WORCESTER 4, SPRINGFIELD 3 (OT)
Worcester’s Cory Larose tied the game with 40.4 seconds left in regulation, and AHL All-Star Ryan Vesce (pictured) tallied his 15th goal of the season just 20 seconds into overtime to propel the Sharks to a 4-3 road win over Springfield on Friday at the MassMutual Center.
Patrick Traverse assisted on both goals and scored one of his own in the fist period, while Vesce also finished with a three-point night (1-2-3) and extended his scoring streak to 12 games (7-12-19).
Brett Westgarth also tallied a goal for the Sharks, who extended their points streak to four games (3-0-0-1) since suffering a 7-1 loss in Philadelphia on Jan. 14.
The Sharks (24-18-0-2, 50 points) moved into sole possession of second place in the Atlantic Division, one point back of idle Providence for the top spot.
Worcester goaltender Thomas Greiss earned the victory with 22 saves on 24 shots, upping his season record to 15-10-2.
Mathieu Roy, Bryan Lerg, and AHL All-Star Ryan Potulny scored for the Falcons, who extended their points streak to three games (2-0-1-0) with the overtime loss.
ALBANY 4, BINGHAMTON 1
A three-goal third period lifted Albany to a 4-1 win over visiting Binghamton on Friday at the Times Union Center.
AHL All-Star Michael Ryan scored twice in the third period for the River Rats, and rookie Ryan Weston netted the other goal. Ryan added an assist for a game-high three points.
After a scoreless first, Albany’s Bryan Rodney and Binghamton’s Josh Hennessy traded goals just 34 seconds apart in the middle frame.
River Rats goaltender Justin Peters earned the victory with 30 saves, helping Albany snap a brief two-game losing skid.
GRAND RAPIDS 2, QUAD CITY 1 (SO)
Grand Rapids scored on all three shootout tries to emerge with a 2-1 win over visiting Quad City on Friday before 7,694 fans at Van Andel Arena.
Ville Leino, Mattias Ritola, and Evan McGrath all netted shootout goals for the Griffins, and AHL All-Star goaltender Daniel Larsson denied all three of Quad City’s attempts after making 31 saves through regulation and overtime.
The Flames took the early 1-0 lead when Kyle Greentree tallied a power play goal 10:19 into the contest, but Leino tied it for Grand Rapids with a power play marker of his own at 1:55 of the third.
The Griffins now have a point in four straight games (3-0-1-0).
PORTLAND 1, BRIDGEPORT 0
AHL All-Star Mark Mancari tallied the game’s only goal at 12:37 of the second period to lift Portland over visiting Bridgeport on Friday in the opener of the teams’ two-game set at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
Tim Kennedy and Marc-Andre Gragnani picked up the assists on Mancari’s 18th goal of the season, which came on the power play.
Rookie goaltender Jhonas Enroth made 29 saves to record his third shutout of the season for the Pirates, who snapped a three-game losing skid.
LOWELL 3, HARTFORD 2
Barry Tallackson broke a 2-2 tie with 5:12 left in regulation to lift Lowell over Hartford on Friday at the XL Center.
Ryan Murphy and defenseman Mark Fraser also scored for the Devils, who have now won two in a row following a three-game skid.
AHL All-Star goaltender Jeff Frazee earned the victory with 28 saves in net, improving his season record to 16-8-2.
Michael Sauer and Tommy Pyatt lit the lamp for the Wolf Pack, who fell to 0-2-0-1 against Lowell this season.
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON 4, HERSHEY 3 (SO)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton rallied from a 3-1 deficit and went on to post a 4-3 shootout win over intra-state rival Hershey on Friday before 7,393 fans at the Giant Center. The Penguins moved to 4-1-0-0 against the Bears, the lone loss coming by an 8-4 final on opening night (Oct. 8).
Trailing 3-1, the Penguins received power play scores from Mark Letestu at 19:32 of the second period and Chris Minard 3:42 into the third. Letestu now has a goal in four straight games (4-1-5).
Janne Pesonen and Jean-Michel Daoust netted shootout markers for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, which has won three straight. Goaltender John Curry stopped four of five Hershey attempts after making 33 saves through the first 65 minutes.
Chris Bourque, Alexandre Giroux, and Tyler Sloan tallied regulation goals for the Bears, and Keith Aucoin scored in the shootout. Giroux’s goal extended his scoring streak to 21 games (26-15-41).
PHILADELPHIA 2, MANCHESTER 1
Philadelphia scored twice in the first period and held on for a 2-1 win over visiting Manchester on Friday before 7,193 fans at the Wachovia Spectrum.
Matt Clackson and defenseman Michael Ratchuk netted goals for the Phantoms, and goaltender Scott Munroe made 43 saves in the winning effort.
Philadelphia moved to 5-1-0-0 in its last six games.
Scott Parse garnered the Monarchs’ lone goal of the night at 16:54 of the second period.
LAKE ERIE 3, NORFOLK 2
Defensemen accounted for all three goals as Lake Erie took a 3-2 road win over Norfolk at the Scope.
Nigel Williams scored with 5:49 left in regulation to break a 2-2 tie and lift the Monsters to their second consecutive victory.
Darcy Campbell and AHL All-Star Kyle Cumiskey netted first-period goals to put Lake Erie up 2-0, but the Admirals climbed back to a draw on goals from Zenon Konopka and Justin Keller.
Chris Durno chipped in a pair of assists for Lake Erie, and AHL All-Star goaltender Tyler Weiman turned aside 42 of 44 shots to pick up the victory.
HAMILTON 3, CHICAGO 2
Hamilton scored once at even strength, on the power play, and shorthanded en route to a 3-2 win over visiting Chicago at Copps Coliseum.
Mike Glumac netted a man-advantage marker at 7:32 of the opening period, and Steve Gainey followed with the Bulldogs’ league-leading 11th goal of the season at 8:38.
Defenseman Ryan O’Byrne added his first goal of the campaign for Hamilton, and rookie goaltender Cedrick Desjardins made 25 saves in the winning effort.
Jeff Hamilton and Steve Martins lit the lamp for the Wolves, whose three-game winning streak came to an end.
SYRACUSE 3, TORONTO 1
Syracuse scored once in each period en route to a 3-1 win over visiting Toronto on Friday at the Onondaga County War Memorial.
Maksim Mayorov posted a goal and an assist for the Crunch, who also received scores from Aaron Rome and defenseman Grant Clitsome in the victory.
Crunch goaltender Dan LaCosta earned the victory with 35 saves on 36 shots, helping Syracuse to its third straight win. The Crunch are 7-2-0-0 in their last nine outings.
Mark Bell tallied the lone goal for the Marlies, who finished 2-3-2-2 on its nine-game road swing.
MANITOBA 3, ROCHESTER 2 (SO)
Jason Krog scored once in regulation and twice in the shootout – including the decisive tally – to lift Manitoba to a 3-2 road win over Rochester before 6,042 fans at the Blue Cross Arena.
Michael Grabner and captain Mike Keane added shootout goals for the Moose, while Alexandre Bolduc also scored in regulation.
Manitoba goaltender Curtis Sanford earned the victory, making 32 saves through the first 65 minutes and stopping three of six in the shootout.
Randall Gelech tallied his first goal of the season for the Americans, and David Brine scored on a penalty shot in the third frame.
SAN ANTONIO 5, MILWAUKEE 1
San Antonio scored three power play goals in the first period and never looked back en route to a 5-1 road win over Milwaukee at the Bradley Center.
Wyatt Smith and AHL All-Star Brett MacLean each scored twice for the Rampage, with one of Smith’s goals coming shorthanded. Alexander Nikulin also netted a goal, while Kevin Porter and Joel Perrault each chipped in three assists.
Rampage goaltender Josh Tordjman turned aside 32 shots to improve his record to 17-15-1.
Ryan Maki netted the lone goal for the Admirals, who lost in regulation at home for just the fourth time all season (14-4-0-2).
ROCKFORD 6, IOWA 2
Six different players scored to lift Rockford to a 6-2 win over visiting Iowa on Friday at the MetroCentre.
Adam Pineault and Jake Dowell each posted a goal and a helper for the IceHogs, while Pascal Pelletier, Dan Bertram, Pete MacArthur, and Adam Hobson each added a goal apiece.
AHL All-Star Petri Kontiola chipped in two assists in the victory, which lifted Rockford into a tie for second place in the West Division race and dropped the Chops to fourth.
The IceHogs snapped a three-game losing skid to Iowa and moved to 4-3-0-0 on the season against their division rival.
Rockford goaltender Corey Crawford stopped 30 of 32 shots to improve his season record to 13-7-0.
Ryan Donally and T.J. Trevelyan netted goals for the Chops, who host San Antonio on Saturday before the All-Star break.
HOUSTON 5, PEORIA 2
Defenseman Maxim Noreau and AHL All-Star Corey Locke each posted a goal and an assist as Houston took a 5-2 win over visiting Peoria on Friday before 5,199 fans at the Toyota Center.
Morten Madsen, Peter Olvecky also scored for the Aeros, while Robbie Earl added a goal in his first game in a Houston uniform after being acquired by the parent Minnesota Wild earlier in the week.
Aeros goaltender Nolan Schaefer made 16 saves in the victory, which allowed Houston to move into a tie with Rockford for second place in the West Division.
T.J. Fast tallied his first professional goal for the Rivermen, and Ryan Reaves also lit the lamp. Peoria fell to 3-7-0-1 in its last 11 contests.
