Monarchs vs Railers 12/12/2018: Pre-Game Notes

Each team has a win and a loss in two games this season.
Monarchs are in the North (24 pts) while the Railers are seventh (23 pts).
Railers can jump into fifth place with a win and a Maine loss. Momarchs can tie with Reading for fourth with a win and a Maine loss.

Monarchs Notes

David Kolomatis is ranked tenth in all defensemen with 15 points.
Manchester is on 3 game winning streak for road games.
Monarchs are 6-4-0-1 in away games.
Manchester has the worst power play in the league, with 5 power play goals on 73 opportunities (6.8 percent).
Monarchs are ranked fifth in road penalty kills, killing 87.5 percent of penalties.
Manchester is undefeated (4-0-0-0) when being outshot by opponents.
Monarchs are 7-3-0-0 in their last ten games.
Manchester is the least penalized team in the league with 224 PIMs.
Nic Pierog is on a six-game point streak. He has 8 points dating back to November 21.
Cory Ward has six points in his last four games.
Spencer Watson is on a six-game point streak and has twelve points in his past ten games.
Craig Wyszomirski is on a three-game point streak.
Charles Williams was returned to Manchester on Tuesday after being released by the Ontario Reign (AHL affiliate) from his PTO which began on November 2nd. Cole Kehler was recalled to Ontario on Monday.
Charles Williams is expected to start for Manchester.
Possible Manchester scratches:
- Tim Schoup – Signed on November 23 and is on injured reserve, has not played this season.
- Spencer Watson – has not played since 11/30.
- Brandon Wildung – on reserve.
- Mario Puskarich – on reserve, has not played this season.

Railers Notes

Railers are ranked third in home penalty kills with 90.5 percent of penalties being killed off. They have allowed just 4 shorthanded goals at home this season, which is a tie with Kalamazoo, Florida, and South Carolina.
Railers are still the only team in the league without a shorthanded goal.
Railers have allowed an average of 2.79 goals per game this season, which is the fifth lowest.
Railers have scored 56 goals in 24 games, which averages to 2.33 goals scored per game and is the lowest in the league.
Railers are undefeated (5-0-0-0) when leading after two periods.
Worcester has yet to win a game when trailing after two periods (0-8-1-0).
Evan Buitenhuis and Mitch Gillam are ranked fourth and fifth in save percentage with 0.927 and 0.925.
Mitch Gillam was returned to Worcester by the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Tuesday and Ryan Hubbard was released as the emergency back-up on Monday.
Nick Sorkin has four points (3-1-4) in the past two games.
Matt Schmalz, who was acquired in a trade this past weekend, could make his Railers debut.
Gillam is the expected starter for Worcester on Wednesday. He has won 12 straight home games.
Possible Railers Scratches:
- Malcolm Gould – On injured reserve, is eligible to be activated.
- Tommy Kelley – On injured reserve, is eligible to be activated.
- Kyle McKenzie – On injured reserve, is eligible to be activated today.
- Austin Block – Placed on reserve on Tuesday.
- Two additional scratches to be determined around game time.

Isles Fell 2-1 to the Penguins in a shootout on Monday.
- Robin Lehner made 23 saves with his return to net.
- Islanders take on the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at 7 PM.
Sound Tigers are off until Friday.

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Joe Pavelski is the 12th US Born player in NHL history to record 10 or more 20-goal seasons. [Twitter]
Matt Lane received a recall to the Milwaukee Admirals.
Nick Saracino was named a co-winner of the ECHL player of the Week honor. [ECHL]
Eamon McAdam earned his first AHL shutout on Sunday.

The Worcester Railers Booster Club donated over $3,200 worth of toys to the Friendly House of Worcester. [Twitter]
Kyle McKenzie is in the running for best mustache in the ECHL. [ECHL]
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