The Worcester Railers headed north to Portland, Maine for the back half of their home and home series against the Mariners Saturday night, and went an absolutely abysmal oh-fer-eight with the man advantage while allowing two Maine power play goals in a 4-1 loss.
The Railers have now gone 32 consecutive chances without a power play goal, a streak dating back to February 21st in Rapid City. At one point on Saturday, Worcester had back-to-back double minor opportunities and managed just a single shot on goal. Of all the reasons why the Railers won’t be making the playoffs this year, their power play, or more correctly, their lack of one, is near the top of the list.
Another thing near the top of the list is that Worcester has a habit of taking mindless penalties, and they had several against the Mariners. The first was getting caught in a Roy Sommer line change, and Max Andreev took advantage with a backdoor goal at 3:48 that Railers goaltender William Lavallière had no chance on.
Lavallière had no chance on Maine’s second goal either as Ryan Miotto turned the puck over right in the Worcester crease and Linus Hemstrom had all 24 square feet to shoot at.
Anthony Repaci would cut that 2-0 lead in half with a goal at 13:50, with assists from Max Ruoho and Declan McDonnell.
It stayed that 2-1 score until halfway into the third period because the Railers somehow can’t hit the ocean from the beach on the power play. Maine, on the other hand, doesn’t have that issue, and Andreev made it 3-1 with his second power play goal of the night with Riley Piercey in the box.
Brooklyn Kalmikov would add an empty net goal for the 4-1 final and another nail in Worcester’s playoff chances coffin.
GAME NOTES
Scratches for the Railers were Gabe Blanchard (14-day IR/Upper body), Drew Callin (14-day IR/Lower body), Dalton Duhart (travel), Max Dukovac, Connor Federkow (14-day IR/Lower body), Michael Ferrandino, Riley Ginnell (14-day IR/Lower body), Anthony Hora (14-day IR/Lower body), and Tristan Lennox. Thomas Gale was the backup goaltender.
Riley Piercey escaped being suspended for his aggressor game misconduct on Friday night as it’s fairly clear that the ECHL saw things as this writer did and determined referees Sam Heidemann and Austin Rook got the call wrong. It would never happen, but it would be interesting if leagues would actually publish information about officials making errors. Although the lists would be so long, it would likely be cumbersome.
The three stars of the game were
1. MNE – #23 Max Andreev
2. MNE – #1 Brad Arvanitis
3. MNE – #13 Robert Cronin
The 210Sports Player of the Game is Anthony Repaci.
Even Strength Lines
Repaci / A.Callin / McDonnell
Carson / DeMelis / Piercey
Donhauser / Miotto / Hatten
Rubtsov / Dorrington / Mitton
Suda / Pulkkinen
McDonald / Ruoho
Samuelsson / Jean-Louis
Press Releases
RAILERS: Worcester drops Saturday matchup 4-1 to Maine
MARINERS: Special teams boost Mariners over Railers
Our affiliates last night
Bridgeport 4, Hershey 3 SO
In the ECHL’s North Division last night
Greensboro 4, Norfolk 1
Adirondack 4, Reading 3 OT
Wheeling 3, Trois-Rivières 2 OT
BOX SCORE
Worcester 1 0 0 – 1
Maine 2 0 2 – 4
1st Period-1, Maine, Andreev 14 (Kalmikov, Gallatin), 3:48 (PP). 2, Maine, Hemstrom 12 (Cronin, Vidmar), 9:55. 3, Worcester, Repaci 18 (Ruoho, McDonnell), 13:50. Penalties-served by Hatten Wor (bench – too many men), 3:01; Callin Wor (boarding), 4:03; Hudson Mne (high-sticking – double), 17:18.
2nd Period- No Scoring.Penalties-Gallatin Mne (unsportsmanlike conduct, holding), 5:21; Dorrington Wor (slashing), 13:40; Cheveldayoff Mne (slashing), 13:40; Gallatin Mne (tripping), 14:43; Miotto Wor (roughing), 15:40; Ruoho Wor (hooking), 19:43.
3rd Period-4, Maine, Andreev 15 (Cronin, Hudson), 7:27 (PP). 5, Maine, Kalmikov 18 (Andreev), 17:57 (EN). Penalties-Venuto Mne (high-sticking), 1:38; Piercey Wor (high-sticking), 6:29; Lamppa Mne (tripping), 7:57; Jean-Louis Wor (slashing), 10:58; Cheveldayoff Mne (cross-checking), 10:58; Lamppa Mne (tripping), 13:15; Ruoho Wor (holding), 13:44.
Shots on Goal-Worcester 9-13-16-38. Maine 8-8-9-25.
Power Play Opportunities-Worcester 0 / 8; Maine 2 / 6.
Goalies-Worcester, Lavallière 3-2-0-0 (24 shots-21 saves). Maine, Arvanitis 19-9-3-1 (38 shots-37 saves).
A-4,742
Referees-Julien Lapointe (68), David Lilly (25).
Linesmen-Cody Sullivan (82), Noah Merrow (57).
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