GLENS FALLS, NY – The Worcester Railers took on the Adirondack Thunder at the Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, NY for the second time in as many nights, and after losing two one-goal leads needed an Anthony Repaci overtime strike to get the two points they need to keep pace in the ECHL’s North Division playoff race.
Every point is big this time of the season, but with the playoffs now based on points percentage and not just points getting one point is better than none, but it still lowers your percentage. That also means getting two points in overtime and giving away the loser point isn’t that bad.
It was Max Newton who would give Worcester their first lead of the game when he played until the whistle and found a loose puck under Adirondack goaltender Alex Sakellaropoulos.
The cardinal rule of hockey is to not give up a goal in the first or last minute of a period–as if there’s a good time to give up a goal–but the Railers did just that when they got caught running around in their own zone and Sebastian Vidmar beat Worcester goaltender Colten Ellis with 35.7 seconds left in the opening frame.
There are three things in life you can count on: death, taxes, and Bobby Butler not missing the net unchallenged from 15-feet.
Worcester would carry that 2-1 advantage into the third period, but the Thunder would tie it a second time on a Ryan Smith half-slapper from the high slot at 8:03. Both teams had their chances the rest of the frame, but neither could capitalize as the squads headed to overtime.
The Railers controlled the puck for almost the entire 1:14 of extra time before Repaci grabbed them the extra point.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were Felix Bibeau (IR/lower body), Blake Christensen (unknown injury), Liam Coughlin (IR/unknown), Grant Jozefek (IR/upper body), Chris Ordoobadi (IR/unknown), Ethan Price, Jordan Smotherman (unknown injury), and Ryan Verrier. Ken Appleby was the backup goaltender.
Prior to the game, the Springfield Thunderbirds assigned Austin Osmanski to Worcester, and he played Saturday night. Smotherman took part in warm-ups but did not play. He should be ready to go for Sunday’s contest in Reading.
We usually have at least a handful of notes on the game, but this is all you get this time because this writer decided to enjoy his last night in Glens Falls. I would say I’ll do better next time, but no one would believe me. There was a great story about something that happened involving a group of Worcester fans here Saturday morning, maybe we’ll tell that next time.
And just for Dee…Sakellaropoulos.
The three stars of the game were:
1. WOR – 81 Anthony Repaci
2. ADK – 28 Ryan Smith
3. ADK – 19 Jake Ryczek
The 210Sports Player of the Game was Myles McGurty.
Even Strength Lines
Vesey / Beaudoin / Repaci
Jandric / Newton / Coskey
Balmas / Hayhurst / Butler
Newkirk
McCarthy / Sredl
Spetz / McGurty
Osmanski / Markell
In the North Division
Maine 9, Newfoundland 4
Norfolk 5, Reading 3
Trois-Rivieres 5, South Carolina 2
Our affiliates last night
Boston 6, NY Islanders 3
Carolina 7, St Louis 2
Bridgeport 5, Toronto 1
Providence 3, Springfield 2
BOX SCORE
Worcester 1 1 0 1 – 3
Adirondack 1 0 1 0 – 2
1st Period-1, Worcester, Newton 2 (Coskey, Jandric), 5:13. 2, Adirondack, Vidmar 21 (Ryczek, Jerry), 19:24. Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-3, Worcester, Butler 5 7:41. Penalties-Hayhurst Wor (interference), 11:27; Ellis Wor (delay of game), 13:06.
3rd Period-4, Adirondack, Smith 10 (Ryczek, Thompson), 8:03. Penalties-Newkirk Wor (delay of game), 3:25; Thompson Adk (holding), 8:17.
1st OT Period-5, Worcester, Repaci 20 (Beaudoin), 1:14. Penalties-No Penalties
Shots on Goal-Worcester 12-11-8-2-33. Adirondack 12-12-14-0-38.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 / 1; Adirondack 0 / 3.
Goalies-Worcester, Ellis 15-7-4-1 (38 shots-36 saves). Adirondack, Sakellaropoulos 9-13-1-0 (33 shots-30 saves).
A-4,104
Referees-Trevor Wohlford (38).
Linesmen-JP Waleski (51), Steven Herbs (55).
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