Sharks Primed for Playoff Push
Friday, March 23, 2012
As of Thursday afternoon, the final playoff spot was held by the Syracuse Crunch, following their overtime victory over the Rochester Americans the night before. The Manchester Monarchs stand just one point ahead of the Crunch, and two above the Worcester Sharks. Below, five teams are within four points of catching the Sharks, including the Devils, who tied Worcester for points with their victory over them Wednesday night.
Having played the least amount of games in the conference should help the Sharks hold their ground, but the intensity of nine teams vying for the last three playoff spots will be high heading into the last stretch of the season, which ends on April 15. However, the Sharks are not interested in going home then.
“It means a lot to everyone, the whole organization,” Coach Roy Sommer said of making the playoffs. “We've battled hard all year, made sacrifices, dealt with injuries. If we can get it done, it's a feather in the cap.”
This weekend, teams in the AHL's Eastern Conference each play two or three games – except for the Sharks – who play just one. This puts the Sharks behind in games played, giving them a unique opportunity.
“The ball is in our court,” Sommer said. “We can't scoreboard-watch, we have to take care of ourselves. Destiny is in our own hands.”
All of the Sharks' remaining 12 games are against teams either in the playoffs or fighting for a spot. The Sharks say they will need to play with their hearts on their sleeves to keep their playoff dreams alive.
“If they don't see them [the remaining games] as playoff games, they're in the wrong dressing room,” said Sommer. “At the top of our game, we can beat any team in the conference. We had a string of seven [wins] in a row; you can't do that if you're not a very good hockey club.”
Seven of the Sharks' final 12 games will be played at home in Worcester, at the DCU Center, so fan support at the games will be crucial as the hometown team fights to make the playoffs.
“I like our chances,” Sommer said. “I'd rather be in our position than some of the other teams (in the division).”
The Sharks next game is Sunday March 25 against the seventh-place Monarchs. Manchester is currently two points ahead of the Sharks in the standings.
“It's a three-and-three for them, so if we don't take advantage of that, shame on us,” Sommer said, noting that the Monarchs will be playing their third game of the weekend. “We just have to play the way we play and not worry about what everyone else does (over the weekend).”
Sommer emphasized the hard work the team has put in, overcoming the difficulties of having a substantial amount of injuries throughout the season.
“We can't ice the same lineup every game [due to injuries],” Sommer said.
Sommer believes it is crunch time for the Worcester Sharks, who last made the playoffs in 2010. That year, the Sharks finished with the most points in the Eastern Conference, but lost in the divisional round of the playoffs to the Monarchs.
Though the Sharks have work to do to make the playoffs. Sommer likes his team's odds.
“My philosophy is that the harder you work, the luckier you get.”
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It