Game Story

Glens Falls, NY – The Worcester Railers got their first-ever Kelly Cup Playoff Run started on Friday in Glens Falls against the top-seed in the North Division, the Adirondack Thunder.

The Railers are fortunate enough to be matched against the Adirondack Thunder, as the Railers went 8-2-2 against the Thunder this season and have had the best luck against them compared to any other North Division opponent.

Adirondack’s Tim Harrison scored on tipped-in off a shot from Dylan Olsen at 8:58 that was destined for the top right corner of the net. Thunder led 1-0 after twenty minutes, Railers outshot Adirondack 8-5 in the period.

Paul Rodrigues scored the only goal in the second power play and for the Adirondack Thunder on the power play. Thunder led 2-0; Worcester surprisingly outshooting Adirondack 19-14.

Adirondack’s Brian Ward scored Adirondack’s third goal on the backhand from the side of the Railers net, narrowly beating a save from Mitch Gillam, who was falling on his back. Yanick Turcotte picked up his first playoff fight in a scrap against Brian Ward in the closing minutes.Thunder shutout the Railers in Game 1, shots 27-21 Worcester.

The Three Stars of the Game were: MacKenzie Blackwood (win, shutout), Tim Harrison (goal), and Paul Rodrigues (goal).

Railers and Thunder play again on Saturday in Worcester. Puck drops at 7 PM.

Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 T
Worcester Railers 0 0 0 0
Adirondack Thunder 1 1 1 3
Shots 1 2 3 T
Worcester Railers 8 11 8 27
Adirondack Thunder 5 9 7 21

 

Railers Roster # Name G A +/- SH PIM
G 35 M. Gillam 0 0 0 0 0
G 39 E. McAdam 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 T. Panico 0 0 -1 0 2
D 3 B. Masella 0 0 0 2 0
D 4 R. MacKinnon 0 0 -1 2 0
D 5 K. McKenzie 0 0 0 0 0
D 6 M. Cornell 0 0 -1 4 12
F 8 M. Gaudreau 0 0 0 0 0
C 10 M. Lane 0 0 -1 3 2
F 14 T. Syner 0 0 0 2 0
C 16 J. Kubiak 0 0 -1 5 0
LW 17 F. DiChiara 0 0 0 0 0
LW 18 N. Saracino 0 0 -1 5 2
F 19 B. Almeida 0 0 -1 1 2
F 20 Y. Turcotte 0 0 -1 0 7
D 22 J. Hamonic 0 0 -1 1 0
F 23 W. Hudson 0 0 -1 1 0
F 42 D. Willick 0 0 0 1 0
Team: 2
Totals: 0 0 -10 27 29
No Name Min SH SVS GA
35 M. Gillam (L) 60:00 21 18 3
Totals: 60:00 21 18 3
Thunder Roster # Name G A +/- SH PIM
G 29 M. Blackwood 0 0 0 0 0
G 31 O. Mantha 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 M. Bergin 0 0 0 0 2
D 4 B. Thompson 0 0 +1 0 0
D 5 D. Olsen 0 2 +2 1 0
F 7 A. Orszulak 0 1 +1 2 0
F 8 R. Schmelzer 0 1 0 1 0
F 9 M. Szmatula 0 0 0 4 0
F 10 T. Wallin 0 0 +1 2 4
F 15 J. Henry 0 1 +1 1 2
F 17 P. Rodrigues 1 0 0 1 0
F 19 T. Harrison 1 0 +1 1 2
F 20 P. Mercier 0 0 0 2 0
F 22 B. Ward 1 0 +1 4 5
D 25 M. Brodeur 0 0 0 1 0
F 27 K. Miller 0 0 +1 1 0
D 37 D. Bergin 0 1 +1 0 2
D 44 C. Riley 0 0 0 0 0
Team: 2
Totals: 3 6 10 21 19
No Name Min SH SVS GA
29 M. Blackwood (W) 59:53 27 27 0
Totals: 59:53 27 27 0
P T Player M Offense Time
1st H T. Harrison 2.00 Slashing – minor (61.2) 13:41
2nd H D. Bergin 2.00 Tripping – minor (57.2) 0:29
2nd V B. Almeida 2.00 Roughing – minor (51.2) 7:03
2nd H J. Henry 2.00 Roughing – minor (51.2) 7:54
2nd V N. Saracino 2.00 Tripping – minor (57.2) 12:12
2nd H T. Wallin 2.00 Boarding – minor (41.2) 14:58
2nd V M. Lane 2.00 Tripping – minor (57.2) 16:41
2nd H Served by A. Orszulak 2.00 Bench minor – Too many men (74.2) 18:12
3rd H M. Bergin 2.00 High-sticking – minor (60.2) 1:52
3rd V Served by T. Panico 2.00 Bench minor – Too many men (74.2) 7:16
3rd V M. Cornell 2.00 Cross-Checking Minor (59.2) 13:11
3rd H T. Wallin 2.00 Interference on the Goalkeeper – minor (69.2) 13:22
3rd V T. Panico 2.00 Roughing – minor (51.2) 15:21
3rd V M. Cornell 10.00 Misconduct (39.4) 18:50
3rd V Y. Turcotte 2.00 Roughing – minor (51.2) 18:50
3rd V Y. Turcotte 5.00 Fighting – Major (46.14) 18:50
3rd H B. Ward 5.00 Fighting – Major (46.14) 18:50

Notes

  • Railers Scratches: Connor Doherty, Chris Langkow (reserve), and Jake Randolph.
  • Thunder Scratches: Drew Fielding.
  • The Railers released their post-season roster on Monday. The team’s press release can be viewed here.
    • Dwyer Tschantz, Josh McArdle, Will King, and Maurizio Collela were released.
    • Ryan McKinnon along with Eamon McAdam were reassigned to Worcester.
    • Kellen Jones, Patrick Cullity, and Josh Holmstrom are all eligible to play for Worcester in the playoffs, and may be sent down at any time from the Sound Tigers, and the latest we’ll see them is April 15 as that is when their final game will be played as they were eliminated from contention last week.
    • Chris Langkow was listed on the Reserve List.
    • Josh Monk and Tommy Kelley were not listed on the roster and will miss the rest of the season.
  • Chris Langkow traveled with the team to Adirondack and briefly appeared on the “Tuesday’s with Tom” segment on the team’s social media accounts. There is still no time-table for his return that we know of, but it is assumed that he wouldn’t be named to the playoff roster if he wouldn’t be returning soon.
  • As Bill Ballou mentioned on Twitter, Friday’s game is just the fifth time in Worcester Hockey history that a playoff game has been played outside of New England.
  • As I posted earlier this week, I’ll be participating in a hockey community-wide campaign to benefit the Humboldt Broncos. Named the “Humboldt Broncos – Money on the Board”, I have pledged to donate $5 for every point Barry Almeida scores in the Kelly Cup Playoffs. More information can be found here.
  • It is important to note that the ECHL uses four-man officiating crews (two referees, two linesmen) during every ECHL postseason, as opposed to the three-man system they use during the regular season.

Railers Lines (Observed by order in which they appeared):

LW C RW
Forward Line 1  N. Saracino #18  J. Kubiak #16  B. Almeida #19 “A”
Forward Line 2  T. Syner #14  D. Willick #42  M. Gaudreau #8
Forward Line 3  F. DiChiara #17  M. Lane #10 W. Hudson #23 / Y. Turcotte #20
LD RD
Defense Line 1  R. MacKinnon #4  M. Cornell #6 “C”
Defense Line 2  J. Hamonic #22  T. Panico #2
Defense Line 3  B. Masella #3  K. McKenzie #5
G
Starting Goaltender  Mitch Gillam #35
Backup Goaltender  Eamon McAdam #39