Worcester At It Again

Providence Falls 1-0, Sharks Even Series
May 9, 2009
by T. Chace Jr.

Rhode Island's own Tom Cavanagh, a native a Warwick, RI, scored early in the first period for the Worcester Sharks and that goal held up for 1-0 victory over the Providence Bruins at the DCU Center in Worcester. Worcester has now tied up the best of seven series at two games apiece with their victory on Saturday night. The series heads back to Providence for Game 5 on Monday night.

Cavanagh, a Toll Gate High School graduate fired a shot from the right slot that beat Bruin goaltender Tuukka Rask high to the glove side at 4:41. Patrick Traverse made the pass to Cavanagh and Riley Armstrong also assisted on the play. Cavanagh's shot was the first of the period for the Sharks, who dominated play and outshot the Bruins 14-2 in the period. Providence's Martin St.Pierre hit the post near the halfway point for their best opportunity. Rask was strong in net for the Bruins, holding them to the one goal.

Play was even in the second period and also featured more fisticuffs which occurred in the last two games as well. Bruin Vladimir Sobotka and Shark Jamie McGinn continued their series long feud when they dropped the gloves at the 12:11 mark. Roughing calls were handed out to Bruin Brad Marchand and Shark's Brett Westgarth, and Dan DaSilva. Adam McQuaid and Westgarth were also tagged with misconduct-unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

The third period was a reverse of the first as Providence outshot the Sharks 13-3. Worcester netminder Thomas Greiss was nothing short of spectacular in holding off the Providence deluge. Greiss now has three shutouts in his last eleven games.

Greiss was aptly named the number one star of the game, Cavanagh the second star, and Rask the third. The shots favored Worcester 27-26, and both teams did not cash in on power play opportunities. Providence was 0 for 5 with the man advantage and Worcester was 0 for 4. The attendance for Game 4 was 3019 at the DCU Center. The two teams will continue their battle back at "The Dunk" in Providence on Monday night May 11th.