The Worcester Railers took on the Newfoundland Growlers at the Conception Bay South Arena for the third time in 45 hours, and despite playing on tired legs still gave the high flying Growlers everything they could handle in a 5-3 loss
If anyone told Railers fans that the team would earn three points over the weekend everyone would be thrilled with that, and while no loss is truly good fans saw this weekend the team that General manager and Head Coach Dave Cunniff promised were were getting. The team played smart hockey for much of the weekend and significantly cut down the number of turnovers they committed in their own zone.
Even the penalty kill, which has been nothing short of terrible so far this season, looks to finally be turning a corner. The power play still needs a lot of work, because scoring more power play goals will make teams think twice about taking penalties against Worcester.
The Railers were playing catch-up hockey all afternoon, and as everyone knows that’s not a recipe for winning. So for today, we’ll ignore the Growler’s goals and just show Worcester’s highlights.
The Railers return to action Wednesday night when they take on the Trois-Rivieres Lions at Colisée Vidéotron in Quebec. Both teams will then head to Worcester for a Friday/Saturday series at the DCU Center.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were Brent Beaudoin (IR/unknown), Felix Bibeau, Karl Boudrias, Blake Christensen, JD Dudek, and Paul Thompson. Matt Jenkins was the backup goaltender.
The three stars of the game were
1. NFL – 16 Nathan Noel
2. WOR – 14 Jordan Smotherman
3. NFL – 7 Matteo Pietroniro
The 210Sports Player of the Game was Nolan Vesey.
Even Strength Lines
Repaci / Hayhurst / Jozefek
Christensen / Bibeau / Thompson
Callin / Adams / Coughlin
Olsson
Spetz / Cornell
Malatesta / McCarthy
McGurty / Furgele
BOX SCORE
Worcester 0 2 1 – 3
Newfoundland 1 2 2 – 5
1st Period-1, Newfoundland, Noel 2 (Pietroniro, O’Brien), 7:51. Penalties-Olsson Wor (roughing), 18:09; Kapcheck Nfl (high-sticking), 18:09.
2nd Period-2, Worcester, Smotherman 2 (Vesey, Adams), 3:10. 3, Newfoundland, Power 2 (O’Brien, Noel), 4:32. 4, Newfoundland, Chyzowski 4 (Pietroniro, Bourque), 17:24 (PP). 5, Worcester, Vesey 3 19:48. Penalties-Spetz Wor (hooking), 6:58; Repaci Wor (delay of game), 13:29; Malatesta Wor (cross-checking), 13:52; Appleby Wor (interference), 15:19; Olsson Wor (fighting – major), 18:46; Melindy Nfl (fighting – major), 18:46.
3rd Period-6, Newfoundland, Johnson 4 (McCourt), 6:49. 7, Worcester, Smotherman 3 (Adams, Vesey), 8:06. 8, Newfoundland, Noel 3 (O’Brien), 19:21 (EN). Penalties-Noel Nfl (holding), 3:45; Smotherman Wor (interference), 12:50; Pelton-Byce Nfl (roughing), 13:08.
Shots on Goal-Worcester 6-10-10-26. Newfoundland 13-13-7-33.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 / 2; Newfoundland 1 / 5.
Goalies-Worcester, Appleby 1-3-0-1 (32 shots-28 saves). Newfoundland, Cormier 4-1-0-0 (26 shots-23 saves).
A-1,168
Referees-Morgan MacPhee (15).
Linesmen-Sheldon Keough (47), Joe Maynard (92).
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210Sports 