The Long Beach Sharks hosted the New Hampshire Jr. Mountain Kings this past weekend in a two game home series that featured plenty of offensive action and strong special teams play from both sides.
On Saturday evening, Sean Bailey kicked off the Sharks’ scoring with a power play goal late in the first period. However, the Jr. Mountain Kings were able to capitalize on a couple of Sharks penalties to take the lead and never looked back. JD DiTommaso added to the Sharks’ offense in the second period, but despite generating 22 shots in the third, the Sharks couldn’t break through the Jr. Mountain Kings’ netminder and fell by a final score of 5–2.
On Sunday, the Sharks were looking to even the score, and that they did. Once again, Sean Bailey opened the scoring, finding the back of the net right off the faceoff for his third goal in as many games. The Jr. Mountain Kings tied it up with a power-play goal, but from there the Sharks’ offense took over. Jack Plummer fired a shot from the point that was tipped in by Gustav Martinsson to give Long Beach the lead. Eli McCarthy extended it moments later with a one-timer past the Jr. Mountain Kings goaltender, sending the Sharks into the first intermission up 3–1. McCarthy struck again early in the second, capitalizing on a rebound for his second of the game. Just 29 seconds later, Ryder Pisiak converted on a pass from McCarthy after he stole the puck in the offensive zone to make it 5–1. The Sharks maintained their momentum for the remainder of the game, skating away with a 5–2 victory to split the weekend series.
The Sharks are back in action this Wednesday, October 22nd, for a midweek matinee at home in Long Beach. Puck drop is at 1:00pm.
