The Worcester Railers had a rare Thursday night home game as they took on the Brampton Beast at the DCU Center on College Night, but the result wasn’t a rarity as the Railers dropped the seventh of their last eight games in a 5-2 loss to the Beast.
Computer issues caused the post written last night to disappear before it could be posted, and with a full workday for this writer on Friday we’re forced to once again go back to the old days of using a highlight package. At least this time it’s Worcester’s upload, meaning we get to hear Eric Lindquist and Cam McGuire doing the play by play.
Worcester gets another Saturday night off this week as they’ll head to Ontario to take on these same Beast in Brampton on Sunday. Puck drop is scheduled for 2pm.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were Anthony Florentino, Tanner Pond (14-day IR), Jack Stander, and Shane Walsh (day to day/upper). Evan Buitenhuis was the back-up goaltender. Before the game defenseman David Quenneville and goaltender Jakob Skarek were loaned to the Railers from Bridgeport, with the Sound Tigers recalling goaltender Linus Soderstrom. Worcester also announced a trade pre-game, with Jake Bolton going to Orlando for Jake Marchment
For the first time this season Chris Rygus was not a healthy scratch for Worcester, but not because he played. Instead, he was released Thursday morning. While being a healthy scratch for 11 Worcester games is likely not a record, what probably could be is Rygus had five different jerseys made up for him to potentially play in. He had the usual white, blue, and orange jerseys when the season started, and he also had a W6 and Marvel “Groot” jersey made.
Barry Almeida’s first period shorthanded goal moved him up another notch on the all-time list. His 46 Railers tallies tie him for 18th all-time in Worcester pro hockey history with Daniil Tarasov and TJ Trevelyan. His 126 points breaks a huge log jam and puts him 13th by himself.
A moment of silence was held for Worcester Fire Department Lt. Jason Menard, who died the line of duty early Wednesday morning rescuing two fellow firefighters during a search of a burning building on Stockholm Street. Railers Booster Club President Rich Lundin, who is a cousin of Lt Menard, asked those attending Thursday night’s contest to wear their W6 jerseys. Railers photographer Rich LeBlanc of RL4Photo photographed many of those who did so postgame at center ice.
I had originally posted the picture here, but both Twitter and Facebook wanted to use that picture as the post thumbnail, and I didn’t think that was appropriate. You can view the photo right here.
The three stars of the game were
1. BRM – 28 Daniel Leavens
2. BRM – 10 Lindsay Sparks
3. WOR – 8 Cody Payne
The 210Sports Person of the Game is Lt. Jason Menard, and all those who protect us from harm, often with total disregard for their own safety.
Even Strength Lines
Almeida / Samuels-Thomas / Schmalz
Thomas / Dudek / Callin
Turcotte / Payne / Brauer
Olsson
Murray / MacKinnon
Doherty / Quenneville
McKenzie / Chukarov
BOX SCORE
Brampton 0 2 3 – 5
Worcester 1 1 0 – 2
1st Period-1, Worcester, Almeida 3 19:53 (SH). Penalties-Vallorani Brm (cross-checking), 4:58; served by Dudek Wor (bench – too many men), 10:12; Thomas Wor (boarding – major, game misconduct – boarding), 19:06.
2nd Period-2, Brampton, Sparks 5 (Vallorani, Petgrave), 2:53 (PP). 3, Brampton, Pacan 4 (Petgrave, Leavens), 3:51 (PP). 4, Worcester, Payne 4 (Turcotte), 5:39. Penalties-Leavens Brm (hooking), 7:09; Bourque Brm (holding), 8:28; Schmalz Wor (high-sticking), 12:58; Dubeau Brm (double – roughing), 13:20; MacKinnon Wor (roughing), 13:20; Hawerchuk Brm (slashing), 15:49.
3rd Period-5, Brampton, Leef 3 (Bradford, Bourque), 7:37 (SH). 6, Brampton, Leavens 4 (Sparks, Petgrave), 8:44. 7, Brampton, Vallorani 4 (Leavens, Gendron), 16:38. Penalties-Hawerchuk Brm (tripping), 1:15; Leavens Brm (slashing), 6:37; Gendron Brm (roughing), 12:58; Turcotte Wor (roughing, charging, misconduct – continuing altercation), 12:58.
Shots on Goal-Brampton 8-6-7-21. Worcester 10-5-11-26.
Power Play Opportunities-Brampton 2 / 6; Worcester 0 / 7.
Goalies-Brampton, Dubeau 4-1-0-0 (26 shots-24 saves). Worcester, Skarek 2-1-0-0 (21 shots-16 saves).
A-3,591
Referees-Sean MacFarlane (4).
Linesmen-AJ Potvin (78), Shane Kanaly (74).
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