South Carolina Stingrays (27-28-5-0) vs Worcester Railers (28-22-5-4)

DCU Center – Worcester, Massachusetts

Sunday, March 10, 2019 – 3:05 EST – ECHL Game #815

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Referee: Steven Rouillard (#3)

Linesmen: Sam Schildkraut (#86), Brent Colby (#38)

Match Notes

  • Season Series: Game 2 of 2. (South Carolina leads season-series at 1-0)
  • Worcester will be rooting for Norfolk and Reading to win their games against Manchester and Reading with Worcester just a point out of a playoff spot. South Carolina will need a win to hold onto the fourth playoff spot in the North Division, with Atlanta just two points back with two games in hand.

Players to Watch

  • Blake Wojtala (Worcester) – Blake Wojtala (WOAH-tala) will get the start for Worcester. Stopping 26 of 27 shots last night in his pro debut, Woj will fill the void left by Evan Buitenhuis’ injury and Mitch Gillam who is on recall with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
  • Andrew Cherniwchan (South Carolina) – Cherniwchan had a goal and an assist in South Carolina’s previous game against Worcester.

Railers Notes

  • Barry Almeida is on a five-game point streak. (4-5-9)
  • Ryan Hitchcock is on a six-game point streak. (5-5-10)
  • Tyler Barnes is on a four-game point streak. (1-6-7)
  • Yanick Turcotte has penalty minutes in eight straight home games, 46 in since December 21.
  • Worcester has the worst power play in the ECHL with just 12 power play goals at the DCU Center this season.
  • Railers have not scored a shorthanded goal at home this season.
  • Worcester is undefeated in regulation with leading after two periods.
  • Cold Streaks: Dylan Willick (10 games), David Quenneville (4 games), Yanick Turcotte (3 games)

Recent Railers Additions, Subtractions, Transactions

  • Ross Olsson and Charlie Michalowski were signed to SPCs on Saturday.
  • Nick Sorkin signed a PTO with the Binghamton Devils on Saturday.
  • Ryan Hubbard was signed on Sunday morning.

Possible Railers Scratches

  • Evan Buitenhuis – left Saturday’s game with a lower-body injury.
  • Kyle McKenzie – on injured reserve, out for the season.
  • Tommy Panico – on injured reserve, out for the season.
  • Matt Schmalz – on injured reserve, last played on January 25.
  • Alex Vanier – on injured reserve, last played on February 17.
  • Additional scratches to be determined closer to puck drop.

Stingrays Notes

  • Andrew Cherniwchan is eighth in the league for points with 58.
  • Parker Milner has 15 losses this season, the fifth-most in the ECHL.
  • Rookie Tim Davison has 12 assists on the power-play this season.
  • South Carolina has the second-best penalty kill in the ECHL.
  • Stingrays are 2-1-1 against North Division teams this season.
  • South Carolina has had just one shootout this season.

Recent Stingrays Additions, Subtractions, Transactions

  • Shane Eiserman and Christian Horn were traded to the Norfolk Admirals on Thursday.
  • Chase Harrision was acquired from the Norfolk Admirals on Thursday.

Possible Stingrays Scratches

  • Mike Chen – on injured reserve, last played on March 2.
  • Mike McKernan – last played on February 28.
  • Additional scratches to be determined closer to puck drop.

Head-to-Head

Worcester  South Carolina
Goals For  2.73 – 24th  2.90 – 21st
Goals Against  2.93 – 6th  3.13 – 13th
Shots For  31.88 – 14th  31.75 – 15th
Shots Against  33.34 – 21st  35.53 – 18th
Fighting Majors  47  25
Power Play  14.0% – 24th  16.7% – 16th
Penalty Kill  84.9% – 6th  86.5 % – 2nd
Avg Height / Weight / Age  6′ 1″ / 192 lbs / 24.27 years  6′ 0″ / 188 lbs / 25.61 years

Team Records

Worcester  South Carolina
Scoring First  18-7-1-2  18-8-2-0
Leading After 1  12-1-1-4  13-4-0-0
Leading After 2  17-0-1-2  19-1-0-0
Tied After 1  9-9-3-0  10-8-3-0
Tied After 2  9-6-2-2  6-10-2-0
Trailing After 1  7-12-1-0  4-16-0-0
Trailing After 2  2-16-2-0  2-17-0-0
Outshooting Opponents  11-9-2-3  12-14-0-0
Out Shot by Opponents  15-13-3-1  15-14-3-1

On the Island and at the Port

  • Flyers 5, Islanders 2 [NHL]
  • Islanders host Columbus on Monday.
  • Sound Tigers face the Marlies in Toronto today at 3 PM.

Closing Statements

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