The Sharks have been struggling lately. Since starting off the season 12-1 and tops in the New England division, the Sharks are just 1-5 in their last 6 games. The losing streak began after their Feb 8th match up against the New Jersey Nightmare. That weekend cost the Sharks two of their top players, Kenny Baldwin Jr and Darren Guerriere for their next 4 games.

Going into their final regular season match up versus the hated 495ers, the Sharks had to look to their minor team to help fill in the vacated spots. Missing from the starting line up was Rob Lopinto a late scratch with a back injury, Eric Reiger and Brendan Nelson, Johnny Lechmansky with a hand injury, along with the suspended Kenny and Darren. The Sharks struggled on their home court as captain Robert Mannino scored the lone goal in the first game as the 495ers coasted to a 3-1 win.

In game 2 there wasn't much difference. The Sharks kept the score close as Sal Capito made 37 saves on 40 shots. Rob Lopinto notched a powerplay goal at 7:18 in the second to cut the lead to 2-1. The game ended in defeat 3-1 and a 2 game sweep by the 495ers. Penalties hurt the Sharks as they had 6 penalties for 12:00 minutes of gametime. Their penalty kill was strong however, allowing just 1 goal. The Sharks and 495ers are now tied in their all time head-to-head matchups 3-3-0.

The Sharks major and minor squads then took to the road as they traveled north to Boston for 4 games a piece. The Sharks elite team looking to turn things around were getting their players back from suspension in Kenny and Darren, but that was to come in game 2. The minor squad had a chance to move up in the division with some big wins against some big opponents. The minors were matched up in their first two games against the undefeated Holbrook Swamp Donkeys. The Swamp Donkeys came in 18-0 and tops in the minor division.

In game 1 the Swamp Donkeys came out strong pulling out to a 5-1 lead after the first. Chris Vassalo provided the Sharks with the only goal in the first as the penalty bug had struck the Sharks. Four penalties in the first hurt the Sharks as they were unable to get anything going. In the second the Sharks looked much better. After being out shot 19 to 8 in the first the Sharks turned it around to out shoot the Swamp Donkeys 17 to 9. But the shots didn't matter as they couldn't find the back of the net. Eric Rieger notched a powerplay goal assisted by Trey Hartwell as the only second half scoring for the Sharks as the fell 7-2.

Game 2 was a different story. The Sharks came out playing like they should have all season as they jumped to a 3-0 lead. Trey Hartwell started the scoring at 4:37 and Phil Russo added a powerplay goal at 7:46. After the first the Sharks were on top 3-1 and looking to upset the undefeated Donkeys. In the second half the Swamp Donkeys mounted a come back to tie it up at 3 and any momentum held by the Sharks was lost. The Sharks regained the lead as Charles Nack put in a pass from Michael Bergan at 12:48 in the second. Feeling the panic the Swamp Donkeys then pulled their goalie to try and get the man advantage to mount a come back. This proved to back fire as the Sharks then posted 2 empty net goals by Chris Vassalo and Trey Hartwell. But the Swamp Donkeys didn's back down and scored 2 more goals late in the period to bring it to with in 1. In the end the Sharks goalie Greg Braska made some clutch saves as he stopped 37 of 42 for the game and the Sharks held on to upset the Swamp Donkeys 6-5. Other scoring for the Sharks include 3 assists by Tom Harwood and 1 assist by John Hartwell and Will Hopper.

The Sharks elite then took the floor looking to rebound from their 2 game sweep at the hands of the 495ers. Game 1 didn't start well for the Sharks as the were down 4-1 after the first. The smaller rink looked to give the Boston Rink Rats a big advantage. In the second Boston jumped out with 2 more goals putting Suffolk down 6-1 and looking at defeat. Suffolk then mounted a comeback looking to provide some lift to the team as Rob Lopinto and Eric Rieger scored, but it wasn't enugh as the Sharks dropped the first 6-3.

Game 2 saw the reemergence of the Sharks as Darren and Kenny were now back from their suspensions and out to catch up on some missed time. Once again the Sharks were down early and big. Boston rolled out to a quick 6-0 lead and already Suffolk looked doomed. Late goals by Kenny Baldwin and Darren Guerriere cut the lead to 6-2 at the end of the first. The second provided tons of scoring, only it was for both teams. Kenny Baldwin added 3 more goals to give him 4 for the day, and Rob Lopinto scored another but the four goals scored by Suffolk was matched by Boston as they netted 5. Boston completed their sweep of Suffolk with an 11-6 victory. The lose gave the Sharks their 4th in a row and for the first time they were no longer in first place in the division. Boston moved ahead with the two wins.

The second day of hockey in Boston had the Suffolk Sharks minor against the Beantown Bees. Sharks elite looking to end their slide at 4 took on the Massachusetts Mulissha, while the minor team looked to continue their winning after their huge victory the day before.

The minor team was first to take the court against Beantown who came in with a 7-8-3 record. The first game started like most Sharks games this weekend, down early. Beantown rushed out to a 2-0 lead after the first. In the second the Sharks couldn't seem to find anything near the back of the net as Beantown won 4-1. Suffolk's Phil Russo scored late in the second to prevent the shut out.

Game 2 was more like the game 2 from the previous day as the Sharks looked more like the team that had upset Holbrook the day before. The Sharks had a 6-0 lead after the first and put on cruise control from their. They coasted to an easy 6-1 while being on the powerplay for most of the second half. Scoring was spread out for Suffolk as Trey Hartwell led with 2 goals, Chris Vassalo had a goal and an assist, as did Max Stern. Adam Koziol and Mike Prainito also lit the lamp for Suffolk. The minor team finished the day with a split and leaves Boston with 2 more wins and 2 more losses moving them into tie for 4th place.

Next was the Sharks elite looking to rebound and end thier losing streak at 4 faced a Mulissha team that was 7-10-1. The first game was dominated by the Sharks as they out shot the Mulissha 52-27. Only problem was that the Mulissha goalie was stopping most of them. Mulissha took a 1-0 on a goal by Tom Halpin. Rob Lopinto continued his scroing steak tied it up just 37 seconds into the second with the assist to Rob Mannino. The Mulisha then regained the lead 3 minutes later and put the pressure on the Sharks to avoid losing a 5th straight. Tom Cartwright scored on a pass from Rob Mannino to tie the game up at 2. Thats where it stood at the end of regulation and headed to overtime. There was no quick end to this one as both goalies made some spectacular saves. At 13:11 of overtime Mulissha sniper Tom Halpin beat Sal Capito as the Sharks losing streak hit 5.

In the last game of the weekend Suffolk came out early and grabbed a 1-0 lead on a great passing play as Rob Mannino fed Rob Lopinto on the right side of the net who then passed to Mike Prainito who snuck in the left side and buried it into the back of the net. The Mulissha responded late in the first to end the first tied at 1. With 1 minute to go in the first the Sharks ran into some problems with the refs, who all weekend seemed to favor some calls to the Boston teams. Thomas Carwright was handed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and Kenny Baldwin Jr was given a misconduct and game ejection and the Sharks were also assesed a bench minor penalty. That didn't stop the Sharks as Rob Lopinto once again scored to give Suffolk the 2-1 lead. The Mulissha then answered back with 2 goals just over one minute apart and Suffolk was once again down. Rob Lopinto then came through again for Suffolk as he scored his second of the game. Just like the game before this one was heading to overtime. The Sharks controlled overtime outshooting the Mulissha 5-1 as Eric Gomes netted the game winner with a blast from the point. Suffolk ended their 5 game losing streak and next head to New Jersey to take on the last place New Jersey Surge.

The Sharks games from March 14th were recorded and announced by Ratcastradio.com. You may view the games at stickam.com.