ECHL Game Recap: Berg, Gahagen & Railers Handle Royals

The Worcester Railers tonight played the Reading Royals. The Railers are coming off a weekend in which they dropped two out of three games to Florida. The Royals entered tonight’s game losing two out of three to Maine over the weekend. Entering tonight, the Royals lead the season series 3-1. Parker Gahagen got the start in net for the Railers. He is 7-2-1 with a 2.20 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. Yaniv Perets got the start for the Royals; he brought in a 7-5-1 record, posting a 3.65 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage.

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Reading Royals vs. Worcester Railers

First Period 

Reading outshot Worcester 4-1 in the opening five minutes. The shots on goal were 4-2 in favor of Reading as Miles Gendron took a penalty for hooking to put Worcester on the power play. On the Railers’ first shot of the man advantage, Anthony Repaci scored his tenth goal of the season to make it 1-0. Just over halfway through the period, Zach Bannister took a penalty, giving Worcester another power play. Just as the man advantage was getting set to expire, both teams got handed penalties with Repaci and Hunter Johannes going to the box for roughing. Johannes took another penalty with 1:29 left for boarding. The power play extended into the second. Worcester outshot Reading 8-7.

Second Period 

In the second period, the Railers took a penalty at 5:04 into the second as Cam McDonald was called for Delay of Game. The man advantage for Reading didn’t last long as Jake Willets took a penalty for holding just as the Royals’ power play was set to expire. The Railers had three shots on goal in the man-advantage but couldn’t put the puck home. The period ended with Worcester still leading 1-0. They outshot Reading 10-6.

Third Period 

In the final period, the Railers took an interference call just 45 seconds in as Lincoln Hatten went to the box. As the penalty kill started Ross Mitton blocked a shot and would head the tunnel, he would not return. The Royals managed two shots on goal, but Gahagen stood tall. The Railers added to their lead as Cam Berg scored his first goal of the season to make it 2-0. The Royals had their chances, but Gahagen continued to shut them down. Then, with 5:51 left in the game, Drew Callin fed Riley Piercey, who gave it right back to Callin, and as he was falling, he fed Berg, who beat Perets for his second of the game to make it 3-0 Worcester.

Reading got on the board with just under 3:30 left, but there wasn’t much celebrating as the two teams came together following the goal. The Royals’ goal was scored by Nolan Burke for his sixth of the year. The Royals added four more shots on goal, but once again Gahagen stood tall. Late in the third, the Royals pulled their goalie, and Matt DeMelis won the race for a loose puck and put it in the net to make it 4-1 Railers. Worcester outshot Reading 10-9 in the final 20 minutes.

Wrap Up

Gagagen stopped 21 of the 22 shots he faced, taking home second star honors. Perets finished with 24 saves on 27 shots. Berg was the first star of the game with his two goals. The third star was Drew Calin with two assists.

Next Up

The Railers will head to Maine to face the Mariners, whom they face three times this weekend. Friday’s game will start at 7:15 PM EST. With tonight’s win, Worcester now trails Maine by two points entering the weekend with a chance to move past them for fourth in the division and the final playoff spot. The Royals return home on Friday night to face the Greensboro Gargoyles with puck drop set for 7:00 PM EST.

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