Game Story


Worcester, MA — The Worcester Railers prevailed in beating the Reading Royals 4-3 Friday night in a match-up that went into overtime at the DCU Center.

Anthony Repaci scored his second career hat trick and Jimmy Lambert scored the game-winning goal for Worcester in overtime. Repaci is currently on a seven-game scoring streak, with a tally of 5 goals and 4 assists for a total of 9 points. Lambert, on the other hand, has been on a hot streak since returning to the Railers, with 9 points (3 goals and 6 assists) in the last three games.  Charlie Gerard scored twice for Reading, one in the first period and another in the third period. The first goal of the game was scored by Mason Millman early in the first period. Despite making only 17 shots on goal, the Railers managed to defeat the Royals, thanks in large part to the outstanding performance of goaltender Henrik Tikkanen, who made 40 saves. Friday’s game marked the fifth time this season that Tikkanen faced more than 40 shots in a single game. The win was the fourth straight victory for Worcester against Reading and they now have a commanding 4-2-1 record in head-to-head matchups this season.

The Railers allowed a quick goal to give Reading the early lead 26 seconds into the first period. Mason Millman scored on a wrist shot from the right circle on the first shot of the night. Anthony Repaci scored his first goal of the night, nine seconds into a man advantage to tie the game up at 4:47. Repaci was passed the puck from Trevor Cosgrove, who broke through for his tenth of the season. Reading regained the lead two-and-a-half minutes later with a goal from Charlie Gerard at 7:11, but Repaci would score two minutes after that for his second of the night to even the score at two goals a piece.

Henrik Tikkanen would go down early in the second period after taking a puck off the mask, losing a tooth or two as play stopped. Tikkanen would stay in the game after finding his missing chiclets. 36 seconds into the second period, Anthony Repaci beat Nolan Maier on a rebound for the natural hat trick. Henrik Tikkanen made a game-high 17 saves, which would later end up being the same as Worcester would make on Reading all game, in the second period.

The Railers lucked out on a video review at 4:14 in the period, Tikkanen was sprawled out in the crease with referee Trevor Wohlford ruling goaltender interference after a lengthy review. Charlie Gerard evened the game with 5:24 left in the third period with a power play goal. Gerard scored with three seconds left on the power play, which had newly signed Tim Faulkner in the box on a tripping call. Gerard beat Tikkanen with a slapshot from the blue line, which made its way through Tikk’s pads. Gerard’s second goal was also reviewed for goaltender interference, but was ruled a good goal. Railers had just two shots on goal in the third period with the game heading into overtime.

Jimmy Lambert put the game away on a breakaway fed up the ice from Brent Beaudoin. He went one-on-one with goaltender Nolan Maier, with a maneuver over his pads at 1:16 in the overtime period.

The three stars of Friday night’s game were:

  1. Anthony Repaci (Worcester) – 3 goals
  2. Jimmy Lambert (Worcester) – 1 goal, 3 assists, +2
  3. Charlie Gerard (Reading) – 2 goals

Earlier in the night the Newfoundland Growlers beat the Adirondack Thunder 5-4. The Norfolk Admirals faced the Wheeling Nailers in a game that also went into overtime, Norfolk earned their tenth win of the season 4-3. The Maine Mariners beat Trois-Rivieres 4-2 in which former Railer Connor Doherty scored the game-winning goal. Railers remain in fourth place, three points behind Maine for third place, and hold a comfortable 13-point lead ahead of the Adirondack Thunder.

The series continues this weekend with a rematch between the Railers and Reading, taking place on Saturday night for Pink in the Rink night at 7:05 p.m.

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Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 OT T
2 0 1 0 3
2 1 0 1 4
Shots 1 2 3 OT T
15 17 11 0 43
7 7 2 1 17
Score Team Time Scored by Assisted by Type
1 – 0 REA 0:26 – 1st M. Millman (7) G. McFadden, E. Barratt
1 – 1 4:47 – 1st A. Repaci (10) T. Cosgrove, J. Lambert PP
2 – 1 REA 7:11 – 1st C. Gerard (21) M. Newton, M. Chen
2 – 2 9:16 – 1st A. Repaci (11) J. Lambert, J. Hayhurst
2 – 3 0:36 – 2nd A. Repaci (12) B. Beaudoin, J. Lambert
3 – 3 REA 14:36 – 3rd C. Gerard (22) E. Barratt, M. Newton PP
3 – 4 1:16 – 1st OT J. Lambert (11) B. Beaudoin

Rosters

# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 30 K. Fulcher 0 0 0 0 0
G 73 N. Maier 0 0 0 0 0
D 6 A. Eby 0 0 0 2 0
F 7 D. Paliani 0 0 0 2 0
F 8 J. Timmons 0 0 0 2 0
F 9 C. Gerard 2 0 +1 4 0
F 11 A. Butcher 0 0 0 3 0
D 12 M. Millman 1 0 -2 2 0
F 16 S. Sellar 0 0 -1 0 0
F 17 M. Newton 0 2 0 6 0
F 19 E. Barratt 0 2 0 4 2
F 23 B. Boeing 0 0 0 2 0
F 24 J. Gaucher 0 0 -1 4 0
D 26 C. Felix 0 0 0 1 0
D 27 G. McFadden 0 1 0 3 0
F 39 B. Hoffmann 0 0 -1 2 2
F 43 T. Kirkup 0 0 0 1 0
D 58 D. Cormier 0 0 0 5 0
D 81 M. Chen 0 1 +1 0 0
Team:
Totals: 3 6 -3 43 4
Player MIN SH SVS GA SV%
73 N. Maier (L) – 17 13 4 –
Totals: – 17 13 4 –
# Player G A +/- SH PIM
G 30 B. Moran 0 0 0 0 0
G 39 H. Tikkanen 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 C. McCarthy 0 0 -1 0 0
F 8 B. Butler 0 0 -1 1 2
D 9 N. Delmas 0 0 -1 0 0
D 10 T. Cosgrove 0 1 0 2 0
F 12 B. Beaudoin 0 2 0 1 0
F 13 B. Jerry 0 0 0 2 2
F 16 J. Hayhurst 0 1 +1 0 0
D 17 C. Breen 0 0 0 4 2
D 18 T. Faulkner 0 0 +1 0 2
F 19 Q. Ryan 0 0 0 0 0
D 20 A. Terchiyev 0 0 +1 0 0
F 22 N. Fea 0 0 0 0 0
F 23 A. Bakanov 0 0 0 1 0
D 27 M. McGurty 0 0 +1 0 0
F 29 P. Boutoussov 0 0 0 0 2
F 44 J. Lambert 1 3 +2 1 0
F 81 A. Repaci 3 0 0 5 0
Team:
Totals: 4 7 3 17 10
Player MIN SH SVS GJ SV%
39 H. Tikkanen (W) – 43 40 3 –
Totals: – 43 40 3 –

Penalties

Time Team Player Mins Infraction
4:38 – 1st B. Hoffmann 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
2:56 – 2nd C. Breen 2 Interference – minor (56.2)
18:47 – 2nd B. Jerry 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
2:36 – 3rd P. Boutoussov 2 Bench minor – Too many men (74.2)
5:44 – 3rd E. Barratt 2 Slashing – minor (61.2)
12:38 – 3rd T. Faulkner 2 Tripping – minor (57.2)
18:28 – 3rd B. Butler 2 High-sticking – minor (60.2)


Notes

  • Worcester Scratches: Christian Evers, Collin Adams, Jack Quinlivan, Jared Brandt, Ken Appleby, Liam Coughlin, Nolan Vesey, Philip Beaulieu, Reece Newkirk, and Zack Bross.
  • Reading Scratches: Josh Boyko, Tyler Kirkup, and Will MacKinnon.
  • Anthony Repaci’s hat trick is the second of his professional career. He previously recorded his first hat trick on June 5, 2021, during a 4-3 loss against the Florida Everblades while playing for Orlando.
  • The Railers suspended Blake Christensen on Thursday in order to retain his ECHL playing rights. Christensen has since signed with HC Thurgau of the Swiss League (SL).
  • Tim Faulkner was signed to an SPC Thursday and finished the game with a plus-one rating.
  • Jacob Hayhurst was reassigned by Springfield on Thursday and made his return to Worcester, where he recorded an assist in his first game with the team since November 12th.
  • The game-worn jersey auction of the game was an orange Grant Jozefek #25 jersey, worn during the 2021-22 season.
  • Following Friday night’s game, the Railers had the following scoring streaks/droughts:
    • Bobby Butler is without a point in his last eight games.
    • Noah Delmas is without a point in his last ten games.
    • Trevor Cosgrove snapped a three-game scoring drought.
    • Conor Breen is without a point in his last six games.
    • Tim Faulkner is without a point in his last seven games.
    • Quinn Ryan is without a point in his last four games.
    • Artur Terchiyev is without a point in his last six games.
    • Myles McGurty is without a point in his last eleven games.
    • Jimmy Lambert is on a three-game goal streak. (3-6-9)
    • Anthony Reapci is on a seven-game point streak. (5-4-9)

Railers Lines

Forward Lines LW C RW
Forward Line 1 Anthony Repaci #81 Brent Beaudoin #12 Jimmy Lambert #44
Forward Line 2 Andrei Bakanov #23 Jacob Hayhurst #16 Bobby Butler #8
Forward Line 3 Nick Fea #22 Billy Jerry #13 Quinn Ryan #19
Rotated Forwards Paul Boutoussov #29 – –
Defensive Pairings LD RD
Defense Pair 1 Trevor Cosgrove #10 Connor McCarthy #2
Defense Pair 2 Tim Faulkner #18 Myles McGurty #27
Defense Pair 3 Artur Terchiyev #20 Noah Delmas #9
Rotated Defensemen Conor Breen #17 –
Goalie Tandem G
Starting Goaltender Henrik Tikkanen #39
Backup Goaltender Brent Moran #30

On-Ice Officials

– –
Referee Trevor Wohlford (38)
Referee –
Linesman Shane Kanaly (74)
Linesman Ryan Robinson (96)

Highlights

Notable Tweets as the Game Happened

[As Reading has a minimal social media presence, this goal was not tweeted.]

Mason Millman goal (1-0 Reading)


Anthony Repaci first goal (tied 1-1)

[As Reading has a minimal social media presence, this goal was not tweeted.]

Charlie Gerard first goal (2-1 Reading)


Anthony Repaci second goal (Tied 2-2)


Post-first period photo


Anthony Repaci third goal (3-2 Railers)


Post-second period photo

[As Reading has a minimal social media presence, this goal was not tweeted.]

Charlie Gerard second goal (Tied 3-3)


Post-third period photo


Jimmy Lambert OT GWG (4-3 Railers)


Railers post-game hug


Anthony Repaci post-game photo