Game Story

Worcester, MA — The Worcester Railers fell 7-4 to the Manchester Monarchs after allowing four goals in the opening period on Sunday.

Mitch Gillam had the start for Worcester who lasted through most of the first period and was replaced by Blake Wojala after allowing four goals. Spencer Trapp picked up his first pro point in his first pro game. Worcester goals were scored by Ryan MacKinnon (6th), Matt Gaudreau (11th), Barry Almeida (22nd), and David Quenneville (5th). Kevin Dufour (24th), Nic Pierog (28, 29, 30, & 31), Matheson Iacopelli (5th), and Chris Carlisle (3rd) scored for Manchester.

Echoing a rocky start much like Friday’s match-up in Manchester, the opening frame was all Manchester. Kevin Dufour netted a Pierre-Luc Mercier rebound at 1:56. Nic Pierog scored on a shorthanded breakaway at 8:28 and Matheson Iacopelli tipped the puck in at 15:46. Mitch Gillam was swapped for Blake Wojala after Nic Pierog scored his second of the afternoon 41 seconds later.

While Gillam’s four goals allowed certainly wasn’t anything to write home about, the Railers’ first period might just be one of the worst in the team’s history. The goalie swap was needed to change the momentum of the game. Railers were unable to register a shot on net in the first half of the period where Manchester outshot them 10-0. Worcester managed to get some shots in the last nine minutes of the period but still came up short as the Monarchs led 4-0 and outshot the Railers 14-10.

Worcester finally broke through with Ryan MacKinnon getting the puck past Charles Williams’ pads at 5:04 to make the game 4-1. Manchester answered back at 12:42 as Nic Pierog scored on a rebound to complete the natural hat trick and earned his 30th of the season. Matt Gaudreau tipped-in a Josh Holmstrom pass at the crease for Worcester’s second goal of the game at 14:24. Barry Almeida scored with 33 seconds remaining in the period on a wrist shot, bringing the score to 5-3 as the second period concluded.

As Matt Gaudreau was celebrating his goal, he was cross-checked into the boards by Stepan Falkovsky. The notion went unpenalized and Gaudreau was helped back to the bench. Gaudreau returned to the game later in the period and Falkovsky was seen apologizing to Gaudreau on the ice before a face-off. We’ll have to see if the league reviews and takes action on that play later in the week.

David Quenneville scored Worcester’s fourth and final goal at 3:04 in the third period on a wrist shot from just outside the right circle, getting the puck through a tight gap between Charles Williams and the post. Holy Cross alum Spencer Trapp picked up his first pro assist and point on the play.

Wojala was pulled for the extra attacker with around a minute left in regulation. Chris Carlisle scored on the open net at 19:29. Woj was once again pulled after that empty netter where Nic Pierog scored his fourth of the game with seven seconds left on the clock.

The Three stars of the game were:

  1. Nic Pierog (Manchester) – 4 goals, +5
  2. Josh Holmstrom (Worcester) – 2 assists, +2
  3. Ryan MacKinnon (Worcester) – 1 goal

The Railers (30-24-5-4) drop back to fifth in the division with Sunday’s loss. Maine earned two points after an eighteen round shootout against the Newfoundland Growlers, putting them two points above Worcester and Manchester leaping back into the playoff spot with their win.

The Railers will host the Maine Mariners on Friday in another important match-up at 7:05. Monarchs host the Growlers on Wednesday for the north division’s only mid-week action.

Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 T
Manchester Monarchs 4 1 2 7
Worcester Railers 0 3 1 4
Shots 1 2 3 T
Manchester Monarchs 14 0 8 30
Worcester Railers 10 11 5 26

 

Monarchs Roster # Name G A +/- SH PIM
G 1 C. Williams 0 0 0 0 0
G 31 C. Kehler 0 0 0 0 0
D 4 T. Shoup 0 0 -1 1 0
D 6 D. Kolomatis 0 0 +5 1 0
D 7 C. Carlisle 1 0 +1 3 0
D 8 B. Miller 0 1 +3 1 0
F 10 K. Dufour 1 1 +3 2 0
F 11 C. Ward 0 0 0 0 0
F 12 T. Cameranesi 0 1 0 1 2
F 15 D. Rymsha 0 0 +1 0 2
F 16 P. Mercier 0 2 +3 1 2
F 18 B. Imama 0 0 0 2 0
F 21 M. Marcinew 0 0 -1 2 0
F 22 M. Iacopelli 1 0 +1 4 2
LW 28 P. Jenys 0 0 -2 3 0
F 61 N. Pierog 4 0 +5 5 0
D 62 D. Miromanov 0 1 +1 2 0
D 91 S. Falkovsky 0 2 0 2 0
Team:
Totals: 7 8 19 30 8
No Name Min SH SVS GA
1 C. Williams (W) 59:51 26 22 4
Totals: 59:51 26 22 4
Railers Roster # Name G A +/- SH PIM
G 31 B. Wojtala 0 0 0 0 0
G 35 M. Gillam 0 0 0 0 0
D 4 R. MacKinnon 1 0 -2 3 0
F 7 T. Barnes 0 1 -3 0 0
F 9 R. Olsson 0 0 0 2 0
F 11 D. Willick 0 0 -3 3 0
F 12 J. Holmstrom 0 2 +2 0 0
F 15 B. Brauer 0 1 -2 1 2
F 19 B. Almeida 1 0 -4 3 0
D 20 D. Quenneville 1 1 -1 1 0
F 21 M. Gaudreau 1 0 +2 2 0
D 24 T. Mueller 0 0 +1 2 0
F 27 R. Hitchcock 0 1 -3 6 0
D 28 C. Doherty 0 0 -1 1 0
F 37 T. Kelley 0 0 -2 0 0
D 41 R. Powers 0 0 -5 0 0
F 51 Y. Turcotte 0 0 -2 0 2
D 55 S. Trapp 0 1 +1 2 0
Team:
Totals: 4 7 -22 26 4
No Name Min SH SVS GA
35 M. Gillam 16:27 13 9 4
31 B. Wojtala (L) 41:50 15 14 1
Empty Net 2 2
Totals: 58:17 30 23 7
P T Player M Offense Time
1st H B. Brauer 2.00 Slashing – minor (61.2) 5:35
1st V M. Iacopelli 2.00 Interference – minor (56.2) 7:02
1st V D. Rymsha 2.00 Tripping – minor (57.2) 18:54
2nd V P. Mercier 2.00 Tripping – minor (57.2) 3:18
2nd V T. Cameranesi 2.00 Cross-Checking Minor (59.2) 8:25
2nd H Y. Turcotte 2.00 High-sticking – minor (60.2)

Notes

  • Railers Injures: Kyle McKenzie, Tommy Panico, Alex Vanier
  • Railers Scratches: Ivan Chukarov, Charlie Michalowski, Matt Schmalz
  • Monarchs Injuries: Jared Fiegl, Joe Masonius, Brenden Miller, Mario Puskarich, Danny Tirone, Travis Walsh
  • Monarchs Scratches: Austin Block, Brian Diffley, Jack Nivens, Joe Sullivan
  • With his 22nd goal of the season, Barry Almeida ties his previous goal mark from last season.
  • Streaks:
    • Barry Almeida – 3-game goal streak, 3-game point streak (3-2-5)
    • Tyler Barnes – 3-game point streak (3-3-6)
    • Ryan Hitchcock – 3-game point streak (1-4-5)
    • David Quenneville – 3-game point streak (1-4-5)
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Railers Lines (Observed by order in which they appeared):

LW C RW
Forward Line 1  B. Almeida #19 “A”  R. Hitchcock #27  T. Barnes #7 “A”
Forward Line 2  J. Holmstrom #12 “C”  M. Gaudreau #21 B. Brauer #15
Forward Line 3  R. Olsson #9 / Y. Turcotte #51  D. Willick #11  T. Kelley #37
LD RD
Defense Line 1  R. MacKinnon #4 R. Powers #41
Defense Line 2  C. Doherty #28 T. Mueller #24
Defense Line 3  D. Quenneville #20  S. Trapp #55
G
Starting Goaltender  Mitch Gillam #35
Backup Goaltender  Blake Wojtala #31

 

Highlights