The Worcester Railers wrapped up their three in three weekended at Santander Arena against the Reading Royals, and got multiple point nights from four different players and 25 saves from Henrik Tikkanen to defeat the Royals 6-3 and earn five out of a possible six points. Trevor Cosgrove became the first Railers player to score two empty net goals in the same game.
Joseph Nardi made it 1-0 Reading at 13:17 of the opening period, and it stayed that way until Ashton Calder tied the score at 2:04 of the middle period.
At 5:25, Keeghan Howdeshell gave Worcester a lead they would never relinquish.
Anthony Callin made it 3-1 at 8:51
Early in the third Andrei Bakanov would extend that lead to 4-1.
Just over a minute later Jake Smith would get Reading back to within two. It would stay 4-2 until late in the third when Cosgrove notched the first of his two empty net goals.
Thirty seconds later Tag Bertuzzi would answer back for Reading, but Cosgrove would add a second empty net goal at 19:05 for the 6-3 final.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were John Copeland (IR/unknown), Ryan Dickinson (IR/unknown), Christian Krygier (IR/upper body), Tristan Lennox (IR/lower body), Riley Piercey, Jack Quinlivan, Anthony Repaci (IR/upper body), and Connor Welsh. John Muse was the backup goaltender. Former Holy Cross netminder Jason Grande was officially released as an EBUG.
Bridgeport was idle Sunday, so injured or not, Reece Newkirk had the day off. Blade Jenkins was a scratch in Hartford’s 3-1 win in Belleville.
The three stars of the game were:
1. WOR – 10 Trevor Cosgrove
2. WOR – 12 Joey Cipollone
3. REA – 24 Jake Smith
The 210Sports Player of the Game was Anthony Callin.
Even Strength Lines
Bakanov / Callin / White
Howdeshell / Pivonka / Calder
Gildon / Scarfo / Robbins
X / Cipollone / Heidemann
Cosgrove / Klee
Verrier / Regula
Garat / Kulakov
Our affiliates last night
New Jersey 4, NY Islanders 0
In the ECHL’s North Division last night
South Carolina 3, Trois-Rivières 2
Maine 5, Newfoundland 3
Norfolk 6, Adirondack 2
Standings
(“Hand” are games in hand from WOR’s point of view)
Will be updated after Wednesday’s Railers game
BOX SCORE
Worcester 0 3 3 – 6
Reading 1 0 2 – 3
1st Period-1, Reading, Nardi 16 (Bouquot, Fawcett), 13:17. Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-2, Worcester, Calder 16 (Scarfo, Kulakov), 2:04. 3, Worcester, Howdeshell 9 (Cipollone, Klee), 5:25. 4, Worcester, Callin 12 (White, Cosgrove), 8:51. Penalties-Kulakov Wor (fighting – major), 2:23; Johnson Rea (roughing, fighting – major), 2:23; Devine Rea (roughing), 8:51; Garat Wor (delay of game), 11:12; Pivonka Wor (tripping), 17:45; Robbins Wor (hooking), 19:21.
3rd Period-5, Worcester, Bakanov 12 (Cipollone, Callin), 3:29. 6, Reading, Smith 17 (Sellar), 4:35. 7, Worcester, Cosgrove 8 (Bakanov, Pivonka), 17:46 (EN). 8, Reading, Bertuzzi 16 (Nardi, Mongo), 18:16. 9, Worcester, Cosgrove 9 (Callin), 19:05 (EN). Penalties-Kulakov Wor (tripping), 8:54.
Shots on Goal-Worcester 6-14-8-28. Reading 9-7-12-28.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 / 2; Reading 0 / 4.
Goalies-Worcester, Tikkanen 8-5-1-1 (28 shots-25 saves). Reading, Maier 15-16-3-2 (26 shots-22 saves).
A-3,310
Referees-Chad Ingalls (15), JR Stragar (2).
Linesmen-Jarrett Burton (91), Cameron Campbell (67).
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