The Worcester Railers headed south earlier this week for three games at the Norfolk Scope against the Admirals, and they did not look particularly sharp in the opener Wednesday night as they could just muster 15 shots in a 3-1 loss to their ECHL North Division rivals.
The first period was all about Railers netminder Henrik Tikkanen, who made 14 saves in a frame where Worcester looked completely outmatched being outshot 14-5. Norfolk goaltender Dante Giannuzzi had over half the period off as the Railers managed just one shot over the final 11 minutes or so of the frame. ECHL scoring says that the shot was “non-quality” by Lincoln Hatten. This writer doesn’t remember it happening, and there’s nothing gained by looking at the video to see where it was taken from.
The second period was pretty much a yawn-fest, only Norfolk was able to light the lamp on a power play goal at 12:45 by Josh McDougall. Shots were 6-5 Admirals in the frame, and that point this writer signed off for the night with the plan to watch the third period Thursday.
Despite three goals being scored in the final stanza it would be hard to call that period anything other than boring too. Worcester did show some signs of life during the period and tied the game with a putback by Riley Piercey.
That marked two games in a row with a goal for Piercey, the first time he’s done that in his pro career. The previous time he’d managed a two-game goal streak was in March of 2023 with the OHL’s Flint Firebirds.
Just over two minutes later Norfolk would retake the lead when the Worcester defenders left Denis Smirnov all alone in front in front of the net, and Brandon Osmundson would put the nail in the coffin with a late empty net goal.
After Halloween off the team teams will meet again Friday night.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were Anthony Callin (lower body), Ryan Dickinson (IR/unknown), Matt DeMelis (upper body), JD Dudek (unknown injury), Griffin Loughran (IR/unknown), and John Muse. Michael Bullion was the backup goaltender. Despite having lots of time to take advantage of the ECHL’s new 3-day IR slot to sign another player, Worcester GM Nick Tuzzolino elected to stand pat as the Railers once again used just 17 skaters, one under the maximum.
With it being the first time this season that the Railers and Admirals have faced each other we’ll take a look at some roster and area connections between the teams, and with all the college and pro teams in the area it’s hard to put together a roster that has absolutely no connections to Massachusetts and Worcester, but Norfolk has managed to do that. The Railers have two players who have played for the Admirals before, with goaltender Michael Bullion spending parts of two seasons in Norfolk and forward Jordan Kaplan playing 11 games for the Admirals in 2022-23.
As expected, Maine’s Dalton Gally did hear from the ECHL about his boarding major against Cole Crowder and the Railers on Sunday as Gally was suspended a game for his brainless actions. Norfolk’s Graham Sward missed Wednesday’s game against Worcester as he was suspended one game for a cross-checking major and game misconduct in the Admirals game Saturday night, ironically against the Mariners.
The three stars of the game were:
1. NOR – 8 Denis Smirnov
2. NOR – 23 Josh McDougall
3. WOR – 39 Henrik Tikkanen
The 210Sports Player of the Game was Riley Piercey.
Even Strength Lines
Piercey / Jacobs / Repaci
Randl / Kopperud / Gill
Bakanov / Kaplan / Donhauser
Crowder / X / Hatten
Luce / Welsh
McDonald / Klee
Rajaniemi / Verrier
Our affiliates last night
Columbus 2, NY Islanders 0
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 4, Bridgeport 3 (SO)
In the ECHL’s North Division last night
Trois-Rivieres 4, Reading 2
BOX SCORE
Worcester 0 0 1 – 1
Norfolk 0 1 2 – 3
1st Period- No Scoring.Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-1, Norfolk, McDougall 1 (Young, Nault), 12:45 (PP). Penalties-Iverson Nor (hooking), 1:30; Fedorek Nor (roughing), 4:28; Kopperud Wor (slashing), 11:03.
3rd Period-2, Worcester, Piercey 2 (Kopperud, Welsh), 9:24. 3, Norfolk, Smirnov 2 (Timofeyev, Fedorek), 11:38. 4, Norfolk, Osmundson 2 (Fleurent, Louis-Jean), 18:48 (EN). Penalties-Jacobs Wor (hooking), 3:55; Gill Wor (slashing), 7:53; Timofeyev Nor (diving/embellishment), 7:53.
Shots on Goal-Worcester 5-5-5-15. Norfolk 14-6-3-23.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 / 2; Norfolk 1 / 2.
Goalies-Worcester, Tikkanen 1-1-0-0 (22 shots-20 saves). Norfolk, Giannuzzi 2-0-0-0 (15 shots-14 saves).
A-2,264
Referees-Logan Gruhl (29).
Linesmen-Joseph Johnson (78), Evan Knox (83).
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