P-Bruins’ Dalton stars, but can’t stick with it

Dalton

PROVIDENCE — When he was fully equipped, Providence Bruins goaltender Matt Dalton was nearly impenetrable tonight at Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

But without his stick, the rookie was no match for Jamie McGinn’s wrist shot, which found the back of the net 1:58 into overtime to end Worcester’s 3-2 win over the P-Bruins in AHL action.

Dalton stopped 33 shots on the night, including 18 of 19 in the third period, when Worcester tied the game but the P-Bruins managed to fight into overtime.

“I felt good. We’re just right there,” said Dalton. “It’s frustrating.”

Dalton has now made two professional starts and lost both by single goal. He dropped his pro debut, 3-2, against Hartford Oct. 11.

A Sharks player knocked Dalton’s stick out of his hand leaving the netminder vulnerable. By the time defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk handed off his stick, McGinn had already circled the net into scoring position.

“(My stick) was actually closer to me than I thought it was,” Dalton said. “We had a chance to get the puck out. The guy came in, made a nice shot, so …”

Despite the scant amount of playing time early in the season, Dalton is enjoying the pro life. A free-agent signee out of Bemidji State, he’s adjusting to life away from campus and learning how to handle defeat like a pro.

“Confidence-wise, I feel fine. I know I can play at this level,” he said. “It’s frustrating for me just being so close right now and not getting that win. That’s what’s frustrating for me, I want to get that win.”

Dalton might get a second chance for that victory Saturday night, as Providence visits Manchester and usual starting goaltender Dany Sabourin might still be with his wife, who went into labor Friday afternoon. Sabourin took the warm-up with the P-Bruins but then left — forcing Providence head coach Rob Murray to call his men’s league buddy Paulo Deroxas to serve as the P-Bruins’ back-up.

Providence is now 4-2-1-0 on the season.

•Defenseman Andy Wozniewski continued his torrid pace with his fifth goal and 14th point of the season. At this rate, the P-Bruins could be looking at back-to-back Eddie Shore Award winners, as P-Bruins and current Boston blueliner Johnny Boychuk won the award for best defenseman in the AHL last season.

•Bodnarchuk was obviously thrilled for his chidhood friend Brad Marchand, who made his NHL debut with Boston this week. The second-year pro watched on TV as Marchand squared off with Nashville and Philadelphia.

“It made me excited because I could think about maybe soon it’ll be me,” said Bodnarchuk, who has two assists and a plus-five rating in seven games.