Game Story

Worcester, MA — The Worcester Railers returned to the DCU Center on Friday after going one for three on their road trip to Glens Falls, NY and Manchester, NH last week. The Railers welcomed the first place Adirondack Thunder for the first time this season in what was only the second home game of the 2018-19 regular season. Railers have yet to solve the Thunder with a 3-0 loss on Friday.

After a busy week of recalls with Railers goaltenders, Evan Buitenhuis was released from his PTO with the Ontario Reign and was the starting goaltender for Friday’s matchup. Ryan Hubbard was dressed as the back-up, who is currently signed as the backup goaltender under emergency conditions. Buitenhuis went 35 for 37 in his second start of the season. Former Railer Alex Sakellaropoulos was the backup goaltender for Adirondack.

Not that this writer ever got to experience the original Boston Garden, several people referenced the conditions to me pre-game and related itit fog and wet conditions inside the DCU Center this afternoon. The glass around the ice was fogged up from the moisture for warm-ups but cleared up by the time the puck dropped. There was intermittent fog throughout the game and it appeared the ice was a little more slippery than normal during play.

Both teams had unsuccessful power plays during the first period. Evan Buitenhuis had a highlight reel save during the period that reminded me a lot of Alex Stalock’s legendary saves in that very net. Adirondack scored the only goal of the period on a shot that was deflected and credited to Brian Ward. Kyle McKenzie was ejected for shooting the puck down the other side of the ice shortly after the goal was scored.

The score was still 1-0 after two periods. Railers had two power plays that proved to once again be unsuccessful, in fact they looked worse with the extra man on the ice.

Railers continued to struggle to go in the final frame. Mike Szmatula scored the second of the night for Adirondack, with a shot from in front of the net of goaltender Evan Buitenhuis.

The Railers failing to captialize on power plays is one of their biggest faults so far this season. The failure to defeat one of their biggest rivials is another.

The Three Stars of the Game were:

1. Brian Ward (Adirondack)
2. Cam Johnson (Adirondack)
3. Evan Buitenhuis (Worcester)

November Rain: The Worcester Railers welcome the Newfoundland Growlers on their first trip to Worcester on Saturday at 7 PM. The Railers will host their first-ever “Guns and Hoses” night featuring Worcester Police Specialty jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game. The Worcester Police and Fire Department hockey teams will hit the ice at 4:15 PM for the first doubleheader at the DCU Center this season. Doors open at 4 PM. Boston Bruins’ legend Ray Bourque will be in attendance for the game and will be dropping the puck before the Railers game.

Box Score

Notes

• Railers Scratches: Tommy Kelley (14-day IR), Yanick Turcotte, Connor Doherty, Tommy Tsicos, and David Quenneville.
• There isn’t any new update regarding Tommy Kelley from last week. Kelley is still skating with the team with the ‘no-contact’ red jersey.
• The goalie situation was a bit chaotic this week for the Railers as both Evan Buitenhuis and Mitch Gillam received opportunities in the AHL. Won’t go into exact details here as it’s been discussed all over social media this week, but I did write-up what exactly caused this here. Mitch Gillam is still with Bridgeport and should be back sometime next week.
• Ivan Korsorenkov made his pro debut with the Railers on Friday. Korsorenkov signed with the Railers two weeks prior, but what from what I’ve been told it’s been due to issues with his immigration paperwork. That appears to be settled now that he’s finally on the ice and playing for the team. Expect Korsorenkov to put up big numbers for the Railers as he has a pretty good reputation for putting up points in the QMJHL.
• Looks like we’re going to wait a bit longer to see Eamon McAdam make his return to Worcester as a Newfoundland Growler as he was recalled to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) earlier this week. McAdam is still waiting for his first AHL game this season after being recalled to the NHL level once and at the AHL level a few times this season. He has played in two games out of 10 for Newfoundland so far this season.
• Josh Holmstrom was nominated for the ECHL’s Player of the Month for the month of October with four goals. The player named as the Player of the Month was James Henry of the Adirondack Thunder who had an incredible month, going 2-15-17 and was +9 in nine games.
• Connor Doherty, David Quenneville, and Dylan Willick were nominated for the “ECHL Plus Performer of the Month” as they led all Railers with +3. Orlando Solar Bears’ Michael Brodzinski was named Performer of the Month, going +10 in October.
• Railers will wear blue specialty jerseys tomorrow with a Worcester Police Department Crest. For jersey collectors looking to bid on the jerseys or for those who want to check up on the jerseys, you can do so by searching on the HandBid app or by Clicking Here.
• Stick taps to “The one that got away” Yanni Gourde on picking up a big 6-year, $31-million extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning. His contract is now the fourth-highest of any active Worcester Hockey Alums, with Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, and Tomas Hertl ranking just above him. Gourde is one of the many ECHL graduates who have made it to the NHL, so it’ll be interesting to see if anyone who has played for the Railers will also make it to the big league in the coming years.

Railers Lines (Observed by order in which they appeared):