It was only a joke when yesterday we said they should keep the Daktronics board’s period indicator on “3” to help the Worcester Railers offense to score more goals at the DCU Center, but after Saturday night’s four-goal final stanza perhaps we might really be on to something here after the Railers staged another third period comeback to defeat the Maine Mariners 6-3.
They needed that comeback because just 3:23 into the contest, before many of the 3,233 in attendance had even taken their seats, the Railers found themselves without a shot on goal and down 2-0. Brooklyn Kalmikov made it 1-0 when he outmuscled Artyom Kulakov for a loose puck and beat Worcester netminder Henrick Tikkanen short side at 2:38 as the Finnish netminder was leaning off the post anticipating a pass into the slot.
Less than a minute later Alex Kile made it 2-0 when Tikkanen made his best Dimitri Patzold imitation and couldn’t get post to post quick enough to prevent Kile from jamming one home from behind the Worcester net.
Jake Pivonka would cut that lead in half at 16:52 when Maine goaltender Shane Starrett couldn’t corral Ashton Calder’s shot.
Kalmikov made it a 3-1 lead for Maine at 4:32 of the middle period, finishing up an odd-man rush.
After a long stretch of Worcester doing a lot of standing around waiting for someone to make a play, it was Riley Piercey who decided to make that play, and Keeghan Howdeshell was the benefactor when his NHL-level tip lit the lamp.
As the teams entered the third period the fans were expecting another final frame explosion, and they got the makings one when Daylan Kuefler broke an 0-24 power play slump with his first goal as a professional at 4:44. Joey Cipollone’s primary assist was the 10,000th all-time (regular season and playoffs) in Worcester pro hockey history.
Obviously being impressed by the Howdeshell deflection Ryan Verrier and Anthony Repaci must have decided to try it out for themselves. And, like Howdeshell’s bid, Repaci was able to light the lamp behind Starrett as Worcester took a 4-3 lead at 7:52.
Both teams picked the pace up after that, knowing the next goal could very well decide the game. And it was Kuefler scoring his second goal of the night that gave the Railers a little breathing room at 12:44.
Trevor Cosgrove would add an empty netter at 18:12 for the 6-3 final. Cosgrove has scored or assisted on Worcester’s last three empty net goals, and on four of their last five.
There were some shenanigans after the final horn that saw a bunch of almost meaningless penalty numbers that only add to stat totals, but the ten-minute misconduct to Tikkanen ties him with Eamon McAdam for the most Railers career penalty minutes for a goaltender at, oddly enough, ten.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were Christian Krygier (IR/upper), Tristan Lennox (IR/lower), Jack Quinlivan (IR/unknown), Brendan Robbins, Quinn Ryan (IR/unknown), and Zack White. John Muse was the backup netminder.
Earlier Saturday, in what was a surprise move, the Railers released defenseman and alternate captain Jake Schultz. The team says the fit didn’t work and they want him to be able to look at opportunities elsewhere. Rumors were flowing through the DCU Center that the move was made to bring back Reece Newkirk, but that’s such a silly supposition this writer didn’t even need to ask about it. Might Newkirk come back at some point? Absolutely. Was this move related to that possibility? Absolutely not.
Appearing on the waiver wire with Schultz was former Railers defender Matthew Sredl. It’s probably a long shot that general manager Jordan Smotherman would claim him, but Sredl is one of those guys who looks like he should be a decent blueliner but has never been able to live up to his potential. He’s still very young, only 21 years old despite being a third-year pro, and just might be worth a look if Worcester has no other plans for that empty roster spot. But if Smotherman doesn’t decide to claim him all it ends up being a shrug and an “eh”.
We could beat a dead horse about how glorious it would have looked had the Railers worn their orange sweaters against the gloriously green jerseys of the Mariners, but as Worcester won Friday night in their whites there was no chance they would be switching to orange, which is an acceptable reason to not change. But had they worn orange both nights it would have been an even more amazing weekend, so maybe we’ll put that complaint in our back pocket until Maine and Worcester meet again next Wednesday, undoubtedly both wearing the same jerseys as Saturday.
We don’t usually mention injuries to the opponent, but when that player is former Railers defenseman and Holden, MA native Connor Doherty, we’ll make an exception. Doherty was a scratch Saturday night, and is likely will be one for some time, after Dots broke his hand Friday night blocking a shot against the Adirondack Thunder. Word is surgery will be needed, and that should happen Christmas week. Doherty is still a fan favorite here in Worcester, at least on the night his Mariners aren’t in town, so everyone wishes him the best of luck.
One quick personal note, on many occasions this writer has mentioned his perch mate Rich Lundin, who is the president of the Railers Booster Club and sits to my left. But this will be the first mention of who sits to our right, Tony Evangelous. It took about two periods from when Tony started sitting there for him to become part of our section-108 gang, and his kind words about this blog every night are inspiring. Merry Christmas to you and yours Tony, and to all the other readers out there.
The three stars of the game were:
1. WOR – 22 Daylan Kuefler
2. WOR – 12 Joey Cipollone
3. MNE – 9 Brooklyn Kalmikov
The 210Sports Player of the Game was Ashtin Calder.
Even Strength Lines
Repaci / Jenkins / Callin
Kuefler / Pivonka / Calder
Howdeshell / Cipollone / Piercey
Bakanov / X / Goehring
Garat / Welsh
Verrier / Copeland
Kulakov / Cosgrove
Our affiliates last night
NY Islanders 5, Carolina 4
Springfield 4, Bridgeport 3 OT
In the ECHL’s North Division
Adirondack 5, Trois-Rivières 3
Reading 3, Norfolk 2
BOX SCORE
Maine 2 1 0 – 3
Worcester 1 1 4 – 6
1st Period-1, Maine, Kalmikov 4 2:38. 2, Maine, Kile 12 (Dwyer, Keppen), 3:23. 3, Worcester, Pivonka 8 (Calder), 16:52. Penalties-Verrier Wor (delay of game), 4:45; Dwyer Mne (interference), 12:03.
2nd Period-4, Maine, Kalmikov 5 (Mechura, Keppen), 4:32. 5, Worcester, Howdeshell 4 (Piercey, Cipollone), 16:56. Penalties-Chicoine Mne (holding), 19:34.
3rd Period-6, Worcester, Kuefler 1 (Cipollone, Calder), 4:44 (PP). 7, Worcester, Repaci 7 (Verrier, Callin), 7:52. 8, Worcester, Kuefler 2 (Calder, Pivonka), 12:44. 9, Worcester, Cosgrove 3 (Jenkins, Repaci), 18:12 (EN). Penalties-Guertler Mne (holding), 3:06; Askew Mne (double – roughing), 20:00; Drevitch Mne (slashing), 20:00; Copeland Wor (double – roughing), 20:00; Tikkanen Wor (misconduct), 20:00.
Shots on Goal-Maine 8-10-8-26. Worcester 13-13-14-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Maine 0 / 1; Worcester 1 / 3.
Goalies-Maine, Starrett 4-9-2-0 (39 shots-34 saves). Worcester, Tikkanen 5-5-1-1 (26 shots-23 saves).
A-3,233
Referees-Sam Heidemann (22), Evan Reddick (21).
Linesmen-Stephen Drain (52), Matthew Heinen (93).
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