WORCESTER, MA – The Worcester Railers HC (18-19-3-2, 41 points) wrapped up another 3-in-3 weekend with a thrilling come from behind 3-2 victory over the visiting Florida Everblades (30-9-1-3, 64 points) in front of 4,754 fans at the DCU Center on Sunday afternoon.
Vinny Muto (1 goal, 2 assists) and Jeff Kubiak (1 goal, 1 assist) scored in the third period for the Railers as Worcester came back from a 2-1 deficit to take home their third straight victory on home ice. Frankie DiChiara also scored for Worcester while Mitch Gillam made 28 saves and added an assist as the Railers picked up six points this weekend. Worcester is now 3-3-0-0 on their eleven game homestand and will host two more games next weekend.
Florida scored the only strike in the opening frame with a power play goal at 16:13 after an offensive faceoff win and a Matt McKenzie (4th goal of the season) bomb from the center point through a screen and past Gillam. Chris Langkow was robbed earlier in the period after his point-blank try was stopped by the glove of Callum Booth as the Railers headed into the first intermission down 1-0 as Florida led in shots 11-10.
DiChiara (5th) fired the puck from the left wall with traffic in front that found its way through goaltender Booth at 8:59 assisted by Muto and Kubiak. Florida would counter back with their eleventh shorthanded goal at 15:43 after John McCarron (14th) followed up a rebound opportunity to give the Everblades a 2-1 lead. Shots were tied 23-23 through 40 minutes of play.
Muto scored his first ECHL goal at 3:34 of the third period after a great feed by Langkow to tie the score at 2-2. Kubiak (5th) scored with a wicked shot on the rush down the left-wing side at 6:12 after a terrific feed from inside the Railers blueline by Muto. Gillam would stand tall the rest of the way has he made seven third period saves to hold onto his eighth win in net and the Railers ninth win at the DCU Center this season.
Notes: Three Stars: 3rd star: Mitch Gillam (28 saves, Win) 2nd star: Jeff Kubiak (game winning goal, assist) 1st star: Vinny Muto (1 goal, 2 assists) … Final shots were 31-30 in favor of Worcester… Callum Booth (13-5-3) made 28 saves on 31 shots for Florida… Gillam (8-9-0) made 28 saves on 30 shots for Worcester… Eamon McAdam was the backup goalie…. Worcester went 0-for-2 on the power play while Florida went 1-for-2… Josh Monk (injury), Ashton Rome (injury), Brian Bowen, Tommy Kelley, Sean Gammage did not dress for Worcester… Kellen Jones and Mike Cornell is currently on recall with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers…TJ Syner returned to the lineup for the Railers… Worcester improved to 9-10-1-0 on home ice… Barry Almeida now has 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in his last nine games… The Everblades have 17 wins on the road – the most in the ECHL… Former Worcester Sharks defenseman Gus Young suited up for Florida… The Everblades lost for the first time in regulation when leading after 40 minutes (17-1-1) and it was just the second win for Worcester when trailing after 40 minutes… Ben Masella and Vinny Muto each finished +3… The Railers eleven game homestand continues on Friday, February 2nd at 7:05 p.m. on a 2-3-4 Friday against the Adirondack Thunder.
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