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Young guns lead Worcester to 5-1 win over Norfolk

Continuing their home three-in-three weekend, the Worcester Sharks got seven combined points from their young guns trio of Yanni Gourde, Daniil Tarasov and Freddie Hamilton in the Sharks’ 5-1 win over the Norfolk Admirals (AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks) Saturday night at the DCU Center.

Gourde led the way with three points on a goal and two assists while Tarasov, Hamilton and forward Dan DaSilva each had a goal and an assist. Sharks rookie goaltender Troy Grosenick made 24 saves for his eighth win of the season and second win in as many nights.

After a scoreless first period that was highlighted by a solid fight between Sharks enforcer Jimmy Bonneau and Admirals enforcer Zack Stortini, Hamilton put the Sharks ahead 1-0 just 38-seconds into the second period when his shot from the left side beat Admirals goaltender Frederik Andersen for a shorthanded goal, his 12th goal of the season.  However, the goal wasn’t counted until after a video review (initiated by referee David Banfield) during a stoppage of play at the 2:53 mark as the puck went in and through the netting.

The Admirals responded at 6:04 when from on top of the goal crease, forward Devante Smith-Pelly redirected a left side centering feed from defenseman Jesse Blacker past Grosenick for a power play goal, his 11th goal of the season.

The Sharks regained the lead at 12:15 when defenseman Adam Comrie corralled a right wall pass from Gourde and fired a wicked snap shot from the top of the left slot past Andersen for his second goal of the season. DaSilva was credited with the secondary assist on the goal, which held up as the game winner.

Gourde pushed the Sharks lead to 3-1 at 15:32 with a power play goal, his first goal of the season, off a great individual effort that saw Gourde carry the puck up the middle into the Admirals zone, skate his way between Admirals defensemen Kevin Gagne and Alex Grant, and slide the puck through the legs of Andersen for the goal.  Sharks rookie defenseman Dylan DeMelo was credited with the secondary assist, extending his point streak to four games.

The Sharks went ahead 4-1 at 3:20 of the third period when Hamilton intercepted Andersen’s backhanded pass to the left corner and centered the puck in front for Tarasov, who fired a quick shot on net from inside the left face-off circle that beat Andersen for his 11th goal of the season.

DaSilva capped off the scoring at 17:24 when he roofed the puck over Andersen from the left hash mark in the slot for his fourth goal of the season.  Gourde and Sharks forward Travis Oleksuk were credited with the assists.

NOTES… Final shots were 35-25 in favor of the Sharks… The Sharks went 1-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill… Grosenick is now 8-5-0 with a 2.14 goals-against-average and .920 save percentage… Sharks forward James Livingston had a game high seven shots on goal… Sharks forward Curt Gogol had a game high 20 penalty minutes on two separate misconducts for unsportsmanlike conduct… The Sharks are now 13-2-0-1 when they score three or more goals… The officials let the final several seconds tick off the clock after assessing roughing minors to Admirals defenseman Teigan Zahn and Sharks captain Rob Davison as a result of two near line brawls breaking out inside the final 95 seconds of the game, which had 26 penalty minutes assessed… This was the first of four meetings between the Sharks and Admirals this season… The Sharks are 1-0-0-0 against the Admirals, 8-7-0-1 at the DCU Center and 16-15-2-1 with 35 points overall… The Sharks wrap up their home three-in-three weekend Sunday afternoon as they host the Portland Pirates at 3pm/et.

THREE STARS
1. Yanni Gourde – Sharks (1-2-3)
2. Troy Grosenick – Sharks (24 saves, WIN)
3. Freddie Hamilton – Sharks (1-1-2)

LINES
Tarasov / Hamilton (A) / Gron
Gourde / Oleksuk / DaSilva
Reid / Viedensky / Livingston
Gogol / Schwartz / Bonneau (A)

DEFENSE
Acolatse / Abeltshauser
Davison (C) / DeMelo
Doherty / Comrie

GOALIES
Grosenick
Sateri

SCRATCHES
Petrecki
Scheidl
Pelech (inj)
Hayes (sjs)
Kearns (sjs)
Tennyson (sjs)
Brace (sf)
Stalberg (sf)

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