The Worcester Railers were hoping to kick off their five games in seven days stretch on a positive note, but another poor third period resulted in a 4-1 loss to the Adirondack Thunder Sunday afternoon at the DCU Center. The loss extends the Railers losing streak to five games and they have now dropped nine of their last ten contests.
It was a fairly even first period with Worcester netminder Jakub Skarek and Thunder goalie Eamon McAdam matching each other save for save. Adirondack finally broke through 51 seconds into the second just after Worcester had killed off a penalty when Hayden Verbeek banged home a loose puck during a scramble in front of the Worcester net.
That lead didn’t last long as Barry Almeida knotted the score 1-1 at 3:42 when he took a nice feed from newcomer Dante Salituro. Mike Cornell threw a long entry pass to Salituro on the right wing side. Salituro went deep into the Thunder zone and threw a nice centering feed to Almeida in the slot to set up the goal.
During the rest of the middle stanza the ice was tilted toward the Railers end, but Skarek kept the game even with more than a handful of big saves.
The third period was what doomed Worcester as they missed on their high quality chances while Adirondack converted on a couple of theirs. Blake Thompson made it 2-1 when he scored to the high blocker side, finishing a quick odd man zone entry for the Thunder at 8:55. James Henry got an unassisted tally at 15:39 to make it a two goal Adirondack lead, and Ryan Walker ended all hope of a miracle comeback with an empty net goal at 18:17.
Worcester now has a couple days to hopefully right the train as the Railers next game is Tuesday night in Maine against the Mariners. Puck drop is 7pm.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were Drew Callin, Ivan Chukarov, Anthony Florentino (14 day IR/undisclosed), Tanner Pond (14-day IR/upper), Jack Stander, Yanick Turcotte, and Shane Walsh (14 day IR/upper). Pond is already eligible to return from the injured list. Walsh can return on December 2nd, and Florentino on December 5th. Evan Buitenhuis was the back-up goaltender. On Wednesday Nic Pierog and Mike Cornell were returned to Worcester by Bridgeport, and both were in action Sunday.
On Tuesday Worcester General Manager Jamie Russell traded future considerations to the Indy Fuel for Dante Salituro. It’s the third team in just a couple weeks for Salituro, who started the season with Saimaan Pallo in the Finnish Liiga but was released after not making that squad on a try-out contract. Because he had signed with Indy over the summer the Fuel held his ECHL rights, so he returned there and had an assist in two games before being traded to Worcester. Salituro first experience with the city was Kelley Square, and he talks about that in a Railers-TV interview.
For those that may have missed it, this week we released the list of where all the former Worcester hockey pros are playing in the 2019-20 season. As usual that list will be updated near the end of the season, and in the next few days there will be a listing of those players performing at the top of their respective leagues.
The three stars of the game were
1. ADK – 10 Hayden Verbeek
2. ADK – 8 Blake Thompson
3. WOR – 3 Justin Murray
The 210Sports Player of the Game was Jakub Skarek.
Even Strength Lines
Almeida / Pierog / Salituro
Thomas / Samuels-Thomas / Schmalz
Brauer / Payne / Dudek
Olsson
McKenzie / Cornell
Doherty / Quenneville
Murray / MacKinnon
BOX SCORE
Adirondack 0 1 3 – 4
Worcester 0 1 0 – 1
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Payne Adk (tripping), 2:38; Doherty Wor (holding), 16:02; Pierog Wor (high-sticking), 18:41.
2nd Period-1, Adirondack, Verbeek 2 (Payne, Linhart), 0:51. 2, Worcester, Almeida 4 (Salituro, Cornell), 3:42. Penalties-Murray Wor (kneeing), 5:55; Cornell Wor (cross-checking), 6:40; Carrier Adk (fighting – major), 10:37; Olsson Wor (fighting – major), 10:37; Summers Adk (kneeing, fighting – major), 17:09; Cornell Wor (instigating, fighting – major, misconduct), 17:09.
3rd Period-3, Adirondack, Thompson 1 (Nazarian, Verbeek), 8:55. 4, Adirondack, Henry 4 15:39. 5, Adirondack, Walker 3 18:17 (EN). Penalties-Olsson Wor (interference), 4:56; Verpaelst Adk (high-sticking), 13:04.
Shots on Goal-Adirondack 9-13-12-34. Worcester 9-4-10-23.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 0 / 5; Worcester 0 / 2.
Goalies-Adirondack, McAdam 3-5-0-1 (23 shots-22 saves). Worcester, Skarek 2-3-0-0 (33 shots-30 saves).
A-4,351
Referees-Casey Terreri (14).
Linesmen-Brent Colby (77), Andrew Bell (73).
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210Sports 