Ryan Vesce scored twice and Alex Stalock made 31 saves as the Worcester Sharks skated to a 3-1 win over the Portland Pirates in an American Hockey League game played tonight at the DCU Center.

The loss ended the Pirates 13-game point streak (12-0-0-1) and their eight-game road point streak (6-0-1-1).

Dan DaSilva netted the other goal for the Sharks, who took over sole possess of first place in the Atlantic Division with a 36-17-2-2 record.

Marc-Andre Gragnani scored the lone Pirates goal. Portland is now 33-17-5-3 on the season.

The two teams played through a scoreless opening period before Gragnani connected on the Pirates first power play of the game to give Portland a 1-0 lead. Vesce answered with two goals (one on the power play) in the span of six minutes to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead heading into the third. DaSilva provided some breathing room six minutes into the third to complete the scoring.

The win allowed the Sharks to take a 4-3 lead in the Unum Challenge. The final game of the eight-game season series will be played April 11th in Portland.

The Pirates out shot the Sharks 32-29 in the game.

(Courtesy of the Portland Pirates)