Overall, things are looking better for the Railers after their first regular-season win of the season, a 6-4 win over the defending Kelly Cup champion Trois-Rivières Lions Friday night.
The game gave Worcester a series of firsts.
It was the Railers DCU Center’s first win of the season and their first on home ice in 209 days, or since beating Adirondack here on April 5. It was the first win in nearly two full years for goaltender Tristan Lennox, who missed most of that time injured. His last previous victory was on November 25, 2023 in Adirondack.
It was the first time Worcester had scored six goals in a match since March 14 last year against Norfolk, the first time this season they had led after one period, the first time they had a 3-0 lead in a match.
“We checked a lot of boxes with this,” coach Nick Tuzzolino said.
At one point the Railers had a 5-1 lead. In fact, they were up 5-1 with about five minutes left in the third period. The Lions are able to score early and often. It was late and often on Friday night, but Worcester had provided the necessary cushion.
After their loss to Maine here Sunday, Tuzzolino thought his team was making progress and on its way to a breakout. He was right, as it turned out.
“We have been very aggressive in training at the moment,” he said, “preaching the details of scoring goals without losing confidence.” That’s what happened Friday night.
Worcester’s scorers were, in order: Cole Donhauser, Matt DeMelis, Drew Callin, Lincoln Hatten, Ross Mitton and Riley Ginnell in an empty net.
Cam McDonald, Anthony Hora and Ryan Miotto all had two assists, while Ginnell had an assist for a two-point night.
Tree-Rivers Targets.
The Railers won the goaltending battle. Lennox made 30 saves and was very good as his team built a lead. Benjamin Gaudreau started for the Lions and was lifted in the second period.
Earlier this week, Tuzzolino continued his roster overhaul by acquiring defenseman Adam Samuelsson from Tahoe for future considerations. Samuelsson is big and experienced and to make room for him on the roster, Worcester released defensemen Kabore Dunn and Jason Horvath.
The Railers previously traded defenseman Cole Fraser to Cincinnati, also for future considerations
Donhauser gave Worcester a 1-0 lead with his third goal of the season. He scored on a power play at 4:21. Donhauser was set up by defensemen McDonald and Matthew Stief, who passed the puck from point to point; McDonald took a shot from the right side and the rebound ended up between the circles for Donhauser.
The Railers made it 2-0 at 13:49 when they finally took advantage of a two-man advantage, this was a long lead with at one point three Lions finding themselves in the box due to a series of penalties.
DeMelis beat Gaudreau from the right spot with a one-timer. Ginnell made the pass. Callin scored on a rebound at 9:02 of the second period for his third of the year, then Desruisseaux got the visitors on the scoreboard at 11:10.
Undeterred, the Railers recovered to extend their lead and make it 5-1 before the period was over. Hatten scored on a classic backhander at 13:29, a rebound off a Miotto shot. Mitton followed at 6:50 with his first Railers goal, capping a short breakaway.
The Lions had a 14-5 shooting advantage in the third period and came within two goals twice, but could get no closer.
CREATING TRACKS – The teams will meet again on Saturday evening at 6:05 PM. … Samuelsson is the son of defenseman Ulf Samuelsson, who played 1,080 games in the NHL. Railers teams have had several sons of Major Leaguers on the roster. That includes Cole and Troy Crowder, Mason and Ken Klee, Christian and Todd Krygier, Jake and Michal Pivonka, as well as JD Dudek and father Joe, who played in the NFL. Griffin Luce’s grandfather, Don, was also a long-time NHL standout. …The number of people present was 2,320.
By Bill Ballou
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