Greiss is nice as Sharks square Atlantic Finals


WORCESTER 1, PROVIDENCE 0

Forward Tom Cavanagh scored the game’s lone goal in the first period and netminder Thomas Greiss stopped all 26 shots he faced for his second postseason shutout as Worcester took a 1-0 win over Providence on Saturday at the DCU Center.

The Sharks have erased a 2-0 deficit to knot the Atlantic Division Finals at two games apiece.

Cavanagh provided the night’s only offense at 4:41 of the opening period. Stationed in the left corner, Patrick Traverse sent a pass to Cavanagh in the right slot, and he fired it into the net before Providence goaltender Tuukka Rask could recover.

Riley Armstrong also picked up an assist on the goal and is leading the Sharks with 11 points (2-9-11) this postseason.

Worcester had several other quality chances in the opening period and outshot Providence by a 14-2 margin in the frame. The Bruins’ best bid to tie it came when Martin St. Pierre rang a wrist shot off the post from the right circle seven minutes in.

The Sharks clamped down over the final two periods and survived a third frame that saw the Bruins hold a 13-3 shots advantage. Greiss, who went his first 143 AHL appearances – regular season and playoffs – without recording a shutout, now has three in his last 11 games, including a blanking of Providence in the Sharks’ regular-season finale.

Providence goaltender Tuukka Rask was strong in the losing effort, finishing with 26 saves on 27 shots, but the Bruins still dropped consecutive games for the first time this postseason.

Worcester has evened up its second consecutive series after falling into a 2-0 deficit, and the teams will square off for the pivotal Game 5 on Monday evening in Providence.


Atlantic Division Finals – Series “I” (best-of-7)
A2-Providence Bruins vs. A4-Worcester Sharks
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Game 1 – Tue., Apr. 28 – PROVIDENCE 3, Worcester 2 (OT)
Game 2 – Wed., May 6 – Providence 4, WORCESTER 2
Game 3 – Fri., May 8 – Worcester 5, PROVIDENCE 3
Game 4 – Sat., May 9 – WORCESTER 1, Providence 0
Game 5 – Mon., May 11 – Worcester at Providence, 7:05
Game 6 – Wed., May 13 – Providence at Worcester, 7:05
*Game 7 – Thu., May 14 – Worcester at Providence, 7:05