Game Story

Savannah, GA — The Worcester Railers took the second game of back-to-back games against the Savannah Ghost Pirates, splitting the weekend series with a 4-2 win on Saturday night.

Hugo Ollas made his 11th start as a Railer improving to 7-2-1-1 with a 36 save performance. Keith Kinkaid was the starter for Savannah he made 12 saves before being pulled at the 5:50 mark in the second period. Evan Cormier stopped all but one of Worcester’s 19 shots after he entered in net. Matt Kopperud scored Worcester’s first and last goals, While Anthony Callin scored the second and Tyler Kobryn scored the third. Anthony Callin had his second buzzer beater goal in weeks, scoring with .7 seconds left on the game clock in the first period. Brandon Saigeon and Logan Drevitch scored for Savannah.

Matt Kopperud gave the Railers an early lead at 11:19 of the first period, burying a one-timer from Anthony Callin in the right face-off circle. The goal marked Worcester’s first power-play tally since February 7. Callin then doubled the lead just before the buzzer, scoring with 0.7 seconds left in the period. He nearly secured his second Gordie Howe Hat Trick but settled for a roughing penalty alongside Zach Uens after a scuffle at 13:08. Worcester held a 12-8 shot advantage after the opening frame.

Griffin Loughran went down the tunnel at 15:37 in the period after a hip check from Kyle Jeffers. Loughran returned to the game for the second period, taking the first shift of the period, but was limited for the remainder of the game.

Tyler Kobryn scored his fourth goal in six games, following up on a rebound from JD Dudek at 2:19 in the second period. The Ghost Pirates got on the board at 4:55 in the period with Brandon Saigeon tipping in a shot from Andrei Anania. The Railers nearly struck again at 5:50 when a shot from Dudek deflected into the air and dropped behind Keith Kinkaid before being pushed into the net in a crease battle. After review, the goal was waved off, but Savannah still opted to change goaltenders, bringing in Evan Cormier for relief. Worcester restored its two-goal lead at 7:48 when Matt Kopperud fired home a power-play goal from the right circle, making it 3-1. Savannah answered back while Matias Rajaniemi was in the box for holding, as Logan Drevitch tipped in a Reece Vitelli pass in a near replica of their first goal. The Ghost Pirates outshot the Railers 20-13 in the period.

Neither team found the back of the net in the third period, as Hugo Ollas turned aside 10 shots to help secure Worcester’s 24th win of the season. At 13:39, Matt Kopperud dropped the gloves with Patrick Guay, landing a few punches before Guay brought him down to the ice. Savannah held a slight 10-9 shot advantage in the final frame.

The Three Stars of the Game were:

  1. Matthew Kopperud (Worcester) – 2 goals,
  2. Anthony Callin (Worcester) – 1 goal, 1 assist, +1
  3. Brandon Saigeon (Savannah) – 1 goal

In other division action on Saturday, the Adirondack Thunder beat the Trois-Rivieres Lions 3-1 in an afternoon matinee match-up. The Norfolk Admirals shutout the Maine Mariners 4-0, after Maine did the same thing the night before at the Norfolk Scope. Wheeling shutout the Tulsa Oilers with two first period goals, 2-0. the Reading Royals beat the Fort Wayne Komets 4-3 in overtime. Railers hold an eight point lead over Reading for fourth place in the division, with Reading having two games in hand. All seven north division teams play on Sunday afternoon.

The Bridgeport Islanders fell 4-2 to the Utica Comets on Saturday afternoon. Justin Gill and Jack Randle were in the line-up and Henrik Tikkanen was the starting goaltender, Tristan Lennox dressed as the back-up goaltender for the first time this season. Tikkanen made 22 saves in his 20th appearance of the season. Bridgeport hosts the Springfield Thunderbirds on Sunday afternoon.

Up next, the Railers head north to North Charleston, SC where they’ll close out their roadtrip on Sunday against the South Carolina Stingrays at 3 p.m.

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Box Score

Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 T
2 2 0 4
0 2 0 2
Shots 1 2 3 T
12 13 9 34
8 20 10 38
Score Team Time Scored by Assisted by Type
1 – 0 11:19 – 1st M. Kopperud (11) A. Callin, C. Welsh PP
2 – 0 19:59 – 1st A. Callin (16)
3 – 0 2:19 – 2nd T. Kobryn (6)
3 – 1 4:55 – 2nd B. Saigeon (4) A. Anania, Z. Uens
4 – 1 7:48 – 2nd M. Kopperud (12) C. Welsh PP
4 – 2 11:17 – 2nd L. Drevitch (9) R. Vitelli, D. Cesana PP

Rosters

# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 30 H. Ollas 0 0 0 0 0
G 32 M. Bullion 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 K. Dunn 0 0 0 0 0
F 4 R. Mahshie 0 0 0 3 0
F 9 R. Ginnell 0 0 0 2 0
F 13 T. Kobryn 1 0 +2 4 0
D 14 M. Rajaniemi 0 0 +1 0 2
C 15 J. Dudek 0 0 +1 4 0
F 16 G. Loughran 0 0 0 1 0
F 18 M. Kopperud 2 0 -1 4 5
D 22 G. Luce 0 0 0 3 0
D 24 M. Klee 0 0 0 2 0
D 25 R. Dickinson 0 0 +1 1 0
D 26 C. Welsh 0 2 0 1 0
F 29 C. Donhauser 0 0 -1 3 10
F 33 L. Hatten 0 0 +2 0 0
F 37 M. DeMelis 0 0 -1 1 0
F 44 A. Callin 1 1 +1 5 2
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GA SV%
30 H. Ollas (W) – 38 36 2 –
Totals: – 38 36 2 –
# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 30 K. Kinkaid 0 0 0 0 0
G 34 E. Cormier 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 D. Cesana 0 1 -1 5 0
D 4 C. Lovie 0 0 -1 1 0
D 6 A. Anania 0 1 +1 2 2
D 7 Z. Uens 0 1 +1 2 2
F 8 B. Saigeon 1 0 +1 1 0
F 9 R. Vitelli 0 1 -1 2 0
F 12 P. Guay 0 0 -1 2 5
LW 13 R. Van Unen 0 0 0 1 2
F 15 N. Granowicz 0 0 0 1 0
F 16 K. Schwindt 0 0 -1 0 0
F 18 C. Buhl 0 0 0 3 0
F 19 J. Davies 0 0 0 2 0
D 20 K. Pehrson 0 0 -1 1 0
F 22 L. Drevitch 1 0 -2 3 0
F 23 K. Jeffers 0 0 +1 3 0
D 26 E. Nause 0 0 -1 6 2
F 27 L. Walsh 0 0 0 0 0
F 77 D. Paliani 0 0 0 3 2
Team:
Player MIN SH SVS GJ SV%
30 K. Kinkaid (L) – 15 12 3 –
34 E. Cormier – 19 18 1 –
Totals: – 34 30 4 –

Penalties

Time Team Player Mins Infraction
10:25 – 1st E. Nause 2 High-sticking – minor (60.2)
13:08 – 1st A. Callin 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
13:08 – 1st Z. Uens 2 Roughing – minor (51.2)
15:37 – 1st A. Anania 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
6:37 – 2nd D. Paliani 2 Hooking – minor (55.2)
10:56 – 2nd M. Rajaniemi 2 Holding – minor (54.2)
2:40 – 3rd R. Van Unen 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
13:39 – 3rd M. Kopperud 5 Fighting – Major (46.14)
13:39 – 3rd P. Guay 5 Fighting – Major (46.14)
19:55 – 3rd C. Donhauser 10 Misconduct – Inciting (75.4)

Notes

  • Worcester Scratches: Anthony Hora, Anthony Repaci, Benjamin Lindberg, Jordan Kaplan, Kolby Johnson, Mark Cheremeta, and Matt Ustaski.
  • Savannah Scratches: Graham McPhee, Liam Arnsby, Mack Guzda, and Riley Hughes.
  • Kolby Johnson and Jordan Kaplan were fined and suspended for their game misconducts on Friday night’s game. Kaplan was suspended for two games and Johnson was suspended indefinitely, pending a hearing with the ECHL Department of Player Safety.
  • Following Saturday Night’s game, the Railers had the following scoring streaks and droughts:
    • Ryan Mahshie is without a point in his last 7 games.
    • Riley Ginnell is without a point in his last 4 games.
    • Matthew Kopperud is now on a 3-game goal and point streak with two goals on Saturday night. (3-1-4)
    • Griffin Luce is without a point in his last 9 games.
    • Mason Klee is without a point in his last 5 games.
    • Ryan Dickinson is without a point in his last 4 games.
    • Connor Welsh snapped his point drought after 3 games.
    • Lincoln Hatten is without a point in his last 3 games.

Railers Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Griffin Loughran #16 Anthony Callin #44 Matthew Kopperud #18
Forward Line 2 Cole Donhauser #29 Matt DeMelis #37 Ryan Mahshie #4
Forward Line 3 Tyler Kobryn #13 JD Dudek #15 Lincoln Hatten #33
Forward Line 4 Riley Ginnell #9 – –
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Griffin Luce #22 Mason Klee #24
Defense Pair 2 Connor Welsh #26 Kabore Dunn #2
Defense Pair 3 Ryan Dickinson #25 Matias Rajaniemi #14
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Hugo Ollas #30
Backup Goaltender Michael Bullion #32

Opponent Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Patrick Guay #12 Reece Vitelli #9 Nick Granowicz #15
Forward Line 2 Cameron Buhl #18 Josh Davies #19 Devon Paliani #77
Forward Line 3 Josh Davies #19 Reece Vitelli #9 Logan Drevitch #22
Forward Line 4 Liam Walsh #27 Rylan Van Unen #13 Kyle Jeffers #23
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Evan Nause #26 Dennis Cesana #2
Defense Pair 2 Connor Lovie #4 Keaton Pehrson #20
Defense Pair 3 Andre Anania #6 Zach Uens #7
Rotated Defensemen – –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Evan Cormier #34
Backup Goaltender Keith Kinkaid #30

On-Ice Officials

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Referee David Lilly (25)
Referee Jarrett Burton (5)
Linesman Zach Carson (61)
Linesman Shane Gustafson (87)


Highlights

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Notable Tweets as the Game Happened


Railers Lines


Matt Kopperud goal


Anthony Callin goal


Tyler Kobryn goal


Matt Kopperud goal