Briere comes through as Phantoms rip Sharks, 7-1.

Courtesy of the Worcester Sharks

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — You know the feeling when the odds are against you. That’s what the Sharks had to face on Wednesday night.

Worcester, playing its second-ever game at the Wachovia Spectrum, which will be torn down following the season, was handed a quick 4-0 first period deficit before falling by a 7-1 final.

The loss drops Worcester’s all-time record against Philadelphia to 0-3-0-0.

The Phantoms were coming off a tough five-game road trip eager to skate on home ice where it entered the game 9-5-1-1 compared to 11-13-0-0 on the road.

Former NHL All-Star Daniel Briere played in his first game of a conditioning assignment, scoring a shorthanded goal and adding an assist in his first AHL game in eight years. Jared Ross had a hat trick and an assist while five other Phantoms had multiple point nights.

Thomas Greiss' bid for a fifth straight win ended quickly. He allowed four goals on nine first period shots and finished the night with 16 saves on 23 shots. Greiss had only allowed five goals in his previous four games.

The loss came in a game in which the Sharks outshot their opponent for a 14th straight game.

One bright spot came from Lukas Kaspar and Ryan Vesce, who continue to impress as they combined on the Sharks’ lone goal at 13:31 of the second period. In the process, Vesce upped his point streak to a Sharks’ season-high eight games, while Kaspar is up to six straight.

After Philadelphia took a 6-0 second period lead, tempers boiled over when James McEwan, making his AHL debut, dropped the gloves against Matt Clackson at 8:33 of the period. Off the ensuing faceoff, Frazer McLaren and Garrett Klotz squared off. Mike Moore and Clackson also had a fight in the first.

The second period included three Phantoms goals, by Ross, Briere, and Jonathan Matsumoto, to up their lead to 7-1 heading into the second intermission.

Briere quickly made his presence felt with an assist on Philadelphia’s second goal at the 13:17 mark of the first period. Patrick Maroon scored, jamming the puck into the net after Greiss made the initial save on Ross.

Only 1:28 later, Ross lit the lamp for the first time to hand Worcester a 3-0 deficit.

Ross added his second goal with 14 seconds remaining in the opening frame to put the Sharks into a 4-0 hole heading into the first intermission.

A familiar name, Sean Curry, gave the Phantoms the 1-0 lead at 5:47 of the first period with a hard slap shot from 50 feet. Curry is in his first season with Philadelphia and is best remembered by Sharks fans from his time with the Providence Bruins.

Wednesday marked the first of a six-game road trip which will bring Worcester to Norfolk for two followed by Hershey, Springfield, and Lowell.

NOTES: Three Stars: (3) Briere (1g, 1a) (2) Munroe (42 saves, 1 GA) (1) Ross (3g, 1a) … Attendance for the contest was 3,048 … Worcester went 0/5 on the power play; Philadelphia went 3/5… Final shots were 43-23 Worcester … The four first period goals tied the most the Sharks have allowed in a period all season.