Match Notes

  • Maine is 5-3 against Worcester this season.
  • The last two games between these two teams have resulted in shootouts. Maine has won both of those games.
  • Maine can take second with a win and Reading and Adirondack losses or can take third if either of those two teams loses tonight.
  • Worcester can get within two points of fourth with a win in regulation.

Railers Notes

  • Team Rankings and Averages:
    • Railers have the best penalty kill in the league at home at 90.9 percent, killing all but five of their 55 penalties this season.
    • Worcester has the third worst power play at home, scoring eight power-play goals on 63 advantages. (12.5 percent)
    • Railers are one of two teams (other being Wichita) that haven’t scored a shorthanded goal at home. They are the only team that hasn’t scored one at all this season.
    • Worcester has the lowest goals for average at 2.35 per game.
    • Railers are ranked eighth with 2.84 goals allowed per game.
    • Worcester is undefeated at home when leading after two periods.
  • Player Rankings and Streaks:
    • Ryan MacKinnon is on a four-game point streak (1-4-5)
    • Woody Hudson (1-1-2), Mike Cornell (0-2-2) and Matt Gaudreau (1-2-3) have points in back-to-back games.
    • Tommy Panico is on an eight-game cold streak.
    • Connor Doherty is on a six-game cold streak.
    • Mike Cornell leads all defensemen with 22 minor penalties this season and is third with 79 penalty minutes this season.
    • Nick Sorkin has ten points in his last nine games.
    • Mike Cornell leads all Railers with five fighting majors this season.
    • Evan Buitenhuis is third in save percentage with 0.929 and Mitch Gillam is fifth with 0.924.
    • Austin Block, Tommy Kelley, Yanick Turcotte, Alex Adams, and Alex Vanier are all looking for their first goals of the season.
  • Recent Transactions:
    • Austin Block was placed on reserve on Friday.
    • Alex Vanier was activated from reserve on Friday.
  • Possible Scratches:
    • Malcolm Gould –  On injured reserve, is eligible to be activated.
    • Kyle McKenzie – On injured reserve, is eligible to be activated.
    • David Quenneville – On reserve.
    • Austin Block – On reserve.
    • Additional scratches to be determined around game time.

Mariners Notes

  • Team Rankings and Averages:
    • Maine has the second-best penalty kill on the road with 89.8 percent. They are also ranked second overall with 86.3 percent.
    • Mariners have eight shorthanded goals this season.
    • Maine has allowed the most shots on goal as a team with 37.21 being the average.
    • Mariners have lost seven games on the road when trailing after two periods.
  • Player Rankings and Streaks:
    • Ryan Culkin (1-4-5) has five points against Worcester this season.
    • Alex Kile has two shootout goals against Worcester this season.
    • Morgan Adams-Moisan has two fighting majors against Worcester this season.
    • Brandon Halverson is fourth in the league with 637, is second in wins with 12, and is fifth with 1157 minutes this season. He is also tied for first with 3 shootout wins this season.
    • Michael McNicholas is ninth in points for rookies with 24 points. (7-17-24)
    • Michael McNicholas has three shootout goals, the most of anyone in the ECHL.
  • Recent Transactions:
    • Hannu Toivonen was signed to a contract on Thursday.
    • Luke Stork was traded to the Wichita Thunder on Thursday.
    • Sean Day and Ryan Gropp were recalled to the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) on Thursday.
    • Connor LaCouvee was recalled to the Laval Rocket (AHL) on Thursday.
  • Possible Scratches:
    • Zach Tolkinen – on injured reserve. Has not played since December 5.
    • Additional scratches to be determined around game time.

Isles/Sound Tigers News

  • Islanders 6, Senators 3 [NHL]
    • Matt Barzal had a three-point night (2-1-3)
    • Robin Lehner has won three straight games
    • Islanders scored five unanswered goals
    • Lehner replaced Greiss at 6:11 of the second period as the game was 3-1 Ottawa.
  • Sound Tigers 4, Thunderbirds 3 [Sound Tigers]
    • Chris Gibson picked up his tenth win of the season.
    • Michael Dal Colle had three assists.
    • Mike Sislo, Mitch Vande Sompel, and Parker Wotherspoon all scored for Bridgeport, with Otto Koivula breaking the tie with the game-winner at 7:13 in the third period.
  • Isles face the Maple Leafs on the road tonight.
  • Sound Tigers are on the road, taking on the Wolf Pack tonight in Hartford.

Recent North Division Game Results

North Division Games Today

Other Mentions

  • Railers will be hosting their “Home for the Holidays” night tonight. They will be giving away texting gloves to the first 2,000 fans.
  • Tickets are as low as $15 or click HERE for a special ticket deal.
  • For live updates during the game, follow us on Twitter @WooHockeyNews.