Winning teams find ways to win, and losing teams find ways to lose. That’s true in every sport, and it’s especially true of the Worcester Railers as they finally found some offense but managed to lose third-period leads of 3-1 and 4-3 before ending up on the wrong end of a 5-4 overtime final Saturday night at the DCU Center against the Adirondack Thunder.
The Railers, and their fans, were not very happy with the tripping call against Zach White during the overtime period, and to be honest they’re probably right as it was an incredibly borderline call for that point in the game. But the game should have been long over by that point. The Railers led by two with under 15 minutes to go in the third, and then had a one-goal lead with just over five minutes to go and lost them both.
Winning teams don’t do that, losing teams do.
After a scoreless opening frame the Thunder grabbed the lead at 9:32 of the middle period on a power play goal by Tristan Thompson. With just over two minutes left in the period Andrei Bakanov tied the game 1-1 with a power play goal.
Bakanov wasn’t done and gave Worcester a 2-1 lead 1:55 into the third with his second power play goal on the night.
At the time it looked like an insurance goal when Aston Calder scored on a shorthanded breakaway after an incredible pass by Jake Pivonka sent Calder in all alone.
But as the Adirondack power play continued Calder was called for high sticking, giving the Thunder a five on three advantage for nine seconds. It took Erik Middendorf just five of those seconds to make it 3-2. And then on the five on four portion of the power play, Middendorf scored again to make it 3-3 at 8:57.
Once again, the Railers took the lead on a nice rebound goal from Brendan Robbins.
That lead wasn’t safe either as Worcester did the inexcusable and allowed a Ryan Smith goal at 17:26 while Adirondack only had four skaters participating against the Railers five.
That eventually put the game into overtime, and Matt Stief connected to send the Railers home losers again.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were Artyom Kulakov, Riley Piercey, Jack Quinlivan (IR/unknown), Anthony Repaci (lower body), and Quin Ryan. Henrik Tikkanen was the backup goaltender. Jake Schultz dressed as a forward but did play defense on the penalty kill.
Prior to the start of the Worcester vs Adirondack game the Why Me All-Stars took on the Bruins Alumni in a game to benefit Sherry’s House, a place where kids and their families can come and receive the support and encouragement they need to fight childhood cancer. Sherry’s House serves as a home-away-from-home for families while their child is on active treatment. The Alumni won 7-3, led by MVP Tuukka Rask with two goals and an assist while playing as a skater. Former WorSharks defender Marc Busenburg played for the Why Me All-Stars. On Jan. 12, 2002, Busenburg preformed a rare feat by playing in two professional games in one day. He played for the Rochester Americans in a 3-2 overtime win at Albany in the afternoon, then rejoined the Adirondack IceHawks of the UHL for a game that night at the Glens Falls Civic Center.
The three stars of the game were:
1. ADK – 24 Matt Stief
2. WOR – 11 Andrei Bakanov
3. ADK – 48 Erik Middendorf
The 210Sports Player of the Game was Anthony Callin.
Even Strength Lines
Jenkins / Pivonka / Calder
Goodsir / Cipollone / Callin
Bakanov / Robbins / White
Howdeshell / X / Schultz
Welsh / Cosgrove
Krygier / Copeland
Verrier / Garat
Our affiliates last night
@Carolina 4, NY Islanders 3 OT
@Hershey 3, Bridgeport 1
In the ECHL’s North Division
@Trois-Rivières 5, Newfoundland 2
@Norfolk 5, Maine 0
@Wheeling 3, Reading 2
BOX SCORE
Adirondack 0 1 3 1 – 5
Worcester 0 1 3 0 – 4
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-MacKinnon Adk (cross-checking), 2:30; Schultz Wor (high-sticking), 2:30; Welsh Wor (high-sticking), 7:56; Becker Adk (slashing), 15:55; Krygier Wor (tripping), 19:52.
2nd Period-1, Adirondack, Thompson 1 (Hirano), 9:32 (PP). 2, Worcester, Bakanov 1 (Callin, Cosgrove), 17:59 (PP). Penalties-Stief Adk (cross-checking), 6:35; Goodsir Wor (tripping), 7:53; Grasso Adk (roughing), 16:47; Martin Adk (roughing), 16:47; White Wor (roughing), 16:47.
3rd Period-3, Worcester, Bakanov 2 (Callin, White), 1:55 (PP). 4, Worcester, Calder 3 (Pivonka), 5:45 (SH). 5, Adirondack, Middendorf 1 (Jozefek, Engaras), 7:29 (PP). 6, Adirondack, Middendorf 2 (Jozefek, Stief), 8:57 (PP). 7, Worcester, Robbins 1 (Callin, Goodsir), 14:26. 8, Adirondack, Smith 3 (Hirano, Less), 17:26. Penalties-Broughman Adk (interference on the goalkeeper), 1:09; Goodsir Wor (high-sticking), 5:32; Calder Wor (tripping), 7:24; Less Adk (high-sticking), 9:44.
1st OT Period-9, Adirondack, Stief 1 (Middendorf, Smith), 3:13 (PP). Penalties-White Wor (tripping), 2:36; Krygier Wor (misconduct), 3:13.
Shots on Goal-Adirondack 11-10-15-3-39. Worcester 7-12-9-1-29.
Power Play Opportunities-Adirondack 4 / 6; Worcester 2 / 5.
Goalies-Adirondack, Brodeur 1-0-0-0 (29 shots-25 saves). Worcester, Lennox 1-2-1-0 (39 shots-34 saves).
A-4,015
Referees-Andrew Bell (24), Trevor Wohlford (38).
Linesmen-Conor Foley (86), Matthew Heinen (93).
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