The Worcester Railers took on the South Carolina Stingrays Wednesday morning at the DCU Center and they and the 7,303 screaming school kids in attendance got a math lesson that hopefully none will forget as the Stingrays’ four goals was greater than the Railers one, and that equals two points in the South Carolina column.
The Stingrays got on the board first when Jon McDonald fired a puck from up high through a screen of players at 5:47 of the opening period. Railers goaltender Michael Bullion never saw it until it was in the net behind him, and it was 1-0.
In the second period, it was Jack Randl who would get the equalizer when he wheeled and fired a rebound past South Carolina goaltender Garin Bjorklund
Early in the third period, Kolby Johnson finally got an opportunity to show why he was brought on to the roster. While Reilly Webb isn’t the usual class of opponent Johnson will be called upon to face, it does make for a great, albeit a bit funny, highlight.
Just past the halfway point of the third period that whole math thing roared its ugly head, as in the numbers two and zero. Two was the number of attackers Bullion had to face, and zero was the number of Railers Bullion had helping him. When the play was over, two was also the number of goals the Stingrays had scored.
A couple empty net goals by South Carolina makes the score look more lopsided than it was, but in the end, it makes zero difference, and zero was the number of points Worcester earned on the day.
The two teams will meet again Friday, 7pm puck drop.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were Cole Crowder (3-day IR/unknown), JD Dudek (IR/upper body), Lincoln Hatten, Brenden Rons, and Ryan Verrier. John Muse was the backup goaltender.
This post exists only to keep my consecutive games covered streak going. It will likely end this year at some point, but that point won’t be today. All the usual features will return in Friday’s game post.
The three stars of the game were:
1. SC – 33 Garin Bjorklund
2. SC – 48 Erik Middendorf
3. WOR – 11 Jack Randl
The 210Sports Player of the Game was no one.
Even Strength Lines
Piercey / Kopperud / Donhauser
Randl / Kaplan / Repaci
Bakanov / Callin / Loughran
Johnson / Jacobs / DeMelis
Luce / Welsh
McDonald / Klee
Rajaniemi / Dickinson
Our affiliates last night
Edmonton 4, NY Islanders 3
Hershey 5, Bridgeport 4
In the ECHL’s North Division last night
Wheeling 3, Fort Wayne 1
BOX SCORE
South Carolina 1 0 3 – 4
Worcester 0 1 0 – 1
1st Period-1, South Carolina, McDonald 1 (Loukus, Lee), 5:47. Penalties-Cruikshank Sc (interference), 15:13; Kaplan Wor (roughing), 15:13; Combs Sc (roughing, misconduct), 16:25; Kupka Sc (roughing), 16:25; Kopperud Wor (roughing, misconduct), 16:25; Luce Wor (roughing), 16:25; Magera Sc (hooking), 17:00; Loughran Wor (tripping), 19:49.
2nd Period-2, Worcester, Randl 4 (Klee, Kaplan), 3:44. Penalties-Moore Sc (roughing), 17:29; Loughran Wor (slashing), 17:29; Nachbaur Sc (unsportsmanlike conduct, roughing), 19:57; Perrott Sc (fighting – major), 19:57; Jacobs Wor (fighting – major), 19:57; Piercey Wor (roughing), 19:57.
3rd Period-3, South Carolina, Middendorf 2 (Wilkins, Moore), 10:11. 4, South Carolina, Engelbert 2 (McDonald), 18:02 (EN). 5, South Carolina, Cruikshank 4 (McDonald, Bjorklund), 18:45 (EN). Penalties-Webb Sc (fighting – major), 3:56; Johnson Wor (fighting – major), 3:56; Miller Sc (roughing), 11:15; Donhauser Wor (roughing), 11:15; Combs Sc (hooking), 16:00.
Shots on Goal-South Carolina 9-8-10-27. Worcester 14-14-9-37.
Power Play Opportunities-South Carolina 0 / 1; Worcester 0 / 3.
Goalies-South Carolina, Bjorklund 2-1-0-0 (37 shots-36 saves). Worcester, Bullion 3-2-0-0 (25 shots-23 saves).
A-7,303
Referees-Austin Rook (11).
Linesmen-Sam Schildkraut (46), Antoine Bujold-Roux (72).
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