MANCHESTER, N.H. — The Railers finished the first half of their first ECHL season Saturday night doing something that has become all too familiar.
They lost a game they should have won.
Worcester was beaten by the Manchester Monarchs, 3-1, including an empty-netter at the end. Given the quality of scoring chances the Railers had and their edge in territorial play, plus the fact that a gamble by goalie Mitch Gillam cost them a goal, they probably should have prevailed by, like, 4-1.
The mathematical difference is easy to figure. Worcester was 0 for 5 on the power play, Manchester 1 for 3, and the first Monarchs goal was short-handed. The Railers are 0 for 21 on the power play in their last eight games, 1 for 34 (2.9 percent) in their last 14,
They’ve been outscored on the power play, 3-1, in that span.
“It was way better,” coach Jamie Russell said of his team’s performance with a man advantage, and he was right, save for the fact that Monarchs goalie Branden Komm saved all of the Railers' shots.
Not to mention the many he did not have to save.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many two-on-ones end with shots going off the glass,” Russell said. “We tell the guys to put the puck on net, make the goalie make the save. You might not score, but create a little chaos.”
Kellen Jones had the lone Worcester goal. Zac Lynch scored twice for Manchester, including one short-handed, and Matt Buckles had the other goal.
Lynch’s short-handed goal came at 15:14 of the first period when the puck broke free in the neutral zone, and Gillam decided to challenge the Monarchs forward in a race for control. Lynch won.
“Mitch played so well here (Friday) night,” Russell said, reluctant to come down too hard on his goalie, “but we just need him to make saves. We don’t need him to stand on his head and steal a game for us.”
It is indeed hard to be critical of Worcester’s goaltending. Its goalies have no margin for error. One mistake can cost the Railers a game. As it is, Worcester was 3-3-0 on a challenging road trip even though it only scored 11 goals in the six games.
Perhaps a change in opposition will help them out of their offensive slump.
Worcester has played 27 of its first 36 games, exactly 75 percent of the schedule, against three teams — Manchester, Reading and Adirondack. They comprise just 12 percent of the league. The Railers play the Monarchs four more times, the Royals and Thunder five times apiece.
Their schedule resumes Friday, and that will be the opener of an 11-game homestand, the longest in Worcester hockey history. The Sharks had two seven-game homestands, most recently in April 2014. The upcoming one starts with four brand new DCU Center opponents — Jacksonville, Wheeling, Quad City and Florida.
It should be a chance for Worcester to climb into a playoff spot in the North Division, but the Railers are a contrarian team like many others in the ECHL. They play better on the road than at home.
Nevertheless, with some new opponents coming to a familiar building, Worcester has a chance to do some damage. It will need to score more goals to do that, and it will all depend upon a power play that was better Saturday night, but still not good enough.
Rail Life
Ashton Rome, who has been dealing with injuries for a few weeks, is not going to be available for while, although he is not on injured resere. “We’re shutting him down until he’s 100 percent,” Russell said. “He’s been trying to battle through it, but we’ve got to get him fixed.” Rome was behind the bench as an assistant coach. … Worcester had hoped to have Matty Gaudreau back this weekend, but that turned out to be optimistic. He may be ready by the weekend. … Brian Bowen went through his home town of Littleton on the bus ride up, then made his professional debut. Bowen is the 30th player to skate in a game for Worcester this year, the 16th rookie. One of those rookies, defenseman Kyle McKenzie, is the only Railer to play in every game this season. … A note to fans making the trip up here — the meatball grinder is the best concession item in the ECHL.