Worcester Sharks Outshoot But Don't Outscore Philadelphia Phantoms for 3-0 Loss

MLN Newswire - www.mlntherawfeed.com –

WORCESTER – The Worcester Sharks were unable to find their rhythm again on Saturday night and were held scoreless for the first time this year, dropping a 3-0 decision to the AHL’s top team, the Philadelphia Phantoms.

Philadelphia came out firing and took a 1-0 lead just over a minute into the game.  Pete Zingoni one-timed a centering feed from rookie Steve Downie that beat rookie goaltender Taylor Dakers to the back post, deflected off the upright and into the net.  Zingoni struck again at the midpoint of the first period, this time while Nate Raduns was in the Worcester penalty box.  >From the low slot, Zingoni attacked Dakers and beat the Worcester goaltender to his glove side, tallying his sixth goal of the season and doubling the Phantoms advantage. 

The Sharks, held shotless for the first nine minutes plus, began to generate offense toward the end of the period.  Dennis Packard nearly poked home a slap shot from Josh Prudden, and the loose puck led to a scramble that produced two more shots on net and coincidental minor penalties to Philadelphia’s Jussi Timonen and Worcester’s Graham Mink.  A subsequent holding minor on Denis Gauthier gave the Sharks a 4-on-3 advantage that overlapped the first intermission.

Worcester was unable to capitalize on the man advantage or on the rocket from Craig Valette that hit the upright shortly after the power play expired.  The teams traded even-strength chances over much of the period before a minor penalty against Josh Prudden gave Philadelphia’s top-ranked power play its next chance.  Dakers made four saves on the penalty kill while holding the Phantoms scoreless.  Philadelphia would strike again before the end of the period, however.  Dakers pushed aside a breakaway try by Downie but the rookie tracked down the puck and fed teammate Stefan Ruzicka, who cut around Dakers and finished top shelf to expand the Phantoms lead to 3-0.

Tom Cavanagh had the best chance of the final stanza, but his short-range rebound try was poked just wide by Scott Munroe, who replaced Philadelphia starting netminder Brian Boucher early in the second period.  The pair combined for 32 saves in the shutout.

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