Game Story

Portland, ME — With the last three days off after back-to-back blowout losses, the Worcester Railers looked to bounce back in playoff contention in a win over the Maine Mariners on Sunday afternoon.

Mitch Gillam got the for Worcester after sitting on the bench for the majority of the last two games. Evan Buitenhuis received his first recall to Bridgeport after signing a full AHL contract with the team back on November 10. Ryan Hubbard was signed as the team’s new back-up goaltender while Boots is up in the AHL. Mike Cornell returned to the lineup after serving his one-game suspension, and the Railers dressed six defensemen for the first time in exactly two weeks. Worcester goals scored by Matt Gaudreau (9th), Ryan Hitchcock (11th), Bo Brauer (5th)

Matt Gaudreau put the Railers up on just their third shot of the game for the only scoring action of the period, netting the rebound from the left circle at 5:33. Worcester had three penalties, including an overlap with a 5-on-3, and had one power play during the period. Worcester led 1-0 and outshot Maine 16-6 in the period.

Josh Holmstrom picked up his third fighting major of the season against Ryan Ferrill at 13:32 in the opening period. Holmstrom got a number of punches in on Ferrill before he gave him the bear hug for the quick win. Holmstrom sat for five with Ferrill receiving an additional game misconduct for leaving the bench to start a fight. Maine’s Terrance Wallin left the game on the same play with an apparent injury and did not return.

The Railers’ lead would be extended to two in the second period with Ryan Hitchcock getting a shot on an open net as the loose puck crept into the right circle. Maine would get on the board a little less than two minutes later with a Dillian Fox shot deflecting off a Railers’ skater and into the net of Mitch Gillam. A little under two minutes after that goal, Dillan Fox would tie it for his second of the period. Heading into the final frame Worcester outshot Maine 29-22 with the game tied at 2.

Scoring his fifth of the season off a Ryan MacKinnon rebound, Bo Brauer gave Worcester their second lead of the night at 4:29. Johnny McInnis was quick to tie it back up three minutes later, landing a top-shelf goal at 7:08. The game was tied through 60 minutes, heading into the overtime period with points for all.

Worcester held pressure throughout the overtime period but was unable to get a solid shot on Hannu Toivonen. By this writer’s account, Worcester held the puck for four of the five minutes in the overtime period. Five extra minutes wasn’t enough to put this game away, so it headed to the shootout.

Ivan Kosorenkov and Greg Chase both scored in the opening round, followed by four rounds without a goal by either side. Tommy Kelley and Johnny McInnis both scored in the sixth round. Josh Couturier scored in the seventh period, with Gaudreau unable to get the puck past Toivonen as Worcester’s final shooter.

The Three Stars of the Game were:

  1. Johnny McInnis (Maine) – 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 shootout goal
  2. Dillan Fox (Maine) – 2 goals
  3. Hannu Toivonen (Maine) – win, 31 saves

Worcester (23-22-5-4) gain some ground, now in a tie with Reading for sixth with 58 points.

Worcester will close out their season-long seven-game road trip on Wednesday against the Manchester Monarchs. Puck drops at 7 PM.

Box Score

Scoring 1 2 3 OT SO T
Worcester Railers 1 1 1 0 0 3
Maine Mariners 0 2 1 0 1 4
Shots 1 2 3 OT SO T
Worcester Railers 16 13 11 4 0 44
Maine Mariners 6 16 7 2 1 32

 

Railers Roster # Name G A +/- SH PIM
G 35 M. Gillam 0 0 0 0 0
G 39 R. Hubbard 0 0 0 0 0
D 4 R. MacKinnon 0 1 0 5 0
D 6 M. Cornell 0 0 +1 3 0
F 7 T. Barnes 0 1 0 2 0
F 8 N. Sorkin 0 1 0 2 2
F 10 I. Kosorenkov 0 0 0 2 2
F 11 D. Willick 0 0 +1 2 0
F 12 J. Holmstrom 0 1 0 3 5
D 13 I. Chukarov 0 0 0 0 0
F 15 B. Brauer 1 0 +1 5 0
F 19 B. Almeida 0 0 +1 3 2
D 20 D. Quenneville 0 1 +1 0 0
F 21 M. Gaudreau 1 0 0 3 0
D 24 T. Mueller 0 0 +1 4 2
F 27 R. Hitchcock 1 0 0 8 0
F 37 T. Kelley 0 0 0 1 2
D 41 R. Powers 0 0 -1 1 0
Team:
Totals: 3 5 5 44 15
No Name Min SH SVS GA SOG-S
35 M. Gillam (SOL) 65:00 31 28 3 3-7
Totals: 65:00 31 28 3
Mariners Roster # Name G A +/- SH PIM
G 30 H. Toivonen 0 0 0 0 0
G 40 C. LaCouvee 0 0 0 0 0
D 2 J. Couturier 0 0 -1 4 0
D 3 J. Jutzi 0 1 0 1 0
D 6 S. Campbell 0 0 0 1 0
D 7 D. Pratt 0 0 0 3 0
F 8 R. Siiro 0 1 0 1 0
LW 10 G. Chase 0 0 -1 2 14
F 12 D. Tschantz 0 0 0 2 0
F 13 D. Fox 2 0 0 3 0
F 15 W. Murphy 0 1 -1 2 2
F 18 R. Ferrill 0 0 0 0 15
D 19 B. Kessel 0 0 -1 4 0
F 20 T. Wallin 0 0 0 0 0
F 22 J. McInnis 1 1 +2 4 0
F 24 M. McNicholas 0 0 -2 1 0
F 26 T. Cammarata 0 1 -1 2 0
D 29 G. Cecere 0 1 0 1 0
Team: 1 1
Totals: 4 6 -5 32 31
No Name Min SH SVS GA SOG-S
30 H. Toivonen (W) 65:00 44 41 3 2-7
Totals: 65:00 44 41 3
P T Player M Offense Time
1st V T. Kelley 2.00 Cross-Checking Minor (59.2) 8:57
1st V T. Mueller 2.00 Slashing – minor (61.2) 9:39
1st V J. Holmstrom 5.00 Fighting – Major (46.14) 13:32
1st H R. Ferrill 5.00 Fighting – Major (46.14) 13:32
1st H R. Ferrill 10.00 Game misconduct – Leaving The Players Bench (70.1) 13:32
1st H G. Chase 2.00 Slashing – minor (61.2) 15:54
1st H G. Chase 10.00 Misconduct (39.4) 15:54
1st V B. Almeida 2.00 Slashing – minor (61.2) 18:39
2nd V I. Kosorenkov 2.00 Tripping – minor (57.2) 7:03
2nd V N. Sorkin 2.00 Delay of Game (63.2) 14:21
3rd H G. Chase 2.00 Unsportsmanlike conduct – minor (75.2) 11:47
OT H W. Murphy 2.00 Hooking – minor (55.2) 3:02

Notes

  • Railers Injures: Connor Doherty, Kyle McKenzie, Tommy Panico, Matt Schmalz
  • Railers Scratches: Malcolm Gould, Yanick Turcotte, Alex Vanier
  • Mariners Injuries: Louie Rowe
  • Mariners Scratches: John Furgele, Charles- Eric Legare, Brycen Martin
  • Evan Buitenhuis got the recall to Bridgeport this morning as Bridgeport goalie Jeremy Smith got signed to an NHL contract earlier in the day, which requires he be recalled and then has to clear waivers to be re-assigned to Bridgeport. Boots should be back in time for Worcester’s game against Manchester on Wednesday.
  • It was revealed during the broadcast that Robert Powers was a scratch on Wednesday as he dealt with some issues with his immigration status. Needless to say, that has been resolved with him dressing for Sunday’s game.
  • Alex Vanier is considered day-to-day, while Connor Doherty could return as soon as Monday, and Schmalz could return in a few more weeks.
  • For up-to-date news on all things Worcester Hockey, Like us on Facebook at Woo Hockey – Worcester Hockey News, Follow us on Twitter @WooHockeyNews, and join our Facebook Group – Worcester Railers Fan Club.

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

LW C RW
Forward Line 1  B. Almeida #19 “A”  R. Hitchcock #27  T. Barnes #7
Forward Line 2  J. Holmstrom #12 “A”  M. Gaudreau #21  N. Sorkin #8
Forward Line 3  I. Kosorenkov #10 / B. Brauer #15  D. Willick #11  M. Gould #14
LD RD
Defense Line 1  M. Cornell #6  T. Mueller #24
Defense Line 2  R. MacKinnon #4  R. Powers #41
Defense Line 3  D. Quenneville #20  I. Chukarov #13
G
Starting Goaltender  Mitch Gillam #35
Backup Goaltender  Ryan Hubbard #39

Highlights