WORCESTER – The RailingsThe 4-3 loss to Maine on Saturday night dropped their record at the DCU Center to 3-6-1 in 2024-25.
That compares to a .500 mark on the road with a 6-6-0 mark.
There is no logic and no specific areas in which Worcester need to improve.
“I don’t think you can put anything on it,” Railers coach Bob Deraney said. “There’s nothing that significant that says why we’ve been better on the road than at home.”
Some of the Railers’ home losses have been uneven and interesting. This one was headed that way, but had an exciting, if disappointing, ending.
Worcester fell behind early, 2-0, and the Mariners eventually stretched that lead to 4-1. The Railers then came alive late in the third period, scoring goals at 11:07 and 18:29, but were able to overcome the early deficit.
Griffin Loughran, Anthony Repaci and Anthony Callin had the goals for Worcester. Owen Pederson, Justin Bean, Jimmy Lambert and Matthew Philip scored for the Mariners, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
Callin was one of the Railers best players last season. His goal late in the third period was a beauty — a high, hard shot from the right circle with Worcester on an extra skater — and his first of the year.
“I think it’s huge,” Deraney said of that goal. “I know it’s been tough on him. He’s been second-guessing himself, grabbing the stick too hard, all those things that happen to a guy who cares so much and wants to contribute to the team.”
Repaci scored shorthanded at 11:07 to make it 4-2. He converted a pass from Matt DeMelis. Repaci continues to have a memorable, perhaps unprecedented, season in the long run. He went 1-1-2 Saturday night and is 16-8-24 in 22 games.
Repaci is up to 160 points in a Worcester uniform. He is tied with IceCats forward Marc Brown for third most in city history.
The Railers could only find offensive traction when the game was almost over. Maine had the better of things in terms of time of possession and quality of scoring chances.
The first period was a harbinger of things to come. About three minutes after the puck dropped, the Railers made three consecutive icing calls in 30 seconds. Pederson then scored from 15 feet at 7:37 of the period, and Bean put one over Michael Bullion’s glove at 9:23 to make it 2-0.
Loughran’s goal was thrilling.
Early in the first period, he caused a fumble that turned into a breakaway, but it went too deep and Maine goalie Ryan Bischel stopped it. This time, he was set up by a great pass from Connor Welch and zoomed off at full speed. His wrist shot from between the hoops was essentially unstoppable.
At 6:39 of the third period, Lambert made it 3-1, beating Bullion from the side of the net. Philip scored on a breakaway at 17:54.
MAKING TRACKS – The Railers host Norfolk at 3:05 PM on Sunday afternoon. The Admirals are in second place in the North Division and have won six straight, including 6-1 Friday night in Adirondack. Norfolk had Saturday night off. …
Worcester is just one overtime win away from tying the franchise record in that department. The Railers have five this year and six in 2022-23. Griffin Luce’s goal Friday night was just the third OT goal by a Worcester defenseman. Jack Stander and David Quenneville have the others. …
Jack Randl, one of the Railer’s top offensive players, missed his fifth straight game. … Former Railers forward Jimmy Lambert was 1-1-2 and is 5-10-15 in 12 games overall. He is 1-5-6 in four games against Worcester.