WORCESTER 6, HARTFORD 4
Worcester rallied for four goals in the third period to pull out a 6-4 win over Hartford on Wednesday at the DCU Center. T.J. Trevelyan broke a 4-4 tie with just 1:45 left in regulation, helping the Sharks to their first win in five tries against the Wolf Pack this season (1-4-0-0).
Trevelyan also scored earlier in the third period and now shows 21 goals and 35 points in just 47 games this season. The first-year Shark has found the back of the net in six of his last seven contests, registering eight goals and nine points over that span.
Andrew Desjardins and defenseman Danny Groulx (1-1-2) added third-period markers for Worcester, with Groulx scoring into an empty net with just one second to play.
The Sharks also got goals from captain Ryan Vesce (1-1-2) and Steven Zalewski, and 13 different skaters registered at least one point on the night.
Worcester goaltender Frank Doyle, who was victorious at Abbotsford on Saturday, made his second straight start in net and stopped 34 shots in the winning effort.
This marks just the third time all season – and first since Jan. 10-13 – that rookie workhorse Alex Stalock has gone back-to-back games without making an appearance in net for Worcester.
The Sharks improved to 39-20-2-3 on the season and now hold a five-point edge on Portland for first place in the Atlantic Division.
Defenseman Corey Potter paced the Wolf Pack with two goals and an assist in the loss. Brodie Dupont (1-1-2) and Dale Weise also scored for Hartford, which dropped to 1-8-3-1 in its last 13 games.
WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON 4, ALBANY 3 (SO)
Nick Johnson’s fifth-round conversion lifted Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to a 4-3 shootout win over visiting Albany on Wednesday at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Mark Letestu and Chris Conner also notched shootout goals for the Penguins, while goaltender John Curry turned aside three of Albany’s five attempts after making 31 saves through the first 65 minutes.
The Penguins overcame deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 in regulation to take a 3-2 lead into the third period on goals by Tim Wallace, Johnson, and Dustin Jeffrey, who netted his 20th of the season.
But reigning Reebok/AHL player of the week Jerome Samson tallied his second goal of the game – and 32nd of the season – on the power play at 19:51 of the third period for Albany to tie it at 3-3 and send the game to overtime.
Samson now has a point in 10 of his last 11 contests, registering 11 goals and seven assists for 18 points over that span.
Rookie Chris Terry extended his scoring streak to seven games (5-4-9) with the River Rats’ other regulation marker, and rookies Drayson Bowman and Jamie McBain scored in the shootout for Albany.
With the victory, the Penguins pulled within two points of Bridgeport for the East Division’s fourth and final playoff spot.
Albany, meanwhile, earned a point with the shootout loss and is now four points up on Norfolk for second place in the division.
BINGHAMTON 5, MANCHESTER 3
Josh Hennessy recorded two goals and an assist as Binghamton began a four-game trek through New England with a 5-3 win over Manchester on Wednesday at the Verizon Wireless Arena.
The Senators improved their points streak to five games (4-0-1-0) and moved into a tie with Adirondack for sixth place in the East Division, nine points back of Bridgeport for the division’s final postseason entry.
Binghamton captain Denis Hamel notched his 20th goal of the season and has now reached the 20-goal plateau in each of his last eight AHL campaigns.
Jason Bailey and 2010 AHL All-Star Ryan Keller also scored for the Senators, while Zack Smith and defenseman Geoff Kinrade each chipped in a pair of assists.
Sens goaltender Chris Holt earned the victory with 27 saves on 30 shots between the pipes.
Bud Holloway (1-1-2), David Kolomatis, and Justin Azevedo netted goals for the Monarchs, who fell to 5-9-1-0 in their last 15 contests.
MILWAUKEE 5, LAKE ERIE 1
Milwaukee scored the game’s first five goals and rolled to a 5-1 win over visiting Lake Erie on Wednesday at the Bradley Center.
The Admirals earned their first regulation win in eight lifetime tries against the Monsters and their first win of any kind in four clashes on home ice.
Mike Santorelli netted a pair of goals for Milwaukee, while Ryan Maki, Nick Spaling, and Ben Guite also put pucks past Lake Erie goaltenders John Grahame and Billy Sauer.
Defenseman Mark Matheson chipped in two assists in the victory, and Admirals netminder Mark Dekanich stopped 29 of 30 shots in net, helping his club snap a three-game winless skid (0-2-0-1).
Rookie Justin Mercier scored the lone goal for the Monsters, who remain four points back of Manitoba for the North Division’s final playoff spot. Both the Monsters and Moose have 14 games to play.
TEXAS 3, PEORIA 2
Aaron Gagnon’s goal 5:26 into the third period snapped a 2-2 tie, and Texas held on for a 3-2 win over visiting Peoria on Wednesday at the Cedar Park Center.
Gagnon finished with a goal and an assist on the night, and the Stars also received goals from rookie Colton Sceviour and Francis Wathier en route to climbing out of 1-0 and 2-1 deficits.
Texas has now won three straight games for the first time since a five-game run from Jan. 23-31, and the Stars are 5-1-0-0 in their last six contests to pull within three points of Rockford for second place in the West Division. Texas still holds three games in hand on the IceHogs.
Stars goaltender Brent Krahn (11-2-0) made his first appearance since Nov. 22 and stopped 29 of 31 shots in the winning effort.
Defenseman Justin Fletcher and forward Pascal Pelletier netted goals for the Rivermen, who are now 1-1-1-0 thus far on their seven-game road trip, which continues on Friday in Houston.
