WORCESTER 10, HARTFORD 3
Worcester struck for five goals in the first period and cruised to a 10-3 preseason win over Hartford on Sunday at the International Skating Center in Simsbury, Conn.
Defenseman Michael Wilson posted two goals and an assist for the Sharks, and two-time AHL All-Star and team captain Ryan Vesce had four assists on the afternoon.
Will Colbert began the Sharks’ onslaught just 1:13 after the opening face-off, and Worcester also received first-period tallies from 2007 first-round draft pick Logan Couture, Brandon Mashinter, Wilson, and ex-Wolf Pack forward Dwight Helminen.
Mashinter, Wilson, and T.J. Trevelyan finished with two-goal performances for the Sharks, while Dan DaSilva and defenseman Tom Morrow rounded out the Worcester offense.
Helminen also finished with three points (1-2-3) in the victory, and Steven Zalewski chipped in a pair of assists. Worcester goaltender Ryan Nie stopped 30 of 33 shots in net.
The Sharks went 4-for-4 on the power play en route to avenging a 4-1 loss to Hartford last Wednesday night.
Tomas Zaborsky, Justin Soryal, and Dale Weise scored for the Wolf Pack, and Andres Ambuhl finished with a pair of helpers.
HAMILTON 3, TORONTO 1
The Hamilton Bulldogs won their third straight game with a 3-1 victory over the Toronto Marlies on Sunday, capturing the first ever Gardiner Cup after winning the four-team tournament in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Hamilton opened the game’s scoring at 4:01 of the first period. Toronto starting goaltender James Reimer made the initial save on a David Desharnais shot but was unable to control the rebound. Trotter grabbed the loose puck before sending it past the glove of Reimer.
The Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead at 3:02 of the second period. While on a five-on-three power play, Andre Benoit received the puck from Mikael Johansson. Benoit proceeded to blast a shot that sailed into the top corner of the net.
Dale Mitchell scored Toronto’s lone goal of the game at 4:04 of the middle stanza. Mitchell raced down the right side of the ice before releasing a slapshot that beat Hamilton starting goaltender Cedrick Desjardins through the legs.
Trotter added his second goal of the game at 10:12 of the second frame. Trotter grabbed the loose puck from a faceoff before snapping a shot that slid underneath Reimer and into the back of the net.
PORTLAND 5, MANCHESTER 1
A four-goal second period sent Portland on its way to a 5-1 win over Manchester at Notre Dame Arena in Berlin, N.H.
The Monarchs took a 1-0 lead in the opening stanza when Justin Azevedo scored at 16:44, but Portland’s Kyle Wanvig netted the equalizer just eight seconds into the second period.
The Pirates then received additional second-period markers from Derek Whitmore, Paul Byron, and Felix Schutz to take a 4-1 advantage into the final 20 minutes.
Portland defenseman T.J. Brennan tallied the only goal for either side in the third period, scoring on the power play at 8:35. The Pirates finished 2-for-8 with the man advantage, and goaltender Jhonas Enroth earned the victory with 33 saves.
SAN ANTONIO 4, TEXAS 3
Defenseman Jeff May’s power play goal with 2:49 to play in the second period broke a 3-3 tie and proved to be the game-winner as San Antonio took a 4-3 win over Texas at the Cedar Park Center on Sunday.
Chad Kolarik registered a goal and an assist for the Rampage, who also received tallies from Kyle Turris and Dan Sexton.
San Antonio converted on two of four power play opportunities, and goaltender Al Montoya earned the win with 33 saves in net.
Perttu Lindgren, Tyler Shelast, and Travis Morin netted goals for the Stars.
HERSHEY 4, NORFOLK 3 (OT)
Kyle Wilson’s second goal of the night tied the game with 37 seconds to play in regulation, and Boyd Kane scored 3:22 into overtime to lift Hershey past Norfolk by a 4-3 count on Sunday at the Giant Center.
The Bears initially jumped to a 2-0 lead by the 3:39 mark of the second period on goals by Wilson and Darren Reid.
But the Admirals’ Juraj Simek cut the deficit in half at 9:19 of the second, and Matt Dias netted the equalizer at 2:31 of the third. Tommy Goebel then gave Norfolk a 3-2 lead at 12:46, an advantage that held until Wilson scored in the period’s final minute.
Hershey goaltender Jason Bacashihua stopped 26 of 29 shots in the winning effort.
SYRACUSE 4, ROCHESTER 1
Jared Aulin and Brock McBride tallied first-period power play goals, and Syracuse went on to post a 4-1 win over host Rochester at the ESL Sports Centre.
The Americans cut their deficit to 2-1 when Jamie Johnson scored a power play goal of his own at 13:30 of the opening frame.
But after a scoreless second frame, Trevor Frischmon gave the Crunch a 1-0 lead at 13:07 of the third, and Kevin Harvey added an empty-net marker at 18:44.
Erick Stoyanovich chipped in two assists for Syracuse, and goaltender Kevin Lalande earned the victory with 23 saves on 24 shots.
ABBOTSFORD 6, MANITOBA 4
Hugo Carpentier registered a goal and three assists to lead Abbotsford past visiting Manitoba at the Entertainment & Sports Centre, giving the Heat a two-game preseason sweep of the Moose this weekend.
Abbotsford tallied all six of its goals after the game’s halfway point. Defenseman Brad Cole scored twice, David Van der Gulik put up a goal and two assists, while Kris Chucko and Carsen Germyn each added single scores.
Carpentier finished Abbotsford’s offensive attack by beating Moose goaltender Daren Machesney on a penalty shot attempt at 15:09 of the third period.
The Heat held a 30-17 shots advantage over the course of the second and third periods. Gord Baldwin posted two helpers in the victory, and goaltender Leland Irving made 22 saves in net.
Manitoba initially took a 2-0 lead on goals by Marco Rosa and Derek Leblanc. Scott Howes and Pierre-Cedric Labrie also scored for the Moose.
