Why can’t they just make it easy for once?
The Worcester Railers, needing a win in any manner Saturday afternoon, not only didn’t get the two points for a win they didn’t even get one past Lions goaltender Zachary Émond as Trois-Rivières kept their playoff hopes alive with a 2-0 victory over Worcester.
The Railers’ best chance of the opening frame was when Ashton Calder was slashed on a breakaway by Miguel Tourigny with 39.1 seconds left in the period. Referee Andrew Bell quickly put his arm to call a penalty, and then pointed to center ice to signal a penalty shot. It was a wasted bid as Calder’s backhander sailed well wide of the net.
In the second period, with Trevor Cosgrove in the penalty box for hooking, Alex-Olivier Voyer put back a Nolan Yaremko rebound and beat Worcester netminder John Muse to the far post to make it 1-0 at 12:11. Yaremko would add an empty net goal at 19:05 of the third for the 2-0 final.
The two teams play again Sunday at 3pm in the regular season finale for both clubs. As near as this writer can figure, the Railers will finish third in the North Division with any win on Sunday and will finish fourth with an OT or SO loss. They can also make the playoffs with any Maine loss.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were John Copeland (IR/unknown), Ryan Dickinson (IR/unknown), Austin Heidemann (IR/unknown), Tristan Lennox (IR/lower body), Riley Piercey, Jack Quinlivan (IR/unknown), C.J. Regula, and Brendan Robbins. Henrik Tikkanen was the backup goaltender.
With his loss Saturday John Muse has now been handed a loss in a game where he’s allowed two goals or fewer three times, not including an overtime loss where he allowed just two goals and a shootout loss where he allowed one goal. Tristan Lennox also has a shootout loss where he allowed just two goals, and Josh Boyko and Henrik Tikkanen also have a two-goal loss. If Worcester misses the playoffs, those eight games will be a big reason why.
The three stars of the game were:
1. TR – 1 Zachary Émond
2. TR – 19 Alex-Olivier Voyer
3. TR – 24 Nolan Yaremko
The 210Sports Player of the Game was John Muse.
Even Strength Lines
Newkirk / Jenkins / Callin
Repaci / Pivonka / Calder
Kopperud / White / Bakanov
Howdeshell / Cipollone / X
Welsh / Cosgrove
Verrier / Krygier
Garat / Kulakov
Our affiliates last night
NY Rangers 3, NY Islanders 2 SO
Lehigh Valley 5, Bridgeport 4
In the ECHL’s North Division last night
Orlando 1, Reading 0
Adirondack 4, Maine 3
BOX SCORE
Worcester 0 0 0 – 0
Trois-Rivières 0 1 1 – 2
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Krygier Wor (high-sticking), 1:39; Paquette Tr (tripping), 13:05.
2nd Period-1, Trois-Rivières, Voyer 19 (Yaremko, Novak), 12:11 (PP). Penalties-Paquette Tr (hooking), 1:34; Cosgrove Wor (tripping), 10:53.
3rd Period-2, Trois-Rivières, Yaremko 17 (Thomas), 19:05 (EN). Penalties-Jenkins Wor (slashing), 6:15; Garat Wor (slashing), 10:06; Yaremko Tr (cross-checking), 11:39.
Shots on Goal-Worcester 8-11-7-26. Trois-Rivières 9-12-9-30.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 / 3; Trois-Rivières 1 / 4.
Goalies-Worcester, Muse 15-12-2-1 (29 shots-28 saves). Trois-Rivières, Émond 8-7-1-0 (26 shots-26 saves).
A-2,722
Referees-Andrew Bell (24), Marc-Olivier Phaneuf (23).
Linesmen-Jarrett Burton (91), Nicolas Boivin (82).
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