Dwight Helminen capped a five-goal comeback 3:19 into overtime as the Worcester Sharks rallied to beat the Portland Pirates 6-5 this afternoon in an American Hockey League game played in front of 3,132 at the DCU Center.

Danny Groulx forced overtime by scoring with 43 seconds remaining in regulation as the Sharks posted their second straight come-from-behind win. Steven Zalewski, Brandon Mashinter, Logan Couture and Benn Ferriero netted the other Sharks goals helping Worcester improve to 24-13-0-2 on the season.

The Sharks took the upper hand in the Unum Challenge with their third win of the eight-game season series.

Mike Kostka, Joe DiPenta, Felix Schutz, Mark Mancari and Paul Byron scored for the Pirates while Tyler Ennis collected a pair of assists. The loss, a third straight to the Sharks, dropped the Pirates to 19-14-5-2.

Kostka opened the scoring just 42 seconds into the game, converting a face-off win into the only goal of the opening period. The offensive flood gates opened in the second as the two teams combined for seven goals and the Pirates, who were up 5-1 with three-and-a-half minutes remaining in the stanza, emerged heading into the third with a 5-3 advantage. Ferriero made it a one-goal game early in the third to set the stage for Groulx to tie things up in the final minute of regulation. Helminen finished it with 1:21 left in the extra five minutes.

The Pirates led 1-0 after one and 5-2 heading into the third.

The Sharks out shot the Pirates 43-31 as JP Lamoureux took the loss.

(courtesy of Portland Pirates)