Match Notes

  • Worcester leads the season series at 3-1.
  • Reading can get within a point of second place with a win and a regulation loss by Adirondack.
  • Worcester can tie with Brampton for sixth place with a win and a Brampton loss.

Royals Notes

  • Team Rankings and Averages:
    • Reading has five shootout losses this season.
    • Royals have the second worst penalty kill overall with 27 goals allowed on 126 penalties. (78.6 percent)
    • Reading is 9-0-2-1 when leading after 20 minutes and are 13-0-2-1 when leading after 40. They are 0-9-0-1 when trailing after two periods.
    • Royals are on a 4 game losing streak on the road, which began when Worcester beat them 5-3 on December 12.
    • Reading is the second least penalized team in the ECHL with 374 PIMS.
  • Player Rankings and Streaks:
    • Woo Hockey Alum Frank DiChiara has goals in back-to-back games and leads all Royals with 5 power play goals.
    • Chris McCarthy leads all Royals forwards with 33 points and 25 assists. (8-25-33)
    • Josh MacDonald leads all Royals forwards in goals with 16. (16-11-27)
  • Recent Transactions:
    • Michael Huntebrinker was recalled to Lehigh Valley on Thursday.
  • Possible Scratches:
    • Sean Campbell – Last played December 30.
    • Brayden Low – Last played December 31.
    • Adam Marsh – on injured reserve. Last played November 30.

Railers Notes

  • Team Rankings and Averages:
    • Worcester has the lowest goals per game average at 2.26.
    • Railers are ranked second with just two shorthanded goals allowed this season.
    • Worcester has the second-worst power play in the league at 12.2 percent. Their 16 power play goals is the lowest in the league.
    • Railers are tied for first on the penalty kill at home at 90 percent. They are tied with South Carolina, who has allowed five goals while Worcester has allowed six.
  • Player Rankings and Streaks:
    • Evan Buitenhuis is third in the league with .926 save percentage.
    • Barry Almeida is ranked fifth in shots on goal with 138.
    • Ryan MacKinnon has seven points (0-7-7) in his last seven games.
    • Connor Doherty has four fighting majors this season.
    • Barry Almeida is one goal short from his 100th ECHL goal.
    • Cold Streaks:
      • Tommy Panico – 12 games
      • Connor Doherty – 10 games
      • Alex Adams – 7 games
      • Nick Roberto – 6 games
      • Ivan Kosorenkov – 5 games
      • Tyler Mueller – 4 games
      • Woody Hudson – 3 games
      • David Quenneville – 3 games
      • Nick Sorkin – 3 games
  • Recent Transactions:
    • Nick Roberto was activated from Reserve and Alex Adams was placed on reserve on Friday.
    • Mitch Gillam and Mike Cornell were recalled to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Thursday.
    • Rob Lemelin was signed as the emergency back-up goaltender on Thursday.
    • David Quenneville was activated from reserve on Thursday.
    • Alex Adams was placed on reserve on Thursday.
    • Nick Roberto was acquired from South Carolina on Wednesday for future considerations.
  • Possible Scratches:
    • Malcolm Gould –  On injured reserve, is eligible to be activated.
    • Kyle McKenzie – On injured reserve, is eligible to be activated.
    • Yanick Turcotte – Suspended. Serving his second of five games.
    • Alex Adams – On reserve.
    • Additional scratches to be determined around game time.

Isles/Sound Tigers News

  • Islanders 4, Rangers 3 [NHL]
    • Matt Barzal had three points (1g, 2a) on Thursday, has 14 points (4g, 10a) in seven games against the Rangers.
    • Josh Bailey scored the game-winning goal on the only Islanders’ shot in the third period.
  • Sound Tigers 4, Utica 3 (SO) [Sound Tigers]
    • Chris Casto, Tanner Fritz, Yannick Rathgeb, and Parker Wotherspoon scored for Bridgeport.
    • Woo Hockey Alum Mitch Gillam was the back-up for Bridgeport.
    • Woo Hockey Alum Alex Sakellaropoulos was dressed as the back-up goaltender for Utica.
  • Islanders play against the Rangers today at 1 PM.
  • Sound Tigers play tonight at home against the Wolf Pack.

Recent North Division Game Results

North Division Games Today

Other Mentions

  • The Railers will be giving out Mitch Gillam bobbleheads tonight to the first 3,000 fans.
  • For live updates during the game, follow us on Twitter @WooHockeyNews.