Match Notes

  • Maine has the advantage heading into tonight’s game with four wins (4-3) in seven games against Worcester this season.
  • Worcester has outscored Maine 17-16 in those seven matches.
  • Maine can leap into second place in the division with a win, along with Adirondack and Reading losses.
  • Worcester will remain in fifth place regardless of a win or loss tonight, but a win over Maine would put them within a point of fourth place, which is held by Maine.

Railers Notes

  • Team Rankings and Averages:
    • Worcester has allowed just one shorthanded goal on the road this season.
    • Railers have allowed just two shorthanded goals this season, which is the third least in the league.
    • Worcester has the lowest goal scoring average in the league at 2.37.
    • Railers have the fifth lowest goals allowed average at 2.83.
    • Worcester is winless (0-9-1-0) when trailing after two periods. They are 1-6 when tied after one period on the road and are 3-3 when tied after two on the road.
    • Railers are 4-0-1-1 when leading after one period and are undefeated when leading after two. (7-0)
  • Player Rankings and Streaks:
    • Tyler Barnes is on a three-game point streak. (3-1-4)
    • Nick Sorkin has ten points in his last eight games and is on a four-game point streak.
    • Barry Almeida is fifth in the ECHL for shots on goal with 113 and is on a five-game cold streak.
    • Alex Adams and Tommy Panico are on seven-game cold streaks.
    • Connor Doherty is on a five-game cold streak.
    • Ryan MacKinnon is on a three-game point streak. (1-3-4)
    • Mike Cornell has 21 minor penalties this season, leading all defenseman in that category.
    • Austin Block, Tommy Kelley, Yanick Turcotte, Alex Adams, and Alex Vanier are all looking for their first goals of the season.
  • Recent Transactions:
    • Ryan Hubbard was released on Sunday.
    • Evan Buitenhuis was activated from bereavement/family leave on Sunday.
  • 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.
    • Yanick Turcotte – Left last Friday’s game with an apparent injury.
    • Additional scratches to be determined around game time.

Mariners Notes

  • Team Rankings and Averages:
    • Maine has the sixth best power play at home, capitalizing on 13 of 64 opportunities this season for 20.3 percent.
    • Mariners have the third-best penalty kill this season at 86.7 percent, allowing 13 goals while being shorthanded 98 times this season.
    • Maine has not allowed a shorthanded goal at home this season.
    • Mariners are 10-2 when leading after one period and are undefeated when leading after two (8-0).
  • Player Rankings and Streaks:
    • Alex Kile has the fourth-highest shooting percentage with 27.1 (13 goals on 48 shots)
    • Brandon Halverson is fifth in minutes played with 1092. He is also fifth in saves with 607.
    • Michael McNicholas is ninth in points for rookies with 23 points (6-17-23).
  • 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.
    • Louie Rowe was signed to a contract on Tuesday.
    • Morgan Adams-Moisan was reassigned to Maine on Tuesday from the Laval Rocket (AHL).
    • Adam Plant was recalled to the Laval Rocket (AHL) on Saturday.
    • Drew Melanson was recalled to the Laval Rocket (AHL) on December 20.
  • Possible Scratches:
    • Dwyer Tschantz – on reserve.
    • Zach Tolkinen – on injured reserve. Has not played since December 5.
    • Brycen Martin – serving game two of a two-game suspension. [ECHL]

Isles/Sound Tigers News

  • Eansor Scores Twice as Sound Tigers Grind Out 3-2 Win over Hartford on Thursday [Sound Tigers]
    • Scott Eansor scored twice, is now on a three-game scoring streak.
    • Jeff Kubiak left the game during with an injury and did not return.
    • Jeremy Smith (10-5-1) made 23 saves on 25 shots to earn his third straight win.
  • Islanders take on the Ottawa Senators at the Barclays Center on Friday.
  • Sound Tigers Take on the Springfield Thunderbirds on the road on Friday.

Recent North Division Game Results

North Division Games Today

Other Mentions

  • As always the case for weekend games, Nonna’s will be hosting the viewing party for tonight’s game.
  • Stick taps to Nick Saracino and Alex Sakellaropoulos, who received their first PTO’s with the Binghamton Devils earlier this week. Saracino was named Player of the Week last week and Sakellaropoulos was named Goalie of the Week last week.
  • Also, stick taps to former Worcester Sharks head coach Roy Sommer on receiving being named the coach of the Pacific Division team for the AHL All-Star Classic.
  • For live updates during the game, follow us on Twitter @WooHockeyNews.