharks forward Travis Oleksuk both missed on their shot attempts. With 26-seconds left in the period, the Admirals tied the game when forward Dave Steckel fired a rebound past Sateri from on top of the crease for his fourth goal of the season.
After a scoreless overtime session, the teams headed to the shootout where the Admirals took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second round on a goal by defenseman Jesse Blacker. Gourde answered back for the Sharks in the top of the third round to tie the shootout. After several stops by both Sateri and Gibson, DaSilva put the Sharks ahead 2-1 with a goal in the top of the sixth round. Steckel had a chance to extend the shootout to a seventh round but had his stuff attempt stopped by Sateri.
NOTES… Final shots were 27-19 in favor of the Sharks… The Sharks went 1-for-5 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill… Sateri is now 10-12-1 with a 3.03 goals-against-average and .891 save percentage… Tarasov and linemate Tyler Gron each had a game high four shots on goal… The Sharks are now 15-2-0-1 when scoring three goals or more… Sharks rookie defenseman Dylan DeMelo had his five game point streak snapped (1-4-5)… The Sharks signed goaltender Thomas Heemskerk to a PTO on Jan. 15… Scheidl’s goal was the fastest Sharks goal to start a game this season… This was the second of four meetings between the Sharks and Admirals this season… The Sharks are 2-0-0-0 against the Admirals, 9-8-2-0 on the road and 18-15-2-1 with 39 points overall… The Sharks are back in action Saturday night (Jan. 18) as they rematch the Admirals at 7:15 pm/et.
THREE STARS
1. Lane Scheidl – Sharks (1-0-1)
2. Dave Steckel – Admirals (1-1-2)
3. Sena Acolatse – Sharks (1-0-1)
LINES
Tarasov / Hamilton (A) / Gron
Gourde / Oleksuk / DaSilva
Scheidl / Viedensky / Livingston
Gogol / Schwartz / Bonneau (A)
DEFENSE
DeMelo / Petrecki
Doherty / Comrie
Acolatse / Abeltshauser
GOALIES
Sateri
Heemskerk
SCRATCHES
Davison (ill)
Grosenick (inj)
Pelech (inj)
Reid (inj)
Hayes (sjs)
Kearns (sjs)
Tennyson (sjs)
Brace (sf)
Stalberg (sf)
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