Playing their last game of the 2013-14 AHL season, the Worcester Sharks shutout their Atlantic Division rival the Providence Bruins (AHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins) 2-0 Saturday night at the DCU Center.
The Sharks, who finished the season 36-34-4-2 with 78 points, got goals from forwards Eriah Hayes and Travis Oleksuk while rookie goaltender Troy Grosenick made 23 saves in net for his second shutout of the season and 18th win.
“I though the was the difference,” said Sharks head coach Roy Sommer of Grosenick in a post game interview with Carl Setterlund of Telegram.com.
After a scoreless first period that saw the Bruins out-shoot the Sharks 9-6, Hayes put the Sharks ahead 1-0 at 5:47 of the second period when he buried home a rebound from on top of the crease for his 12th goal of the season. Sharks defenseman Rob Davison, who took the initial shot from the left point, and Oleksuk were credited with the assists on the goal, which held up as the game winner.
With a 5-on-3 power play advantage in the third period, Sharks forward Dan DaSilva fired an across-the-crease pass from the left side to Oleksuk, who was robbed of a goal by Bruins rookie goaltender Malcolm Subban. However, after two lengthy video reviews, Oleksuk was awarded his 19th goal of the season at 8:50. Sharks defenseman Sena Acolatse was credited with the secondary assist.
Grosenick punctuated his shutout at 18:10 by making a sliding glove save on Bruins defenseman Blake Parlett’s shot from deep inside the right face-off circle, which was set up by an across-the-slot pass from Bruins forward Ben Sexton in the left corner.
“Everyone gets to leave on a positive not,” said Sommer. “It’s unfortunate we didn’t get to make the playoffs, but everyone gets to leave with a good feeling tonight.”
NOTES… Final shots on goal were 27-23 in favor of the Bruins… The Sharks went 1-for-4 on the power play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill… Grosenick finished 18-14-0 with a 2.62 goals-against-average, .903 save percentage, two shutouts and six wins in the shootout… Hamilton finished with a game high five shots on goal and finished as the Sharks’ leading scorer with 43 points (22-21-43)… This was the 12th and final meeting of the season between the Sharks and Bruins… The Sharks finished 4-6-0-2 against the Bruins, 19-17-1-1 at the DCU Center and 36-34-4-2 with 78 points overall.
TEAM AWARDS
Freddie Hamilton – MVP
Travis Oleksuk – Unsung Hero
Dan DaSilva – Three Stars
Troy Grosenick – Rookie of the Year
Konrad Abeltshauser – Man of the Year
THREE STARS
1. Troy Grosenick – Sharks (23 saves, Shutout Win)
2. Travis Oleksuk – Sharks (1-1-2)
3. Eriah Hayes – Sharks (1-0-1, GWG)
LINES
Oleksuk / Hamilton (A) / Hayes
Tarasov / Carpenter / DaSilva (A)
Schwartz / Rau / Schmidt
Higgs/ Pelech
DEFENSE
Davison (C) / Acolatse
DeMelo / Mueller
Doherty / Comrie
GOALIES
Grosenick
Sateri
SCRATCHES
Bonneau
Abeltshauser (inj)
McCarthy (inj)
Reid (inj)
Viedensky (inj)
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