The Report from Worcester is a weekly update on the San Jose Sharks AHL affiliate, the Worcester Sharks.
Sharks Snap Shot:
The Worcester Sharks (28-24-1-6, 63pts) chomped two out of a possible four points in two home games last week to wrap up a four game home stand 2-1-0-1. The Sharks began the week with an impressive 5-1 victory over the Penguins on Wednesday but fell to Wilkes-Barre / Scranton 5-3 on Friday night at the DCU Center to wrap up a relatively quiet week.
Bracken Kearns (2-2-4) and Adam Comrie (1-3-4) became the first Sharks players this season to record four points in a game; with each securing four points in the 5-1 win over the Penguins on Wednesday.
Worcester is now five points behind the 8th place CT Whale with four games in hand for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference (the Sharks have 17 games left in regular season). The Sharks will embark on a 3-in-3 weekend as they travel to Springfield on Friday night at 7pm, host the Bruins one last time on Saturday at 7pm, and close out the weekend with a 3pm start vs. the Bears at the DCU Center on Sunday.
The Worcester Sharks player of the week nominee is forward Bracken Kearns.Kearns recorded five points (2-3-5) and fired eight shots in two games last week. Kearns is working on a four game point streak since his NHL recall with four goals and three assists during that span. Bracken now leads the Sharks with 17 goals and 39 points this season in 54 games.
Few things to know:
- The Sharks are currently in 4th place (28-24-1-6, 63 pts) in the Atlantic Division and 11th place overall in the Eastern Conference. – the Sharks trail the CT by five points (Sharks have four games in hand) for the final playoff spot in the East.
- Playoff Primer courtesy of the AHL. Click HERE.
- The San Jose Sharks currently have 11 players on their roster that have spent time in Worcester (Couture, Desjardins, Pavelski, Sheppard, Wingels, Braun, Demers, Greiss, Kennedy, Irwin, and Stalock).
- The San Jose Sharks are currently in 3rd place in the Pacific Division with 30 points and a 12-10-6 record.
- Goaltender Alex Stalock was recalled by the SJ Sharks on March 8. Al has appeared in two games in relief with the SJ Sharks and has a 0-1-0 record with a 2.86GAA and a .846 save %. Stalock is currently tied with Thomas Greiss for the most wins in Worcester Sharks franchise history (74).
- Forward Tim Kennedy was recalled by the SJ Sharks on Feb 12. Kennedy has two goals in 12 games with San Jose. Tim is 2nd on the Worcester Sharks with 37 points (13-24-37) in just 37 games… Kennedy has a two game point streak (0-5-5) in Worcester.
- Matt Irwin was recalled again by the San Jose Sharks on Feb 25. Irwin has played 19 games with the SJ Sharks this season (5-3-8) and has averaged 19:06 of ice time. Matt leads all SJ Sharks defensemen with five goals in just 19 games.
- Yanni Gourde was recalled from the San Francisco Bulls (ECHL) on March 11. Yanni had a point in all eight games for the Bulls (4-6-10) and one fighting major. Yanni had two points (1-1-2) in his first two games back with Worcester.
- Goaltender Thomas Heemskerk was recalled from the SF Bulls on March 9. Heemskerk had a 13-17-1 record with the Bulls along with a 3.16GAA and a .904 save %.
- Forward Tommy Grant was reassigned to San Francisco on March 11. Grant had three points (1-2-3) in 14 games for Worcester. Tommy has four points (1-3-4) and 19 penalty minutes in three games for the Bulls.
- All-Star Bracken Kearns leads Worcester with ten power play goals, 17 goals overall, 38 points, and is 3rd with seven fighting majors. He was returned to Worcester on March 7 after appearing in one scoreless game with the SJ Sharks and since then has a four game point streak 4-3-7).
- The Sharks are 5th in the AHL with 17 one-goal wins. Worcester is 17-6-1-5 in one goal games this season. – Worcester is 13-3-0-2 in one goal games on the road this season – best in AHL.
- The Sharks are 2nd in the AHL with 6 wins when trailing after 40 minutes of play this season (6-17-0-4). In addition the Sharks are 9-4-1-1 when tied after 40 minutes of play.
- Coach Roy Sommer currently ranks 4th in the AHL with 537 wins in his career (15th season) and 2nd in games coached in the AHL with 1175.
- The Sharks have a busy 3-in-3 weekend on tap highlighted by two promotion packed games at the DCU Center.
- Friday at 7pm the Sharks travel to Springfield to take on the Falcons.
- Saturday at 7pm the Sharks host the Bruins one last time! New England guard and five time Pro Bowl player Logan Mankins will appear and sign autographs in partnership with 98.5 The Sports Hub on Heroes Night. Logan will sign autographs from 6-8pm. Doors open on Saturday at 3:30pm for the Guns N Hoses game at 4pm between the Worcester Police Department and the Worcester Fire Department on Heroes Night! Throughout the game, the Sharks will recognize local Heroes!
- Sunday at 3pm vs. the Hershey Bears – The first 500 kids 12-and-under will receive a free Worcester Sharks jersey courtesy of Saint Vincent Hospital when the Sharks host the Hershey Bears at 3pm on Sunday! Make sure to arrive to the DCU Center early to secure a Sharks jersey for your youngster! (doors open at 2pm). Kid’s tickets are just $5 with the purchase of an adult ticket at every Sunday home game! Wish FINZ a happy birthday this Sunday at the DCU Center!
Top 3… Last Week
- Bracken Kearns scored two goals in his 2nd consecutive game with a four point outburst (2-2-4) in a 5-1 win over the Penguins on Wednesday!
- Adam Comrie picked up four points (1-3-4) including his first career AHL goal in the 5-1 victory over the Penguins on Wednesday!
- James Livingston recorded two points (1-1-2) in the Sharks 5-3 loss to the Penguins on Friday!
Last Week: (1-1-0-0) 2pts, 2gp
Wed. 3/13 W Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins 1 @ Worcester SHARKS 5
Fri. 3/15 L Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins 5 @ Worcester SHARKS 3
This week:
Fri. 3/22 Worcester SHARKS @ Springfield Falcons – 7pm
Sat. 3/23 Providence Bruins @ Worcester SHARKS – 7pm
Sun. 3/24 Hershey Bears @ Worcester SHARKS – 3pm
Rewind the Tape:
3.13.13 – Wilkes-Barre / Scranton 1 – Worcester 5 – W – DCU Center
The Worcester Sharks (28-23-1-6, 63 points) extended their home point streak to five games (4-0-1) with a 5-1 victory over the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins (33-22-3-2, 71 points) in front of 2,419 fans at the DCU Center on Wednesday evening. Harri Sateri led the way for the Sharks, making 28 saves on 29 shots, earning his 13th victory of the season. Marek Viedensky (4th), Adam Comrie (1st), Bracken Kearns (16th), and Daniil Tarasov (9th) scored power play goals for the Sharks against the Penguins, who are the best penalty killing team in the league. Kearns (17th) also added an even-strength goal and two assists for a four point night. Comrie added three assists in addition to his goal, for a four point night. Warren Peters (10th) scored the lone goal for the Penguins in the third period.
3.15.13 – Wilkes-Barre / Scranton 5 – Worcester 3 – L – DCU Center
The Worcester Sharks (28-24-1-6, 63 points) had their five-game home point streak snapped with a 5-3 loss to the Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins (34-22-3-2, 73 points) in front of 5,865 fans at the DCU Center on Friday evening. Prior to the game, Avery Bradley of the Boston Celtics made an appearance and signed autographs for Sharks fans. Facing a three-goal deficit heading into the third period, Worcester got goals from James Livingston (6th) and Jon Matsumoto (13th) to make it a one-goal game, but just couldn’t pull it out, as Warren Peters (11th) of the Penguins added an empty netter late to put the game away. Yanni Gourde (8th) scored the other Sharks goal early in the second period. Dylan Reese (6th), Chad Kolarik (23rd), Paul Thompson (15th), and Riley Holzapfel (17th) added the other goals for Wilkes-Barre / Scranton. Brad Thiessen earned his 14th win of the season in net for the Penguins, while Harri Sateri suffered his 13th loss of the season.
Season by the Numbers:
Record: 28-24-1-6, 63 points – 4th in Atlantic and 11th in Eastern Conference
Win percentage: .534% - 19th in AHL
Home Record: 12-11-1-4
Away Record: 16-13-0-2
Attendance: 125,306 through 28 games (4,475 average)
Goals Scored: 151, 2.56 goals per game, 22nd in AHL
Goals Allowed: 166, 2.81 goals against per game, 16th in AHL
Shots per game: 30.02 – 17th in AHL
Shots allowed per game: 30.37 – 18th in AHL
Score 1st: 18-9-0-2 when scoring first (.655%)
1 goal games: 17-6-1-6 in one goal games -17 wins 2nd most in AHL
PP: 16.5%, 17th in AHL (44-267)
PK: 82.7%, 18th in AHL (47-272)
SHG – 4 shorthanded goals scored
SHGA – 5 shorthanded goals allowed
PIMS – 20.61 penalty minutes per game, 6th in AHL
Fighting Majors: 65 – 7th in AHL
OT Games – 15 – (2-1 record in OT) – Hamilton and Petrecki OTG
SO Games – 12 – (6-6 record in SO)
Roster Players – the Sharks have used 38 players this season
Goalies – the Sharks have used 2 goaltenders this season
NHL debuts – 2 Worcester players made their NHL debuts this season (Matt Irwin and Nick Petrecki)
Top Worcester Sharks:
Goals Kearns (17)
Game Winners Hamilton, Matsumoto, Tarasov (3)
Assists Kennedy (24)
Points Kearns (17-21-38)
Power Play Points Kennedy (5-11-16) and Tennyson (3-13-16)
Shots McCarthy (118 shots)
PIM Pelech (200)
Fighting Pen. Pelech (13)
Plus/Minus Livingston (+12)
Wins Stalock (15)
G.A.A. Stalock (2.48)
Save % Stalock (.917)
Shutouts Sateri and Stalock (1)
For more information on the Worcester Sharks, visit
SharksAHL.com
