Sharks Set For Crucial Final Regular Season Games

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Thursday, April 16, 2015

GoLocalWorcester Sports Team

The Worcester Sharks (40-27-4-2) currently sit in seventh place in the Eastern Conference with 86 points with three games lef to play. The Sharks need one point in their final three games to clinch a playoff spot. 

Reinforcements Coming 

With the San Jose Sharks missing the playoffs, general manager Doug Wilson has reassigned Chris Tierney, Karl Stollery and Bryan Lerg to Worcester.

Chris Tierney played 27 games with Worcester so far this season and posted 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) and a +6 rating. Tierney recorded 21 points in 43 games in the NHL. 

Karl Stollery went to San Jose in a March 2 trade with the Colorado Avalanche and has played in 57 AHL games this season between Worcester and Lake Erie. Stollery has registered seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in those games 

The return of Bryan Lerg to Worcester will be a huge difference maker for the Sharks. Lerg posted 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 66 games this season. Lerg leads the team in points and assists. 

Taylor Fedun's return will also have be a big difference maker for Worcester. Fedun has registered 33 points (six goals, 27 assists)  in 63 games for Worcester this season. At the time of his  call up, Fedun let all Sharks defenseman in points and assists. 

Crucial Weekend 

Friday at Providence 

The Providence Bruins (40-24-7-2) currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, three points ahead of Worcester. 

The Sharks are 7-4 against the Bruins this season but have dropped two straight, including a 3-0 shut out loss on April 11 at the DCU Center. 

Like Worcester, Providence has received reinforcements as well as Boston did not make the playoffs in the NHL. Boston reassigned center Ryan Spooner and right winger David Pastrnak to Providence. 

The P-Bruins are led by Rob Flick and Colin Stuart who have each netted 16 goals on the season.

Saturday at Manchester 

The Manchester Monarchs (48-16-6-3) are the top team in the Eastern Conference and have clinched everything (division, conference) with 105 points. 

Worcester is  4-6-1 against Manchester this season including a 2-0 loss the last time these two teams faced on in Manchester on March 1. 

Manchester is led by Brian O'Neill who has netted 22 goals on the season and 56 assists for a total of 78 points. O'Neil comes in to the game as a +28 on the season. 

Michael Mersch follows up with 20 goals while Jordan Weal and defenseman Colin Miller added 19 goals each. 

Sunday vs Portland 

The Sharks host the Portland Pirates (37-27-7-2) in their final regular season game at the DCU Center. 

Ideally, the Sharks will have clinched a playoff spot by this time and this game would just be about position, either seventh, eighth or maybe even sixth. But if not, this game wiill be the biggest one of the season. 

The Pirates currently sit in a tie for eighth place with the Springfield Falcons and likely will need this game to get into the playoffs. 

The Sharks are 4-2-1-0 against the Pirates this season, winning the last game in Portland 1-0 as Aaron Dell made 30 saves. 

The Pirates are led by Alexandre Bolduc and Brendan Shinnimin who have each netted 21 goals on the season. 

For tickets to the Sharks final regular season game, click here. 

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