Norfolk struck first with a goal from Brady Fleurent (1-0-1), who put the Admirals ahead 0-1 with a shot in front to start the first. Drew Callin (1-1-2) answered the goal with a score of his own at 3:30, tying the game for the Railers one game at a time. Kevin Conley (2-1-3) broke the tie for the Admirals and restored their lead at 5:35. Jesse Pulkkinen (1-0-1) ended the first period with a final goal of his own to tie the game again at 2-2. Anthony Repaci (1-1-2) scored the only goal for the Railers in the second period, a low one-timer that gave the Railers the game lead for the first time of the evening (3-2). Grant Hebert (1-1-2) answered Repaci’s play with a final backdoor goal at 7:43, ending the period as a tie again (3-3). Conley kicked off the scoring streak for the third period, his goal being the first of five scored between both sides during the third period. Conley’s one-timer made the score 3-4 for the Admirals. Worcester newcomer Khristian Acosta (1-0-1) got his first goal as a Railer sixty seconds after Conley’s (4-4). Norfolk once again restored their lead with a score from Chase Yoder (1-0-1) (5-4). Lincoln Hatten (1-1-2) got the Railers’ fifth goal at 16:26 with a powerful slap shot from the left side of the Admirals zone (5-5) before the Railers secured their 6-5 win with a final goal by Matt DeMelis (1-1-2), who put the puck away with 14.2 left on the clock.
The Admirals scored the first goal of the game at 6:01 of the opening frame. As the puck was played over the boards, Grant Hebert gained control and made a pass to Brady Fleurent (14th), who sent the puck over Railers netminder Tristan Lennox for the one-goal lead. Worcester started their first power play of the night at 1:18 p.m., a devastating call on the Admirals’ Brody Crane. The Railers did not take advantage of the opportunity but a goal from Drew Callin (11th) at 3:30 just after expiry would answer Norfolk’s score to level the match. A shot from brother Anthony Callin went into the net for Norfolk via Alex Worthington and set up the rebound which bounced off Drew Callin. Norfolk quickly retaliated with another own goal at 5:35 p.m., this time from Kevin Conley, a tip-in after a blue line pass from Brehdan Engum (1-2). Jesse Pulkkinen closed the period with another score for the Railers to restore the tie (2-2). Anthony Callin fed the puck from the left circle to Pulkkinen from the blue, and Pulkkinen took advantage of the assist with a slap shot that flew over Worthington. Worcester defeated Norfolk 12-6, with one completed power play and zero penalties. Norfolk were awarded two penalties over the course of the first.
Worcester started the second period with the man advantage when Chase Yoder skated his way into the penalty box for interference. Neither a power play nor a shorthanded goal was scored during this action. However, the Railers would get another goal for themselves at 13:34. Lincoln Hatten found himself tied up with an admiral in the attack zone. With a quick pass to Anthony Repaci (11th), Repaci took the puck to the net and rotated it under Worthington to give the Railers a 3-2 lead. The lead lasted a few minutes before Grant Hebert (8th) scored a power play goal at 19:43 to end the period, again tying the Railers (3-3). Norfolk led in shots on goal, 11-5, and in penalty kills, two to Worcester’s.
The third period showcased the offensive skills of both teams. From six minutes of uninterrupted play to back-to-back goals, there was no shortage of action in the final twenty minutes. Kevin Conley (7th) found the back of the net with a one-timer that volleyed off the left post behind Lennox’s back. The Railers’ newest edition, Khristian Acosta (1st), stormed over the Worthington net to handle a rebound shot from linemate MacAuley Carson to score his first ECHL goal (4-4). Another Norfolk tally, a cross-ice layup by Josh McDougall, led to Chase Yoder (10th) getting his first point of the evening to put Norfolk ahead again (5-4). Lincoln Hatten (11th) tied the game for the fourth time of the night with a quick hit past Worthington’s outstretched glove, set up by Riley Piercey from behind the Admirals net with just 3:34 remaining in regulation (5-5). Norfolk’s seven-game win streak ended with 14.2 left on the clock. Matt DeMelis (12th) lit the lamp one last time for the Railers. DeMelis cut a shot in front of Worthington and barely pushed the puck into the crease. The goal clinched the Railers’ 6-5 win in regulation as the final seconds expired on the clock. The final shots were 26-25 in Norfolk’s favor. Norfolk finished the match with four penalties, while Worcester finished the match with one.
NOTES: Three stars: 3rd star: Drew Callin (1-1-2, +0, 3 shots), 2nd star: Kevin Conley (2-1-2, +0, 3 shots), 1st star: Matt DeMelis (1-1-2, GWG, +2, 3 shots)… The final shots were 26-25 in Norfolk’s favor… Alex Worthington (1-9-2) made 19 saves on 25 shots, while Tristan Lennox (3-9-0) made 21 saves on 26 shots…Worcester went 1-for-4 on power plays while Norfolk went 1-for-1…The Railers are now 4-3-0-0 all-time against the Admirals and 2-2-0-0 at Norfolk Scope Arena…Anthony Hora, Michael Ferrandino, Case McCarthy, Riley Ginnell, Lazarus Kaebel, Ross Mitton, Hunter Hall and Thomas Gale did not dress for Worcester… Khristian Acosta made his Worcester Railers and ECHL debut… Khristian Acosta got his first goal and first point as a Railer in the third period…
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