Railers win a wild 12 round shootout with 3-2 victory over Thunder

Adirondack Thunder at Worcester Railers HC

March 11, 2018

DCU Center

Meeting 10 of 12 vs. Adirondack this season

Worcester 6-2-2-0 vs. the Thunder this season

Railers win a wild 12 round shootout with 3-2 victory over Thunder

Worcester is now eight points out of a playoff spot in the North Division with 13 games left

Worcester, MA – The Worcester Railers HC (27-25-4-3, 61pts) opened a four game homestand with a wild 3-2 shootout win over the visiting Adirondack Thunder (34-21-3-4, 75pts) in front of 4,231 fans at the DCU Center on Sunday afternoon. The Railers are back in action on Friday vs the Wheeling Nailers on COUNTRY NIGHT presented by 98.9 NASH Icon on a 2-3-4 Friday at the DCU Center.

Jeff Kubiak and Matt Lane scored for Worcester while Mitch Gillam made 28 saves along 11 more in the 12-round shootout as the Railers are now eight points behind the Nailers for the final playoff spot in the North Division – the Railers have three games in hand with 13 games left.  Mike Cornell scored in the 12th round of the shootout and Ryan MacKinnon extended his point streak to five games with an assist.

Each team fired ten shots in a wide open first period of play with Adirondack connecting for the only goal.  Playing in his first game for the Thunder, Kenton Miller (22nd) fired a rocket off the crossbar and into the net from 25 feet at 6:14 assisted by James Henry and Tomas Wallin.  Each team went 0-1 on the power play as the Railers trailed 1-0 after 20 minutes of play.

Worcester would tie the score at 1:27 of the second period as Jeff Kubiak (11th) fired home a loose rebound from in tight past goaltender Olivier Mantha after a great shift by Woody Hudson and Matty Gaudreau.  Brian Ward (22nd) gave the Thunder the 2-1 lead with a great deflection off a Mike Bergin shot from the point at 6:44. The Railers would tie it again at 16:44 as Matt Lane (10th) deflected a Ryan MacKinnon shot into the net at 16:44 with Frankie DiChiara picking up the secondary assist.  Shots were 13-8 in favor of Worcester in the middle frame as the two teams headed into the second intermission tied at 2-2.

Neither team scored in the third period or the five-minute overtime session as shots were 36-30 in favor of Worcester through 65 minutes of play.

Frankie DiChiara and Terrence Wallin each scored in the 4th round of the shootout and then Mitch Gillam and Olivier Mantha each made six saves each before the game went to the 12th round. Defenseman Mike Cornell scored in his first career shootout opportunity for the game winner before Mitch Gillam stopped Mike Bergin to give the Railers the 3-2 home victory.

Notes: Three Stars: 3rd star: Mitch Gillam (28 saves, Win, 11-for-12 in shootout) 2nd star: Jeff Kubiak (1-0-1) 1st star: Mike Cornell (SO GWG) …Final shots were 37-30 in favor of Worcester…Olivier Mantha (1-1-1) made 34 saves on 36 shots for Adirondack and stopped 10 of 12 shooters in the shootout… Drew Fielding was the backup for the Thunder…. Mitch Gillam (14-13-1) made 28 saves on 30 shots for Worcester and stopped 11 of 12 in the shootout… Will King was the backup goaltender for the Railers…. Worcester went 0-for-4 on the power play while Adirondack went 0-for-2…Josh Monk (inj), Justin Agosta (susp), Ben Masella (inj), Yanick Turcotte, Josh McArdle, and Brian Bowen (released) did not dress for Worcester….before the game, Mike Cornell was loaned from the Sound Tigers to the Railers… Kellen Jones and Eamon McAdam are currently on recall with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers…. defenseman Tommy Panico (UMass-Lowell) made his pro debut for the Railers and wore #2…. The Railers are now 9-2-1 in their last 12 games at the DCU Center…Ryan MacKinnon extended his point streak to five games (1-5-6) with an assist….Frankie DiChiara added an assist and scored in the shootout.

What’s on tap? – Railers continue to battle for a playoff spot!

On Friday, March 17, the Railers host the Wheeling Nailers on COUNTRY NIGHT presented by NASH Icon on a 2-3-4 Friday at 7:05pm.   Country artist Mychael David will be performing in the Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Pavilion from 6-7pm.  Join NASH Icon DJ’s Adam Webster, Mark Veau and Dave O’Gara celebrate country music and there will be a line dancing routine during the first intermission. Enjoy reduced concessions at the DCU Center with $2 popcorn, $3 hot dogs, and $4 Bud Lights inside the Bud Light Lounge and fans are encouraged to wear their “country gear” to the game.  The game will be televised live on Charter TV3.

The Railers Tavern, located behind the DCU Center provides hockey fans with a great pregame and postgame atmosphere all season long. Watch all road games broadcast live at Railers Tavern or watch on ECHLTV.com for a small fee. Listen to all Railers games live on 98.9 Nash ICON with coverage beginning 30 minutes before puck drop with Eric Lindquist and Tom Matthews. Full season memberships, mini plans, and group tickets are on sale now by calling the Railers front office at 508-365-1750 or by visiting www.RailersHC.com.