Game Story


Glens Falls, NY — The Worcester Railers closed out their weekend on Saturday, falling 4-1 to the Adirondack Thunder on the road.

Henrik Tikkanen joined the team in Glens Falls after not traveling to Reading with the team on the previous night. He then made his tenth start of the season, delivering 29 saves. Joe Spagnoli, a seasoned New England EBUG, assumed the role of backup in the absence of Tristan Lennox, who was sidelined due to an injury suffered on Friday. Former Thunder goaltender, Brandon Kasel served as the EBUG for the Thunder as Vinnie Purpura made 21 saves on Saturday. Worcester’s Joey Cipollone netted his team’s lone goal, marking his first goal in his professional career. Adirondack’s enforcer, Nico Blachman, contributed two goals, complemented by goals from Ryan Smith and Patrick Grasso.

The Railers lost their eleventh game as the team continued to struggle offensively. They were 0-for-3 on the power play and have now gone six straight games without a power play goal, their last came on December 1st against Norfolk. As of Sunday morning, the Railers are tied with Florida with the worst power play in the ECHL, converting on just 12.3 percent of their chances. They now have a record of 0-8-0-1 when trailing after one period, and a record of 2-9-1-1 when trailing after two.

It was teddy bear toss night at the Cool Insuring Arena, as such fans threw stuffed animals onto the ice after Adirondack’s first goal. Patrick Grasso kicked off the scoring and triggered the Teddy Bear Toss just 4:59 into the game. Grant Jozefek set up Grasso after an up-ice pass from Ryan Smith, he connected with Grasso and got a shot just under the crossbar past Henrik Tikkanen. The goal would be reviewed and ruled a good goal, sparking some wonder of awkwardness if the goal did not stand. Adirondack extended their lead to 2-0 when Nico Blachman capitalized on a rebound in front of the net, marking his second goal of the year and his first for the Thunder. Blachman tapped in a rebound off a shot from Ryan Smith, he got it past Tikkanen at 15:01 of the first period. The Thunder carried a 2-0 advantage into the intermission, outshooting Worcester 13-5.

Jake Schultz and Darian Skeoch fought at the 2:16 mark of the first period, it was Schultz’s first fighting major of the season, having previously been involved in some scrums and exchanging some punches, these days officials hand out roughing penalties instead. It was an even scrap that sent both teams to their penalty boxes for seven minutes, as both players removed their helmets before the fight, adding a penalty to the fighting majors. Ashton Calder would leave late in the first period after a nasty check by Tristan Thompson but returned in the second period.

Nico Blachman scored his second of the night 15:23 into the second period to give the Thunder a 3-0 lead. Erik Middendorf found Blachman at the top of the circle, and his shot beat Tikkanen for his second of the game and third of the year. After forty minutes, shots were 9-8 in favor of Adirondack. Brendan Robbins left the game after a collision and did not return for the third period.

In the third period, Worcester managed to score as Joey Cipollone deflected a shot from the point at 2:02, securing his first goal of the year and reducing the Thunder’s lead to 3-1. Adirondack’s Ryan Smith then extended their lead to 4-1 at 11:43 of the third period. After a breakaway shot hit the post, the puck bounced off a Railers defenseman and found its way into the net, establishing a three-goal lead that ultimately became the final score.

The three stars of the game were:

  1. Patrick Grasso (Adirondack) – 1 goal
  2. Ryan Smith (Adirondack) – 1 goal, 2 assists
  3. Nico Blachman (Adirondack) – 2 goals

Earlier in the night, the Norfolk Admirals secured their fourth consecutive victory by defeating the Trois-Rivieres Lions 4-1, while the Newfoundland Growlers beat the Maine Mariners with a score of 3-1. On Sunday, the sole North Division matchup will feature Adirondack facing off against Maine. Following that, Adirondack is scheduled to travel north to play against Trois-Rivieres on Wednesday, while the Admirals will host the Reading Royals in Norfolk.

The Railers are returning to the DCU Center for a series of three consecutive home games, all featuring a “Home for the Holidays” promotion. All three matches will commence at 5:05 p.m., beginning with the Friday matchup against the Trois-Rivieres Lions.

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Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 T
0 0 1 1
2 1 1 4
Shots 1 2 3 T
5 8 9 22
13 9 11 33

 

Score Team Time Scored by Assisted by Type
0 – 1 4:59 – 1st P. Grasso (10) G. Jozefek, R. Smith
0 – 2 15:01 – 1st N. Blachman (2) R. Smith, J. Isley
0 – 3 15:23 – 2nd N. Blachman (3) E. Middendorf, D. Skeoch
1 – 3 2:02 – 3rd J. Cipollone (1) R. Verrier, K. Howdeshell
1 – 4 11:43 – 3rd R. Smith (11) C. Felix

Rosters

# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 39 H. Tikkanen 0 0 0 0 0
G 40 J. Spagnoli 0 0 0 0 0
D 3 R. Verrier 0 1 0 0 0
D 4 J. Schultz 0 0 0 0 9
F 5 Z. White 0 0 0 4 0
D 10 T. Cosgrove 0 0 -2 2 2
F 12 J. Cipollone 1 0 -1 1 0
F 15 B. Robbins 0 0 0 0 2
F 16 A. Calder 0 0 -1 3 0
F 17 K. Howdeshell 0 1 -1 1 2
F 19 B. Jenkins 0 0 -2 2 0
F 22 D. Kuefler 0 0 -1 1 2
F 23 T. Goehring 0 0 0 0 0
D 26 C. Welsh 0 0 -1 1 0
D 27 J. Copeland 0 0 -1 2 2
F 37 R. Newkirk 0 0 0 1 0
D 70 Z. Garat 0 0 -1 2 0
F 81 A. Repaci 0 0 -3 2 0
D 88 A. Kulakov 0 0 -1 0 0
Team:
Totals: 1 2 -15 22 19
Player MIN SH SVS GA SV%
39 H. Tikkanen (L) – 33 29 4 –
Totals: – 33 29 4 –
# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 29 V. Purpura 0 0 0 0 0
G 35 B. Kasel 0 0 0 0 0
D 5 W. MacKinnon 0 0 +2 1 0
D 6 R. Wheeler 0 0 +1 2 0
F 10 R. Smith 1 2 +3 3 0
F 11 S. Harper 0 0 0 0 0
F 21 P. Grasso 1 0 +1 4 0
F 22 N. Blachman 2 0 +2 5 2
D 24 M. Stief 0 0 +1 1 0
D 26 C. Felix 0 1 +3 1 4
F 27 T. Broughman 0 0 0 2 0
F 28 T. Friedmann 0 0 0 0 0
F 37 M. Gillespie 0 0 0 3 0
F 43 G. Jozefek 0 1 +1 3 0
D 44 D. Skeoch 0 1 0 2 7
F 48 E. Middendorf 0 1 +1 2 0
F 71 Y. Hirano 0 0 -1 0 0
D 72 T. Thompson 0 0 0 1 0
F 92 J. Isley 0 1 +1 3 2
Team:
Totals: 4 7 15 33 15
Player MIN SH SVS GJ SV%
29 V. Purpura (W) – 22 21 1 –
Totals: – 22 21 1 –

Penalties

Time Team Player Mins Infraction
2:16 – 1st J. Schultz 2 Removing the Helmet (46.6)
2:16 – 1st J. Schultz 5 Fighting – Major (46.14)
2:16 – 1st D. Skeoch 2 Removing the Helmet (46.6)
2:16 – 1st D. Skeoch 5 Fighting – Major (46.14)
8:25 – 1st N. Blachman 2 Hooking – minor (55.2)
16:48 – 1st D. Kuefler 2 Delay of Game (63.2)
17:55 – 1st T. Cosgrove 2 Boarding – minor (41.2)
17:55 – 1st J. Schultz 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
17:55 – 1st C. Felix 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
6:57 – 2nd B. Robbins 2 Holding – minor (54.2)
10:20 – 2nd K. Howdeshell 2 Hooking – minor (55.2)


Notes

  • Worcester Scratches: Andrei Bakanov, Anthony Callin, Christian Krygier, Jack Quinlivan, Jake Pivonka, Quinn Ryan, Riley Piercey, and Tristan Lennox.
  • Adirondack Scratches: Brandon Kasel, Brendan Less, Bryce Martin, Devon Becker, Jack Jeffers, Ryan Orgel, Tristan Ashbrook, Tyler Brennan, and Zach Walker.
  • Riley Piercey was a late scratch, after reportedly taking to the ice for warm-ups, he was not dressed for the game. He was listed in a line-up sheet that had eighteen players listed. Jake Schultz played as a forward in his spot.
  • The Worcester Fire Hockey Team was also in town Saturday, taking part in a doubleheader against the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. Worcester Fire won the game 11-7.
  • Following Saturday’s game, the Railers had the following scoring streaks and droughts:
    • Jake Schultz is without a point in his last three games.
    • Zach White is without a point in his last six games.
    • Trevor Cosgrove is without a point in his last three games.
    • Ashton Calder is without a point in his last three games.
    • Connor Welsh is without a point in his last four games.
    • John Copeland is without a point in all fifteen games he’s played in this season.
    • Zsombor Garat is without a point in his last eleven games.
    • Anthony Repaci snapped a three-game goal streak.
    • Artyom Kulakov is without a point in his last eleven games.

Railers Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Anthony Repaci #81 Blade Jenkins #19 Todd Goehring #23
Forward Line 2 Daylan Kuefler #22 Jake Pivonka #13 Ashton Calder #16
Forward Line 3 Keeghan Howdeshell #17 Joey Cipollone #12 Brendan Robbins #15
Rotated Forwards Jake Schultz #4 – Todd Goehring #23
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Zsombor Garat #70 Connor Welsh #26
Defense Pair 2 Trevor Cosgrove #10 John Copeland #27
Defense Pair 3 Artyom Kulakov #88 Ryan Verrier #3
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Henrik Tikkanen #39
Backup Goaltender Joe Spagnoli #40

Thunder Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Erik Middendorf #48 Travis Broughman #27 Mike Gillespie #37
Forward Line 2 Yushiroh Hirano #71 T.J. Friedmann #28 Shane Harper #11
Forward Line 3 Grant Jozefek #43 Ryan Smith #10 Patrick Grasso #21
Rotated Forwards Jace Isley #92 – Nico Blachman #22
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Will MacKinnon #5 Colin Felix #26
Defense Pair 2 Tristan Thompson #72 Darian Skeoch #44
Defense Pair 3 Matt Stief #24 Ryan Wheeler #6
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Vinnie Purpura #29
Backup Goaltender Brandon Kasel #35

On-Ice Officials

– –
Referee Steven Sailor (5)
Referee –
Linesman Trevor Waite (73)
Linesman Shane Kanaly (74)




Notable Tweets as the Game Happened

https://twitter.com/RailersHC/status/1736160361026408750
Railers Lines


Thunder Lines


Patrick Grasso goal (Thunder leads 1-0)


Jake Schultz vs Darian Skeoch (Broadcast view)


Jake Schultz vs Darian Skeoch (Cinematic View)


Nico Blachman goal (Thunder leads 2-0)


Nico Blachman goal (Thunder leads 3-0)


Joey Cipollone goal (Thunder leads 3-1)


Ryan Smith goal (Thunder leads 4-1)