P-Bruins steal one from Sharks on controversial Lehtonen goal


07:33 PM EST on Sunday, February 8, 2009

Special to The Journal

PROVIDENCE The Providence Bruins beat the Worcester Sharks, 3-2, on a controversial goal by Mikko Lehtonen with 1:36 left before 9,121 fans at the Dunkin Donuts Center Sunday afternoon.

With Providence on a power play after Brad Marchand goaded Worcesters Lukas Kasper into a roughing penalty, Lehtonen appeared to either hit the puck with a high stick or kick the puck into the net.

Referee Terry Koharski first waved the goal off, but then allowed it after conferring with linesman Mark Messier.

Lehtonen (2) and Brad Marchand scored for Providence; Jamie McGinn had both goals for the Sharks.

With the win, Providence remains in first place in the Atlantic Division.

The P-Bruins took a 1-0 lead at the 10:55 mark of the opening period. Wacey Rabbit had the puck in the slot and sent it to Adam McQuaid at the right point. He took a shot and the rebound came to Marchand, who tallied his 11th goal of the season.

Worcester tied the game while on the power play at 13:45 of the second period. McGinn netted his 15th goal of the season with Kaspar and Matt Fornataro assisting.

The Sharks took their only lead of the game at the 45-second mark of the third period on a power play. McGinn scored his second goal of the game with Patrick Traverse and Ryan Vesce assisting.

The P-Bruins tied the game at 3:35, while on a power play. Marchand had the puck in the slot and fed it back to McQuaid. He sent it towards the net and Lehtonen was there to push it in for his 15th goal of the season.

On the winning goal, Martin St. Pierre held the puck at the left point and sent it to Johnny Boychuk at the right point. He took a shot and Sharks net minder Thomas Greiss was there to make the save, but the rebound was left in front of the net. Lehtonen puts it in the net for his second goal of the game and 16th of the season.

Tuukka Rask stopped 26 of 28 shots for the P-Bruins, while Greiss made 31 saves for the Sharks.
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I'm sick of news articles spelling names WRONG! I had to correct "Lehtonen" in the article since it was spelled "Lehtonon". Really pathetic since the title of the article was correct.

I was there and the replay clearly showed the puck going off the leg of a Sharks player after Mikko kicked it toward the net. The puck probably wouldn't even have been on net. It was just a reaction by Mikko to keep the puck near the crease. Sorry, Sharks, you played a great game, but the refs got it right.

The goal wasn't controversial at all. Adam said that they looked at it for a minute to see if it was high, but it was fine and called a goal. There was no long looking at it. So, the Journal talking about it that way was so silly. News always looks for something controversial.