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Farm Report: Woe is
Worcester
Griess dominates as Worcester wins
2-1
11/16/07 - By Joe Flores
Try to
imagine the San Jose Sharks emerging one by one through the shark head as you
excitedly cheer in anticipation for your beloved team. Then try to imagine the
agony and fear that is struck into your heart as you count six jerseys with the
name "Semenov" stitched onto their backs. Even worse, try to imagine these
players in action. Such was the defensive inability displayed tonight by the
Worcester Sharks against the Providence Bruins as they lost 5-2.
Both
the Sharks and the Bruins came out hard and strong tonight trading hits and
skating well. The Sharks strong effort quickly faded, and a defensive breakdown
gave the Bruins the lead at only 2:41 of the first period as Martins Karsums
scored against Thomas Greiss. The Sharks displayed poor passing and hustle as
Providence added two more goals in the first period at 10:26 on the power play
and 13:11 to stretch their lead to 3-0 by the end of the first. Both were a
result of crisp Bruins passing and poor defensive coverage.
The third
Providence goal scored by Vladimir Skobota came on only their ninth shot of the
game. I looked to the bench, waiting for Sharks backup goalie, Taylor Dakers,
to take to the ice, but he remained idle. However, a fourth goal was scored
against Greiss who was again stranded at 1:39 of the second period. Dakers got
his chance at this point and made the most of it making no fewer than two
highlight reel quality saves throughout the remainder of the game for the
Sharks as his defense continued to aid the Bruins' efforts.
The Sharks
would respond and cut the lead to three at 2:15 of the second period as Riley
Armstrong would cleanly win an offensive zone draw back to Craig Valette who
fired a slap shot to beat Providence goalie, Jordan Sigalet.
The third
period would feature a Sharks team that would come out with a little more
passion. However, the passion was tempered by yet another early goal when
Pascal Pelletier was able to score at 2:17. The Sharks tried to keep the score
close as they converted on the power play. At 4:32 of the third, a Sharks
defenseman actually did something positive as Dan Spang fired a rocket of a
slap shot from the right point to the top, left corner of the goal. The assist
would again go to Armstrong.
Valette of the Worcester Sharks tried to give his team
a boost by collecting the second element of the Gordie Howe hat trick by
fighting the Bruins' Nate Thompson at 8:02 of the third. This was an excellent
bout as both combatants landed punch after punch until finally Thompson landed
on top of Valette. Valette landed several excellent blows that weren't matched
before being knocked to the ice.
There was a scary moment on the ice
as Bruins goalie, Sigalet, randomly collapsed onto the ice at about 10:00 in
the third period as the play was in the Sharks zone. The arena was silent as
the trainers and paramedics attended to the seemingly unconscious goalie. He
was eventually taken off the ice by a stretcher and probably rushed to the
nearest hospital. Mike Brown would finish the rest of the now somber game.
Game Grades
Offense: D+
Defense: D-
Power
Play: C-
Penalty Kill: C
Goaltending-
Combined: C
Greiss:
D+
Dakers: B+
Overall: D+
Notes:
Many of the
Worcester Sharks were non-factors in tonight's game. Among those who showed
little hustle were captain Graham Mink and rookie Nate Raduns. Lukas Kaspar
seemed to show frustration with his teammates as the game went on as he tried
to penetrate the Bruins offense by himself. Greiss stopped 10 of 14 shots
before getting pulled from the game. Dakers would stop 14 of 15 shots.
The Bruins pre-game warm-up jerseys featured Dunkin Donuts advertisements on
the bottom back of their jerseys. Combined with the RBK Edge diaper effect,
those jerseys were truly hideous to look at from behind.
Dunkin
Donuts Center:
This arena is located in downtown Providence. It is
nearing the end of its remodeling process. The arena looks nice, but nowhere
near the quality you would expect from an NHL building. However, the seats were
the most disgusting seats I've ever seen in an arena. The attendance was 6,793,
which is the largest AHL crowd I've been a part of in my five games. Next
stop:
11/17/07 vs. Portland Pirates
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