The Worcester Railers, who had a few days to lick their wounds after being embarrassed in Manchester on Wednesday, headed north to The Pine Tree State Sunday for an afternoon contest against the Maine Mariners hoping to get on track and back into the ECHL’s North Division Playoff race.
Worcester had a two goal second period lead, and a 3-2 lead early in the third, but couldn’t hold on to either and eventually lost 4-3 in a seven round shootout. Matty Gaudreau, Ryan Hitchcock, and Bo Brauer all scored for Worcester in regulation, and Ivan Kosorenkov and Tommy Kelley scored in the shootout. Mitch Gillam had 28 saves and stopped four of seven shootout attempts.
With the game taking place during this writer’s annual “Hockey Free Weekend” we’ll go old school as it was done on Sharkspage and just post the highlight video, courtesy of the Mariners YouTube channel.
The Railers return to action Wednesday night to conclude their season long seven game road trip with another trip to Manchester to take on the Monarchs, with puck drop taking place at 7pm.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were Connor Doherty (14-day IR/facial injury), Malcolm Gould, Kyle McKenzie (Out for season/shoulder), Tommy Panico (Out for season/hand), Matt Schmalz (14-day IR/upper), Yanick Turcotte, and Alex Vanier (unknown injury). Ryan Hubbard, who was signed when Evan Buitenhuis was recalled, was the back-up goaltender.
What necessitated the Buitenhuis recall was Bridgeport Sound Tigers goaltender Jeremy Smith was signed to an NHL contract by the New York Islanders at some point after the Sound Tigers game ended on Saturday and Sunday at noon. Smith is not waiver exempt, so in order to play in the AHL he must pass through the waivers process. Presuming he clears he’ll be assigned to Bridgeport and Buitenhuis returned to the Railers, likely as early as Monday afternoon.
The start was the 72nd in Mitch Gillam’s Railers career, moving him into seventh place all-time in Worcester pro hockey history for goaltenders.
On this day, February 25st, in Worcester hockey history…in 2007 the WorSharks got second period goals from Ashton Rome, Grant Stevenson, and Mike Iggulden en route to defeating the Norfolk Admirals 4-3. Graham Mink started the scoring in the first period, and Thomas Greiss had 33 saves…in 2009 defenseman Mike Moore scored in overtime to give the WorSharks a 4-3 win against Lowell. Lukas Kaspar and Cory Larose both had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Vesce had three assists…in 2011 Benn Ferriero scored an extra attacker goal to get the WorSharks into overtime to earn a point, but the first three Portland shooters scored in the shootout for the Pirates 3-2 win. T.J. Trevelyan had the other Worcester goal.
The three stars of the game were
1. MNE – 22 Johnny McInnis
2. MNE – 13 Dillan Fox
3. MNE – 30 Hannu Toivonen
The 210Sports Player of the Game is Bo Brauer.
Even Strength Lines
Almeida / Hitchcock / Barnes
Sorkin / Holmstrom / Gaudreau
Kosorenkov / Willick / Brauer
Kelley
Mueller / Cornell
Chukarov / Quenneville
Powers / MacKinnon
BOX SCORE
Worcester 1 1 1 0 – 3
Maine 0 2 1 0 – 4
1st Period-1, Worcester, Gaudreau 9 (Holmstrom, Sorkin), 5:33. Penalties-Kelley Wor (cross-checking), 8:57; Mueller Wor (slashing), 9:39; Holmstrom Wor (fighting – major), 13:32; Ferrill Mne (fighting – major, game misconduct – leaving the players bench), 13:32; Chase Mne (slashing, misconduct), 15:54; Almeida Wor (slashing), 18:39.
2nd Period-2, Worcester, Hitchcock 11 (Barnes), 6:24. 3, Maine, Fox 5 (Cecere, Murphy), 8:17 (PP). 4, Maine, Fox 6 (Cammarata, McInnis), 10:14. Penalties-Kosorenkov Wor (tripping), 7:03; Sorkin Wor (delay of game), 14:21.
3rd Period-5, Worcester, Brauer 5 (Quenneville, MacKinnon), 4:29. 6, Maine, McInnis 5 (Siiro, Jutzi), 7:08. Penalties-Chase Mne (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:47.
OT Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Murphy Mne (hooking), 3:02.
Shootout – Worcester 2 (Kosorenkov G, Hitchcock NG, Barnes NG, Sorkin NG, Almeida NG, Kelley G, Gaudreau NG), Maine 3 (Chase G, Cammarata NG, McNicholas NG, Fox NG, Tschantz NG, McInnis G, Couturier G).
Shots on Goal-Worcester 16-13-11-4-0-44. Maine 6-16-7-2-1-32.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 / 3; Maine 1 / 5.
Goalies-Worcester, Gillam 14-13-1-3 (31 shots-28 saves). Maine, Toivonen 4-3-0-0 (44 shots-41 saves).
A-2,500
Referees-Liam Sewell (7).
Linesmen-Shane Kanaly (39), Kyle Richetelle (73).
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