St. John's IceCaps NewsIceCaps down Sharks
Score three first period goals, snap three game losing streak
A quick start – something the IceCaps lacked recently – was enough to lift St. John’s to a 6-3 victory over the Worcester Sharks Tuesday night at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.
St. John’s scored two powerplay goals in the opening five minutes and added a third goal halfway through the first period to take control of the game early on. Jason King deflected a shot past Sharks netminder Harri Sateri for his fifth of the season just 2:38 into the game, and Aaron Gagnon netted his second in three games less than two minutes later. Both goals were scored on the powerplay after Sharks forward James Livingston took a double-minor for high-sticking.
At 11:11 of the first, Kevin Clark converted on a beautiful setup by John Albert to give the visitors a commanding 3-0 lead. Worcester right winger Cam MacIntyre would cap off the wild opening frame with his second of the season to pull the Sharks within two.
After an early Sharks goal by Sena Acolatse to begin the second, Clark responded for the IceCaps with his second of the game and third of the season to restore the three goal lead. Late in the second, Patrice Cormier buried his first of the year after forcing a turnover and beating Sateri through the legs.
A goal by the Sharks’ Matt Irwin would pull Worcester to within two, but that was as close as they would come. Riley Holzapfel sealed the win with an empty netter, his fifth goal of the season.
IceCaps goaltender Edward Pasquale stood tall in the crease, earning his second win in as many starts this season. Pasquale was the victim of heavy traffic by the Sharks’ forwards, who consistently got in his space and attempted to disrupt his game. The young netminder was unfazed, however, stopping 30 of 33 shots on the night.
St. John’s displayed a much improved powerplay, going 2-for-5 in the game. Worcester managed one goal on just three St. John’s infractions.
The win snaps a three game losing streak and keeps the IceCaps unbeaten in regulation on the road (3-0-2-0 record). St. John’s now has a four point lead over the Providence Bruins for first place in the Atlantic Division. For Worcester, the loss is the team’s first in regulation this season, dropping them to 4-1-2-0 (10 points) overall, third in the Atlantic.
The IceCaps continue their New England road trip with a visit to Hartford to face the Connecticut Whale on Friday night before returning to Worcester on Saturday. Catch all the action with Brian Rogers on 930 AM This Is Newfoundland Labrador and online at www.stjohnsicecaps.com. The pregame show begins at 8:00 p.m. with the drop of the puck scheduled for 8:30 (all times Newfoundland).
Game Photos
