The Worcester Railers hosted the Maine Mariners Wednesday night at the DCU Center really needing two points in any manner they could get them, and despite a two-goal second-period lead earned nothing in the standings except a loss as they dropped the contest 4-2.
Considering the number of times it’s happened this season it’s becoming hard to come up with new ways to say the Railers lost a game they should have won. This whole season will boil down to the games Worcester should have at least gotten a point out of where they ended up losing. Winning teams find ways to win, and losing teams find ways to lose. You’d have to be wearing the rosiest of glasses to think this team is a winning one right now.
Despite it all, the Railers can still win a playoff spot with no help from others. Three regulation wins over Adirondack, and they’re in. Worcester’s last regulation win was March 19th, so perhaps they should be hoping for some help from Maine and Trois-Rivieres.
After a scoreless opening frame, Noan Vesey gave Worcester the lead with an early second-period power play goal.
Anthony “Mr. One-timer” Repaci made it 2-0 with another power play strike, his 25th goal of the season. He becomes just the third Railers player to score that many in a season, joining Tyler Barnes and Jordan Smotherman.
Worcester looked to be cruising, but all of the sudden derailed and allowed three goals in under two minutes.
The first came when Noah Delmas forgot he was supposed to play defense.
The second happened after Myles McGurty and Steve Jandric inexplicably collided at the center red line, allowing the Mariners an odd-man rush. This writer can’t properly explain how badly Jared Brant played it.
With four Railers standing around doing nothing, Maine made it 3-2.
Here’s the fourth goal. just to complete the record.
The Railers are off until Saturday night, once again needing a win.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were Philip Beaulieu (IR/upper body), Christain Evers (IR/unknown), Billy Jerry, Max Johnson (IR/unknown), Connor McCarthy, Chris Ordoobadi (IR/upper body), Jack Quinlivan (IR/unknown), Quin Ryan (IR/unknown), and Josh Victor. Henrik Tikkanen was the backup goaltender. With Beaulieu heading to the IR, the Railers had an open roster spot, filling it by re-signing Nick Fea.
No real notes as this post literally exists just to continue the games covered streak.
The three stars of the game were
1. MNE – 14 Reid Stefanson
2. MNE – 40 Michael DiPietro
3. WOR – 81 Anthony Repaci
The 210Sports Player of the Game was, for the second time this season, Connor Haynes.
Even Strength Lines
Fea / Beaudoin / Repaci
Jandric / Hayhurst / Bakanov
Goodsir / Callin / Butler
Vesey / Coughlin / X
Brandt / McGurty
Cosgrove / DaSilva
Kulakov / Delmas
Our affiliates last night
No games scheduled
In the ECHL’s North Division
No games scheduled
North Division Standings
Team points (points percentage) games in hand vs Worcester
X-Newfoundland 92 (.687) 2
X-Reading 82 (.612) 2
Maine 81 (.604) 2
Worcester 70 (.507)
Adirondack 69 (.523) 3
Trois-Rivieres 57 (.425) 2
Norfolk 43 (.312) 2
BOX SCORE
Maine 0 3 1 – 4
Worcester 0 2 0 – 2
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Goodsir Wor (high-sticking – double), 4:32; Hinam Mne (high-sticking), 11:25; Vesey Wor (holding), 14:27.
2nd Period-1, Worcester, Vesey 13 (Jandric, Delmas), 1:02 (PP). 2, Worcester, Repaci 25 (Cosgrove, Butler), 9:10 (PP). 3, Maine, Albrecht 6 (Gabriele, Stefanson), 10:16. 4, Maine, Hinam 7 (Johnson, Master), 11:44. 5, Maine, Stefanson 20 (Albrecht, Hinam), 13:01. Penalties-Morton Mne (holding), 0:30; Johnson Mne (tripping), 8:12; Goodsir Wor (hooking), 16:19.
3rd Period-6, Maine, Doherty 21 (Fossier, Voyer), 15:28. Penalties-Gabriele Mne (delay of game), 5:15.
Shots on Goal-Maine 8-13-5-26. Worcester 12-10-15-37.
Power Play Opportunities-Maine 0 / 4; Worcester 2 / 4.
Goalies-Maine, DiPietro 17-9-0-0 (37 shots-35 saves). Worcester, Appleby 13-12-1-0 (26 shots-22 saves).
A-2,535
Referees-Austin O’Rourke (10).
Linesmen-Nathan Frechette (49), Shane Kanaly (74).
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