The Worcester Sharks saw their season high losing streak extend to six games after a 3-2 overtime loss to the Springfield Falcons (AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets) Friday night at the DCU Center.
Forwards Evan Trupp and Melker Karlsson scored for the Sharks while goaltender Aaron Dell made 22 saves in his first start at the DCU Center
“Our goal scorers aren’t’ getting it done, that’s for sure,” said Sharks head coach Roy Sommer in a post game interview with Bill Ballou of Telegram.com. “They’ve got to take some of the heat for what’s happening.”
The Falcons took a 1-0 lead at 3:17 of the first period when forward Mathieu Gagnon fired a quick shot from inside the right slot that beat Dell blocker side for his first goal of the season. The goal, which was set up by an own zone turnover from Sharks defenseman Gus Young in the right corner, marked the seventh consecutive game the Sharks have allowed the first goal.
Trupp tied the game and ended the Sharks’ franchise record 172:55 scoring drought at 2:27 of the second period when he got positioning in front and deflected Young’s slap shot from the left point past Falcons goaltender Anton Forsberg for his fourth goal of the season. Sharks defenseman Taylor Fedun had the secondary assist.
“That’s the way you’ve got to beat him,” said Trupp of his tip goal post game to Ballou. “He’s a big goalie and doesn’t give you a lot, so you have to hope for a bounce. We’re struggling right now, but we’ll figure it out.”
Just 26-seconds into the third period, Karlsson put the Sharks ahead 2-1 when he tapped the puck into an open net after linemate Chris Tierney stole the puck behind the net from Forsberg, who had come out to play the puck. Sharks defenseman Matt Taormina picked up the secondary assist on the goal, which was Karlsson’s fourth of the season.
However, the Sharks’ lead didn’t last long as Falcons forward Marco Dano tied the game at 1:01 when he beat Dell up high with a wrist shot from just inside the right circle for his second goal of the season.
In overtime, the Falcons broke into the Sharks zone on an odd man rush and defenseman Nathan Oystrick beat Dell with a quick shot from inside the left slot to win the game at 2:42.
“It’s better than nothing, and we’ll take what we can get,” said Sommer of the point, “but you can’t tell me we got outplayed in that game. No way.”
NOTES… Shots on goal were 35-25 in favor of the Sharks… The Sharks went 0-for-5 on the power play and 0-for-0 on the penalty kill… The Sharks are 0-for-23 on the power play in their last five games and 9-for-81 on the season… Dell is now 0-1-1 with a 1.88 goals-against-average and .907 save percentage… Sharks forward Ryan Carpenter had a game high five shots on goal… Sharks forward Adam Burish wore no. 37 and played in his first AHL game since 2007 when he was a member of the Norfolk Admirals… The Sharks’ goalless drought eclipsed the previous record of 163:12, which was set last season… Sharks forward Micheal Haley fought Gagnon at 11:37 of the first period… The Sharks were not assessed a minor penalty for the second time in franchise history as the first time happened in a 6-1 win over the then Lowell Devils on Feb. 6, 2008 (via Ballou)… This was the third of six meetings between the Sharks and Falcons this season… The Sharks are 1-1-1 against the Falcons, 5-4-2 at the DCU Center and 8-8-2 with 18 points overall… The Sharks are back in action Saturday night (Nov. 29) as they host the Providence Bruins at 7pm/et.
THREE STARS
1. Nathan Oystrick – Falcons (1-0-1, GWG)
2. Melker Karlsson – Sharks (1-0-1)
3. Marko Dano – Falcons (1-0-1)
LINES
Tarasov / Tierney / Karlsson
Lerg (C) / Burish / Hamilton
Trupp / Oleksuk / Carpenter
Haley (A) / Langlois / Hayes
DEFENSE
Taormina (A) / Doherty
Young / Fedun
Abeltshauser / DeMelo
GOALIES
Dell
Anderson
SCRATCHES
Emanuelsson (inj)
Bonneau
Jones
Schwartz
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